National holidays in the UK are called bank holidays. Find out why and how it can affect your vacation plans.
National holidays have been called bank holidays in Britain since the late 19th century. The name originates because these were the days when banks were closed for trading. Bank employees had no free time at the time: they were too busy using the bank holiday to work on the accounts and sort the accounting.
The name and tradition of closing banks persisted into the 20th century, even though all that orderly bookkeeping was now done during normal business hours. But things have changed. These holidays are just excuses for long weekends, shopping, and sales.
The only thing that hasn’t changed is that most banks are closed on holidays, but even that may not last much longer. Metro, a company that opened in 2010 as the first new high street bank in 100 years, has a kind of “open all hours” ethos as its main selling point. The branches of this bank, located mainly in London and the South East of England, are open seven days a week, including bank holidays, and stay open later than most other banks on normal working days.
For almost everything else, it’s business as usual. But there are some closings or schedule changes that could have an impact on your vacation. If you are planning a trip to England, Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland that includes a national holiday, here is what to expect:
- Most banks are obviously closed, as are post offices and other government offices and departments. And even if you can bank online or over the phone, your financial transactions probably won’t go through until the bank holiday is over, so if you’re waiting for a major refund, don’t wait for the money to hit your account. British bank, open or not, until after the bank holiday.
- Most office businesses, including travel and reservation agencies, are closed.
- The highways are clogged with holiday traffic.
- The lines at popular family attractions are longer than usual. In fact, if you don’t like sharing your vacation with hordes of kids, it’s probably best to avoid travel on holidays when kids are everywhere.
- Rooms can be more difficult to reserve or a bit more expensive on holiday weekends.
- Most of the larger stores are open. This is a bit hit and miss. Some businesses maintain large holiday sales, while others close their doors. The only exceptions are Easter Sunday and Christmas Day, when larger stores are required by law to close.
Trains, buses and the London Underground operate reduced services, so it is important to carefully plan your travel on public transport holidays.
Bank Holiday Calendar
As in other countries, the popularity of long holiday weekends in the UK has meant that few holidays fall on the exact same dates from one year to the next.
- New Years Day on January 1 or the Monday immediately after January 1
- Good Friday
- Easter monday
- May bank holiday First Monday in May
- Spring Bank Holiday Last Monday in May
- Summer bank holiday Last Monday in August
- Christmas Day Or the Monday immediately following if Christmas falls on the weekend.
- Boxing Day The day after Christmas, or the following Monday if December 26 falls on a weekend.
If December 25 and 26 fall on the weekend, the following Monday and Tuesday are public holidays.
Northern Ireland celebrates two additional holidays:
- St. Patrick’s Day on March 17 or the nearest Monday if it falls on a weekend.
- Battle of the Boyne (Orangemen Day) July 12 or the nearest Monday if it falls on a weekend.
Scotland does not celebrate Easter Monday as a bank holiday, although many people take that day off. In addition, since 2007, Saint Andrew’s Day (November 30 or the following Monday) is an optional bank holiday. Banks have the right to close, but employers do not have to give their employees the day off. So far, it is too early to say what that day will look like. In addition, some of the seasonal holidays, in spring and late summer, may be celebrated on different days than those in England or Northern Ireland.
Find the exact dates of UK public holidays up to 2023
If you want to avoid the holiday crowds and plan your vacation when there are no national holidays, travel months are September, October, and November; January and February, June and July. But it will likely compete with school holidays and what the British call mid-term breaks. Generally, there is a fall break of about five days in late October and early November. The summer semester lasts five days from the end of May to the first days of June. And the Easter school holidays are two full weeks.
Businesses and banks don’t close for these long breaks, but attractions, especially those geared toward families, are likely to be crowded and prices for family accommodations higher.
