Make the Most of 2025 Bank Holidays
Get set for a year of adventure
If you’re always dreaming of your next adventure but are worried your annual leave won’t cover your plans, we’re here to help. As most UK bank holidays fall at the start or the end of a week, with some savvy planning, you can use the bank holidays to add extra days to your road trip without having to take any extra leave. Sound too good to be true? Keep reading to discover what dates the UK 2025 bank holidays fall and how you can plan your leave to maximise your time off so that 2025 becomes your year of adventure.
Bank Holidays in England & Wales
If you live in England and Wales, you can look forward to eight public holidays in 2025. The majority fall in the spring and summer months, enabling you to take advantage of the better weather and plan a road trip right here in the UK. But if it’s winter sun you’re seeking, why not start planning a Christmas getaway and make the most of the three bank holidays falling over the festive season?
Spring
18 April | Good Friday
21 April | Easter Monday
Top tip: With a bank holiday falling on the Friday of one week and Monday of the next week, Easter is the perfect time to escape for a longer getaway. With the weather starting to warm up, it’s a great time to plan an active getaway in one of the UK’s many national parks. But if you’re raring to travel slightly further afield, the world-famous tulip fields bloom in April meaning a road trip to the Netherlands is well worth the visit.
5 May | Early May bank holiday
26 May | Spring bank holiday
Our tip: Top tip: With bank holidays sandwiched at the beginning and end of May, there’s not one, but two chances to plan a long weekend away. Why not hop on the Eurostar and plan a road trip through Normandy from Paris , or consider a road trip to the south coast to enjoy the surf?
Summer
25 August | Summer bank holiday
Our tip: Make the most of the longer, warmer days with one last summer road trip. Tag the bank holiday onto your annual leave for a longer road trip exploring the North Coast 500 in Scotland, or make epic memories exploring Snowdonia National Park in Wales.
Winter
1 January | New Year’s Day
25 December | Christmas Day
25 December | Boxing Day
Our tip: Get set for winter sun and plan a Christmas or New Year break in warmer climates. With fewer tourists but still plenty of sunshine, why not consider a road trip to southern Spain or Portugal?
Bank Holidays in Scotland and Northern Ireland
You’re in luck! If you live in Scotland, you get an extra day off in December, and in Northern Ireland, you get not one, but two extra bank holidays, in addition to the UK holidays. Below, we share when they fall and offer some inspiration on how to make the most of these extra days off.
Winter
1 December | St. Andrew’s Day
Top tip: Make the most of this extra holiday by exploring on your doorstep. With Christmas activities starting to kick off, the start of December is the perfect time to explore Edinburgh as well as nearby cities like Glasgow or Dundee.
Spring
17 March | St. Patrick’s Day
Our tip: Catch the last of the ski season with a road trip through the Alps. Spring is a great time to visit, thanks to longer, warmer days and quieter slopes.
Summer
14 July | Battle of the Boyne (Orangemen’s Day)
Our tip: Escape the crowds by planning a road trip before the summer holiday season kicks in. With warmer weather in July but relatively few visitors, this is a great time to plan a road trip to Germany. Why not try our three-day German Wine Route tour , perfect for a long weekend getaway?
