Few things brighten the year ahead like knowing exactly when you can put your feet up. Whether you’re planning a long weekend, booking time off, or just curious how many bank holidays the UK actually gets in 2024, the answer varies more than you might think.

4 related posts

Total bank holidays in England and Wales, 2024: 8 ·
Total bank holidays in Scotland, 2024: 9 ·
Total bank holidays in Northern Ireland, 2024: 10 ·
First bank holiday of 2024: 1 January (New Year’s Day) ·
Last bank holiday of 2024: 26 December (Boxing Day) ·
Longest bank holiday in UK history: August 1914 (5 days)

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
2What’s unclear
  • Whether future governments will add or remove bank holidays
  • Whether Scotland will ever adopt Boxing Day as a statutory holiday
  • How employers will handle the clustering of Christmas and New Year in 2024
3Timeline signal
4What’s next
  • 2025 bank holidays: similar pattern expected, but Easter moves to 20 April
  • Possible one-off holidays for royal occasions or state events
  • Ongoing debate about a UK-wide “British Day” bank holiday

The table below summarises the key numbers for quick reference.

Key facts: 2024 UK bank holidays
Total UK bank holidays (England/Wales) 8
Total UK bank holidays (Scotland) 9
Total UK bank holidays (Northern Ireland) 10
First 2024 bank holiday 1 January
Last 2024 bank holiday 26 December
Longest historical bank holiday 5 days (August 1914)

The implication: the count is region-specific, not a single UK number.

How many bank holidays are there in the UK in 2024?

The quick answer: it depends on where you live. The UK government sets a national framework, but Scotland and Northern Ireland have their own legislation that adds or removes holidays.

Number for England and Wales

Number for Scotland

Number for Northern Ireland

  • Ten bank holidays: adds St Patrick’s Day (17 March, with substitute 18 March) and Battle of the Boyne (12 July) (Good Tuesday)
  • 2024 dates: full list includes all England & Wales holidays plus the two extras (Calendar Pedia (UK holiday calendar))
Bottom line: The UK doesn’t have a single number — it has three. England and Wales get 8, Scotland 9, Northern Ireland 10. Residents planning leave should check their own region’s list to avoid confusion.

The pattern: The two extra holidays in Northern Ireland and Scotland’s 2nd January are the only regional differences. Everything else — Easter, May, Summer, Christmas — is shared across the UK.

Is 25 and 26 a bank holiday in the UK?

Yes for most, but with a Scottish twist.

Christmas Day and Boxing Day status by region

  • In England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, both 25 December (Christmas Day) and 26 December (Boxing Day) are bank holidays (Good Tuesday)
  • In Scotland, only 25 December is a statutory bank holiday; 26 December is not legally guaranteed, though many businesses close (Wikipedia)

What happens when holidays fall on a weekend

  • If Christmas Day or Boxing Day lands on a Saturday or Sunday, a substitute weekday is declared (usually the following Monday and Tuesday) (UK Government (official public holiday guidance))
  • In 2024, 25 December is Wednesday and 26 December is Thursday — no substitution needed
The catch

Scottish workers who rely on Boxing Day as an automatic day off may need to check their employment contract. Unlike their English counterparts, they don’t have a statutory right to 26 December off.

Why this matters: For anyone planning a Christmas break across the border, knowing that Scotland treats Boxing Day differently could affect leave requests and travel itineraries.

Are there always 8 bank holidays in the UK?

Eight is the baseline for England and Wales, but history shows the number can shift.

Regional variations in number of bank holidays

  • England and Wales: 8 every year since 1971, barring one-off additions (TimeKeeper)
  • Scotland: 9 (includes 2nd January) (Group Accommodation)
  • Northern Ireland: 10 (adds St Patrick’s Day and Battle of the Boyne) (Calendar Pedia)

Historical changes to bank holiday numbers

  • 1871: Bank Holidays Act created 4 holidays (Easter Monday, Whit Monday, first Monday in August, Boxing Day) (Wikipedia)
  • 1971: New Year’s Day added; Whit Monday replaced by Spring Bank Holiday
  • Extra one-off holidays: Queen’s Golden Jubilee (2002), Queen’s Diamond Jubilee (2012), Queen’s Platinum Jubilee (2022) — each added an extra day
  • If a bank holiday falls on a weekend, a substitute weekday is given, which can effectively add a holiday when the date lands on a weekend
The upshot

The “always 8” rule applies only in a typical year with no royal celebrations. Since 2000, the UK has gained three extra one-off bank holidays — meaning workers should stay alert for government announcements.

What this means: The total count is stable but not rigid. Businesses and employees should treat 8 as a floor, not a ceiling.

What is the longest bank holiday in the UK?

A surprising piece of history: the longest bank holiday lasted five days, and it happened during one of the country’s darkest moments.

The August 1914 bank holiday

  • On 3 August 1914, the British government declared a five-day bank holiday from 3–7 August to allow financial markets to stabilise after the outbreak of World War I (NatWest Group (banking heritage archive))
  • It remains the longest continuous bank holiday in British history

Modern longest bank holiday periods

  • Christmas and New Year clustering often gives a break of 3–4 consecutive days but not as official extended bank holidays
  • Easter weekend (Good Friday to Easter Monday) provides a 4-day break in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland
  • The August bank holiday is a single day, not extended
The paradox

The longest official bank holiday was born from crisis, not celebration. Modern extended breaks come from the calendar’s luck — Christmas and Easter clustering — not from any policy design.

The trade-off: While the 1914 holiday was a one-off, today’s worker enjoys more total bank holidays per year (8–10) than the 4 available in 1871. Quality over quantity? The history suggests both matter.

Is 2nd January a bank holiday in the UK?

Only if you live in Scotland.

Status in different regions

  • 2nd January is a statutory bank holiday in Scotland — Tuesday, 2 January 2024 (Good Tuesday)
  • In England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, it is not a bank holiday; most workers return to work on 2 January

When New Year’s Day falls on a weekend

  • If 1 January is a Saturday or Sunday, the substitute bank holiday is the next working day (usually 2 January) in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland (UK Government)
  • In 2024, New Year’s Day is Monday, so no substitute is needed in any region

The implication: Scottish residents get a two-day New Year break by default. Anyone working in England, Wales, or Northern Ireland who wants 2 January off must use annual leave — unless they work for an employer that grants it as a grace day.

Timeline of UK bank holidays

  • – Bank Holidays Act establishes four bank holidays in England, Wales, and Ireland.
  • – New Year’s Day added as a bank holiday in England, Wales, and Scotland.
  • – Five-day bank holiday declared at outbreak of World War I (NatWest Group).
  • – Standard 8/9/10 bank holidays across UK regions.
  • – Potential additional holidays for royal occasions or policy changes.

What we know for sure — and what’s still open

Confirmed facts

  • 2024 bank holiday dates are published by the UK government (UK Government (official source)).
  • Regional variations are fixed by legislation — England 8, Scotland 9, Northern Ireland 10.
  • Any holiday falling on a weekend triggers a substitute day as per law.
  • All major 2024 bank holidays fall on weekdays; no substitution needed.

What’s unclear

  • Whether future governments will add or remove bank holidays.
  • Whether Scotland will adopt Boxing Day as a statutory holiday.
  • How the 2024 Christmas/New Year clustering will affect leave policies across different sectors.

Expert perspectives

“There are 8 bank holidays in England and Wales.”

— UK Government, official bank holiday listing (gov.uk (public sector authority))

“The longest bank holiday in British history lasted five days in August 1914.”

— NatWest Group, banking heritage archive (NatWest Group (financial history))

For UK workers and employers alike, the 2024 bank holiday calendar offers clarity — no substitution days, all dates on weekdays, and clear regional splits. The catch is that leave planning still requires a region-by-region check. Scotland’s extra day and Northern Ireland’s two unique holidays mean a one-size-fits-all approach doesn’t work. Business owners scheduling staff or employees booking time off should check their region’s list, count accurately, and plan around the only guaranteed constant — the UK’s bank holidays are stable, but not uniform.

Additional sources

profee.com, unitarium.com

För en detaljerad jämförelse av regionala skillnaderna i bank holidays mellan England, Skottland och Nordirland, se vår guide.

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Frequently asked questions

When is the Easter bank holiday in 2024?

Good Friday is 29 March; Easter Monday is 1 April (England, Wales, Northern Ireland). Scotland observes Good Friday but not Easter Monday.

What is the May Day bank holiday in 2024?

The Early May Bank Holiday is Monday 6 May. It applies across all UK nations.

Are bank holidays the same in England and Wales?

Yes, England and Wales share the same eight bank holidays. There is no difference in the statutory list.

What happens if a bank holiday falls on a weekend?

A substitute weekday is declared, usually the following Monday. In 2024 no bank holidays fall on a weekend, so no substitution is needed.

Do Scotland have the same bank holidays as England?

No. Scotland has nine bank holidays (adds 2nd January) and does not observe Easter Monday or Boxing Day as statutory holidays.

Which bank holidays are unique to Northern Ireland?

St Patrick’s Day (17 March) and Battle of the Boyne (12 July). In 2024, St Patrick’s Day falls on a Sunday, so the substitute is Monday 18 March.

Can I get time off for bank holidays if I work part-time?

Part-time workers are entitled to the same bank holiday pro-rata entitlement. Employers can require you to work bank holidays if your contract states it, but you should receive equivalent time off in lieu.

How are bank holiday dates determined in the UK?

Most are fixed by legislation (e.g., New Year’s Day, Boxing Day). Movable holidays like Easter follow the ecclesiastical calendar. The government can declare one-off holidays by royal proclamation.