England in 2024 observes 8 bank holidays โ the standard annual count. 2024 is a leap year with 366 days, and Easter falls early on 31 March, meaning Good Friday is 29 March and Easter Monday is 1 April. The Early May Bank Holiday falls on its usual first Monday in May (6 May), and the Summer Bank Holiday on the last Monday in August (26 August).
With a General Election held in July 2024, this is one of the more politically eventful years of the decade โ though elections do not add additional bank holidays in England. The bank holiday calendar itself remains unchanged from previous years.
Public Holidays 2024
View all โ
Nationwide Public Holidays 2024
| Date | Day | Holiday | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Jan 2024 | Mon | New Year's Day | Nationwide |
| 29 Mar 2024 | Fri | Good Friday | Nationwide |
| 1 Apr 2024 | Mon | Easter Monday | Nationwide |
| 6 May 2024 | Mon | Early May Bank Holiday | Nationwide |
| 27 May 2024 | Mon | Spring Bank Holiday | Nationwide |
| 26 Aug 2024 | Mon | Summer Bank Holiday | Nationwide |
| 25 Dec 2024 | Wed | Christmas Day | Nationwide |
| 26 Dec 2024 | Thu | Boxing Day | Nationwide |
School Holidays 2024
View all regions โ
London โ School Holidays Overview
Easter Break
No break
Summer Holidays
23.07.2024 - 31.08.2024
Christmas Break
21.12.2024 - 01.01.2025
Holidays by Region
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are English public holidays called "bank holidays"?
The term comes from the Bank Holidays Act 1871, which designated specific days on which banks must close. Since commerce largely relied on banking, these days effectively became national days of rest. The name has stuck even though the legal basis has since changed.
How many bank holidays does England have per year?
England typically has 8 bank holidays per year. In occasional years, an extra bank holiday may be proclaimed for special events such as a royal coronation or jubilee.
Is Boxing Day a public holiday in England?
Yes. 26 December (Boxing Day) is a bank holiday in England and Wales. It is not widely observed in most other countries, making it a distinctly British and Irish tradition.
Do school holidays differ between schools in England?
Yes. While there is a standard school year length, individual local authorities and academy trusts set their own term dates. Two schools in the same town can have slightly different holiday dates.
Are employees entitled to bank holidays in England?
There is no automatic legal right to take bank holidays as paid leave โ it depends on your employment contract. Most employment contracts do include bank holidays as part of the annual leave entitlement, but this should be checked individually.