With the nights drawing in, and a distinct chill in the air, now is the perfect time to start planning some exciting adventures for next year. Whether you fancy surfing in Cornwall, scaling the UK’s highest mountain in the Highlands or simply enjoying scenic walks and pub lunches in the Cotswolds, the UK has so many fantastic places to explore.
Enjoy a bolthole retreat for two, take the family plus the dog (and even Granny!), or arrange a reunion for an old group of friends. We have cosy holiday cottages, large manor houses, and quirky romantic huts to suit a range of occasions! Now we just need a few bank holidays thrown in to help maximize time off work versus time spent on holiday.
Here are the UK bank holidays for 2025 to help with your holiday planning.
When are the bank holidays in 2025?
England and Wales both have 8 bank holidays in 2025, Scotland has 9 and Northern Ireland has 10. Here are the dates for your diary:
- New Year’s Day – Wednesday 1st January
- “2nd January Bank Holiday – Thursday 2nd January (Scotland only)
- St Patric’s Day – Monday 17th March (Northern Ireland only)
- Good Friday – Friday 18th April
- Easter Monday – Monday 21st April (England, Wales and Northern Ireland only)
- Early May Bank Holiday – Monday 5th May
- Spring Bank Holiday – Monday 26th May
- Battle of the Boyne / Orangemen’s Day – Monday 14th July (Northern Ireland only)
- Summer Bank Holiday – Monday 25th August
- St Andrew’s Day – Monday 1st December (Scotland only)
- Christmas Day – Thursday 25th December
- Boxing Day – Friday 26th December
Best tactical hacks for extending your annual leave
Whilst it is easy to extend a bank holiday weekend with a few days annual leave, with a bit of careful planning, and a weekend or two thrown in, you can ensure you get a nice long holiday whilst taking the minimum number of days of annual leave.
Easter
If you book 4 days off from the 14th to 17th April, or from the 22nd to 25th April, you will get 10 days holiday. Where better to enjoy some spring sunshine (and maybe even a dip in the sea) than Devon. With two contrasting coastlines, an abundance of gorgeous walks, and plenty of cream teas (cream followed by jam in Devon!) you will be sure to come home with a spring in your step.
May bank holidays
Unfortunately we do not have any extra bank holidays in May this year, but you can still book 4 days from the 6th May to the 9th May, or the 27th May to 30th May and enjoy 9 days holiday. With the long days and (hopefully) better weather why not head to an idyllic spot on one of Scotland’s islands. Be wowed by the stunning beaches and captivated by the fascinating history and culture. Not forgetting the striking landscapes and coastal opportunities making it the perfect playground for adventure seekers.
August bank holiday
Catch the last of the British summer with a sneaky break away at the end of August. Booking the 26th August to 29th August off you will again get 9 days holiday. Escape the crowded beaches found elsewhere in the UK at this time of year and head to Yorkshire, one of the most underrated UK beach holiday destinations. Whether you want to catch some waves, go paddling, sailing or just play a game of bat and ball on the beach you will find nealr 100 miles of coastline to do it all here. Finish the day with some fish and chips on the beach as you watch the sun set over the sea.
Christmas and New Year
Why not enjoy some time to properly relax over the festive period. By booking 3 days from the 22nd December to 24th December you will get 9 days holiday, or take another 3 days from 29th December to 31st December for 13 whole days off work (or 16 if you are in Scotland!). You can’t beat the charm of snow capped mountains and glistening lakes in the Lake District for a bit of Christmas magic.
With a bit of planning it is easy to maximise your time off work and enjoy some fantastic holidays in the UK. Browse our range of UK holiday cottages here.