When is Easter and list of UK bank holidays 2025 including four in April and May (2025)

When exactly are the UK bank holidays this year?

Beer garden season is officially here as the UK experienced its hottest day of the year on Friday, April 5, causing some Brits to look ahead and wonder when they will get some extra days off work.

Easter is just around the corner, which brings with it two bank holidays, Good Friday and Easter Monday, giving many UK workers a lovely four day weekend.

The UK recognises eight bank holidays each year, with some exceptions under special circumstances. In 2022, the UK had ten bank holidays in total after one was added for Queen Elizabeth's Platinum Jubilee on June 3, then another for her funeral on September 19.

So far in 2025 we have already had New Year's Day (January 1), so the next day to look forward to is Good Friday which falls a little late this year.

Four bank holidays fall in very close proximity to each other. In just over a month, Good Friday falls on April 18, followed closely with Easter Monday a few days later on April 21. Shortly after that, Early May bank holiday arrives on May 5, followed by Spring bank holiday which falls on on May 26.

This year also marks the 80th anniversary of VE day, Victory in Europe Day, which falls on May 8 each year. It is the day in which we celebrate the end of World War II in Europe and it marks the day the Allies accepted Germany's surrender in 1945.

Brits can honour the day with street parties as four days of concerts, services and processions have been announced by the government. This left many people wondering if we get an extra bank holiday to honour the day.

But unfortunately back in November 2024, a spokesperson from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) confirmed that the celebrations to commemorate VE day will not involve an extra bank holiday in 2025.

With only eight recognised days, only one country in the world celebrates fewer bank holidays than England and that is Mexico, which only has seven official public holidays. Across the world, India is the nation that has the most, with a whopping 21 days that are recognised as national holidays.

Scotland recognises nine bank holidays, and Northern Ireland has ten. In 2022, the UK had two extra bank holidays, one on 3 June 2022 to celebrate Queen Elizabeth’s Platinum Jubilee, and another on 19 September for her funeral.

When is Easter?

Good Friday falls on April 18 2025, which is the second bank holiday of the year. It is followed by Easter Monday on April 21.

Full list of bank holidays in 2025 (England and Wales)

• Wednesday 1 January - New Year’s Day
• Friday 18 April - Good Friday
• Monday 21 April - Easter Monday
• Monday 5 May - Early May bank holiday
• Monday 26 May - Spring bank holiday
• Monday 25 August - Summer bank holiday
• Thursday 25 December - Christmas Day
• Friday 26 December - Boxing Day

Full list of bank holidays in 2025 (Scotland)

• Wednesday 1 January - New Year’s Day
• Thursday 2 January - 2nd January
• Friday 18 April - Good Friday
• Monday 5 May - Early May bank holiday
• Monday 26 May - Spring bank holiday
• Monday 4 August - Summer bank holiday
• Monday 1 December - St Andrew’s Day (substitute day)
• Thursday 25 December - Christmas Day
• Friday 26 December - Boxing Day

Full list of bank holidays in 2025 (Northern Ireland)

• Wednesday 1 January - New Year’s Day
• Monday 17 March - St Patrick’s Day
• Friday 18 April - Good Friday
• Monday 21 April - Easter Monday
• Monday 5 May - Early May bank holiday
• Monday 26 May - Spring bank holiday
• Monday 14 July - Battle of the Boyne (Orangemen’s Day) (substitute day)
• Monday 25 August - Summer bank holiday
• Thursday 25 December - Christmas Day
• Friday 26 December - Boxing Day