All bank holidays in the UK in 2027
Each part of the UK has its own list. In 2027 England and Wales have 8 bank holidays, Scotland has 9 and Northern Ireland has 10.
Substitute days in 2027
When a bank holiday falls on a weekend, a weekday becomes the bank holiday instead, normally the following Monday. In 2027 Christmas Day is a Saturday and Boxing Day is a Sunday, so the bank holidays move to Monday 27 and Tuesday 28 December. In Scotland, 2 January is a Saturday, so the bank holiday is Monday 4 January.
Is a bank holiday a paid day off?
Not by law. Employers don't have to give paid leave on bank holidays, and they can count them as part of the 5.6 weeks of statutory annual leave. Your employment contract says whether bank holidays come on top of your annual leave.
Long weekends in England and Wales in 2027
In England and Wales every 2027 bank holiday falls next to a weekend, so you get six long weekends without booking leave.
In Scotland the New Year weekend runs from Friday 1 to Monday 4 January, and one day of leave on Monday 29 November gives you 4 days off around St Andrew's Day. Northern Ireland adds a long weekend from 10 to 12 July for the Battle of the Boyne.
Want to turn your own leave allowance into longer breaks? The Maximize Vacation Days planner shows you which dates to book.
Leave laws in the UK
Sources
Dates checked against the sources above on 4 November 2026. Your employment contract or collective agreement can give more days off than the law.
