2024 isn’t over just yet, but many of us are already looking at the year ahead and planning when to take some well-deserved time off work.
To maximise relaxation time, it’s become commonplace for workers to book their annual leave around bank holidays. In 2025, there are eight scheduled bank holidays in total.
If you want to make the most of these holidays, these are the dates you should book off.
But remember, it is important to keep in mind that businesses are not required to offer paid time off for public and bank holidays, and they may affect when and how your benefits are distributed.
Here are the bank holiday dates for 2025 and our tips on when to book annual leave.
Bank holiday dates for 2025
2025 has eight bank holidays, with the first on New Year’s Day.
- New Year’s Day – Wednesday, January 1, 2025
- Good Friday – Friday, April 18, 2025
- Easter Monday – Monday, April 21, 2025
- Early May Bank Holiday – Monday, May 5, 2025
- Spring Bank Holiday – Monday, May 26, 2025
- Summer Bank Holiday – Monday, August 25, 2025
- Christmas Day – Thursday, December 25, 2025
- Boxing Day – Friday, December 26, 2025
How to get most from your holiday allowance in 2025
You can enjoy 16 days off over the Easter period by booking eight days off: four from April 14–17 (April 18 is Good Friday) and another four from April 22-25 (April 21 is Easter Monday). That means, after Friday, April 11, you’ll have 16 consecutive days of holiday to play with – whether you fancy committing to a fortnight partaking in Easter egg hunts or booking a trip somewhere sunny.
May is also a great time to book some time off, as the month has two bank holidays: the first Monday of the month (May 5) and the spring bank holiday (May 26).
Maximise it whichever way you choose – whether you decide to book off May 6-9 or May 27-30 (both would give you nine days to play with).
The same can be said for August, thanks to the summer bank holiday on August 25. If you decide to book off the 26th to the 29th of the month, you’ll have another nine days off work to enjoy with two weekends.
You can enjoy 13 days out of the office using only six days of holiday allowance if you book off December 22-24 and 29-31, maximising three bank holidays.
This will give you a lengthy period off, as you leave the office on Friday, December 19 and return on January 2, 2025.