When the UK bank holidays are in 2025 as Brits 'to get extra day off'

As 2024 draws to a close, with Christmas less than a month away, thoughts will inevitably start to turn to next year - including when the long weekends fall. Generally, there are eight bank holidays in England and Wales each year, with Scotland having nine and Northern Ireland 10 to mark different national occasions.

However, in recent years there have been some extra dates to mark certain dates. In 2022 the late Queen's Platinum Jubilee was celebrated with a four-day weekend between June 2 and 5, created by moving the late May bank holiday and adding an extra one.

Later that year, the date of her funeral, September 19, was also an extra bank holiday. In 2023, Brits were given an extra bank holiday on Monday, May 8, to celebrate the King's coronation.

It's now been reported that similar plans are in the works for 2025. This time, it would be to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II.

May 8 is Victory in Europe Day, when the end of the conflict with Germany is marked. Meanwhile, August 15 mark's the date of Japan's surrender in 1945, which fully ended the war.

However, in a new development on Tuesday lunchtime, the Government poured cold water on the idea. The PM's official spokesperson said that events to mark the occasion were being planned, but "these plans do not include an additional bank holiday, but we will look to use the existing early May bank holiday for commemorative events".

With that in mind, here are the current confirmed bank holidays for 2025.

England and Wales bank holidays 2025

Wednesday, January 1, New Year’s Day

Friday, April 18, Good Friday

Monday, April 21, Easter Monday

Monday, May 5, Early May bank holiday

Monday, May 26, Spring bank holiday

Monday, August 25, Summer bank holiday

Thursday, December 25, Christmas Day

Friday, December 26, Boxing Day

Scotland bank holidays 2025

Wednesday, January 1, New Year’s Day

Thursday, January 2, 2nd January

Friday, April 18, Good Friday

Monday, May 5, Early May bank holiday

Monday, May 26, Spring bank holiday

Monday, August 4, Summer bank holiday

Monday, December 1, St Andrew’s Day (substitute day)

Thursday, December 25, Christmas Day

Friday, December 26, Boxing Day

Northern Ireland bank holidays 2025

Wednesday, January 1, New Year’s Day

Monday, March 17, St Patrick’s Day

Friday, April 18, Good Friday

Monday, April 21, Easter Monday

Monday, May 5, Early May bank holiday

Monday, May 26, Spring bank holiday

Monday, July 14, Battle of the Boyne (Orangemen’s Day) (substitute day)

Monday, August 25, Summer bank holiday

Thursday, December 25, Christmas Day

Friday, December 26, Boxing Day