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Planning annual leave around UK bank holidays in 2026
The 2026 calendar rewards early planning. Here are the highest-value leave bookings of the year, plus the entitlement rules worth knowing before you request them.
Reviewed for the 2026 holiday year
Bank holidays are the cheapest days off you will ever get, but only if your leave sits next to them. These suggestions assume a Monday-to-Friday pattern and the England, Wales and Northern Ireland calendar unless noted.
Best-value leave bookings in 2026
| Book these days | Leave used | Total time off |
|---|---|---|
| Easter: 7–10 April | 4 days booked | 10 days off, 3–12 April, with Good Friday and Easter Monday |
| Early May: 5–8 May | 4 days booked | 9 days off, 2–10 May, around the Monday 4 May holiday |
| Spring: 26–29 May | 4 days booked | 9 days off, 23–31 May, ideal for the half term |
| Summer: 1–4 September | 4 days booked | 9 days off, 29 August–6 September (England, Wales, NI) |
| Christmas: 21–24 and 29–31 December | 7 days booked | 12 days off, 25 December–3 January |
If you work in Scotland
Swap the late August play for the Monday 3 August summer bank holiday, and remember Easter Monday is a normal working day. St Andrew's Day on Monday 30 November also pairs well with a Friday off for a four-day break.
Entitlement basics before you book
- Statutory paid leave is 5.6 weeks a year, which is 28 days for a full-time five-day week.
- Employers may count bank holidays within that 28 days, or grant them on top — the contract decides.
- Part-time workers should get a pro-rata equivalent so they are not disadvantaged by Monday-heavy holidays.
- Requests can be refused for business reasons, so book competitive periods early.
General information, not employment advice
Annual leave and bank holidays: FAQs
Am I entitled to bank holidays off work in the UK?
There is no automatic right to bank holidays off. Workers get at least 5.6 weeks' paid statutory leave a year, and employers can include bank holidays within that entitlement.
Do I get extra pay for working a bank holiday?
Enhanced pay for bank holiday work is a contractual matter, not a legal requirement. Check your contract, staff handbook or collective agreement.
How do bank holidays work for part-time staff?
Part-time workers should not be treated less favourably. Employers often pro-rata bank holiday entitlement so that staff who never work Mondays are not disadvantaged.
When should I book 2026 leave for the best chance of approval?
Book the Easter, late May and Christmas periods as early as your employer's system allows, since those weeks are the most heavily requested.
Do bank holidays carry over if I am on sick leave or maternity leave?
Statutory leave continues to accrue during those absences. How bank holidays are treated depends on your employer's policy, so ask HR to confirm in writing.