As we approach 2025, planning your holidays effectively to maximize your time off is essential. Bank holidays offer perfect opportunities for long weekends and extended breaks without using too much of your annual leave. It’s also a great way time to getaway for a group trip with your friends and family, as everyone is likely to have the same days off.
You can also check out our guide to 2026 bank holidays here if you’re planning further ahead.
How Many Bank Holidays Are There In 2025?
The number of bank holidays varies in the UK and Ireland depending on which country you live in. Wales and England share the same bank holidays, whilst Scotland and Ireland have some additional days of their own.
- England and Wales: 8 bank holidays in 2025
- Scotland: 9 bank holidays in 2025 (including St. Andrew’s Day)
- Northern Ireland: 10 bank holidays in 2025 (including St. Patrick’s Day)
- Ireland: 10 bank holidays in 2025 (including St. Brigid’s Day and St. Patrick’s Day)
Bank Holidays in 2025 by Country
2025 Bank Holidays in England
There are 8 bank holidays in England in 2025, including the usual days off over the festive period. The way that Christmas falls in 2025 means that you get four days off in a row, which is great! Here’s the list of English bank holidays in 2025:
- New Year’s Day: January 1st (Wednesday)
- Good Friday: April 18th (Friday)
- Easter Monday: April 21st (Monday)
- Early May Bank Holiday: May 5th (Monday)
- Spring Bank Holiday: May 26th (Monday)
- Summer Bank Holiday: August 25th (Monday)
- Christmas Day: December 25th (Thursday)
- Boxing Day: December 26th (Friday)
Bank Holidays in Wales
The bank holidays in 2025 in Wales are the same as England, as below:
- New Year’s Day: January 1st (Wednesday)
- Good Friday: April 18th (Friday)
- Easter Monday: April 21st (Monday)
- Early May Bank Holiday: May 5th (Monday)
- Spring Bank Holiday: May 26th (Monday)
- Summer Bank Holiday: August 25th (Monday)
- Christmas Day: December 25th (Thursday)
- Boxing Day: December 26th (Friday)
2025 Bank Holidays in Scotland
Scotland gets an additional bank holiday, with 9 days off in total in 2025 when you include St. Andrew’s Day. Scotland only gets one bank holiday for Easter – more info on there in our Easter guide here. Here’s the full breakdown:
- New Year’s Day: January 1st (Wednesday)
- 2nd January: January 2nd (Thursday)
- Good Friday: April 18th (Friday)
- Early May Bank Holiday: May 5th (Monday)
- Spring Bank Holiday: May 26th (Monday)
- Summer Bank Holiday: August 4th (Monday)
- St. Andrew’s Day (substitute day): December 1st (Monday)
- Christmas Day: December 25th (Thursday)
- Boxing Day: December 26th (Friday)
Bank Holidays in Northern Ireland in 2025
Northern Ireland has 10 bank holidays in 2025 – here’s the breakdown:
- New Year’s Day: January 1st (Wednesday)
- St. Patrick’s Day: March 17th (Monday)
- Good Friday: April 18th (Friday)
- Easter Monday: April 21st (Monday)
- Early May Bank Holiday: May 5th (Monday)
- Spring Bank Holiday: May 26th (Monday)
- Battle of the Boyne (Orangemen’s Day): July 14th (Monday)
- Summer Bank Holiday: August 25th (Monday)
- Christmas Day: December 25th (Thursday)
- Boxing Day: December 26th (Friday)
Bank Holidays in Ireland
On the other side of the Irish Sea, the Republic of Ireland has a total of 10 bank holidays in 2025 – these include:
- New Year’s Day: January 1st (Wednesday)
- St. Brigid’s Day: February 3rd (Monday)
- St. Patrick’s Day: March 17th (Monday)
- Easter Monday: April 21st (Monday)
- May Day: May 5th (Monday)
- June Bank Holiday: June 2nd (Monday)
- August Bank Holiday: August 4th (Monday)
- October Bank Holiday: October 27th (Monday)
- Christmas Day: December 25th (Thursday)
- St. Stephen’s Day: December 26th (Friday)
Maximize Your Annual Leave with Bank Holidays
By strategically planning your time off around the various bank holidays you can enjoy time off with your nearest and dearest without having to use too much of your leave allowances at work.
- Plan For The Weekends: Keep an eye out for bank holidays that land close to the weekend. For example, if a bank holiday falls on a Monday or a Friday, consider taking the adjacent day off to create an even longer weekend.
- Combine with Annual Leave: By taking a day or two of annual leave before or after a bank holiday, you can enjoy an even longer break. For instance, if a bank holiday falls on a Tuesday or Wednesday, take the days off either side to create a five-day weekend.
- Book Early: Bank holidays are popular times for travel and leisure activities, so it’s advisable to book your accommodation and transportation well in advance to secure the best deals. If you’re going away as a group, GroupAccommodation.com has some fantastic properties available across the UK and Ireland.
- Prioritise Your Holidays: Identify the bank holidays that are most important to you and plan your annual leave accordingly. Whether it’s spending quality time with family, going on a holiday, or pursuing a hobby, make sure to make the most of your time off.
- Use a Leave Calendar: Create a leave calendar for the year to visualise your time off and ensure that you’re making the most of your bank holidays and annual leave days.
By strategically using bank holidays in 2025, you can achieve a better work-life balance and make the most of your time throughout the year. So, start planning now and get ready to enjoy some fantastic breaks in the coming year!
Bank Holiday FAQs
That will depend on your employer and employment contract, and this may vary depending on which country you live in. The Citizens Advice website is a great resource if you’d like some more information.
Easter Sunday falls on April 20th in 2025, with bank holidays on Good Friday and Easter Monday in most countries, allowing for some great extended leave.
Read our full guide on Easter 2025 here.
In 2025, Ireland and Northern Ireland have the most bank holidays with 10 each.
In the UK, the May Bank Holidays fall on the 5th and 26th of May in 2025. In the Republic of Ireland it’s just the 5th of May which is a bank holiday.
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