Bank holidays in the UK are days when most banks and many businesses close, set by law rather than by individual companies
A bank holiday in the UK is an official public holiday when banks, post offices, and many shops shut down. The government declares these days, and they apply across England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland — though the exact dates vary slightly by country. Unlike the United States, where federal holidays are tied to specific events (Independence Day, Thanksgiving), UK bank holidays follow a simpler calendar: a set number of days each year when most of the country stops work.
The term "bank holiday" comes from the 1871 Bank Holidays Act, which originally listed four days when banks would close. Today there are between eight and ten bank holidays per year depending on where you live in the UK, and the list includes Easter Monday, May Day, and Boxing Day. If a bank holiday falls on a weekend, the government usually declares the following Monday as a substitute day off, called a "substitute bank holiday" or "in lieu" day.
Key Takeaways
- Bank holidays in the UK are set by law and apply across the country, though Scotland and Northern Ireland have slightly different dates than England and Wales.
- When a bank holiday falls on a Saturday or Sunday, the government moves the day off to the following Monday so workers still get a day away from work.
- Banks, post offices, and government offices close on bank holidays, which can delay payments, refunds, and mail delivery by one or more days.
- If you are waiting for a refund or payment that was supposed to arrive on or near a bank holiday, add extra time to your timeline.
The eight to ten bank holidays each year and when they occur
England and Wales observe the same bank holidays. New Year's Day falls on January 1, Good Friday comes in March or April, Easter Monday follows on the day after Easter, Early May Bank Holiday is the first Monday in May, Spring Bank Holiday is the last Monday in May, Summer Bank Holiday is the last Monday in August, Christmas Day is December 25, and Boxing Day is December 26. That is eight days.
Scotland has a different list. It observes New Year's Day, 2 January (an extra day), Good Friday, Easter Monday, Early May Bank Holiday, Spring Bank Holiday, Summer Bank Holiday, Christmas Day, and Boxing Day — nine days total. Northern Ireland follows the same pattern as England and Wales but adds an extra day for the Battle of the Boyne on July 12, bringing it to nine days.
When any of these days falls on a Saturday or Sunday, the government declares the following Monday (or sometimes Tuesday) as a substitute bank holiday. This happened in 2022 when Queen Elizabeth II died on September 8, a Thursday; the government declared September 19 (the day of the state funeral) as an additional bank holiday. These one-off additions are rare but do occur for major national events.
How bank holidays affect refunds, payments, and mail delivery
Bank holidays slow down the movement of money and documents. If you are waiting for a tax refund, insurance refund, or any payment from a government body or large organisation, and that payment was scheduled to arrive on a bank holiday or the day before, expect a delay. Banks do not process transfers on bank holidays, so a payment that would normally arrive on Monday may not clear until Tuesday if Monday is a bank holiday.
Post offices close on bank holidays, which means mail does not move. If you sent a cheque or document by post and it was due to arrive on or around a bank holiday, add at least one extra day to your timeline. The same applies to parcels and registered mail. If you are tracking a refund by post, check the tracking number on the Royal Mail website — it will show you whether the item is delayed due to a bank holiday.
Government offices, including tax offices and local council offices, close on bank holidays. If you need to contact HMRC (Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs) about a tax refund or call your local council about a housing benefit payment, you cannot reach them on a bank holiday. Plan ahead and call the day before if your question is time-sensitive.
What stays open on bank holidays and what closes
Most high street shops, supermarkets, and shopping centres stay open on bank holidays, though with reduced hours. Some smaller independent shops close. Petrol stations and pharmacies typically remain open. Restaurants, pubs, and cafes stay open. The key difference is that banks, post offices, and government offices shut completely.
Transport runs on a reduced schedule. Trains, buses, and the London Underground operate, but with fewer services and longer waits between vehicles. If you need to travel on a bank holiday, check the timetable for your specific route before you go — do not assume normal service.
Schools close on bank holidays. Nurseries and childcare facilities may close or operate on reduced hours, so check with your provider. Most workplaces close, though some industries (healthcare, retail, hospitality, emergency services) operate normally because they cannot shut down.
How bank holidays affect your refund timeline
If you submitted a tax return and are waiting for a refund, HMRC processes refunds on working days only. A bank holiday adds one day to your wait. If HMRC said your refund would arrive within five working days and a bank holiday falls during that period, count it as an extra day. For example, if you submitted your claim on a Thursday and the following Monday is a bank holiday, your five working days are Friday, Tuesday (skipping Monday), Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday — so the refund would arrive the following Friday instead of the previous Friday.
Insurance refunds work the same way. If your insurer said they would process your refund within three to five working days, a bank holiday extends that timeline. Always add the number of bank holidays that fall within your expected refund window to your timeline.
Business refunds and supplier payments also pause on bank holidays. If you are waiting for a refund from an online retailer or a payment from a client, and a bank holiday is coming up, send a message asking for confirmation that the payment will go through on the next working day after the holiday.
What to do if a refund is delayed because of a bank holiday
First, check the date. If your refund was due to arrive on a bank holiday or the day after, the delay is expected and not a sign of a problem. Look at your confirmation email or letter — it should say "within X working days", not "within X calendar days". Count the working days and add any bank holidays that fall within that period.
If your refund is now overdue even after accounting for bank holidays, contact the organisation that owes you the money. Have your reference number, the date you submitted your claim, and the promised timeline ready. Ask them to confirm the status and the new expected date. Most organisations have a complaints process if the refund does not arrive within a reasonable time after the promised date.
If you are waiting for a cheque by post and a bank holiday has passed, track the item on the Royal Mail website if you have a tracking number. If there is no tracking number, wait until the next working day after the bank holiday and then contact the sender to ask for a replacement or an electronic payment instead.
Bank holidays in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland are slightly different
Scotland has two extra bank holidays compared to England: January 2 and an additional day in December (usually December 26 or 27). This means if you live in Scotland and are waiting for a refund from a Scottish bank or organisation, you may experience an extra day of delay compared to someone in England waiting for the same refund from an English bank.
Wales and Northern Ireland follow the same bank holiday dates as England, except Northern Ireland adds July 12 (the Battle of the Boyne). If you are dealing with organisations in different parts of the UK, check which bank holidays apply to the specific organisation's location, not your own location.
When you contact an organisation about a delayed refund, ask them which bank holidays they observe. Some large national organisations close on all UK bank holidays regardless of where their office is located. Others close only on the bank holidays for their specific country.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I get paid extra if I work on a bank holiday?
That depends on your employment contract. Some employers pay time and a half or double time for bank holiday work. Others give you a day off in lieu instead. Check your contract or ask your employer — there is no legal requirement to pay extra, but many do.
Can a bank holiday be moved to a different date?
Yes. If a bank holiday falls on a weekend, the government automatically moves it to the following Monday. The government can also declare an extra bank holiday for special events, as happened with Queen Elizabeth II's funeral in 2022.
Will my online payment go through on a bank holiday?
You can submit an online payment on a bank holiday, but it will not clear until the next working day. Banks do not process transfers on bank holidays, so a payment sent on Monday (a bank holiday) will not leave your account until Tuesday.
Does a bank holiday delay my tax refund?
Yes, if a bank holiday falls within your refund timeline. HMRC processes refunds on working days only, so a bank holiday adds one day to your wait. Always count working days, not calendar days, when calculating your refund timeline.
What if I need to post something before a bank holiday?
Post offices close on bank holidays, so mail does not move. If you post something on the day before a bank holiday, it will not be collected until the day after the bank holiday. Plan ahead and post important documents several days before a bank holiday if you need them to arrive quickly.