2015 Bank holidays in England

April 24, 2018
Bank Holiday

Bank holidays are public holidays in the United Kingdom, when banks and many other businesses are closed for the day. The expected dates of bank and public holidays in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland are shown below:

England and Wales	2011	2012	2013	2014	2015
New Year's Day	3 January■	2 January■	1 January
Good Friday	22 April	6 April	29 March	18 April	3 April
Easter Monday	25 April	9 April	1 April	21 April	6 April
Royal wedding	29 April
Early May Bank Holiday	2 May	7 May	6 May	5 May	4 May
Spring Bank Holiday	30 May	4 June*	27 May	26 May	25 May
Queen's Diamond Jubilee	5 June
Summer Bank Holiday	29 August	27 August	26 August	25 August	31 August
Christmas Day	26 December▲	25 December	25 December	25 December
Boxing Day	27 December♣	26 December	26 December	28 December♣
♣ Substitute Bank Holiday in lieu of 26th Dec because 26th falls at the weekend ▲ Substitute Bank Holiday in lieu of 25th Dec because 25th falls at the weekend ♣ Substitute Bank Holiday in lieu of 26th Dec because 26th falls at the weekend ■ Substitute Bank Holiday in lieu of 1st Jan * substitute day

There are currently six permanent bank holidays in England and Wales and an additional one in 2011 and 2012. Christmas Day and Good Friday are public holidays.

Scotland	2012
New Year's Day	3 January■	2 January■	1 January	1 January	1 January
2nd January	4 January■	3 January	2 January	2 January	2 January
Good Friday	22 April	6 April	29 March	18 April	3 April
Royal wedding	29 April
Early May Bank Holiday	2 May	7 May	6 May	5 May	4 May
Spring Bank Holiday	30 May	4 June*	27 May	26 May	25 May
Queen's Diamond Jubilee	5 June
Summer Bank Holiday	1 August	6 August	5 August	4 August	3 August
St Andrew's Day	30 November	30 November	2 December*	1 December*	30 November
Christmas Day	26 December▲	25 December	25 December	25 December
Boxing Day	27 December♣	26 December	26 December	28 December♣

There are seven permanent bank holidays across the whole of Scotland. Christmas Day and Good Friday are public holidays. Since 2007, St Andrews Day has also been a permanent bank holiday.

Northern Ireland	2012	2013
St Patrick's Day	19 March*	18 March*
4 June
Battle of the Boyne (Orangemen's Day)	12 July

* substitute day

Generally, public holidays include bank holidays, holidays by Royal Proclamation and 'common law holidays'. Banks are not allowed to operate on bank holidays. When public holidays in the Christmas and New Year period fall on Saturdays and Sundays, alternative week days are declared public holidays.

British bank holidays are Public Holidays and have been recognized since 1871. The name Bank Holiday comes from the time when banks were shut and so no trading could take place.

The 1871 Act designated four holidays in England, Wales and Ireland (then wholly part of the UK), and five in Scotland. (For an historical look at Bank Holidays, please visit our Project Britain Blog.)

There are currently a total of 8 permanent bank and public holidays in England, Wales and Scotland and 10 in Northern Ireland. These include Christmas Day and Good Friday, which in England, Wales and Northern Ireland are common law' holidays (they are not specified by law as bank holidays but have become customary holidays because of common observance).

Source: resources.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk