UK Public Holidays 2025: Full List by Region & Dates

Planning a wedding, a home renovation, or simply trying to remember whether you’re getting that extra day off? Bank holidays shape more of our lives than most of us realise — and getting the 2025 dates wrong can mean a missed delivery, a closed office, or a wasted trip. This guide lays out every UK public holiday for 2025, nation by nation, with the exact dates and the regional quirks that matter for practical planning.

Total bank holidays in England and Wales: 8 · New Year’s Day: Thursday, 1 January · Good Friday: Friday, 18 April · Easter Monday: Monday, 21 April · Early May bank holiday: Monday, 5 May · Spring bank holiday: Monday, 26 May

How many UK public holidays are there in 2025?

The answer depends on which nation you’re in. England and Wales share eight bank holidays in 2025, while Scotland observes nine and Northern Ireland has ten. Seven holidays are common to all UK jurisdictions: New Year’s Day, Good Friday, the Early May Bank Holiday, the Spring Bank Holiday, the Summer Bank Holiday, Christmas Day, and Boxing Day, according to Wikipedia’s overview of UK public holidays (Wikipedia).

England and Wales

England and Wales follow an identical bank holiday calendar, with both regions sharing the same eight designated days. The count has been stable at eight for years, with no additional special event holidays announced for 2025 (GOV.UK). Workers in these nations planning around 2025 cost of living payments can align leave with these fixed dates.

Scotland

Scotland’s additional holidays account for the difference: 2nd January gives the nation a two-day start to the year, and St Andrew’s Day on 30 November adds another when it falls on a weekday. In 2025, St Andrew’s Day falls on a Sunday, so the substitute falls on Monday, 1 December (Time Out). Scotland also observes only Good Friday at Easter — Easter Monday is not a nationwide holiday, though some local councils may designate it (flair HR).

Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland has two holidays with no counterparts elsewhere in the UK: St Patrick’s Day on 17 March and the Battle of the Boyne commemorated on 14 July. In 2025, both dates fall on Mondays — St Patrick’s Day is already a Monday, while the Battle of the Boyne’s official date of 12 July (Saturday) substitutes to 14 July (Good Tuesday). Northern Ireland does observe Easter Monday, unlike Scotland.

The pattern across UK nations reveals something practical: bank holidays aren’t uniform, and the difference between eight, nine, and ten days off can matter for planning a wedding, scheduling a delivery, or booking annual leave.

Are there always 8 bank holidays in the UK?

The eight-day figure applies specifically to England and Wales — and even that count isn’t guaranteed. The UK government can designate additional bank holidays for special events, such as coronations or royal jubilees. The Wikipedia overview notes that additional holidays have been allocated for such occasions, though GOV.UK confirms no special event bank holidays are announced for 2025.

Standard count

The baseline for England and Wales has held at eight for many years. Scotland typically has nine or ten, Northern Ireland ten. Wales has no separate bank holiday schedule — its holidays are identical to England’s (Group Accommodation).

Regional extras

The variation isn’t random. Scotland’s 2nd January holiday and St Andrew’s Day reflect Scottish national identity. Northern Ireland’s St Patrick’s Day (17 March) and Battle of the Boyne (12 July) similarly honour regional heritage. These aren’t bank holidays in England or Wales — a traveller crossing the border will notice the difference.

What is the holiday calendar for 2025?

The complete 2025 calendar spans all four nations, with specific dates confirmed by multiple sources. Here is the full chronological list for planning purposes.

January to March

New Year’s Day falls on Wednesday, 1 January 2025 — a midweek holiday that means most workers require no substitute. Scotland gets an additional day on Thursday, 2 January (Zelt). Good Friday is 18 April across all UK regions. St Patrick’s Day in Northern Ireland is 17 March (Monday).

April to June

Easter Monday is 21 April, observed in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland but not nationally in Scotland. The Early May Bank Holiday lands on 5 May (Monday) for all UK nations. The Spring Bank Holiday follows on 26 May (Monday) across the board.

August to December

The key regional split appears here: Scotland’s Summer Bank Holiday is 4 August (Monday) — fully three weeks earlier than the rest of the UK, where the Summer Bank Holiday is 25 August (Time Out). Northern Ireland’s Battle of the Boyne substitute is 14 July. St Andrew’s Day substitute in Scotland is 1 December. Christmas (25 December) and Boxing Day (26 December) close the year for all nations.

Workers relying on these dates for leave planning should confirm their employer’s official calendar, as some sectors observe additional regional or industry-specific closures.

Is there two bank holidays in August in the UK?

There is only one August bank holiday in England and Wales — the last Monday of the month, 25 August 2025. Scotland, however, has two summer bank holidays: one in early August and one that aligns with the rest of the UK (Group Accommodation).

England and Wales

One bank holiday in August: Monday, 25 August 2025. This is the standard Summer Bank Holiday observed across England, Wales, and Northern Ireland on the same date.

Scotland

Scotland has a distinct arrangement. The Scottish Summer Bank Holiday falls on 4 August 2025 (Monday) — an early-August holiday unique to Scotland. Then, like the rest of the UK, Scotland also observes the standard Summer Bank Holiday on 25 August. This means two bank holidays in August for Scotland, but only one for England and Wales.

UK public holidays in London for 2025

London follows the England and Wales bank holiday schedule — eight days off in 2025, with no extras beyond the shared national list. The city’s status as England’s capital means it aligns precisely with the standard England and Wales calendar.

London specifics

London’s eight bank holidays in 2025 are identical to those observed across England and Wales: New Year’s Day (1 January), Good Friday (18 April), Easter Monday (21 April), Early May Bank Holiday (5 May), Spring Bank Holiday (26 May), Summer Bank Holiday (25 August), Christmas Day (25 December), and Boxing Day (26 December) (Zelt).

What’s open

Most London attractions, shops, and restaurants close on bank holidays — particularly Christmas Day. Transport runs reduced or Sunday-level services on bank holidays. Planning a trip to London over a bank holiday weekend means checking individual venue opening times in advance, as closures are widespread and advertised well ahead. Retail workers and tourists should also note Black Friday 2025 dates for additional shopping events.

London operates on England’s eight-day schedule. Tourists and Londoners alike should note that Good Friday, Easter Monday, and the August bank holiday are full closures for most services.

2025 UK bank holiday timeline

Thirteen distinct dates across UK nations make up the 2025 bank holiday calendar. The timeline below shows each date, the holiday name, and which regions observe it.

The implication: businesses operating across multiple UK nations must maintain separate holiday calendars, as the 13 dates above do not represent a single UK-wide holiday schedule.

There are eight bank holidays a year in England and Wales, nine in Scotland and ten in Northern Ireland.

— Wikipedia editors, Public holidays in the United Kingdom

Easter Monday, however, is not a nationwide bank holiday in Scotland although some local councils do claim it as one.

— flair HR, UK Bank Holidays 2025

England and Wales share eight bank holidays in 2025 while Scotland gets nine, matching the full regional list confirmed by official sources.

Frequently asked questions

Knowing your nation’s calendar — and which neighbours differ — prevents surprises mid-year.