Bank Holidays 2026
| Date | Holiday | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Jan (Thu) | New Year's Day | UK-wide |
| 2 Jan (Fri) | 2nd January | Scotland only |
| 17 Mar (Tue) | St Patrick's Day | N. Ireland only |
| 3 Apr (Fri) | Good Friday | UK-wide |
| 6 Apr (Mon) | Easter Monday | England/Wales/NI (not Scotland) |
| 4 May (Mon) | Early May bank holiday | UK-wide |
| 25 May (Mon) | Spring bank holiday | UK-wide |
| 13 Jul (Mon) | Battle of the Boyne | N. Ireland only (12 Jul Sat→13 Jul) |
| 3 Aug (Mon) | Summer bank holiday | Scotland only |
| 31 Aug (Mon) | Late Summer bank holiday | England/Wales/NI |
| 30 Nov (Mon) | St Andrew's Day | Scotland only |
| 25 Dec (Fri) | Christmas Day | UK-wide |
| 28 Dec (Mon) | Boxing Day (substitute) | UK-wide (26 Dec Sat→28 Dec) |
Major Festivals
- Glastonbury Festival — late June, tickets sold Nov, £375. World's biggest music festival.
- Wimbledon Tennis — late June to mid-July
- Edinburgh Fringe — August. Book accommodation 6-9 months ahead.
- Edinburgh International Festival — alongside Fringe (classical)
- Notting Hill Carnival — August bank holiday weekend
- Proms — summer classical music at Royal Albert Hall
- Reading & Leeds Festivals — August bank holiday
- London Film Festival — October
- Liverpool International Music Festival — August
- Chelsea Flower Show — late May
- Burns Night — 25 January (Scotland, haggis and whisky)
Royal Events
- Trooping the Colour — second Saturday in June, monarch's birthday parade
- Royal Ascot — June horse racing with royal attendance
- Remembrance Sunday — second Sunday in November
- Changing of the Guard — Buckingham Palace, daily May-Aug, alternate days Sept-Apr
- State Opening of Parliament — November, monarch reads speech
Christmas & New Year
- Christmas Markets — Bath, Birmingham Frankfurt, Manchester, Edinburgh (late Nov - 23 Dec)
- Hyde Park Winter Wonderland — London, late Nov - early Jan
- Christmas shopping — Oxford Street, Regent Street lights from mid-November
- Boxing Day sales — 26 December, massive retail discounts
- Hogmanay — Edinburgh's 3-day New Year street party, Dec 30 - Jan 1
- New Year's Eve fireworks — London Eye, Edinburgh Castle
- Burns Night — 25 January, traditional Scottish dinner with haggis, whisky, poetry
Tips for Planning
- Avoid bank holiday weekends if you want uncrowded attractions — everyone travels
- Book accommodation early for major events (Edinburgh Fringe = 6+ months ahead)
- Many attractions close Christmas Day — plan indoor activities or pub lunch
- 26 December (Boxing Day) — most open, many retail sales
- Trains reduced on bank holidays — check in advance
🎆 Bonfire Night (5 November): UK-wide fireworks celebrating Guy Fawkes. Biggest displays: Lewes (biggest, mad), Battersea Park, Edinburgh. Free or £5-15 entry.