Bank holidays in the UK are set dates when most banks, offices, and many shops close

Whether today is a bank holiday depends on which part of the UK you are in and what the current date is. England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland each have slightly different bank holiday calendars — England and Wales share most dates, but Scotland has two extra holidays and Northern Ireland has different religious observances. The easiest way to know if today is a bank holiday is to check the UK government's official bank holidays page, which lists every date for the current and next year.

Bank holidays affect how payments move through the system. If you send a payment on a bank holiday, it will not clear until the next working day. Standing orders and direct debits scheduled for a bank holiday will process on the next business day instead. Cheques take longer to clear on or around bank holidays because the clearing system does not operate.

Key Takeaways

  • England and Wales share the same bank holiday dates, but Scotland observes two additional holidays and Northern Ireland observes different dates tied to religious events.
  • The UK government publishes the complete bank holiday calendar on GOV.UK, showing every date for the current and following year.
  • Payments sent on a bank holiday will not clear until the next working day, and standing orders or direct debits scheduled for that date will process the day after instead.
  • Cheques take longer to clear around bank holidays because the clearing system does not operate on those dates.

The four UK bank holiday calendars and how they differ

England and Wales observe the same eight bank holidays each year: New Year's Day, Good Friday, Easter Monday, Early May Bank Holiday (first Monday in May), Spring Bank Holiday (last Monday in May), Summer Bank Holiday (last Monday in August), Christmas Day, and Boxing Day. When Christmas Day or Boxing Day falls on a weekend, a substitute day off is given on the following Monday or Tuesday.

Scotland has ten bank holidays. It observes all the same dates as England and Wales except it does not have Easter Monday or the Spring Bank Holiday. Instead, Scotland has a bank holiday on 2 January (New Year's Day holiday) and a bank holiday on the first Monday in August (Summer Bank Holiday). The dates are slightly different from England's.

Northern Ireland has ten bank holidays as well, but the calendar reflects different religious observances. It has St Patrick's Day (17 March) and the Battle of the Boyne (12 July), which England, Wales, and Scotland do not observe. The other dates largely align with the rest of the UK.

Where to find today's bank holiday status

The UK government publishes the official bank holiday calendar on GOV.UK under "Bank holidays". The page shows every bank holiday for England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland for the current year and the next. You can see the exact date, the day of the week, and which regions observe it. This is the source that banks, building societies, and payment processors use to determine whether the clearing system will operate.

Your own bank's website may also display a calendar of bank holidays and how they affect payment processing. Some banks show this information in their help section or under "Payment timings". However, the GOV.UK page is the authoritative source — if your bank's calendar differs, the government calendar is correct.

How bank holidays affect payment timing

If you send a payment on a bank holiday, it enters the queue but does not move through the clearing system until the next working day. A payment sent on Christmas Day, for example, will not clear until 27 December (or 28 December if the 27th is also a weekend). This applies to all payment types: bank transfers, standing orders, direct debits, and cheques.

Standing orders and direct debits scheduled to process on a bank holiday will automatically move to the next working day. If your rent or mortgage is due on a bank holiday, the payment will leave your account the day after. This can matter if you are counting on funds arriving by a specific date — plan ahead if a payment is scheduled near a bank holiday.

Cheques are affected more severely. A cheque deposited on a bank holiday takes longer to clear because the cheque clearing system does not operate. If you deposit a cheque on a Friday that is also a bank holiday, it may not clear until the following Wednesday or Thursday, depending on the bank.

What stays open on bank holidays

Not everything closes on a bank holiday. Post offices, supermarkets, petrol stations, and many shops remain open, though hours may be reduced. Online banking is always available — you can check your balance, send payments, and manage your account 24 hours a day on a bank holiday. However, the payment will not clear until the next working day.

Customer service lines at banks are usually closed on bank holidays, so if you need to speak to someone, you will have to wait until the next working day. Some banks offer a limited emergency service for urgent issues, but routine queries will not be answered.

Planning payments around bank holidays

If you need a payment to arrive by a specific date, send it at least one working day before that date. If the important date falls on or just after a bank holiday, send the payment two or three working days early to be safe. For example, if you need to pay a bill by 28 December and Boxing Day (26 December) is a bank holiday, send the payment by 23 December.

Check your bank's payment timings page to see how long transfers normally take — most UK bank transfers now clear the same day if sent before the cut-off time, but this does not explore on bank holidays. If you are setting up a standing order or direct debit, check the date it is scheduled for. If it falls on a bank holiday, it will process the next day instead, which may affect your cash flow.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do all banks close on the same bank holidays?

Yes. All UK banks observe the same bank holidays for their region — England and Wales banks close on the same dates, Scotland banks on Scottish dates, and Northern Ireland banks on Northern Ireland dates. The clearing system that moves money between banks also closes on these dates, so payments do not clear regardless of which bank you use.

Can I withdraw money from an ATM on a bank holiday?

Yes. ATMs operate 24 hours a day on bank holidays. You can withdraw cash, check your balance, and deposit cheques (though the cheque will not clear until the next working day). Online banking is also available around the clock.

What happens if I set up a standing order for a bank holiday date?

The standing order will automatically process on the next working day instead. If your rent is due on Christmas Day, for example, the payment will leave your account on 27 December. Tell your landlord or creditor in advance so they do not think the payment is late.

Do I need to do anything different to send a payment on a bank holiday?

No. You can send a payment the same way you normally would — online, by phone, or in person at a branch. The payment will be accepted and queued, but it will not clear until the next working day. There is no special process or extra step required.

How far in advance should I send a payment if a bank holiday is coming up?

Send payments at least one working day before the important date. If the important date is close to a bank holiday, send it two or three working days early. For example, if you need money to arrive by 2 January and 1 January is New Year's Day, send the payment by 30 December.