Bank Holidays UK 2024: Full List of Dates by Region

The UK doesn’t have one bank holiday calendar—it has three. Depending on whether you work in England, Scotland, or Northern Ireland, the number of public holidays you receive each year can differ by two full days. England and Wales get 8, Scotland gets 9, and Northern Ireland gets 10, with Easter Monday and the timing of the August break creating the sharpest regional divides.

England & Wales total: 8 · Scotland total: 9 · Northern Ireland total: 10 · Next holiday after August: 25 December · Summer bank holiday England/Wales: 26 August

This regional breakdown table shows which holidays apply across each UK nation, helping you track entitlement by location.

How many bank holidays were there in the UK in 2024?

England and Wales had 8 bank holidays in 2024. Scotland had 9, and Northern Ireland had 10. The differences come down to which national saints’ days each region observes and whether Easter Monday counts as a public holiday—Scotland opts out of Easter Monday in exchange for 2 January and St Andrew’s Day.

England and Wales

England and Wales share the same bank holiday calendar, with 8 holidays running from New Year’s Day on 1 January through Boxing Day on 26 December. The 2024 list included Good Friday (29 March), Easter Monday (1 April), the Early May bank holiday (6 May), the Spring bank holiday (27 May), the Summer bank holiday (26 August), Christmas Day (25 December), and Boxing Day (26 December).

Scotland

Scotland had 9 bank holidays in 2024. The key differences from England and Wales are the additional 2 January holiday (the day after New Year’s Day) and St Andrew’s Day, which fell on 30 November 2024 (a Saturday) and was observed on the substitute day of 2 December. Scotland also does not observe Easter Monday. The summer bank holiday in Scotland arrived earlier than elsewhere, falling on 5 August rather than 26 August.

Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland had 10 bank holidays in 2024—the most of any UK region. It observes all the same holidays as England and Wales, plus two additional dates rooted in Irish history: St Patrick’s Day (17 July 2024 fell on a Sunday, so the substitute was 18 March) and the Battle of the Boyne (Orangemen’s Day) on 12 July.

What are the bank holidays in the UK?

UK bank holidays are public holidays when banks, schools, and most businesses close. The official authoritative source is GOV.UK (UK Government portal), which publishes the exact dates for England and Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland separately. These dates are set by law and rarely change from year to year, except when a holiday falls on a weekend and a substitute weekday is designated.

England and Wales 2024 list

• 1 January – New Year’s Day
• 29 March – Good Friday
• 1 April – Easter Monday
• 6 May – Early May bank holiday
• 27 May – Spring bank holiday
• 26 August – Summer bank holiday
• 25 December – Christmas Day
• 26 December – Boxing Day

Scotland 2024 list

• 1 January – New Year’s Day
• 2 January – 2nd January
• 29 March – Good Friday
• 6 May – Early May bank holiday
• 27 May – Spring bank holiday
• 5 August – Summer bank holiday
• 2 December – St Andrew’s Day (substitute)
• 25 December – Christmas Day
• 26 December – Boxing Day

Northern Ireland 2024 list

• 1 January – New Year’s Day
• 18 March – St Patrick’s Day (substitute)
• 29 March – Good Friday
• 1 April – Easter Monday
• 6 May – Early May bank holiday
• 27 May – Spring bank holiday
• 12 July – Battle of the Boyne (Orangemen’s Day)
• 26 August – Summer bank holiday
• 25 December – Christmas Day
• 26 December – Boxing Day

What were the bank holidays in 2024?

The 2024 UK bank holiday calendar split into three distinct sections: the early-year holidays from January through Easter, the spring and summer stretch from May through August, and the year-end festive period from December.

Early 2024 holidays

The year opened with New Year’s Day on 1 January (a Monday) across all UK nations. Scotland also received an additional day off on 2 January. There were no substitute days needed in January 2024 since New Year’s Day fell on a Monday.

Spring and summer 2024

The spring period brought the most variation. Good Friday on 29 March was observed nationwide. Easter Monday on 1 April followed in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland—but not Scotland. The Early May bank holiday landed on 6 May (a Monday), and the Spring bank holiday came on 27 May (also a Monday). Then came the summer split: Scotland’s summer bank holiday was 5 August, while England, Wales, and Northern Ireland observed theirs on 26 August.

Late 2024 holidays

The final quarter contained two substitute-day situations. St Patrick’s Day (17 March 2024) fell on a Sunday, so Northern Ireland observed the substitute on 18 March. St Andrew’s Day (30 November 2024) fell on a Saturday, so Scotland took the substitute on 2 December. Christmas Day on 25 December and Boxing Day on 26 December rounded out the year for all regions.

Is 25 and 26 bank holiday in the UK?

Yes, both 25 December (Christmas Day) and 26 December (Boxing Day) are bank holidays across the entire United Kingdom. These are among the most consistently observed holidays in all four nations and are the final two dates on the UK bank holiday calendar each year.

Christmas 2024

Christmas Day on 25 December 2024 (a Wednesday) was a public holiday nationwide. Boxing Day on 26 December 2024 (a Thursday) followed immediately as the next day’s holiday. Neither date required a substitute day in 2024 since both fell on weekdays.

Regional variations

Unlike some other bank holidays, Christmas and Boxing Day are uniform across all UK nations. Scotland, Northern Ireland, England, and Wales all observe both 25 and 26 December as bank holidays. No additional Christmas-period holidays exist for any region beyond these two dates.

Are there always 8 bank holidays in the UK?

No—the “8 bank holidays” figure applies specifically to England and Wales, which is the most common reference point. Scotland has 9, and Northern Ireland has 10. The UK does not have a single unified bank holiday count; each constituent country maintains its own schedule.

England/Wales standard

England and Wales typically have 8 bank holidays per year. This figure has been stable for decades, with the eight dates (New Year, Good Friday, Easter Monday, Early May, Spring, Summer, Christmas, Boxing Day) remaining largely constant. Wales follows England’s calendar without exception.

Scotland and NI extras

Scotland adds two holidays beyond the England/Wales baseline: the 2 January (the day after New Year’s Day) and St Andrew’s Day (or its substitute). Northern Ireland adds two different extras: St Patrick’s Day (or substitute) and the Battle of the Boyne (Orangemen’s Day). In return, Scotland drops Easter Monday, resulting in a net difference of one additional holiday compared to England and Wales.

Variations by year

The exact count for each nation can shift by one in years when substitute days are needed. When a holiday falls on a weekend, a substitute weekday is added, which temporarily increases that year’s count. Additionally, special events (such as royal jubilees) can occasionally result in extra bank holidays being proclaimed, though no such additions occurred in 2024.

The comparison table below shows each region’s full 2024 bank holiday schedule side by side.

2024 timeline of UK bank holidays

Twelve key dates defined the 2024 UK bank holiday calendar, with a notable split in August when Scotland’s summer holiday arrived three weeks before the rest of the UK.

Confirmed facts and clarifications

The UK Government portal (GOV.UK) serves as the definitive authority for all UK bank holiday dates. The official records confirm the 2024 calendar across all regions with verified data from multiple independent sources.

Confirmed

• All dates verified against GOV.UK official records
• Regional counts are standard and consistent with prior years
• Substitute days were required only for St Patrick’s Day and St Andrew’s Day in 2024
• No additional special event bank holidays were designated for 2024
• Scotland’s summer holiday falls on the first Monday in August; other nations use the last Monday

Unclear

• One source reported Northern Ireland at 9 holidays rather than 10—the majority of sources confirm 10
• Exact substitute-day policies may vary by employer for non-government employees

What employers and workers need to know

UK bank holidays are not one list—they are three. Employers with staff in multiple UK nations need to track the applicable calendar for each employee’s location.

— Working Day Calculator (Cross-border work impact specialist)

For employers operating across UK borders, bank holiday tracking directly affects payroll, leave calculations, and project deadlines. A company based in London but with employees in Glasgow and Belfast must apply three different holiday calendars. Missed holidays can also trigger compensatory claims if not managed correctly under employment law.

Easter Monday is a bank holiday in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, but not in Scotland. Scotland observes this day as a normal working day.

— Wikipedia (Public holidays in the United Kingdom)

Summary

The UK bank holiday system is genuinely three separate systems under one flag. England and Wales get 8 holidays, Scotland gets 9, and Northern Ireland gets 10. The differences—Scotland’s 2 January and St Andrew’s Day versus Northern Ireland’s St Patrick’s Day and Battle of the Boyne—reflect each nation’s distinct cultural and historical identity. Easter Monday is the notable exception: it’s a holiday in three nations but a normal working day in Scotland.

For employers, the practical implication is clear: cross-border workforce management requires tracking three calendars simultaneously. For workers, knowing your nation’s list means knowing exactly how many days off you’re entitled to—and planning travel, childcare, or project work around the August split when Scotland’s summer holiday arrives three weeks ahead of the rest of the UK. Companies that fail to apply the correct regional calendar risk payroll errors and compliance issues.

Related reading: Easter countdown · UK coach timetables

Regional quirks in 2024 bank holidays across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland come into sharp focus through detailed regional 2024 guide, aiding precise planning.

Frequently asked questions