BANK HOLIDAYS IN THE UK, YEAR 2025 & 2026

Bank holidays in England and Scotland differ in several ways. In England and Wales, employees can claim bank holidays up to five times a year, while in Scotland, they are only eligible to claim them once annually. However, Scotland offers more paid annual leave than England and Wales. The same regulations that govern bank holidays in England and Wales are generally applicable. Additionally, bank holidays are often more cost-effective, making it beneficial to take paid leave and earn extra income during annual leave.

How much do bank holidays cost?

Bank holidays do not have to be taken as a benefit, instead, an employee is usually entitled to them as a form of paid absence. This is different from being eligible for annual leave and is sometimes better thought out. Bank holidays are usually chosen to do some part-time work. If you are taking them as a form of statutory minimum leave entitlement then you will only be entitled to a specified number of days. In order to decide whether you are entitled to a bank holiday week or not you should contact the Employment Rights Clearinghouse.

Public holidays are a different thing altogether. You will usually be able to claim two weeks’ worth of bank holidays, not just one. So if you are looking for a Scotland bank holiday entitlement, make sure that you include two weeks as this is what you will be entitled to. There are a few other things that you should consider in order to make sure that you get the best holiday entitlement that you can.