Read our new post on how to get more days off work. Make the most of your annual leave in 2025 by planning around UK bank holidays. With a bit of strategy, you can stretch your time off into longer breaks while using fewer leave days. Here’s how to do it.
UK Public Holidays in 2025
For 2025, the UK public holidays are as follows:
– New Year’s Day: Wednesday, 1 January 2025
– Good Friday: Friday, 19 April 2025
– Easter Monday: Monday, 22 April 2025
– Early May Bank Holiday: Monday, 6 May 2025
– Spring Bank Holiday: Monday, 27 May 2025
– Summer Bank Holiday: Monday, 26 August 2025
– Christmas Day: Wednesday, 25 December 2025
– Boxing Day: Thursday, 26 December 2025
(Note: In Scotland, Easter Monday is not a public holiday, and the Summer Bank Holiday is observed on the first Monday in August.)
Maximizing Annual Leave in 2025
To get the most out of your annual leave, book time off work as follows:
1. New Year’s Extended Break
– Public Holidays: Wednesday, 1 January 2025
– Plan: Take Thursday, 2 January 2025 and Friday, 3 January 2025 off.
– Leave Days: 2 days
– Result: A 5-day break from Wednesday, 1 January to Sunday, 5 January 2025 (including the weekend).
2. Easter Break
– Public Holidays: Friday, 19 April and Monday, 22 April 2025
– Plan: Take Tuesday, 23 April to Friday, 26 April 2025 off.
– Leave Days: 4 days
– Result: A 10-day break from Friday, 19 April to Sunday, 28 April 2025.
3. Early May Long Weekend
– Public Holiday: Monday, 6 May 2025
– Plan: Take Tuesday, 7 May to Friday, 10 May 2025 off.
– Leave Days: 4 days
– Result: A 9-day break from Saturday, 4 May to Sunday, 12 May 2025.
4. Spring Bank Holiday Extension
– Public Holiday: Monday, 27 May 2025
– Plan: Take Tuesday, 28 May to Friday, 31 May 2025 off.
– Leave Days: 4 days
– Result: A 9-day break from Saturday, 25 May to Sunday, 2 June 2025.
5. Summer Bank Holiday Break
– Public Holiday: Monday, 26 August 2025
– Plan: Take Tuesday, 27 August to Friday, 30 August 2025 off.
– Leave Days: 4 days
– Result: A 9-day break from Saturday, 24 August to Sunday, 1 September 2025.
6. Christmas and New Year’s Extended Break
– Public Holidays: Wednesday, 25 December and Thursday, 26 December 2025
– Plan: Take Friday, 27 December 2025 and Monday, 30 December 2025 off (also include Tuesday, 31 December if desired).
– Leave Days: 2 days (or 3 days if including 31 December)
– Result: A 9-day break from Wednesday, 25 December to Thursday, 2 January 2026 (including weekends).
Summary of Total Leave Days
By combining the above plans, you can maximize your time off while using a minimum number of leave days:
1. New Year’s: 2 days
2. Easter: 4 days
3. Early May: 4 days
4. Spring Bank Holiday: 4 days
5. Summer Bank Holiday: 4 days
6. Christmas/New Year’s: 2 days (or 3 days)
Total Leave Days: 20 days (or 21 days if including 31 December)
Tips for Planning
Book Early: Public holidays and extended breaks can be popular times for travel. Booking accommodation and travel early can save money and secure availability.
Consider Half-Days: If your company allows it, consider using half-days to extend weekends or create shorter breaks without using full leave days.
By carefully planning around public holidays and weekends, you can enjoy extended breaks throughout the year while using your annual leave efficiently.
Looking for 2026 and 2027 dates? Our updated guide covers every bank holiday bridge window for both years: How to get more days off work: UK bank holiday guide 2026 & 2027.
Kate Acaster is Chief Editor at Flight Tribe. She writes about practical travel planning, budget airlines, baggage rules, city breaks, beach holidays and good hotels that do not cost daft money.
Kate has travelled through Europe, South America and beyond, usually with a notebook, a half-formed plan and a strong opinion on airport snacks. At Flight Tribe, her work focuses on helping UK travellers understand what is included, what costs extra, and whether a trip is worth booking at the price shown.
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