Although 2025 is still a few months away, it is high time to think and decide on which bank holidays of the year one can take and enjoy, learn about, and revel in the richness of the British culture and history. Most of the bank holidays in the UK are not just days people can have fun or do nothing but days with a significant meaning in the context of the country.
Regardless of whether you want to have a holiday, take part in the celebration of some cultural events, or just have a rest, one should know the next bank holidays, which will take place during the following year.
In this post, you will learn about significant bank holidays in the United Kingdom in 2025, together with the background of each holiday, so that you can plan your year in advance.
Bank Holidays in UK 2025
Date
Bank holiday
Region
Day
January 1st, 2025
New Year's Day
Nationwide
Wednesday
January 2nd, 2025
2nd January
Scotland
Thursday
March 17th, 2025
St Patrick's Day
Northern Ireland
Monday
April 18th, 2025
Good Friday
Nationwide
Friday
April 21st, 2025
Easter Monday
England
Wales
Northern Ireland
Monday
May 5th, 2025
Early May Bank Holiday
Nationwide
Monday
May 26th, 2025
Spring Bank Holiday
Nationwide
Monday
July 12th, 2025
Battle of the Boyne (The Twelfth/Orangemen's Day)
Northern Ireland
Saturday
July 14th, 2025
Substitute day (for Battle of the Boyne)
Northern Ireland
Monday
August 4th, 2025
August Bank Holiday (Scotland)
Scotland
Monday
August 25th, 2025
August Bank Holiday
England
Wales
Northern Ireland
Monday
November 30th, 2025
St Andrew's Day
Scotland
Sunday
December 1st, 2025
Substitute day (for St Andrew's Day)
Scotland
Monday
December 25th, 2025
Christmas Day
Nationwide
Thursday
December 26th, 2025
Boxing Day
Nationwide
Friday
January: Welcoming the New Year
The beginning of the year is marked by New Year’s Day falling on January 1st, 2025, and is recognised as a national holiday. This public holiday falls on a Wednesday, and it means the beginning of the year 2025. It is usually a day for outings and celebrations such as parties, functions, and even family meetings to harbour new year resolutions. Some of the activities that people engage in during this period may include; taking a break from work and fun activities to rest and revive themselves after the end-of-year celebrations, but also the setting of goals and planning for the New Year.
In Scotland, the festivities go on beyond the New Year, and this is indicated by the 2nd January holiday set for January 2nd, 2025. Apparently because the original New Year was a Thursday, this extra day, despite sounding as if it is part of a four-day weekend, is the traditional Scottish way of enjoying the new year break for more than a couple of days.
March: Celebrating St Patrick
Northern Ireland’s significant holiday falls in March. St. Patrick’s Day occurs always on the 17th of March, but in the year 2025, it shall be on the Monday section. This day is named after St. Patrick, a saint who stands for Ireland, and people from Northern Ireland hold parades, music, and other cultural events. It is a day that aims at the promotion of Irish culture, comprising of food, music, and dances.
April: Easter Celebrations
April has two main holidays that are linked to Easter. April 18th, 2025, is Good Friday, which is a national working holiday that is celebrated on Friday. Good Friday has great religious and cultural relevance because it observes the event of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. People go to church, engage in prayers, organise one or the other events, and have informal gatherings.
The subsequent days are Easter Sunday; April 22, 2025, and Easter Monday; April 23, 2025. This holiday is celebrated in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland; it provides an extra-long weekend that falls after the Easter weekend. It is a day of picnicking; family get together and check on the early signs of spring. You may know Easter Monday as the day for EGGS – hunt them at community or at local celebrations.
May: Embracing Spring
May provides two significant bank holidays throughout the UK. The Early May Bank Holiday is held on May 5th, 2025, across the United Kingdom and falls on a Monday. It is a superb holiday for a spring break, though individuals and families use the long weekend for mini-holidays, outdoor and local celebrations.
Towards the end of the month and specifically on the 26th of May 2025 is the Spring Bank Holiday. This is another holiday that is celebrated throughout the country and also falls on a Monday honouring the beginning of summer as well as the ending of the spring season. It is the perfect time to perform some activities related to the weather, which include the picnicking, barbecues, and fairs.
July: Historical Reflections in Northern Ireland
Thus, July is an important month for Northern Ireland, as two holidays are annually celebrated in this country. Thus, July 12th, 2025, is the Battle of the Boyne –The Twelfth/Orangemen’s Day falling on a Saturday. This event is linked to the important battle that took place in the year 1690, known as the Battle of the Boyne. Consequently, cultures mark the day with parades, fireworks, and public assemblies, amidst arguably pondering on the historical past.
Since July 12th is a Saturday, Northern Ireland has a substitute for July 14th 2025. This Monday holiday makes it possible for those who have not celebrated the festivities to do so and have a holiday also.
August: End-of-Summer Breaks
August has two non-working days, but in different areas, and these are known as bank holidays. August 4th, 2025, is a bank holiday mainly observed in Scotland. Celebrated on a Monday, this holiday signals the end of summer with social and other functions involving locally produced celebrations and other outdoor pursuits. Scots’ farmers indicate that it is the final good season before the production of crops is halted by fall.
For England, Wale, and Northern Ireland, the August Bank Holiday is on August 25th, 2025. This holiday takes place on Monday and allows the people to have the last glimpse of summer either in terms of working short-breaks or any local event or just before the beginning of the autumn season.
November and December: Year-End Festivities
Towards the end of the year, November and December have holidays as well. St Andrew’s Day is on 30th November 2025 and happens to fall on a Sunday, which is special to Scotland. It takes place in the honour of St Andrew, who is a patron saint of Scotland, and traditions embrace cultural events, activities, and local festivals. It is a special day when it is acceptable for the Scots to go out and appreciate their ethnic background in different cultural practices.
Another substitute day in Scotland is observed on the day following St Andrew’s Day, which falls on the 1st of December in the year 2025. This holiday is celebrated on the first Monday in December, which is after St. Andrew’s Day; thus, the people who celebrated the latter on the Sunday are given an extra day off in the working week.
The last of the yearly holidays is December 25th 2025, being Christmas day, and the next subsequent day is December 26th 2025, which is also known as Boxing Day. Christmas is a public holiday observed throughout the country on a Thursday and marks the birth of Jesus Christ. It is quite a special season characterised by special celebrations, interdependence ceremonies and gift offering. Such a holiday as Boxing Day, which took place on Friday, is connected with sports contests, shopping, and additional leisure.
The mentioned bank holidays in the years 2025 provide a wonderful choice for relaxation and celebration, as well as for the recalling of certain historically significant periods. New Year’s Day, being from the beginning of the year to Christmas, and Boxing Day at the end of the year are some holidays that signifies certain events of the year.
By being aware of these dates, one is able to arrange his/her leave well in advance, and also, since there are so many cultural festivities be able to engage in them and also the different festivities, of the year. Regardless of the reason, the bank holidays in the year 2025 are on track to bring joyous times in each of the holidays.
The circular structure inspired by jali screens in India
Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, at the garden
The couple display their medals
(Photo credit: PTI)