School holidays & public holidays in the United Kingdom 2025-2027.
Interactive calendar — every region, every date, for smart planning.
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12-22%
23-33%
34-44%
45-55%
56-66%
67-77%
78-88%
89-100%
Good to knowOfficial dates
The School Holiday System in the United Kingdom
The United Kingdom comprises four nations — England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland — each with its own education system and school holiday schedule. Unlike many European countries, the UK does not use a centralized zoning system. Instead, school holidays are set by local authorities (in England and Wales), the Scottish Government, or the Education Authority (in Northern Ireland), which means dates can vary significantly across regions.
Summer Holidays: Typically from late July to early September. Scottish schools usually break up earlier (late June) and return earlier (mid-August).
Christmas Holidays: Around two weeks from late December to early January, broadly similar across all four nations.
Easter Holidays: Usually two weeks around Easter, though exact dates vary by local authority.
Half-term Breaks:
Autumn Half-term: One week in late October.
Spring Half-term: One week in mid-February.
Summer Half-term: One week in late May / early June.
Scotland follows a slightly different pattern, with an October break (usually two weeks) and shorter mid-term breaks. Northern Ireland's schedule is closer to England's, but with some variations. The key takeaway for travellers is that different parts of the UK may be on holiday at different times, spreading out holiday traffic.
