10 days off for 3 days of annual leave
Bank holidays 2027 in England and Wales
England and Wales has 8 bank holidays in 2027, every one of them on a weekday. Your best deal is 25 December 2026 to 3 January 2027: 3 days of annual leave turn into 10 days off in a row.
- Bank holidays 2027
- 8
- on weekdays
- 8
- bridge days
- 0
- off for 3 days of annual leave
- 10 days
The 2027 calendar in England and Wales
England and Wales has 8 bank holidays in 2027, as published by GOV.UK. Most employers give them as paid days off on top of, or as part of, the 5.6 weeks of statutory annual leave, so placing your leave around them is how a short break becomes a proper holiday.
Scotland
EnglandEvery bank holiday falls on a weekday this year. Across the UK the lists differ: Northern Ireland 10 days, Scotland 9 days and England and Wales 8 days.
ScotlandEnglandEvery bank holiday in England and Wales in 2027
Here is each day off in date order, what it marks, and the quickest way to turn it into a longer break.
- Friday 1 January: New Year's Day. New Year's Day is a bank holiday across the UK, a quiet day after the midnight celebrations. When it falls on a weekend, the day off moves to the following weekday. That makes 3 days off in a row without using any leave, 1 to 3 January.
- Friday 26 March: Good Friday. Good Friday is a bank holiday across the UK. It opens the Easter weekend, which often overlaps with school Easter holidays, so book trips early. That makes 4 days off in a row without using any leave, 26 to 29 March.
- Monday 29 March: Easter Monday. Easter Monday is a bank holiday in England, Wales and Northern Ireland but not in Scotland. Together with Good Friday it creates a four day Easter weekend, a peak time for UK breaks. That makes 4 days off in a row without using any leave, 26 to 29 March.
- Monday 3 May: Early May bank holiday. The Early May bank holiday falls on the first Monday of May, often with May Day fairs and morris dancing. It opens the spring season of long weekends in the UK. That makes 3 days off in a row without using any leave, 1 to 3 May.
- Monday 31 May: Spring bank holiday. The Spring bank holiday on the last Monday of May lines up with half term in many schools, making it one of the busiest weeks for UK breaks at home and abroad. That makes 3 days off in a row without using any leave, 29 to 31 May.
- Monday 30 August: Summer bank holiday. The Summer bank holiday closes the school summer. In England, Wales and Northern Ireland it falls on the last Monday of August, in Scotland on the first; beaches, festivals and roads get busy. That makes 3 days off in a row without using any leave, 28 to 30 August.
- Monday 27 December: Christmas Day. Christmas Day is a bank holiday across the UK, when almost all shops and public transport close. Booking leave in the days between Christmas and New Year gives a long break for few days of leave. The date itself, Saturday 25 December, falls on a weekend, so the day off is Monday 27 December. That makes 4 days off in a row without using any leave, 25 to 28 December.
- Tuesday 28 December: Boxing Day. Boxing Day, 26 December, brings football fixtures, winter walks and the big sales. With Christmas Day it gives two bank holidays in a row, the start of the longest break of the year. The date itself, Sunday 26 December, falls on a weekend, so the day off is Tuesday 28 December. You get 4 free days in a row, 25 to 28 December, with no leave needed.
2027's top breaks for England and Wales
Each break below starts and ends on a free day, contains at least one bank holiday, and needs no more than 10 days of annual leave. They are ranked by how many days off each day of leave brings.
Around Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year's Day, 3 days of annual leave on Tue 29 December, Wed 30 December and Thu 31 December unlock 10 days away, 25 December 2026 to 3 January 2027.
Around Good Friday and Easter Monday, 4 days of annual leave on Mon 22 March, Tue 23 March, Wed 24 March and Thu 25 March unlock 10 days away, 20 to 29 March.
1 to 9 May: 4 days of annual leave (4 to 7 May) around Early May bank holiday give 9 days off, 2.3 days for every day used.
29 May to 6 June: 4 days of annual leave (1 to 4 June) around Spring bank holiday give 9 days off, 2.3 days for every day used.
28 August to 5 September: 4 days of annual leave (31 August to 3 September) around Summer bank holiday give 9 days off, 2.3 days for every day used.
Around Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year's Day, 3 days of annual leave on Wed 29 December, Thu 30 December and Fri 31 December unlock 10 days away, 25 December 2027 to 3 January 2028.
The best breaks 2027 in England and Wales
Every row is a run of weekends, bank holidays and days of annual leave. The highlighted row brings the most days off per day of leave.
| Dates | Result | Leave on | Bank holidays | School holidays | Plan a trip |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fri 25 Dec to Sun 3 Jan | 10 days offfor 3 days of annual leave, 3.33 days off per day of leave | Tue 29 Dec · Wed 30 Dec · Thu 31 Dec | Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Year's Day | none | Plan a trip |
| Sat 20 Mar to Mon 29 Mar | 10 days offfor 4 days of annual leave, 2.5 days off per day of leave | Mon 22 Mar · Tue 23 Mar · Wed 24 Mar · Thu 25 Mar | Good Friday, Easter Monday | none | Plan a trip |
| Sat 1 May to Sun 9 May | 9 days offfor 4 days of annual leave, 2.25 days off per day of leave | Tue 4 May · Wed 5 May · Thu 6 May · Fri 7 May | Early May bank holiday | none | Plan a trip |
| Sat 29 May to Sun 6 Jun | 9 days offfor 4 days of annual leave, 2.25 days off per day of leave | Tue 1 Jun · Wed 2 Jun · Thu 3 Jun · Fri 4 Jun | Spring bank holiday | none | Plan a trip |
| Sat 28 Aug to Sun 5 Sept | 9 days offfor 4 days of annual leave, 2.25 days off per day of leave | Tue 31 Aug · Wed 1 Sept · Thu 2 Sept · Fri 3 Sept | Summer bank holiday | none | Plan a trip |
| Sat 25 Dec to Mon 3 Jan | 10 days offfor 3 days of annual leave, 3.33 days off per day of leave | Wed 29 Dec · Thu 30 Dec · Fri 31 Dec | Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Year's Day | none | Plan a trip |
What 1 to 10 days of annual leave bring
For each budget, the longest run of days off in 2027.
3 days of annual leave
10 days
25 December to 3 January
Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Year's Day
5 days of annual leave
11 days
18 December to 28 December
Christmas Day, Boxing Day
8 days of annual leave
17 days
18 December to 3 January
Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Year's Day
10 days of annual leave
18 days
11 December to 28 December
Christmas Day, Boxing Day
2027 calendar for England and Wales
- Bank holiday
- Annual leave in a break
- Weekend
- School holidays
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December
How far each day of annual leave goes in 2027
Three days stretch to 10 days off (25 December 2027 to 3 January 2028). Five days, a typical week, become 11 days off around Christmas Day and Boxing Day, 18 to 28 December.
Ten days, the most this planner books in one go, give 18 days in a row, 11 to 28 December. For nine days or more away you need 3 days of annual leave.
Full-time workers in the UK are entitled to 28 days including bank holidays, so a few days around Easter and Christmas usually leave plenty for a summer fortnight.
Season by season in England and Wales
Winter: New Year's Day on 1 January, Christmas Day on 27 December and Boxing Day on 28 December. The pick of the season is 25 December 2026 to 3 January 2027 with 3 days of annual leave for 10 days off.
Spring: Good Friday on 26 March, Easter Monday on 29 March, Early May bank holiday on 3 May and Spring bank holiday on 31 May. The pick of the season is 20 to 29 March with 4 days of annual leave for 10 days off.
Summer: Summer bank holiday on 30 August. The pick of the season is 28 August to 5 September with 4 days of annual leave for 9 days off.
Autumn has no bank holiday in England and Wales this year, which makes it the time to use a full week of annual leave for a longer trip.
England and Wales compared with other nations
Northern Ireland has the most with 10 bank holidays in 2027, and England and Wales has the fewest with 8.
Its best break, 25 December 2026 to 3 January 2027, returns 3.3 days off per day of leave. 1 nation gets a better ratio this year, mostly thanks to an extra bank holiday next to a weekend.
Bank Holiday Planner 2027 for England and Wales as a PDF
Every stretch, holiday and school break in England on one printable page. Plus The Sunday Getaway every week and a note whenever a long weekend is worth it.
Where to on the long weekends?
For the six strongest stretches: places with the right climate that month, flights from LHR, LGW, MAN, STN, LTN, BHX, BRS, NCL, LPL, EMA, LCY.
25 December to 3 January: 3 days of leave, 10 days off
Warm, up to 4 hours away in December, flights from LHR
iPhoto: Darymaister · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia CommonsWestern Sahara24 °C by day · Flight about 3 h 56Plan a trip for these daysSee Western Sahara
iPhoto: Lviatour · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia CommonsLanzarote20 °C by day · Sea 20 °C · Flight about 3 h 44Plan a trip for these daysSee Lanzarote
iPhoto: Marco Riss · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia CommonsAgadir22 °C by day · Sea 18 °C · Flight about 3 h 26Plan a trip for these daysSee Agadir
25 December to 3 January: 3 days of leave, 10 days off
Warm, up to 4 hours away in December, flights from LHR
- iPhoto: Darymaister · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia CommonsWestern Sahara24 °C by day · Flight about 3 h 56Plan a trip for these daysSee Western Sahara
- iPhoto: Lviatour · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia CommonsLanzarote20 °C by day · Sea 20 °C · Flight about 3 h 44Plan a trip for these daysSee Lanzarote
- iPhoto: Marco Riss · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia CommonsAgadir22 °C by day · Sea 18 °C · Flight about 3 h 26Plan a trip for these daysSee Agadir
20 March to 29 March: 4 days of leave, 10 days off
Warm, up to 4 hours away in March, flights from LHR
- iPhoto: Darymaister · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia CommonsWestern Sahara28 °C by day · Flight about 3 h 56Plan a trip for these daysSee Western Sahara
iPhoto: This Photo was taken by Timothy A. Gonsalves . Feel free to use my photos, but please mention me as the author. I would · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia CommonsMarrakech22 °C by day · Flight about 3 h 14, directPlan a trip for these daysSee Marrakech
1 May to 9 May: 4 days of leave, 9 days off
Warm, up to 4 hours away in May, flights from LHR
- iPhoto: This Photo was taken by Timothy A. Gonsalves . Feel free to use my photos, but please mention me as the author. I would · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia CommonsMarrakech29 °C by day · Flight about 3 h 14, directPlan a trip for these daysSee Marrakech
Antalya25 °C by day · Sea 21 °C · Flight about 3 h 58Plan a trip for these daysSee Antalya
iPhoto: Diego Delso · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia CommonsCosta Blanca25 °C by day · Sea 18 °C · Flight about 2 h 18Plan a trip for these daysSee Costa Blanca
29 May to 6 June: 4 days of leave, 9 days off
Beach in June, flights from LHR
Dubai33 °C by day · Sea 31 °C · Flight about 6 h 52, directPlan a trip for these daysSee Dubai
Cyprus33 °C by day · Sea 24 °C · Flight about 4 h 21, directPlan a trip for these daysSee Cyprus
iPhoto: Tanya Dedyukhina · CC BY 3.0 · Wikimedia CommonsSharm el-Sheikh37 °C by day · Sea 26 °C · Flight about 5 h 03Plan a trip for these daysSee Sharm el-Sheikh
28 August to 5 September: 4 days of leave, 9 days off
Beach in September, flights from LHR
- Dubai34 °C by day · Sea 33 °C · Flight about 6 h 52, directPlan a trip for these daysSee Dubai
- Cyprus33 °C by day · Sea 27 °C · Flight about 4 h 21, directPlan a trip for these daysSee Cyprus
Marmaris31 °C by day · Sea 26 °C · Flight about 3 h 42Plan a trip for these daysSee Marmaris
Bank holidays 2027 in England and Wales
| Date | Weekday | Bank holiday | Applies |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 January | Friday | New Year's Day | nationwide |
| 26 March | Friday | Good Friday | nationwide |
| 29 March | Monday | Easter Monday | across the nation |
| 3 May | Monday | Early May bank holiday | nationwide |
| 31 May | Monday | Spring bank holiday | nationwide |
| 30 August | Monday | Summer bank holiday | across the nation |
| 27 December | Monday | Christmas Day | nationwide |
| 28 December | Tuesday | Boxing Day | nationwide |
Where to go on a long weekend from England and Wales
From England, bank holiday weekends suit the Lake District and the Yorkshire Dales in late spring, Cornwall and Devon in summer, and the Cotswolds or Bath in autumn. Short flights to Paris, Amsterdam or Lisbon make an easy city break in any season.
AmsterdamiPhoto: Bybbisch94, Christian Gebhardt · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
LisboniPhoto: tjabeljan · CC BY 4.0 · Wikimedia CommonsYour strongest breaks this year fall in December, March and May, so pick the trip that suits that season, and book early: everyone else in England and Wales has the same days off.
AmsterdamiPhoto: Bybbisch94, Christian Gebhardt · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia CommonsLisboniPhoto: tjabeljan · CC BY 4.0 · Wikimedia CommonsEngland and Wales in other years
2026 and 2028 are planned as well, each with its own dates and breaks.
Holiday dates move every year: fixed-date days change their weekday, and Easter moves between late March and late April, which is why the best breaks are never the same twice.
Where these dates come from
Every date on this page comes from the official source for England and Wales: GOV.UK bank holidays, read directly and compared day by day with an independent second source. A year appears once its official list is published, and we never fill a gap with another nation's dates.
The planner treats weekends and full bank holidays as free days and works out where your days of annual leave turn into the longest time off. Days kept in part of England and Wales or as observances are shown but never counted. Last checked on 1 October 2026.
Bank Holiday Planner 2027 in England: frequently asked questions
How many bank holidays does England and Wales have in 2027?
8 bank holidays: New Year's Day on 1 January, Good Friday on 26 March, Easter Monday on 29 March, Early May bank holiday on 3 May, Spring bank holiday on 31 May, Summer bank holiday on 30 August, Christmas Day on 27 December and Boxing Day on 28 December.
What is the best long weekend in England and Wales in 2027?
25 December 2026 to 3 January 2027: 3 days of annual leave give 10 days off around Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year's Day.
How many days of annual leave do I need for nine days off in 2027?
3 days of annual leave: take 29 to 31 December off and you are off 25 December 2027 to 3 January 2028.
Is Easter Monday a bank holiday in England and Wales in 2027?
Yes. Easter Monday is a full day off on Monday 29 March.
Is St Andrew's Day a bank holiday in England and Wales in 2027?
No. St Andrew's Day is not on England and Wales's official list for 2027, so it is a regular workday unless your employer gives it.
2027 in the other nations
- England and Wales
- Scotland
- Northern Ireland
How the Bank Holiday Planner works
Holidays: the public holidays from the official list in England, checked date by date. The planner counts only days off for the whole region.
Stretches: start and end on a day off, include at least one holiday and at most 10 days of annual leave. Ranked by days off per day of leave; Saturday and Sunday count as free.
School holidays: officially published dates only, checked every month. Trip ideas: the month's climate and flights from the region's main airport.
