England in 2025 has Easter falling late โ Easter Sunday is 20 April, placing Good Friday on 18 April and Easter Monday on 21 April. This late April Easter means Easter school holidays and the May half-term are closer together than in most years.
The Early May Bank Holiday falls on Monday 5 May and the Spring Bank Holiday on Monday 26 May. Good Friday (18 April) and the Spring Bank Holiday (26 May) are just 38 days apart, creating a holiday-rich AprilโMay window for English workers.
Public Holidays 2025
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Nationwide Public Holidays 2025
| Date | Day | Holiday | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Jan 2025 | Wed | New Year's Day | Nationwide |
| 18 Apr 2025 | Fri | Good Friday | Nationwide |
| 21 Apr 2025 | Mon | Easter Monday | Nationwide |
| 5 May 2025 | Mon | Early May Bank Holiday | Nationwide |
| 26 May 2025 | Mon | Spring Bank Holiday | Nationwide |
| 25 Aug 2025 | Mon | Summer Bank Holiday | Nationwide |
| 25 Dec 2025 | Thu | Christmas Day | Nationwide |
| 26 Dec 2025 | Fri | Boxing Day | Nationwide |
School Holidays 2025
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London โ School Holidays Overview
Easter Break
07.04.2025 - 22.04.2025
Summer Holidays
22.07.2025 - 01.09.2025
Christmas Break
22.12.2025 - 02.01.2026
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.