The best long weekends
For each holiday, the option that gives you the most time off for the least leave.
UK bank holidays 2027: all dates and the best long weekends
8 public holidays give you 8 weekdays off in 2027. The strongest bridge: Thu 25 Mar – Mon 29 Mar, 5 days off for 1 day of leave.
- public holidays
- 8
- weekdays off
- 8
- days of leave → days off in the best bridge
- 1 → 5
The planner places your leave around the holidays to give you the most days off in total, across one or more breaks. Regional-only holidays are not counted.
With 10 days of leave you get 35 days off in total
Fri 1 Jan – Mon 4 Jan
4 days off, 1 day of leave
New Year’s Day
Book off: Mon 4 Jan
Sat 20 Mar – Mon 29 Mar
10 days off, 4 days of leave
Good Friday · Easter Monday
Book off: Mon 22 MarTue 23 MarWed 24 MarThu 25 Mar
Fri 30 Apr – Mon 3 May
4 days off, 1 day of leave
Early May bank holiday
Book off: Fri 30 Apr
Fri 28 May – Mon 31 May
4 days off, 1 day of leave
Spring bank holiday
Book off: Fri 28 May
Fri 27 Aug – Mon 30 Aug
4 days off, 1 day of leave
Summer bank holiday
Book off: Fri 27 Aug
Fri 24 Dec – Tue 28 Dec
5 days off, 1 day of leave
Christmas Day (substitute day) · Boxing Day (substitute day)
Book off: Fri 24 Dec
Fri 31 Dec – Mon 3 Jan 2028
4 days off, 1 day of leave
New Year’s Day (substitute day)
Book off: Fri 31 Dec
| Holiday | Book off | Off | Dates |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Year’s DayFri 1 Jan | Mon 4 Jan | 4 | Fri 1 Jan – Mon 4 Jan |
| Mon 4 JanTue 5 JanWed 6 Jan | 6 | Fri 1 Jan – Wed 6 Jan | |
| Good FridayFri 26 Mar | Thu 25 Mar | 5 | Thu 25 Mar – Mon 29 Mar |
| Mon 22 MarTue 23 MarWed 24 MarThu 25 Mar | 10 | Sat 20 Mar – Mon 29 Mar | |
| Early May bank holidayMon 3 May | Fri 30 Apr | 4 | Fri 30 Apr – Mon 3 May |
| Tue 4 MayWed 5 MayThu 6 MayFri 7 May | 9 | Sat 1 May – Sun 9 May | |
| Spring bank holidayMon 31 May | Fri 28 May | 4 | Fri 28 May – Mon 31 May |
| Tue 1 JunWed 2 JunThu 3 JunFri 4 Jun | 9 | Sat 29 May – Sun 6 Jun | |
| Summer bank holidayMon 30 Aug | Fri 27 Aug | 4 | Fri 27 Aug – Mon 30 Aug |
| Tue 31 AugWed 1 SepThu 2 SepFri 3 Sep | 9 | Sat 28 Aug – Sun 5 Sep | |
| Christmas Day (substitute day)Mon 27 Dec | Fri 24 Dec | 5 | Fri 24 Dec – Tue 28 Dec |
| Fri 24 DecWed 29 DecThu 30 DecFri 31 Dec | 11 | Fri 24 Dec – Mon 3 Jan 2028 | |
| New Year’s Day (substitute day)Mon 3 Jan 2028 | Fri 31 Dec | 4 | Fri 31 Dec – Mon 3 Jan 2028 |
| Thu 30 DecFri 31 Dec | 5 | Thu 30 Dec – Mon 3 Jan 2028 |
All public holidays in 2027
| Date | Holiday | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Fri 1 Jan | New Year’s Day | |
| Fri 26 Mar | Good Friday | |
| Mon 29 Mar | Easter Monday | |
| Mon 3 May | Early May bank holiday | |
| Mon 31 May | Spring bank holiday | |
| Mon 30 Aug | Summer bank holiday | |
| Sat 25 Dec | Christmas Day | falls on a weekend |
| Sun 26 Dec | Boxing Day | falls on a weekend |
| Mon 27 Dec | Christmas Day (substitute day) | |
| Tue 28 Dec | Boxing Day (substitute day) |
Frequently asked questions
What are the bank holidays in 2027?
England and Wales have 8 bank holidays in 2027: New Year's Day (Fri 1 Jan), Good Friday (26 Mar), Easter Monday (29 Mar), the early May bank holiday (3 May), the spring bank holiday (31 May), the summer bank holiday (30 Aug), and Christmas Day and Boxing Day, which fall on a weekend and move to Monday 27 and Tuesday 28 December.
Is Easter Monday a bank holiday in Scotland in 2027?
No. Scotland has Good Friday (26 March) but not Easter Monday. Instead it has 2 January (observed Monday 4 January), the summer bank holiday on 2 August and St Andrew's Day on Tuesday 30 November.
Which extra bank holidays does Northern Ireland have in 2027?
On top of the England and Wales dates, Northern Ireland has St Patrick's Day (Wednesday 17 March) and the Battle of the Boyne (Monday 12 July), so 10 bank holidays in total.
How do I get the longest break over Christmas 2027?
Christmas Day and Boxing Day fall on Saturday and Sunday, so the bank holidays are Monday 27 and Tuesday 28 December. New Year's Day 2028 is a Saturday and moves to Monday 3 January. In England, Wales and Northern Ireland, booking off 29 to 31 December gives you 10 days off, from 25 December to 3 January. In Scotland, 2 January also moves to Tuesday 4 January, so the same three days of leave give you 11 days.
Turn the long weekend into a trip
Plan it in Compi: days, places, stays and packing list in one place, on the web, on Android or right inside ChatGPT.
Plan a trip in CompiWhether Christmas Eve or New Year's Eve are half days, or your contract gives you extra days, is up to your employer.