Start your 2025 with excellent planning—learn about the UK holidays 2025. In this article, we’ll cover national holidays, bank holidays in the UK and school holidays in the UK in 2025, so you know when is Easter in 2025, when are the half-terms, when to travel and much more.
School holidays in the UK in 2025-2026
Bank holidays in the UK in 2025-2026
The most popular holidays in the UK
School holidays in the UK in 2025-2026
The school year in the UK runs from August/September til July, with several breaks when families can spend some time together and enjoy the holiday season. School holidays in the UK in 2025 may vary depending on the country you live in (England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland). For example, Scottish school holidays aren’t identical to the holiday dates in Wales.
School holidays in England
| Occasion | Date(s) |
|---|---|
| Christmas break | December 23rd, 2024 – January 3rd, 2025 |
| Spring half-term in the UK | February 17th-21st |
| Easter break | April 7th–21st |
| Summer half-term in the UK | May 26th–31st |
| Summer break | July 22nd – August 31st |
| Autumn half-term in the UK | October 27th–31st |
| Christmas break | December 22nd, 2025 – January 2d, 2026 |
If your children live in another country, send them some money with fast and secure Profee transfers so they can enjoy their holidays and play around with friends.
School holidays in Wales
| Occasion | Date(s) |
|---|---|
| Christmas break | December 20th, 2024 – January 5th, 2025 |
| Half term | February 24th–28th |
| Easter break | April 12th–27th |
| Half-term | May 26th–30th |
| Summer break | July 21st – September 1st |
| Half-term | October 27th–31st |
| Christmas break | December 19th, 2025 – January 5th, 2026 |
School holidays in Scotland
| Occasion | Date(s) |
|---|---|
| Christmas break | December 21st, 2024 – January 6th, 2025 |
| Mid-term holidays | February 10th–14th |
| Easter break | April 7th – April 21st |
| Mid-term holidays | May 5th–7th |
| Summer break | June 26th – August 12th |
| Mid-term holidays | October 13th–20th |
| Christmas break | December 22nd, 2025 – January 5th, 2026 |
School holidays in Northern Ireland
| Occasion | Date(s) |
|---|---|
| Christmas break | December 23th, 2024 – January 2nd, 2025 |
| Mid-term holidays | February 13th–14th |
| Easter break | April 17th–25th |
| Summer break | July 1st–? |
Other dates are yet to be decided.
Keep in mind that some schools may set different holiday dates, so ask your teachers for up-to-date information.
If your child is about to turn age when they should join an education institute, read our guide for expats about how to choose a perfect UK school for your child.
National holidays or bank holidays in the UK in 2025-2026
After preparing your child for the school year, it’s time to think about yourself and check the UK holidays in 2025 to plan your resting time and trips. For some one-day trips from London ideas, check our article.
The bank holidays in 2025 differ depending on the country as well. Here’s the list of all of them.
England and Wales bank holidays in 2025
| Date | Bank holiday |
|---|---|
| January 1st | New Year’s Day |
| April 18th | Good Friday |
| April 21st | Easter Monday |
| May 5th | Early May bank holiday |
| May 26th | Spring bank holiday |
| August 25th | Summer bank holiday |
| December 25th | Christmas Day |
| December 26th | Boxing Day |
Scotland bank holidays in 2025
| Date | Bank holiday |
|---|---|
| January 1st | New Year’s Day |
| January 2nd | 2nd January |
| April 18th | Good Friday |
| May 5th | Early May bank holiday |
| May 26th | Spring bank holiday |
| August 4th | Summer bank holiday |
| December 1st | St Andrew’s Day (substitute day) |
| December 25th | Christmas Day |
| December 26th | Boxing Day |
Northern Ireland bank holidays in 2025
| Date | Bank holiday |
|---|---|
| January 1st | New Year’s Day |
| March 17th | St Patrick’s Day |
| April 18th | Good Friday |
| April 21st | Easter Monday |
| May 5th | Early May bank holiday |
| May 26th | Spring bank holiday |
| July 14th | Battle of the Boyne (Orangemen’s Day) (substitute day) |
| August 25th | Summer bank holiday |
| December 25th | Christmas Day |
| December 26th | Boxing Day |
The most popular holidays in the UK
As an expat, you probably want to know which holidays attract the most attention from the locals and tourists. Whether to escape the crowd or, on the contrary, have fun with excited people outside to brighten the festive mood. Let's explore the biggest celebrations in the country.
St. Patrick's Day
The holiday's signature features include the colour green, traditional dances, and iconic beer. With such a festive mix, it's impossible not to get into the holiday spirit!
Notting Hill Carnival
This carnival, held every summer for nearly 80 years, is hailed as the largest street event in Europe and one of the most iconic celebrations and festivals in the UK. It attracts up to a million participants. During the carnival, you can immerse yourself in diverse cultures and share yours—which is especially important for the expats missing their roots.
Halloween
Spooky Scary season is a big celebration in the UK. Its origins trace back to Celtic traditions—long before the arrival of Christianity, this day was marked by harvest celebrations and rituals to ward off evil spirits. Today, Halloween is a day for unique costumes, trick-or-treating, and having a lot of fun.
Christmas
The central figure is Father Christmas. He wasn’t originally a character in children’s tales but encouraged adults to enjoy the festivities—until his merrymaking became a concern for the British church. Today, Christmas is a time for gift-giving and cherishing time spent together with the family. If you want to delight your family with gifts from the UK without breaking the bank, check out our article on saving money during Christmas.
This is it! Now you know everything about national holidays in the UK. No more wondering about “When is Easter in 2025?” or “When will my child have a school break?”
Another calendar that you should explore as an expat is the tax year in the UK, read about it in our article to pay your taxes on time.
If your family lives abroad, congratulate them during holidays with a surprise money transfer. Profee will make it smooth as butter to make you and your loved ones happy.
