4 days off for 1 day of annual leave
Bank holidays 2028 in Scotland
Scotland has 9 bank holidays in 2028, every one of them on a weekday. Book 1 day of annual leave for 30 November to 3 December and you are off for 4 days straight. The longest break with up to 10 days of annual leave: 11 days, 25 December 2027 to 4 January 2028, for 3 days of annual leave.
- Bank holidays 2028
- 9
- on weekdays
- 9
- bridge days
- 1
- off for 3 days of annual leave
- 11 days
The 2028 calendar in Scotland
Scotland has 9 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 Scotland 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 4 free days in a row, 1 to 4 January, with no leave needed.
- Tuesday 4 January: 2nd January. Scotland adds 2 January to New Year's Day, a tradition from Hogmanay. Two days off in a row make the Scottish New Year one of the longest winter breaks in the UK. The date itself, Sunday 2 January, falls on a weekend, so the day off is Tuesday 4 January. That makes 4 days off in a row without using any leave, 1 to 4 January.
- 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 3 free days in a row, 14 to 16 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 7 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, 5 to 7 August, with no leave needed.
- Thursday 30 November: St Andrew's Day. St Andrew's Day honours Scotland's patron saint on 30 November. When it falls on a weekend, the bank holiday moves to the Monday, and ceilidhs and Scottish food fill the calendar. Take Friday 1 December off and you have 4 days in a row, 30 November to 3 December.
- 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.
Where your days of annual leave go furthest in 2028
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, New Year's Day and 2nd January, 3 days of annual leave on Wed 29 December, Thu 30 December and Fri 31 December unlock 11 days away, 25 December 2027 to 4 January 2028.
Around Good Friday, 4 days of annual leave on Mon 10 April, Tue 11 April, Wed 12 April and Thu 13 April unlock 9 days away, 8 to 16 April.
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.
30 November to 3 December: 1 day of annual leave (1 December) around St Andrew's Day gives 4 days off, 4.0 days for every day used.
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 Scotland
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 Tue 4 Jan | 11 days offfor 3 days of annual leave, 3.67 days off per day of leave | Wed 29 Dec · Thu 30 Dec · Fri 31 Dec | Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Year's Day, 2nd January | none | Plan a trip |
| Sat 8 Apr to Sun 16 Apr | 9 days offfor 4 days of annual leave, 2.25 days off per day of leave | Mon 10 Apr · Tue 11 Apr · Wed 12 Apr · Thu 13 Apr | Good Friday | 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 5 Aug to Sun 13 Aug | 9 days offfor 4 days of annual leave, 2.25 days off per day of leave | Tue 8 Aug · Wed 9 Aug · Thu 10 Aug · Fri 11 Aug | Summer bank holiday | none | Plan a trip |
| Thu 30 Nov to Sun 3 Dec | 4 days offfor 1 day of annual leave, 4 days off per day of leave | Fri 1 Dec | St Andrew's Day | 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.
1 day of annual leave
4 days
30 November to 3 December
St Andrew's Day
3 days of annual leave
9 days
1 January to 9 January
New Year's Day, 2nd January
5 days of annual leave
11 days
16 December to 26 December
Christmas Day, Boxing Day
8 days of annual leave
16 days
1 January to 16 January
New Year's Day, 2nd January
10 days of annual leave
18 days
14 April to 1 May
Good Friday, Early May bank holiday
2028 calendar for Scotland
- Bank holiday
- Annual leave in a break
- Weekend
- School holidays
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December
What 1 to 10 days of annual leave get you
With 1 day of annual leave the longest run you can build is 4 days, 30 November to 3 December. Three days stretch to 9 days off (1 to 9 January). 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, 2nd January on 4 January, Christmas Day on 25 December and Boxing Day on 26 December. The pick of the season is 25 December 2027 to 4 January 2028 with 3 days of annual leave for 11 days off.
Spring: Good Friday on 14 April, Early May bank holiday on 1 May and Spring bank holiday on 29 May. The pick of the season is 8 to 16 April with 4 days of annual leave for 9 days off.
Summer: Summer bank holiday on 7 August. The pick of the season is 5 to 13 August with 4 days of annual leave for 9 days off.
Autumn: St Andrew's Day on 30 November. The pick of the season is 30 November to 3 December with 1 day of annual leave for 4 days off.
Scotland compared with other nations
Northern Ireland has the most with 10 bank holidays in 2028, England and Wales the fewest with 8. Scotland sits in between with 9.
Its best break, 30 November to 3 December, returns 4.0 days off per day of leave. No other nation in our data does better this year.
Bank Holiday Planner 2028 for Scotland as a PDF
Every stretch, holiday and school break in Scotland 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 EDI, GLA, ABZ.
30 November to 3 December: 1 day of leave, 4 days off
Short flight in December, flights from EDI
Barcelona14 °C by day · Sea 15 °C · Flight about 2 h 28, directPlan a trip for these daysSee Barcelona
Lake Garda8 °C by day · Flight about 2 h 17, directPlan a trip for these daysSee Lake Garda
Vienna4 °C by day · Flight about 2 h 27, directPlan a trip for these daysSee Vienna
25 December to 4 January: 3 days of leave, 11 days off
Warm, up to 4 hours away in December, flights from EDI
iPhoto: Marco Riss · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia CommonsAgadir22 °C by day · Sea 18 °C · Flight about 3 h 54Plan 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 EDI
- iPhoto: Marco Riss · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia CommonsAgadir22 °C by day · Sea 18 °C · Flight about 3 h 54Plan a trip for these daysSee Agadir
8 April to 16 April: 4 days of leave, 9 days off
Warm, up to 4 hours away in April, flights from EDI
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 44Plan a trip for these daysSee Marrakech
iPhoto: Diego Delso · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia CommonsCosta Blanca21 °C by day · Sea 16 °C · Flight about 2 h 52, directPlan a trip for these daysSee Costa Blanca
Djerba21 °C by day · Sea 17 °C · Flight about 3 h 40Plan a trip for these daysSee Djerba
29 April to 7 May: 4 days of leave, 9 days off
Warm, up to 4 hours away in May, flights from EDI
- 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 44Plan a trip for these daysSee Marrakech
- iPhoto: Diego Delso · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia CommonsCosta Blanca25 °C by day · Sea 18 °C · Flight about 2 h 52, directPlan a trip for these daysSee Costa Blanca
iPhoto: Thomas Wolf , www.foto-tw.de · CC BY-SA 3.0 de · Wikimedia CommonsAthens25 °C by day · Sea 18 °C · Flight about 3 h 52, directPlan a trip for these daysSee Athens
27 May to 4 June: 4 days of leave, 9 days off
Warm, up to 4 hours away in May, flights from EDI
- 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 44Plan a trip for these daysSee Marrakech
- iPhoto: Diego Delso · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia CommonsCosta Blanca25 °C by day · Sea 18 °C · Flight about 2 h 52, directPlan a trip for these daysSee Costa Blanca
- iPhoto: Thomas Wolf , www.foto-tw.de · CC BY-SA 3.0 de · Wikimedia CommonsAthens25 °C by day · Sea 18 °C · Flight about 3 h 52, directPlan a trip for these daysSee Athens
Bank holidays 2028 in Scotland
| Date | Weekday | Bank holiday | Applies |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 January | Monday | New Year's Day | nationwide |
| 4 January | Tuesday | 2nd January | across the nation |
| 14 April | Friday | Good Friday | nationwide |
| 1 May | Monday | Early May bank holiday | nationwide |
| 29 May | Monday | Spring bank holiday | nationwide |
| 7 August | Monday | Summer bank holiday | across the nation |
| 30 November | Thursday | St Andrew's Day | across the nation |
| 25 December | Monday | Christmas Day | nationwide |
| 26 December | Tuesday | Boxing Day | nationwide |
Getaways for your 2028 breaks
From Scotland, the Highlands and the Isle of Skye suit late spring and summer, Loch Lomond and the Trossachs are close for a quick break, and Edinburgh's festival season fills August. Winter weekends lead to Aviemore and the Cairngorms.
Loch LomondiPhoto: Trougnouf (Benoit Brummer) · CC BY-SA 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 Scotland has the same days off.
Loch LomondiPhoto: Trougnouf (Benoit Brummer) · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia CommonsScotland 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 Scotland: 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 Scotland or as observances are shown but never counted. Last checked on 1 October 2026.
Bank Holiday Planner 2028 in Scotland: frequently asked questions
How many bank holidays does Scotland have in 2028?
9 bank holidays: New Year's Day on 3 January, 2nd January on 4 January, Good Friday on 14 April, Early May bank holiday on 1 May, Spring bank holiday on 29 May, Summer bank holiday on 7 August, St Andrew's Day on 30 November, Christmas Day on 25 December and Boxing Day on 26 December.
What is the best long weekend in Scotland in 2028?
30 November to 3 December: 1 day of annual leave gives 4 days off around St Andrew's Day.
How many days of annual leave do I need for nine days off in 2028?
3 days of annual leave: take 5 to 7 January off and you are off 1 to 9 January.
Is Easter Monday a bank holiday in Scotland in 2028?
No. Easter Monday is not on Scotland's official list for 2028, so it is a regular workday unless your employer gives it.
Is St Andrew's Day a bank holiday in Scotland in 2028?
Yes. St Andrew's Day is a full day off on Thursday 30 November.
2028 in the other nations
How the Bank Holiday Planner works
Holidays: the public holidays from the official list in Scotland, 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.
