UK Bank Holidays and Annual Leave
Understand how UK bank holidays work alongside your annual leave entitlement. Learn whether bank holidays are included in your statutory 28 days and your rights if you work on bank holidays.
Bank Holidays in the UK
The UK has 8 permanent bank holidays in England and Wales, 9 in Scotland, and 10 in Northern Ireland. These include New Year's Day, Good Friday, Easter Monday, Early May, Spring Bank Holiday, Summer Bank Holiday, Christmas Day, and Boxing Day.
Are Bank Holidays Part of Statutory Leave?
There's no legal right to bank holidays as additional paid leave. Employers can include bank holidays in your 28-day statutory entitlement. Check your contract to see if you get bank holidays on top of or as part of your annual leave.
Working on Bank Holidays
There's no legal right to extra pay for working bank holidays unless it's in your contract. Many employers offer premium pay or a day off in lieu. If you normally work on a bank holiday and don't, it counts as annual leave.
Bank Holidays for Part-Time Workers
Part-time workers should receive a pro-rata share of bank holiday time, even if they don't normally work on days when bank holidays fall. This ensures equal treatment with full-time colleagues.