The UK does not have a single, unified bank holiday calendar. England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland each observe different sets of holidays, and the dates sometimes vary even within the same region. For employers with teams spread across the UK, this creates a real compliance challenge.
Understanding the UK bank holidays differences is essential for accurate payroll, fair leave allocation, and avoiding employee disputes. This guide compares all four UK regions, highlights the key variations, and shows you how to manage a multi-region holiday calendar.
This article is general information, not legal advice.
Key Takeaways
- England and Wales share the same eight bank holidays
- Scotland has nine bank holidays (adds 2 January and St Andrew’s Day)
- Northern Ireland has ten bank holidays (adds St Patrick’s Day and Battle of the Boyne)
- Autumn bank holiday dates differ between England/Wales and Scotland
- Employers with UK-wide teams must apply the correct calendar per region
UK Bank Holidays by Region
England and Wales (8 holidays)
| Bank Holiday | 2026 Date |
|---|---|
| New Year’s Day | 1 January |
| Good Friday | 3 April |
| Easter Monday | 6 April |
| Early May Bank Holiday | 4 May |
| Spring Bank Holiday | 25 May |
| Summer Bank Holiday | 31 August |
| Christmas Day | 25 December |
| Boxing Day | 26 December |
Scotland (9 holidays)
| Bank Holiday | 2026 Date |
|---|---|
| New Year’s Day | 1 January |
| 2 January | 2 January |
| Good Friday | 3 April |
| Easter Monday | 6 April |
| Early May Bank Holiday | 4 May |
| Spring Bank Holiday | 25 May |
| Summer Bank Holiday | 31 August |
| St Andrew’s Day | 30 November |
| Christmas Day | 25 December |
| Boxing Day | 26 December |
Northern Ireland (10 holidays)
| Bank Holiday | 2026 Date |
|---|---|
| New Year’s Day | 1 January |
| St Patrick’s Day | 17 March |
| Good Friday | 3 April |
| Easter Monday | 6 April |
| Early May Bank Holiday | 4 May |
| Spring Bank Holiday | 25 May |
| Battle of the Boyne | 13 July (substitute) |
| Summer Bank Holiday | 31 August |
| Christmas Day | 25 December |
| Boxing Day | 26 December |
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Holiday | England | Wales | Scotland | N. Ireland |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Year’s Day | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 2 January | No | No | Yes | No |
| St Patrick’s Day | No | No | No | Yes |
| Good Friday | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Easter Monday | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Early May BH | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Spring BH | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Battle of the Boyne | No | No | No | Yes |
| Summer BH | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| St Andrew’s Day | No | No | Yes | No |
| Christmas Day | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Boxing Day | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Total | 8 | 8 | 9 | 10 |
Autumn Bank Holiday Difference
One commonly missed variation is the autumn bank holiday date:
- England and Wales: Last Monday in August (Summer Bank Holiday)
- Scotland: First Monday in October
Scotland does not observe the late-August bank holiday. Instead, Scotland’s autumn bank holiday is in October. This means Scottish employees miss the August bank holiday that English and Welsh colleagues enjoy, but gain the October one.
Managing a UK-Wide Team
Use Region-Specific Calendars
Set up separate holiday calendars for each UK region in your HR system. Never apply a single UK-wide calendar — you will either over- or under-provide holidays for some employees.
Communicate Clearly
At the start of each year, publish the holiday calendar for each region. Share it with all employees and ask them to confirm which calendar applies to their location.
Handle Remote Workers
If an employee works remotely from Scotland but the company is based in England, they should receive the Scottish bank holiday calendar. The location of work determines the applicable calendar, not the company headquarters.
Allow Flexible Scheduling
Some employers give employees the choice of observing their local bank holidays or their work location’s bank holidays. This is a reasonable approach for remote-first companies.
Common Mistakes
Applying One Calendar Across the UK
The most frequent error. An English employer using only the English calendar for Scottish staff misses 2 January and St Andrew’s Day.
Ignoring the Autumn Date Split
The August vs October autumn bank holiday difference catches many multi-region employers off guard. Scottish employees expect their October holiday; English employees expect their August one.
Not Updating for Substitutions
When a bank holiday falls on a weekend, the substitution rules vary. Scotland and NI generally substitute the following Monday; England and Wales do so less consistently.
Forgetting Boxing Day 2026
Boxing Day falls on a Saturday in 2026. In England and Wales, there is no automatic substitute Monday. In Scotland and NI, the substitution rules are more established — check local practice.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can an employer choose which UK calendar to apply?
An employer should apply the calendar that corresponds to the employee’s work location. If the employee works remotely from a different region, the remote location’s calendar should apply. An employer cannot selectively apply a calendar that reduces an employee’s entitlement.
Do Welsh employees get St David’s Day off?
No. St David’s Day (1 March) is not a bank holiday in Wales, though there have been periodic calls to make it one. Some Welsh employers offer it as a discretionary holiday.
Is there a UK-wide bank holiday list?
No. There is no single UK-wide list. Each nation’s banking legislation determines its own bank holidays. The UK government can declare additional bank holidays by royal proclamation for special occasions (such as jubilees), but the base calendars are region-specific.
How do I handle a bank holiday falling on a weekend?
In England and Wales, there is no statutory substitute day. In Scotland and NI, the following Monday is generally observed. Your contract should state whether substitute days are offered.
Can employees swap bank holidays for religious holidays?
Yes. Under the Employment Equality (Religion or Belief) Regulations 2003, employers should consider requests to swap bank holidays for religious holidays from other traditions. You are not required to grant every request, but you must have a reasonable process for considering them.