Also on Bank Holidays UK: Easter 2027: Good Friday 26 March and Easter Monday 29 March · New Year Bank Holiday 2027: Friday 1 January (Scotland 4 January) · Long Weekends 2027: Every Bank Holiday Weekend and How to Stretch It
There are two May bank holidays in 2027, and both are Mondays: the Early May bank holiday on 3 May 2027 and the Spring bank holiday on 31 May 2027. Unlike most UK holidays, both apply in all four nations, so England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland get the same two long weekends.
May bank holidays 2027 at a glance
| Bank holiday | Date | Long weekend | Applies in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Early May bank holiday | Monday 3 May 2027 | Sat 1 May – Mon 3 May | Whole UK |
| Spring bank holiday | Monday 31 May 2027 | Sat 29 May – Mon 31 May | Whole UK |
| Nation | Early May 3 May | Spring 31 May |
|---|---|---|
| England | ✓ | ✓ |
| Wales | ✓ | ✓ |
| Scotland | ✓ | ✓ |
| Northern Ireland | ✓ | ✓ |
May Day itself, Saturday 1 May 2027, is not a bank holiday. The Early May bank holiday is always the first Monday of the month, which in 2027 is the 3rd. The Spring bank holiday is always the last Monday of May — and because 31 May 2027 is a Monday, 2027 has the latest possible Spring bank holiday. The two are 28 days apart, exactly 4 weeks.
The Early May bank holiday — Monday 3 May
The first Monday in May has been a bank holiday across the UK for decades and is widely known as the May Day bank holiday, although it rarely falls on 1 May itself. In England and Wales it is appointed each year by royal proclamation rather than listed in the Banking and Financial Dealings Act 1971. In 2027 it gives a three-day weekend from Saturday 1 May to Monday 3 May. Background: Early May bank holiday.
The Spring bank holiday — Monday 31 May
The Spring bank holiday is listed in the 1971 Act as “the last Monday in May” for England, Wales and Northern Ireland. In many areas it sits next to the late-May school half-term, which makes it a popular travel weekend — check your own council’s term dates, as these are not set nationally. Background: Spring bank holiday.
Turning May 2027 into longer breaks
May is the only month in 2027 with two separate long weekends in every UK nation, which makes it one of the best months to use annual leave. Each Monday holiday turns four days of leave into nine days off. The table assumes a Monday-to-Friday working week:
| Book these days | Leave used | You get off | Days off |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tue 4 May – Fri 7 May | 4 | Sat 1 May → Sun 9 May | 9 |
| Tue 1 Jun – Fri 4 Jun | 4 | Sat 29 May → Sun 6 Jun | 9 |
| Mon 24 May – Fri 4 Jun | 9 | Sat 22 May → Sun 6 Jun | 16 |
| Tue 4 May – Fri 7 May + Tue 1 Jun – Fri 4 Jun | 8 | Two separate 9-day breaks | 18 |
Easter comes early in 2027, so the gap from Easter Monday to the Early May bank holiday is 35 days in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. See Easter 2027 and the long weekends 2027 planner to combine the spring holidays.
May bank holidays 2025–2028 compared
| 2025 | 2026 | 2027 | 2028 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Early May bank holiday | Mon 5 May | Mon 4 May | Mon 3 May | Mon 1 May |
| Spring bank holiday | Mon 26 May | Mon 25 May | Mon 31 May | Mon 29 May |
| Days between them | 21 | 21 | 28 | 28 |
2028 swings the other way: its Early May bank holiday falls on 1 May, the earliest possible date, and the Spring bank holiday on 29 May. Full year: bank holidays 2028.
When the May bank holidays have moved
The two May dates are the ones most often changed for national events, always by royal proclamation announced well in advance. GOV.UK’s own dataset records these recent changes:
| Date | What happened |
|---|---|
| Fri 8 May 2020 | Early May bank holiday moved from Monday to Friday for the 75th anniversary of VE Day |
| Thu 2 Jun 2022 | Spring bank holiday moved into June for the Platinum Jubilee |
| Fri 3 Jun 2022 | Extra Platinum Jubilee bank holiday |
| Mon 8 May 2023 | Extra bank holiday for the coronation of King Charles III |
No change has been announced for 2027: GOV.UK lists the standard first-Monday and last-Monday dates. If a one-off holiday were added, it would appear in the GOV.UK dataset and we would update this page. More history: jubilee and royal bank holidays.
What is open on the May bank holidays
Bank holiday Mondays are ordinary trading days for shops in England and Wales, so supermarkets usually open, often with slightly shorter hours; the Sunday before follows normal Sunday trading rules. Bank branches close and there are no Royal Mail letter deliveries. Useful pages: supermarket hours, banks, Royal Mail, bin collections, GP surgeries and trains.
After the Spring bank holiday, the next date is the August bank holiday 2027 — unless you live in Northern Ireland, where the Battle of the Boyne 2027 comes first. All 2027 dates: UK bank holidays 2027.
Frequently asked questions
When is the May bank holiday 2027?
There are two: the Early May bank holiday on Monday 3 May 2027 and the Spring bank holiday on Monday 31 May 2027.
Is 1 May 2027 a bank holiday?
No. May Day falls on Saturday 1 May 2027. The bank holiday is the first Monday in May, 3 May 2027.
Are the May bank holidays the same in Scotland and Northern Ireland?
Yes. Both May bank holidays apply in all four UK nations in 2027: England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
When is the late May bank holiday 2027?
The late May (Spring) bank holiday is Monday 31 May 2027, the last Monday in May. 31 May is the latest date it can fall.
How many days are there between the two May bank holidays in 2027?
28 days — exactly 4 weeks, from 3 May 2027 to 31 May 2027.
How do I get nine days off in May 2027?
Book the four working days after either bank holiday. Tuesday 4 May to Friday 7 May gives nine days off from Saturday 1 May; Tuesday 1 June to Friday 4 June gives nine days from Saturday 29 May.
Will the May 2027 bank holidays be moved?
No change has been announced. GOV.UK lists the standard dates. May bank holidays have been moved for national events before (2020, 2022, 2023), but always by royal proclamation well in advance.
When are the May bank holidays in 2028?
The Early May bank holiday is Monday 1 May 2028 and the Spring bank holiday is Monday 29 May 2028.
- UK bank holidays — GOV.UK (dataset bank-holidays.json)
- Banking and Financial Dealings Act 1971, Schedule 1 — legislation.gov.uk
Verified on 27 September 2026. Every bank holiday date on this page is taken from the official GOV.UK bank holidays dataset for England & Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland; the weekday for each date, the day counts and the leave calculations were generated by script from those dates rather than typed by hand. Shop, transport and school arrangements change — always confirm with the operator, retailer or council.