The quickest way to find out

The fastest way to know if today is a bank holiday in England is to check the UK government's official bank holidays page at gov.uk/bank-holidays. That page lists every bank holiday for England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland for the current and next year, with the exact dates. You can also search "UK bank holidays 2024" or "UK bank holidays 2025" to see the full calendar.

Bank holidays in England are set by the government and do not change year to year — the same dates fall on bank holidays every year. However, when a bank holiday falls on a weekend, the government sometimes moves it to the following Monday, which is called a substitute bank holiday or bank holiday in lieu. This happened in 2022 and 2023 for the Queen's Jubilee and King's Coronation, so always check the current year's list rather than relying on memory.

If you need to know right now and cannot access a browser, you can call your bank or employer — they will know whether their offices are closed today. Most banks and many businesses close on bank holidays, though not all do.

Key Takeaways

  • The UK government website gov.uk/bank-holidays shows the exact dates of all bank holidays in England for the current year.
  • England has eight standard bank holidays each year, but the dates can shift if a holiday falls on a weekend.
  • Not every business closes on a bank holiday — retail, hospitality, and some services often stay open — so check with your specific employer or bank.
  • Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland have different bank holiday dates than England, so the answer depends on which part of the UK you are in.

The eight bank holidays in England

England has eight bank holidays that occur on the same dates every year, unless the government moves them. They are: New Year's Day (January 1), Good Friday (date varies, usually March or April), Easter Monday (date varies, usually March or April), Early May Bank Holiday (first Monday in May), Spring Bank Holiday (last Monday in May), Summer Bank Holiday (last Monday in August), Christmas Day (December 25), and Boxing Day (December 26).

Good Friday and Easter Monday are the only bank holidays whose dates change each year, because they are tied to Easter. Easter is calculated based on the lunar calendar and falls between March 22 and April 25. The government publishes Easter dates years in advance, so you can plan around them.

When a bank holiday falls on a Saturday or Sunday, the government usually declares the following Monday (or sometimes Tuesday) as a substitute bank holiday instead. This means you get the day off work on a weekday rather than losing it to a weekend. The government announces substitute dates well in advance on the bank holidays page.

Which businesses actually close on bank holidays

Banks, post offices, and government offices close on bank holidays in England. Most schools and universities also close. However, retail shops, restaurants, pubs, cinemas, and many other businesses stay open on bank holidays — they may have reduced hours, but they do not close entirely.

If you need to know whether a specific business or service is open today, contact them directly by phone or check their website. Many businesses post their bank holiday hours online, and some apps like Google Maps show whether a place is open right now.

Public transport runs on a reduced schedule on bank holidays in England. Trains, buses, and the London Underground operate, but with fewer services than on a normal weekday. If you are planning to travel, check with your transport provider the day before.

Bank holidays in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland are different

Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland each have their own set of bank holidays that do not match England's. Scotland has nine bank holidays, Wales has nine, and Northern Ireland has ten. The dates and names are different — for example, Scotland celebrates Hogmanay (December 31) as a bank holiday, which England does not.

If you live or work in a different part of the UK, check the gov.uk/bank-holidays page and select your nation from the dropdown menu. Your employer or bank will follow the bank holidays for the nation where you work, not where you live.

What to do if you need to work on a bank holiday

If your employer asks you to work on a bank holiday, you are may have access to to be paid for that day. The amount depends on your contract — some employers pay time and a half, some pay double time, and some give you a day off in lieu instead. Check your employment contract or ask your HR department what your bank holiday pay rate is.

If you work in retail, hospitality, healthcare, or emergency services, you may be expected to work on bank holidays as part of your normal schedule. This is legal as long as your contract makes it clear and you are paid fairly for the work.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I get paid if I do not work on a bank holiday?

If you are a salaried employee, your salary usually covers bank holidays and you are paid as normal. If you are paid hourly or by the day, you may not be paid for a bank holiday unless your contract says otherwise. Check your employment contract or ask your employer.

What if a bank holiday falls on my day off?

If a bank holiday falls on a day you do not normally work, you do not get an extra day off or extra pay. Bank holidays are only paid if they fall on a day you would normally be working.

Can I travel on a bank holiday?

Yes, but transport will be busier than usual and may run on a reduced schedule. Book tickets in advance and check with your transport provider for bank holiday timetables.

Are bank holidays the same every year?

Most bank holidays fall on the same date every year. Good Friday and Easter Monday change dates because they follow the lunar calendar. When a bank holiday falls on a weekend, the government may move it to a weekday, which changes the date for that year only.

Where do I find the official list?

The UK government publishes the official bank holidays list at gov.uk/bank-holidays. You can view the current year and next year, and select your nation (England, Scotland, Wales, or Northern Ireland) to see the correct dates for where you live.