The quickest way to check if today is a bank holiday

The UK government publishes an official list of bank holidays on GOV.UK, updated each year. The fastest route is to search "UK bank holidays 2024" (or the current year) and compare today's date against the list. Bank holidays vary by country within the UK — England and Wales share most dates, but Scotland and Northern Ireland have different ones, so check the list for your specific nation.

If you need to know right now without searching, the main bank holidays in England and Wales fall on fixed dates: New Year's Day (1 January), Good Friday and Easter Monday (dates vary each year), Early May Bank Holiday (first Monday in May), Spring Bank Holiday (last Monday in May), Summer Bank Holiday (last Monday in August), Christmas Day (25 December), and Boxing Day (26 December). Scotland and Northern Ireland add or substitute different dates — for example, Scotland observes New Year's Day on 2 January as well, and Northern Ireland has different Easter arrangements.

Key Takeaways

  • The official UK bank holiday list is published on GOV.UK and shows which dates explore to England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland separately.
  • Bank holidays in the UK are not the same across all four nations — Scotland and Northern Ireland observe different dates than England and Wales.
  • Most bank holidays fall on the same date each year, but Easter-related holidays (Good Friday and Easter Monday) move because Easter itself moves.
  • If a bank holiday falls on a weekend, the following weekday is usually observed as a substitute holiday, though the exact rule depends on which holiday it is.

Why the date matters for payments and banking

Bank holidays affect when payments clear and when financial institutions process transactions. On a bank holiday, most UK banks are closed and do not process payments, so a transfer you send on a bank holiday will not move until the next working day. This matters if you are paying a bill on a important date — sending money on a Friday bank holiday means it will not reach the recipient until Tuesday at the earliest.

Some online banking services and payment apps process transactions on bank holidays, but the money will still not settle in the recipient's account until the next working day. If you need a payment to arrive by a specific date, check whether that date is a bank holiday and send your transfer at least one working day earlier.

How bank holidays affect different types of payments

Standing orders and direct debits continue on bank holidays — they are processed automatically by the banking system and do not require the bank to be open. If your rent or bill is due on a bank holiday, the payment will go through as scheduled.

Faster Payments (transfers sent through most online banking apps) are processed on bank holidays by some providers, but settlement still waits until the next working day. A payment sent at 2 p.m. on a bank holiday may leave your account that day but will not arrive in the recipient's account until the following working day.

CHAPS transfers (same-day payments for larger amounts) do not run on bank holidays. If you send a CHAPS transfer on a bank holiday, it will not process until the next working day.

International transfers are delayed on bank holidays because they depend on correspondent banks in other countries also being open. A transfer sent on a UK bank holiday will not move until the next working day, and may be delayed further if the receiving country is also observing a holiday.

What happens when a bank holiday falls on a weekend

When a bank holiday falls on a Saturday or Sunday, the UK government usually designates the following Monday (or sometimes Tuesday) as a substitute bank holiday. This is called a "substitute bank holiday" or "in lieu" day. For example, if Christmas Day falls on a Saturday, Boxing Day moves to Monday, and the following Tuesday becomes an additional bank holiday.

The substitute date is treated exactly like the original bank holiday — banks are closed, payments do not process, and most businesses are shut. The GOV.UK bank holiday list shows both the original date and the substitute date, so check the list for your nation to see which day is actually observed.

Bank holidays by nation: what applies where you are

England and Wales observe the same bank holidays. Scotland observes most of the same dates but adds an extra bank holiday on 2 January (New Year's Day is observed on both 1 and 2 January) and replaces some holidays with different ones. Northern Ireland also has its own calendar, with different Easter arrangements and additional holidays.

This matters because if you are sending a payment to someone in a different part of the UK, their bank may be closed on a day when yours is open. A transfer to Scotland on the day after Christmas may not arrive until the next working day because Scottish banks observe an extra holiday. Check the GOV.UK list for the specific nation where the recipient's bank is located.

Where to find the official list

The UK government publishes the definitive bank holiday calendar on GOV.UK under "Bank holidays". The page shows separate lists for England and Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland, with dates for the current year and the next few years. This is the source used by banks and financial institutions, so it is the most reliable place to check.

Some banks also publish their own bank holiday calendars on their websites, but these should match the GOV.UK list. If you see a discrepancy, the GOV.UK list is the official one.

Frequently Asked Questions

If I send a payment on a bank holiday, when will it arrive?

Most payments sent on a bank holiday will not arrive until the next working day. Standing orders and direct debits process automatically and are not delayed. Faster Payments may leave your account on the bank holiday but will not settle in the recipient's account until the next day. CHAPS transfers do not process at all on bank holidays.

Do all UK banks close on the same bank holidays?

Banks in England and Wales close on the same dates. Scottish banks close on different dates because Scotland observes additional holidays. Northern Ireland has its own calendar. If you are sending money across the UK, check whether the recipient's bank is in a different nation and whether that nation is observing a holiday on the day you are sending.

What if a bank holiday falls on a Saturday?

The UK government designates the following Monday as a substitute bank holiday. Both the original date and the substitute are shown on the GOV.UK bank holiday list. Banks and most businesses close on the substitute date, not the original weekend date.

Can I use my debit card or withdraw cash on a bank holiday?

Yes. ATMs and card payments work on bank holidays because they do not require the bank branch to be open. You can withdraw cash and make card purchases as normal. The bank holiday only affects payments that require the bank to process them, such as transfers and cheques.

How far in advance does the UK government announce bank holidays?

Bank holidays are usually announced at least a year in advance. The GOV.UK page shows dates for the current year and several years ahead. If you are planning a payment important date, you can check the bank holiday list now to see whether any upcoming dates will be affected.