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Bank holidays

Bank holidays are public holidays in the United Kingdom, when banks and many other businesses are closed for the day. Find out about the bank holiday dates in the different parts of the UK, and employees' rights to pay or time off on bank holidays.

Bank holiday dates

The expected dates of bank and public holidays in England and Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland for the next three years are listed below.

When the usual date falls on a Saturday or Sunday, the 'substitute day' is normally the following Monday. For example in 2009, the actual Boxing Day is on Saturday, 26 December, so the substitute bank holiday is Monday, 28 December.

There are currently eight permanent bank holidays in England and Wales:

England and Wales  2008 2009 2010
New Year's Day 1 January 1 January 1 January
Good Friday 21 March 10 April 2 April
Easter Monday 24 March 13 April 5 April
Early May Bank Holiday 5 May 4 May 3 May
Spring Bank Holiday 26 May 25 May 31 May
Summer Bank Holiday 25 August 31 August 30 August
Christmas Day 25 December 25 December 27 December
Boxing Day 26 December 28 December 28 December

In Northern Ireland, there are currently 10 permanent bank holidays - the same eight as in England and Wales, plus St Patrick's Day and the Anniversary of the Battle of the Boyne in 1690:

Northern Ireland 2008 2009 2010
New Year's Day 1 January 1 January 1 January
St Patrick's Day 17 March 17 March 17 March
Good Friday 21 March 10 April 2 April
Easter Monday 24 March 13 April 5 April
Early May Bank Holiday 5 May 4 May 3 May
Spring Bank Holiday 26 May 25 May 31 May
Battle of the Boyne
(Orangemen's Day)
14 July 13 July 12 July
Summer Bank Holiday 25 August 31 August 30 August
Christmas Day 25 December 25 December 27 December
Boxing Day 26 December 28 December 28 December

In Scotland, some dates are different. There are statutory bank holidays across the whole of Scotland, but other public or local holidays are determined by local authorities, based on local tradition. Since 2007, St Andrew's Day has been an alternative, voluntary public holiday, which can replace an existing local holiday.

Businesses and schools are not necessarily closed on Scottish bank holidays, and the Scottish banks follow the English and Welsh bank holidays for business reasons. For more information about Scottish holidays, see the 'Bank holidays in Scotland' link below.

Scotland 2008 2009 2010
New Year's Day 1 January 1 January 1 January
2nd January 2 January 2 January 4 January
Good Friday 21 March 10 April 2 April
Early May Bank Holiday 5 May 4 May 3 May
Spring Bank Holiday 26 May 25 May 31 May
Summer Bank Holiday 4 August 3 August 2 August
St Andrew's Day 1 December 30 November 30 November
Christmas Day 25 December 25 December 27 December
Boxing Day 26 December 28 December 28 December

Time off for employees

You don't have a statutory right to paid leave on bank and public holidays, though many people receive the day off work. Any right to time off or extra pay for working on a bank holiday depends on the terms of your contract of employment.

For more information about your right to paid leave, see 'Holiday entitlements'.

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