10 days off for 3 days of annual leave
Bank holidays 2028 in England and Wales
England and Wales has 8 bank holidays in 2028, every one of them on a weekday. Book 3 days of annual leave for 25 December 2027 to 3 January 2028 and you are off for 10 days straight.
- Bank holidays 2028
- 8
- on weekdays
- 8
- bridge days
- 0
- off for 3 days of annual leave
- 10 days
The 2028 calendar in England and Wales
England and Wales has 8 bank holidays in 2028, 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.
ScotlandEnglandBank holidays 2028 in England and Wales and what each one gives you
Here is each day off in date order, what it marks, and the quickest way to turn it into a longer break.
- Monday 3 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. The date itself, Saturday 1 January, falls on a weekend, so the day off is Monday 3 January. You get 3 free days in a row, 1 to 3 January, with no leave needed.
- Friday 14 April: 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. You get 4 free days in a row, 14 to 17 April, with no leave needed.
- Monday 17 April: 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. You get 4 free days in a row, 14 to 17 April, with no leave needed.
- Monday 1 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. You get 3 free days in a row, 29 April to 1 May, with no leave needed.
- Monday 29 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. You get 3 free days in a row, 27 to 29 May, with no leave needed.
- Monday 28 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. You get 3 free days in a row, 26 to 28 August, with no leave needed.
- Monday 25 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. You get 4 free days in a row, 23 to 26 December, with no leave needed.
- Tuesday 26 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. That makes 4 days off in a row without using any leave, 23 to 26 December.
2028'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.
25 December 2027 to 3 January 2028: 3 days of annual leave (29 to 31 December) around Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year's Day give 10 days off, 3.3 days for every day used.
8 to 17 April: 4 days of annual leave (10 to 13 April) around Good Friday and Easter Monday give 10 days off, 2.5 days for every day used.
Around Early May bank holiday, 4 days of annual leave on Tue 2 May, Wed 3 May, Thu 4 May and Fri 5 May unlock 9 days away, 29 April to 7 May.
Around Spring bank holiday, 4 days of annual leave on Tue 30 May, Wed 31 May, Thu 1 June and Fri 2 June unlock 9 days away, 27 May to 4 June.
Around Summer bank holiday, 4 days of annual leave on Tue 29 August, Wed 30 August, Thu 31 August and Fri 1 September unlock 9 days away, 26 August to 3 September.
Around Christmas Day and Boxing Day, 3 days of annual leave on Wed 27 December, Thu 28 December and Fri 29 December unlock 9 days away, 23 to 31 December.
The best breaks 2028 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| Sat 8 Apr to Mon 17 Apr | 10 days offfor 4 days of annual leave, 2.5 days off per day of leave | Mon 10 Apr · Tue 11 Apr · Wed 12 Apr · Thu 13 Apr | Good Friday, Easter Monday | none | Plan a trip |
| Sat 29 Apr to Sun 7 May | 9 days offfor 4 days of annual leave, 2.25 days off per day of leave | Tue 2 May · Wed 3 May · Thu 4 May · Fri 5 May | Early May bank holiday | none | Plan a trip |
| Sat 27 May to Sun 4 Jun | 9 days offfor 4 days of annual leave, 2.25 days off per day of leave | Tue 30 May · Wed 31 May · Thu 1 Jun · Fri 2 Jun | Spring bank holiday | none | Plan a trip |
| Sat 26 Aug to Sun 3 Sept | 9 days offfor 4 days of annual leave, 2.25 days off per day of leave | Tue 29 Aug · Wed 30 Aug · Thu 31 Aug · Fri 1 Sept | Summer bank holiday | none | Plan a trip |
| Sat 23 Dec to Sun 31 Dec | 9 days offfor 3 days of annual leave, 3 days off per day of leave | Wed 27 Dec · Thu 28 Dec · Fri 29 Dec | Christmas Day, Boxing Day | none | Plan a trip |
What 1 to 10 days of annual leave bring
For each budget, the longest run of days off in 2028.
3 days of annual leave
9 days
23 December to 31 December
Christmas Day, Boxing Day
4 days of annual leave
10 days
8 April to 17 April
Good Friday, Easter Monday
5 days of annual leave
11 days
16 December to 26 December
Christmas Day, Boxing Day
8 days of annual leave
16 days
8 April to 23 April
Good Friday, Easter Monday
9 days of annual leave
18 days
14 April to 1 May
Good Friday, Easter Monday, Early May bank holiday
2028 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
The maths: days of annual leave in, days off out
Three days stretch to 9 days off (23 to 31 December). Five days, a typical week, become 11 days off around Christmas Day and Boxing Day, 16 to 26 December.
Ten days, the most this planner books in one go, give 18 days in a row, 14 April to 1 May. 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.
2028 through the seasons
Winter: New Year's Day on 3 January, Christmas Day on 25 December and Boxing Day on 26 December. The pick of the season is 25 December 2027 to 3 January 2028 with 3 days of annual leave for 10 days off.
Spring: Good Friday on 14 April, Easter Monday on 17 April, Early May bank holiday on 1 May and Spring bank holiday on 29 May. The pick of the season is 8 to 17 April with 4 days of annual leave for 10 days off.
Summer: Summer bank holiday on 28 August. The pick of the season is 26 August to 3 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 next to the other nations
Northern Ireland has the most with 10 bank holidays in 2028, and England and Wales has the fewest with 8.
Its best break, 25 December 2027 to 3 January 2028, 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 2028 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
23 December to 31 December: 3 days of leave, 9 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
8 April to 17 April: 4 days of leave, 10 days off
Warm, up to 4 hours away in April, 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 CommonsMarrakech25 °C by day · Flight about 3 h 14, directPlan a trip for these daysSee Marrakech- iPhoto: Darymaister · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia CommonsWestern Sahara31 °C by day · Flight about 3 h 56Plan a trip for these daysSee Western Sahara
Fuerteventura21 °C by day · Sea 19 °C · Flight about 3 h 44Plan a trip for these daysSee Fuerteventura
29 April to 7 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
27 May to 4 June: 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
26 August to 3 September: 4 days of leave, 9 days off
Beach in August, flights from LHR
Rhodes30 °C by day · Sea 27 °C · Flight about 3 h 49Plan a trip for these daysSee Rhodes
Dubai35 °C by day · Sea 33 °C · Flight about 6 h 52, directPlan a trip for these daysSee Dubai- iPhoto: Diego Delso · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia CommonsCosta Blanca32 °C by day · Sea 26 °C · Flight about 2 h 18Plan a trip for these daysSee Costa Blanca
Bank holidays 2028 in England and Wales
| Date | Weekday | Bank holiday | Applies |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 January | Monday | New Year's Day | nationwide |
| 14 April | Friday | Good Friday | nationwide |
| 17 April | Monday | Easter Monday | across the nation |
| 1 May | Monday | Early May bank holiday | nationwide |
| 29 May | Monday | Spring bank holiday | nationwide |
| 28 August | Monday | Summer bank holiday | across the nation |
| 25 December | Monday | Christmas Day | nationwide |
| 26 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, April 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 2027 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 2028 in England: frequently asked questions
How many bank holidays does England and Wales have in 2028?
8 bank holidays: New Year's Day on 3 January, Good Friday on 14 April, Easter Monday on 17 April, Early May bank holiday on 1 May, Spring bank holiday on 29 May, Summer bank holiday on 28 August, Christmas Day on 25 December and Boxing Day on 26 December.
What is the best long weekend in England and Wales in 2028?
25 December 2027 to 3 January 2028: 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 2028?
3 days of annual leave: take 27 to 29 December off and you are off 23 to 31 December.
Is Easter Monday a bank holiday in England and Wales in 2028?
Yes. Easter Monday is a full day off on Monday 17 April.
Is St Andrew's Day a bank holiday in England and Wales in 2028?
No. St Andrew's Day is not on England and Wales's official list for 2028, so it is a regular workday unless your employer gives it.
2028 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.
