An independent reference for every UK bank holiday.
We publish the dates, the regional differences and the rights that come with every bank holiday in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland — and we keep them up to date, year after year.
Why this site exists. Bank holidays sound simple — eight days off, right? In reality there are different lists for England & Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland; substitution rules when 26 December falls on a Saturday; pay rules that depend entirely on what your contract says rather than the law itself; and a lot of practical questions (will the bins be collected? does Royal Mail deliver?) that don’t have a single answer.
We started Bank Holidays UK to bring all of that into one place — written by people who actually know what they’re talking about, fact-checked against GOV.UK, ACAS and the relevant statutes, and updated whenever the calendar shifts.
Independence
We’re not affiliated with any UK government department, employer or union. Our editorial line is our own and our recommendations follow the evidence, not a sponsor.
Transparency
Every page tells you who wrote it, when it was last reviewed, and which sources we used. Sponsored content is always labelled.
Useful, not generic
We answer the question you actually asked. If a date depends on where you live, we say so. If a rule changed in 2026, we tell you when and why.
The team
Three editors with real experience in HR, history and consumer journalism — pictured below.
Helen Whitfield
Twenty-three years in UK HR and payroll, including Head of People at a 4,000-staff retailer. CIPD Level 7. Helen covers bank holiday pay, working time and what your contract really says.
Edward Sutcliffe
Former history teacher (Yorkshire sixth-form), now writing for UK heritage magazines. Edward handles the why-and-when — from the Bank Holidays Act 1871 to Scotland’s regional quirks.
Olivia Carr
Ten years at consumer-facing UK publications. London-based. Olivia tests every claim in the practical desk: bins, post, parking, opening hours — what actually happens on the day.
How we work
Source from GOV.UK
Every date and rule is cross-checked against gov.uk, ACAS or the relevant statute before publication.
Plain English
No HR jargon, no legal Latin. If a 9-year-old can’t follow it, it gets rewritten.
Annual review
Every page is re-read at least once a year. Date-sensitive pages are updated whenever the calendar moves.
Reader feedback
Spot a mistake? Tell us. We aim to fix verified errors within 48 hours and credit the reader if they’re happy with that.
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