England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland each get a different number of bank holidays
The UK does not have a single bank holiday calendar. England and Wales share eight bank holidays per year, Scotland observes nine, and Northern Ireland observes ten. The dates also differ between the nations — for example, the early May bank holiday falls on different dates in different parts of the UK, and some regions have holidays others do not.
Bank holidays are days when most banks, government offices, and many businesses close. If you pay bills, transfer money, or need to contact your bank on a bank holiday, your transaction may not process until the next working day. This matters most if you have a payment due or are waiting for money to arrive.
The dates are set by the government and published years in advance. You can find the official list on the UK government website, which updates the calendar for the next several years.
Key Takeaways
- England and Wales have eight bank holidays; Scotland has nine; Northern Ireland has ten.
- Bank holidays in different UK nations fall on different dates, so the same day may be a working day in one part of the UK and a bank holiday in another.
- Payments and transfers initiated on a bank holiday usually do not process until the next working day.
- The government publishes bank holiday dates several years in advance on the official UK government website.
The eight bank holidays in England and Wales
England and Wales observe New Year's Day (1 January), Good Friday, Easter Monday, Early May Bank Holiday (first Monday in May), Spring Bank Holiday (last Monday in May), Summer Bank Holiday (last Monday in August), Christmas Day (25 December), and Boxing Day (26 December).
Good Friday and Easter Monday are not fixed dates — they move each year because Easter is calculated from the lunar calendar. In 2024, Good Friday fell on 29 March and Easter Monday on 1 April. In 2025, they fall on 18 April and 21 April. If you need to make a payment around Easter, check the exact dates rather than assuming they are the same as the previous year.
When a bank holiday falls on a weekend, the government usually declares a substitute day off on the following Monday or Tuesday. For example, if Christmas Day is a Saturday, Boxing Day (26 December) is observed on the Monday instead. This is called a "substitute bank holiday" and is announced by the government each year.
Scotland's nine bank holidays and different dates
Scotland observes the same eight holidays as England and Wales, plus an additional New Year's Day holiday on 2 January. This means Scottish banks and offices are closed for nine days per year that are not bank holidays elsewhere in the UK.
Scotland also observes different dates for some holidays. For example, Scotland does not observe Easter Monday as a bank holiday. Instead, it observes the day after Easter Monday (Easter Tuesday). This means a payment you make on Easter Monday in Scotland may process normally, but the same payment in England would not.
If you bank with a Scottish institution or have money moving between Scotland and England around Easter, check your bank's holiday calendar to confirm which days will affect your transaction.
Northern Ireland's ten bank holidays
Northern Ireland observes ten bank holidays per year: New Year's Day, St. Patrick's Day (17 March), Good Friday, Easter Monday, Early May Bank Holiday, Spring Bank Holiday, Summer Bank Holiday, Battle of the Boyne (12 July), Christmas Day, and Boxing Day.
St. Patrick's Day and the Battle of the Boyne are unique to Northern Ireland. If you have a payment due on 17 March or 12 July and bank with a Northern Irish institution, that transaction will not process until the next working day.
Like the rest of the UK, Northern Ireland observes substitute bank holidays when a holiday falls on a weekend. The government announces these in advance each year.
How bank holidays affect your payments and transfers
When you initiate a payment on a bank holiday, it enters a queue but does not move through the banking system until the next working day. This applies to standing orders, direct debits, bank transfers, and cheques. If a bill is due on a bank holiday, paying on that day will not satisfy the due date — you need to pay on the working day before.
Some payments are time-sensitive. For example, if you have a mortgage payment due on a Monday that is a bank holiday, you should pay on the Friday before. If you pay on the Monday, your lender will record it as late, even though you initiated the payment on time. Check your mortgage or loan agreement to see whether the due date is the calendar date or the next working day if the date falls on a non-working day.
Incoming payments — such as salary, benefits, or money from another person — also pause on bank holidays. If you are expecting money to arrive on a bank holiday, it will land on the next working day instead. This can affect your account balance if you are relying on that money to cover a payment.
Finding the exact dates for your region
The UK government publishes bank holiday dates on GOV.UK. You can filter by England, Scotland, Wales, or Northern Ireland to see the holidays that apply to you. The site lists dates for the current year and several years ahead.
Your bank may also publish a holiday calendar on its website or app. Some banks mark bank holidays in their transaction history or payment screens, so you can see at a glance whether a day you are planning to pay is a bank holiday.
If you are unsure whether a specific date is a bank holiday in your region, search the GOV.UK bank holidays page or contact your bank directly. It takes one minute and can prevent a late payment.
What happens if you need to pay on a bank holiday
If a payment is due on a bank holiday and you cannot pay before, contact your lender, landlord, or creditor as soon as you know. Explain that the due date falls on a bank holiday and ask whether they will accept payment on the next working day without recording it as late. Many creditors will agree, especially if you contact them in advance.
For bills paid by direct debit, your bank and the company receiving the payment coordinate the timing. The payment will usually process on the next working day, and most companies account for this in their systems. However, check your agreement to confirm.
If you miss a payment because of a bank holiday and it is recorded as late, you can dispute it with your lender or creditor. Provide evidence that you initiated the payment on the last working day before the holiday. Many will remove the late mark if you can show you acted in time.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do all UK banks close on bank holidays?
Most high street banks close their branches on bank holidays, but online banking and mobile apps remain open. You can check your balance and view transactions, but payments and transfers will not process until the next working day. Some banks operate limited branch hours on certain bank holidays — check your bank's website to confirm.
If I pay by card on a bank holiday, does it process immediately?
Card payments at shops and online retailers process immediately regardless of bank holidays. The money leaves your account on the day you pay. However, bank-to-bank transfers and standing orders initiated on a bank holiday do not process until the next working day.
What if a bank holiday falls on a Saturday or Sunday?
The government declares a substitute bank holiday on the following Monday or Tuesday. For example, if Christmas Day is a Saturday, the substitute holiday is usually the following Monday. Your bank will be closed on the substitute day, not on the weekend.
Do I need to know the bank holidays for other UK nations if I only bank in England?
Only if you are sending money to someone in Scotland or Northern Ireland. If the recipient's bank is closed on a day when yours is open, the transfer may take longer to arrive. For payments within England, you only need to know the eight English bank holidays.
Can I set up a standing order to pay on a bank holiday?
Yes, you can set up a standing order for a bank holiday date. However, the payment will not process until the next working day. If the payment is due on that date, it will be recorded as late. Set up standing orders for the working day before a bank holiday if the due date matters.