As 2024 draws to a close, with Christmas less than a month away, thoughts will inevitably start to turn to next year – including when the long weekends fall. Generally, there are eight bank holidays in England and Wales each year, with Scotland having nine and Northern Ireland 10 to mark different national occasions.
However, in recent years there have been some extra dates to mark certain dates. In 2022 the late Queen’s Platinum Jubilee was celebrated with a four-day weekend between June 2 and 5, created by moving the late May bank holiday and adding an extra one.
Later that year, the date of her funeral, September 19, was also an extra bank holiday. In 2023, Brits were given an extra bank holiday on Monday, May 8, to celebrate the King’s coronation.
It’s now been reported that similar plans are in the works for 2025. This time, it would be to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II.
May 8 is Victory in Europe Day, when the end of the conflict with Germany is marked. Meanwhile, August 15 mark’s the date of Japan’s surrender in 1945, which fully ended the war.
It is now expected that the Government will soon confirm plans for 2025. That could mean a long weekend between May 9 and 12, or adding August 22 as a bank holiday to create a four-day celebration with the usual summer bank holiday on August 25. Right now, though, here are the current confirmed bank holidays for 2025.
England and Wales bank holidays 2025
Wednesday, January 1, New Year’s Day
Friday, April 18, Good Friday
Monday, April 21, Easter Monday
Monday, May 5, Early May bank holiday
Monday, May 26, Spring bank holiday
Monday, August 25, Summer bank holiday
Thursday, December 25, Christmas Day
Friday, December 26, Boxing Day
Scotland bank holidays 2025
Wednesday, January 1, New Year’s Day
Thursday, January 2, 2nd January
Friday, April 18, Good Friday
Monday, May 5, Early May bank holiday
Monday, May 26, Spring bank holiday
Monday, August 4, Summer bank holiday
Monday, December 1, St Andrew’s Day (substitute day)
Thursday, December 25, Christmas Day
Friday, December 26, Boxing Day
Northern Ireland bank holidays 2025
Wednesday, January 1, New Year’s Day
Monday, March 17, St Patrick’s Day
Friday, April 18, Good Friday
Monday, April 21, Easter Monday
Monday, May 5, Early May bank holiday
Monday, May 26, Spring bank holiday
Monday, July 14, Battle of the Boyne (Orangemen’s Day) (substitute day)
Monday, August 25, Summer bank holiday
Thursday, December 25, Christmas Day
Friday, December 26, Boxing Day