Bank Holidays 2024 UK: 8 in England, 10 Scotland & NI

If you live in the UK and have ever wondered how many bank holidays you are actually entitled to, you might be surprised to learn that the answer is not the same across the country. England and Wales get 8 bank holidays in 2024, while Scotland and Northern Ireland each get 10. The extra holidays reflect regional traditions — Scotland observes the 2nd of January and St Andrew’s Day, while Northern Ireland marks St Patrick’s Day and the Battle of the Boyne. This guide lays out every confirmed date for 2024, by region, so you know exactly when to expect a day off.

Bank holidays in England 2024: 8 · Bank holidays in Scotland 2024: 10 · Bank holidays in Northern Ireland 2024: 10 · Official source: GOV.UK · Early May Bank Holiday: 6 May

The table below shows the complete 2024 bank holiday schedule across all UK nations, with regional variations clearly marked.

How many bank holidays are there in the UK in 2024?

England and Wales had 8 bank holidays in 2024, according to GOV.UK (UK government’s official portal). Scotland and Northern Ireland each had 10. The disparity comes down to regional national days that only apply in certain parts of the country.

England and Wales

England and Wales follow the standard list of 8 annual bank holidays: New Year’s Day (1 January), Good Friday (29 March), Easter Monday (1 April), Early May Bank Holiday (6 May), Spring Bank Holiday (27 May), Summer Bank Holiday (26 August), Christmas Day (25 December), and Boxing Day (26 December) (GOV.UK).

Scotland

Scotland’s 10 holidays add the 2nd of January (a substitute for New Year’s Day when it falls on a weekend) and St Andrew’s Day (30 November, observed on 2 December 2024 as a substitute) to the standard list (Calendarpedia). The Summer Bank Holiday in Scotland falls on 5 August rather than the last Monday of August.

Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland also observes 10 holidays, adding St Patrick’s Day (17 March, observed 18 March 2024 as a substitute) and Battle of the Boyne (Orangemen’s Day) on 12 July. When these fall on weekends, a substitute Monday is observed (NIDirect).

The pattern across all UK nations is that 7 holidays are shared: New Year’s Day, Good Friday, Easter Monday (not in Scotland), Early May Bank Holiday, Spring Bank Holiday, Christmas Day, and Boxing Day. Scotland and Northern Ireland each add two regional holidays unique to their jurisdictions (Wikipedia).

Is December 26 a bank holiday in the UK?

Yes — Boxing Day (26 December 2024) is a bank holiday in every UK nation: England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland (GOV.UK). It falls on a Thursday in 2024, so no substitute day is needed. Christmas Day (25 December, also a Wednesday) is observed as normal.

Boxing Day across regions

There is no regional variation for Boxing Day. Whether you are in Aberdeen, Belfast, Cardiff, or London, 26 December 2024 is a bank holiday (GOV.UK). This consistency makes it one of the most reliably observed holidays across the UK.

Are there always 8 bank holidays in the UK?

No. England and Wales typically have 8, but Scotland and Northern Ireland usually have 10 each. The assumption that all of the UK has the same number of bank holidays is one of the most common misconceptions about UK public holidays (GOV.UK).

Standard count by nation

England and Wales share the same 8 holidays. Scotland adds New Year’s Day substitute (2 January) and St Andrew’s Day (30 November). Northern Ireland adds St Patrick’s Day (17 March) and Battle of the Boyne (12 July). When these regional holidays fall on weekends, substitute days are added, which can temporarily push the count above the standard 10 in Scotland or Northern Ireland.

Northern Ireland had the most bank holidays in 2024 at 10 days (TimeKeeper). Employers in all regions should check which jurisdiction they fall under, as employment law for bank holidays is devolved.

Is 25 and 26 bank holiday in the UK?

Yes — both 25 December (Christmas Day) and 26 December (Boxing Day) are bank holidays across all UK nations. In 2024 both fell on weekdays, making them straightforward observed holidays with no substitute days required (GOV.UK).

Christmas and Boxing Day

Christmas Day and Boxing Day are among the most universally recognised bank holidays in the UK. When either falls on a weekend, the substitute day rules mean that a Monday (or sometimes Tuesday) becomes the observed holiday. In 2024, neither required a substitute, which meant uninterrupted two-day Christmas breaks for most workers.

Banks, post offices, and most retail businesses close on both days. Some supermarkets have begun trading on Boxing Day in recent years, though this varies by retailer and location.

How many bank holidays were there from April 2024 to March 2025?

The period from April 2024 through March 2025 spans part of the 2024 holiday year and the start of the 2025 holiday year, meaning the count depends on which UK nation you are in. In England and Wales, you would observe 8 holidays within that 12-month window — the full 2024 list plus New Year’s Day 2025. In Scotland and Northern Ireland, the total is 10 for the same reason (GOV.UK).

Fiscal year breakdown

This April-to-March period covers the end of the 2024 holiday schedule and the beginning of 2025. For planning purposes, the relevant dates are the Easter holidays (29 March and 1 April 2024), the May bank holidays (6 May and 27 May 2024), the Summer Bank Holiday (26 August 2024 or 5 August for Scotland), and the Christmas period (25 and 26 December 2024), followed by New Year’s Day on 1 January 2025.

The fiscal year overlap means that anyone tracking holiday entitlements across a financial year (April to March) will see a clean split between the two calendar years’ worth of holidays.