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.
Summer holidays United Kingdom 2026 and 2027
The 2026 school summer holidays in the United Kingdom run from 27 June 2026 to 31 August 2026 (varies by region). The 2027 school summer holidays in the United Kingdom run from 26 June 2027 to 31 August 2027 (varies by region) (provisional dates).
Frequently asked questions
When are the school summer holidays in the United Kingdom in 2026?
The 2026 school summer holidays in the United Kingdom run from 27 June 2026 to 31 August 2026 (varies by region). The 2027 school summer holidays in the United Kingdom run from 26 June 2027 to 31 August 2027 (varies by region) (provisional dates).
When do schools go back in the United Kingdom in 2026?
The 2026 summer holidays end on 31 August 2026 (varies by region); the new school year starts in the following days.
Are school holidays the same everywhere in the United Kingdom?
No, United Kingdom has 4 regions/zones with partly different holiday dates.
School holidays by region
Public holidays United Kingdom 2026, 2027 & 2028 →
Get these dates in your calendar
- England : Subscribe to the calendar · Google Calendar · .ics file
- Northern Ireland : Subscribe to the calendar · Google Calendar · .ics file
- Scotland : Subscribe to the calendar · Google Calendar · .ics file
- Wales : Subscribe to the calendar · Google Calendar · .ics file
Free — updates automatically in your calendar.
School Holidays in the United Kingdom 2026–2027 by region
| Region | Autumn | Christmas | Winter | Spring | Summer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| England | 24 Oct – 1 Nov 2026 | 19 Dec – 3 Jan 2027 | 13 Feb – 21 Feb 2027 | 26 Mar – 28 Mar 2027; 27 Mar – 11 Apr 2027; 1 May – 3 May 2027; 29 May – 6 Jun 2027 | 24 Jul – 31 Aug 2027 |
| Northern Ireland | 26 Oct – 1 Nov 2026 | 21 Dec – 1 Jan 2027 | 8 Feb – 14 Feb 2027 | 25 Mar – 2 Apr 2027; 1 May – 3 May 2027; 29 May – 31 May 2027 | 1 Jul – 31 Aug 2027 |
| Scotland | 10 Oct – 18 Oct 2026; 28 Nov – 30 Nov 2026 | 19 Dec – 4 Jan 2027 | 13 Feb – 21 Feb 2027 | 26 Mar – 28 Mar 2027; 2 Apr – 18 Apr 2027; 1 May – 3 May 2027; 28 May – 31 May 2027 | 26 Jun – 11 Aug 2027 |
| Wales | 24 Oct – 1 Nov 2026 | 19 Dec – 3 Jan 2027 | 6 Feb – 14 Feb 2027 | 20 Mar – 4 Apr 2027; 26 Mar – 28 Mar 2027; 1 May – 3 May 2027; 29 May – 6 Jun 2027 | 21 Jul – 31 Aug 2027 |
Public holidays in the United Kingdom 2026–2027
| Holiday | Date | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Christmas Day | Fri 25 Dec 2026 | inside school holidays |
| Boxing Day | Sat 26 Dec 2026 | inside school holidays |
| Boxing Day (observed) | Mon 28 Dec 2026 | inside school holidays |
| New Year's Day | Fri 1 Jan 2027 | inside school holidays |
| Good Friday | Fri 26 Mar 2027 | inside school holidays |
| May Day | Mon 3 May 2027 | inside school holidays |
| Spring Bank Holiday | Mon 31 May 2027 | inside school holidays |
Regional public holidays
- St. Andrew's Day — Mon 30 Nov 2026 (Scotland)
- New Year Holiday — Sat 2 Jan 2027 (Scotland)
- New Year Holiday (observed) — Mon 4 Jan 2027 (Scotland)
- St. Patrick's Day — Wed 17 Mar 2027 (Northern Ireland)
- Easter Monday — Mon 29 Mar 2027 (England, Northern Ireland, Wales)
- Battle of the Boyne — Mon 12 Jul 2027 (Northern Ireland)
- Summer Bank Holiday — Mon 2 Aug 2027 (Scotland)
- Late Summer Bank Holiday — Mon 30 Aug 2027 (England, Northern Ireland, Wales)
School Holidays in the United Kingdom 2025–2026 by region
| Region | Autumn | Christmas | Winter | Spring | Summer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| England | 25 Oct – 2 Nov 2025 | 20 Dec – 4 Jan 2026 | 14 Feb – 22 Feb 2026 | 28 Mar – 12 Apr 2026; 2 May – 4 May 2026; 23 May – 31 May 2026 | 22 Jul – 31 Aug 2026 |
| Northern Ireland | 25 Oct – 2 Nov 2025 | 20 Dec – 4 Jan 2026 | 7 Feb – 15 Feb 2026 | 2 Apr – 12 Apr 2026; 2 May – 4 May 2026; 23 May – 25 May 2026 | 1 Jul – 31 Aug 2026 |
| Scotland | 11 Oct – 19 Oct 2025; 29 Nov – 1 Dec 2025 | 20 Dec – 5 Jan 2026 | 14 Feb – 22 Feb 2026 | 3 Apr – 19 Apr 2026; 2 May – 4 May 2026; 22 May – 25 May 2026 | 27 Jun – 12 Aug 2026 |
| Wales | 25 Oct – 2 Nov 2025 | 20 Dec – 4 Jan 2026 | 14 Feb – 22 Feb 2026 | 28 Mar – 12 Apr 2026; 2 May – 4 May 2026; 23 May – 31 May 2026 | 21 Jul – 31 Aug 2026 |
Public holidays in the United Kingdom 2025–2026
| Holiday | Date | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Christmas Day | Thu 25 Dec 2025 | inside school holidays |
| Boxing Day | Fri 26 Dec 2025 | inside school holidays |
| New Year's Day | Thu 1 Jan 2026 | inside school holidays |
| Good Friday | Fri 3 Apr 2026 | inside school holidays |
| May Day | Mon 4 May 2026 | inside school holidays |
| Spring Bank Holiday | Mon 25 May 2026 | inside school holidays |
Regional public holidays
- St. Andrew's Day — Sun 30 Nov 2025 (Scotland)
- St. Andrew's Day (observed) — Mon 1 Dec 2025 (Scotland)
- New Year Holiday — Fri 2 Jan 2026 (Scotland)
- St. Patrick's Day — Tue 17 Mar 2026 (Northern Ireland)
- Easter Monday — Mon 6 Apr 2026 (England, Northern Ireland, Wales)
- Scotland's FIFA World Cup Final — Mon 15 Jun 2026 (Scotland)
- Battle of the Boyne — Sun 12 Jul 2026 (Northern Ireland)
- Battle of the Boyne (observed) — Mon 13 Jul 2026 (Northern Ireland)
- Summer Bank Holiday — Mon 3 Aug 2026 (Scotland)
- Late Summer Bank Holiday — Mon 31 Aug 2026 (England, Northern Ireland, Wales)
Here is an overview of the four nations of the United Kingdom, their share of the total population, and their main cities:
- England - 84% of the total population. Main cities: London, Birmingham, Manchester, Leeds, Liverpool.
- Scotland - 8% of the total population. Main cities: Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen, Dundee.
- Wales - 5% of the total population. Main cities: Cardiff, Swansea, Newport.
- Northern Ireland - 3% of the total population. Main cities: Belfast, Derry/Londonderry, Lisburn.