Bank holidays in the United Kingdom are public holidays that have been recognized by statute. The term refers to all public holidays in the United Kingdom, whether they are set out in statute, declared by royal proclamation, or held by convention under common law.
Nations of the UK
The United Kingdom consists of four countries: England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Each has its own bank holidays, with some holidays common across all nations and others specific to individual countries.
Types of Bank Holidays
There are generally two types of bank holidays in the UK:
- Statutory bank holidays – holidays set out in legislation
- Common law holidays – holidays recognized by convention
Bank Holidays (By Year & Region)
- Bank Holidays 2025
- Bank Holidays 2026
- England Bank Holidays
- Scotland Bank Holidays
- Wales Bank Holidays
- NI Bank Holidays
History of UK Bank Holidays
The Bank Holidays Act of 1871 introduced the concept of bank holidays to the UK. The Act designated four holidays in England, Wales, and Ireland and five in Scotland. These were days when banks were closed for trading, and therefore, no commercial transactions could take place.
Current Practice
Today, bank holidays are days when most businesses and non-essential services are closed, though an increasing number of retail businesses (especially large shops) do open on some bank holidays. There are eight bank holidays in England and Wales, nine in Scotland and ten in Northern Ireland.
