Maximise Your Annual Leave With UK Bank Holidays [2026]

The perk of working Monday to Friday is Bank Holidays, aka, more time for travel! ✈️ Because let’s face it - once you’ve started travelling, you’ll never want to stop! So if you want your 4 or 5 weeks of leave to feel more like 2 months (who doesn’t?), read on to see how to maximise your annual leave with UK Bank Holidays in 2026.

But first, here are the essential dates to remember:

UK Bank Holidays Dates in 2026 🗓️

• New Year’s Day – Thursday, 1st January 2026
• 2nd January - Friday, 2nd January 2026 (Scotland)
• St Patrick’s Day -Tuesday, 17th March 2026 (Northern Ireland)
• Good Friday – Friday, 3rd April 2026 
• Easter Monday – Monday, 6th April 2026 (England, Wales & Northern Ireland)
• Early May Bank Holiday – Monday, 4th May 2026 
• Spring Bank Holiday – Monday, 25th May 2026
• Battle of the Boyne - Monday, 13th July 2026 (Northern Ireland)
• Summer Bank Holiday - Monday, 3rd August 2026 (Scotland)
• Summer Bank Holiday – Monday, 31st August 2026 (England, Wales & Northern Ireland)
• St Andrew’s Day - Monday, 30th November 2026 (Scotland)
• Christmas Day –Friday, 25th December 2026
• Boxing Day –Monday, 28th December 2026

When To Take Annual Leave in 2026? 👇

Here’s the secret: combine your annual leave with UK Bank Holidays to turn your full-time job into full-time travel (well, almost.. we can dream!) 

January 2026 🎊

There’s no better way to bring in the year than travelling with new friends! Book off the 3rd of January (or 0 days if you live in Scotland!) for 4 days off. If you still have some 2025 days left over, book the 29th, 30th & 31st of December 2025 for 9 days off in a row. 

March 2026 🍀 (Northern Ireland)

If you’re based in Northern Ireland, you’ll be familiar with St Patrick’s Day! Annually falling on the 17th of March, this extra Bank Holiday can give you 9 back-to-back days off. All you have to do is book 4 days' leave, including Monday 16th and the 18th to the 20th. Take a look at our short trips.

April 2026 🐣

The Easter Bunny doesn’t just deliver chocolate… but also bank holidays! If you live in England, Wales or Northern Ireland, you’ll have 2 bank holidays equalling a lovely long weekend! Extend your time off by using only 8 days of annual leave, from Monday 30th March to Thursday 2nd April and Tuesday 7th April to Friday 10th April, and you’ll soon have 16 days off to travel. In Scotland, just use 1 extra day of annual leave for Easter Monday (the 6th), to get the same time off.

That’s plenty of time for a fun-filled group trip, don’t you think? 👀

With 16 days, you could see the cherry blossoms on Journey Through Japan (10 or 14 days), hike the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu on Peru Adventure (14 days) or even soak up the lush beaches and island life on Bali Adventure (15 days). How about taking an unforgettable South Africa Adventure (12 days) for sunset safari drives, the jaw-dropping Table Mountain and penguins on the beach?! Your travel options are endless! 

May 2026🌷

This month doubles up on Bank Holidays! Request 4 days of annual leave, from the 5th to the 8th of May, for a total of 9 days off. Book off another 4 days, from the 26th to the 29th, for an extra 9 days off. That’s 8 days of annual leave used up and 18 travel days in return.

Why not join our popular Morocco Adventure (7 days)? Start the adventure on the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 23rd or 25th for a breathtaking quest through Morocco. Just a 4-hour flight from London, you’ll arrive in the bustling capital of Marrakesh, ride a camel through the Sahara desert in Merzouga and explore the village of Ait Ben Haddou, as seen in Gladiator and Game of Thrones! What’s more, you’ll make lifelong friends along the way!

Keep reading to see how you can get 3 weeks off in May below! 😲👇

July 2026 🛡️(Northern Ireland)

The Battle of the Boyne (aka Orangemen’s Day) is celebrated in Northern Ireland annually on the 12th of July. With the Bank Holiday in 2026 falling on the 13th of July, book off the 14th to the 17th for 9 days to go wherever you dream of! Check out all our destinations.

August/September 2026 🏖️

Excited for Euro summer? Midsummer is the best time for it! Depending on where you’re from, submit annual leave either from the 4th to the 7th (Scotland), or the 1st to the 4th September (England, Wales & Northern Ireland), and you’ll get 9 days off in the sun! 😎

Join our Mediterranean Express (7 days) group trip on the 1st or the 29th of August, and you’ll explore 3 European countries! Enjoy gelato in Rome, admire La Sagrada Familia in Barcelona, walk the streets of Nice and Monaco, and so much more. You’ll fall in love with the med on this trip! And what’s even better is you’ll only use 4 days of annual leave. See more Europe tours here 👈

November/December 2026🎅

If you’re based in Scotland, then you’ll have an extra Bank Holiday for St Andrew’s Day on Monday, 30th of November - it’s the perfect time to get festive as you bring in December. Book off the 1st to the 4th for 9 days off. You could escape for some winter sun or hop over to mainland Europe for one of its many Christmas markets! 

Then… it’s Christmassssssss! With 2 Bank Holidays (+1 on January 1st 2027!), you’ll enjoy 16 days off with just 7 days of annual leave. Simply book off the 21st to the 24th and the 29th to the 31st. With 16 days off, you could spend Christmas in your dream destination. Maybe the Philippines is calling you?

Check out our 10-day Philippines Adventure for the 24th December and spend Christmas Day in Palawan. It’s so dreamy. 

How To Take 3 Weeks Off To Travel? 🌏

Want to make the most of your travels? You’ll want to hear this: With just 14 days of annual leave, you’ll have 24 days off from the 2nd of May to the 25th of May 2026!

With over 3 weeks off, you really can take a trip of a lifetime! Take the time to explore your dream destination, tick off bucket list activities and make core memories with your new best mates. Plus, with your regular job, you can use your monthly paycheck to bring home some incredible souvenirs.

Check out these trip that are 3 weeks or under 👇

Thai Adventure (18 or 25 days) 

Recommended start dates: 3rd May (18 days) 

On our 18-day Thai Adventure group trip, you’ll start the adventure in Bangkok before heading south to Thailand's dreamy islands, including Koh Samui, Koh Phi Phi and Phuket. With a group of new mates, you’ll visit iconic temples in Bangkok, an ethical elephant sanctuary in Chiang Mai and stunning Maya Bay in Koh Phi Phi, plus so much more. You’ll really fly through your Thailand bucket list.

Got 2 extra days of annual leave? Why not see stunning Koh Tao too? Just book off the 26th and 27th too for the full 25-day experience!

New Zealand Adventure (17 days) 

Recommended start dates: 3rd May (18 days) 

Dreaming of New Zealand? See the best of both islands on the 17-day adventure. Start on the North Island - see the famous Waitomo glow-worm caves, visit the real-life Hobbiton film set and sail across beautiful Lake Taupo. Then it’s time for the South Island. Explore New Zealand's highest mountain, Aoraki/Mount Cook, chase waterfalls at Milford Sound and go jetboating at Queenstown! You’re in for an adventure on this trip.

Guatemala to Costa Rica Adventure 🦥

Recommended start dates: 3rd May or 6th May (17 days)

Explore 5 countries in 17 days! On this Guatemala to Costa Rica Adventure, you’ll visit lush rainforests, surf towns, colonial cities, ancient Mayan sites and active volcanoes! Stay with a local family in Nicaragua, get your adrenaline-pumping in Costa Rica, and swim in cool lake waters in El Salvador – it’s an adventure you won’t forget!

With all these Bank Holidays, you can still travel the world while working a 9-to-5! Take a look at our adventure group tours to discover all the places you can explore in your time off! Book off your leave before your colleagues do 🏃💨