Annual leave 2027: how to get the most days off
Book three days of leave, Tue 29 Dec to Thu 31 Dec, and you are off for 10 days in a row from Christmas Day to Sun 3 Jan in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. In Scotland the same days give 11. Here is the same for every bank holiday to Christmas 2027.
England and Wales
| Book these days | Leave | Days off in a row | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Christmas 2026 (Christmas Day Fri 25 Dec, Boxing Day Mon 28 Dec, New Year’s Day Fri 1 Jan) | |||
| A week off | Tue 29 Dec to Thu 31 Dec | 3 days’ leave | 10 days off Fri 25 Dec to Sun 3 Jan 2027 |
| Two weeks off | Mon 21 Dec to Thu 24 Dec and Tue 29 Dec to Thu 31 Dec | 7 days’ leave | 16 days off Sat 19 Dec to Sun 3 Jan 2027 |
| Easter (Good Friday Fri 26 Mar, Easter Monday Mon 29 Mar) | |||
| A week off | Mon 22 Mar to Thu 25 Mar | 4 days’ leave | 10 days off Sat 20 Mar to Mon 29 Mar 2027 |
| Two weeks off | Mon 22 Mar to Thu 25 Mar and Tue 30 Mar to Fri 2 Apr | 8 days’ leave | 16 days off Sat 20 Mar to Sun 4 Apr 2027 |
| Early May bank holiday (Early May bank holiday Mon 3 May) | |||
| A week off | Tue 4 May to Fri 7 May | 4 days’ leave | 9 days off Sat 1 May to Sun 9 May 2027 |
| Two weeks off | Mon 26 Apr to Fri 30 Apr and Tue 4 May to Fri 7 May | 9 days’ leave | 16 days off Sat 24 Apr to Sun 9 May 2027 |
| Spring bank holiday (Spring bank holiday Mon 31 May) | |||
| A week off | Tue 1 Jun to Fri 4 Jun | 4 days’ leave | 9 days off Sat 29 May to Sun 6 Jun 2027 |
| Two weeks off | Mon 24 May to Fri 28 May and Tue 1 Jun to Fri 4 Jun | 9 days’ leave | 16 days off Sat 22 May to Sun 6 Jun 2027 |
| Summer bank holiday (Summer bank holiday Mon 30 Aug) | |||
| A week off | Tue 31 Aug to Fri 3 Sep | 4 days’ leave | 9 days off Sat 28 Aug to Sun 5 Sep 2027 |
| Two weeks off | Mon 23 Aug to Fri 27 Aug and Tue 31 Aug to Fri 3 Sep | 9 days’ leave | 16 days off Sat 21 Aug to Sun 5 Sep 2027 |
| Christmas 2027 (Christmas Day Mon 27 Dec, Boxing Day Tue 28 Dec, New Year’s Day Mon 3 Jan) | |||
| A week off | Wed 29 Dec to Fri 31 Dec | 3 days’ leave | 10 days off Sat 25 Dec to Mon 3 Jan 2028 |
| Two weeks off | Wed 29 Dec to Fri 31 Dec and Tue 4 Jan to Fri 7 Jan | 7 days’ leave | 16 days off Sat 25 Dec to Sun 9 Jan 2028 |
Scotland
| Book these days | Leave | Days off in a row | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Christmas 2026 (Christmas Day Fri 25 Dec, Boxing Day Mon 28 Dec, New Year’s Day Fri 1 Jan, 2nd January Mon 4 Jan) | |||
| A week off | Tue 29 Dec to Thu 31 Dec | 3 days’ leave | 11 days off Fri 25 Dec to Mon 4 Jan 2027 |
| Two weeks off | Mon 21 Dec to Thu 24 Dec and Tue 29 Dec to Thu 31 Dec | 7 days’ leave | 17 days off Sat 19 Dec to Mon 4 Jan 2027 |
| Easter (Good Friday Fri 26 Mar) | |||
| A week off | Mon 22 Mar to Thu 25 Mar | 4 days’ leave | 9 days off Sat 20 Mar to Sun 28 Mar 2027 |
| Two weeks off | Mon 15 Mar to Fri 19 Mar and Mon 22 Mar to Thu 25 Mar | 9 days’ leave | 16 days off Sat 13 Mar to Sun 28 Mar 2027 |
| Early May bank holiday (Early May bank holiday Mon 3 May) | |||
| A week off | Tue 4 May to Fri 7 May | 4 days’ leave | 9 days off Sat 1 May to Sun 9 May 2027 |
| Two weeks off | Mon 26 Apr to Fri 30 Apr and Tue 4 May to Fri 7 May | 9 days’ leave | 16 days off Sat 24 Apr to Sun 9 May 2027 |
| Spring bank holiday (Spring bank holiday Mon 31 May) | |||
| A week off | Tue 1 Jun to Fri 4 Jun | 4 days’ leave | 9 days off Sat 29 May to Sun 6 Jun 2027 |
| Two weeks off | Mon 24 May to Fri 28 May and Tue 1 Jun to Fri 4 Jun | 9 days’ leave | 16 days off Sat 22 May to Sun 6 Jun 2027 |
| Summer bank holiday (Summer bank holiday Mon 2 Aug) | |||
| A week off | Tue 3 Aug to Fri 6 Aug | 4 days’ leave | 9 days off Sat 31 Jul to Sun 8 Aug 2027 |
| Two weeks off | Mon 26 Jul to Fri 30 Jul and Tue 3 Aug to Fri 6 Aug | 9 days’ leave | 16 days off Sat 24 Jul to Sun 8 Aug 2027 |
| St Andrew’s Day (St Andrew’s Day Tue 30 Nov) | |||
| A week off | Mon 29 Nov and Wed 1 Dec to Fri 3 Dec | 4 days’ leave | 9 days off Sat 27 Nov to Sun 5 Dec 2027 |
| Two weeks off | Mon 22 Nov to Fri 26 Nov and Mon 29 Nov and Wed 1 Dec to Fri 3 Dec | 9 days’ leave | 16 days off Sat 20 Nov to Sun 5 Dec 2027 |
| Christmas 2027 (Christmas Day Mon 27 Dec, Boxing Day Tue 28 Dec, New Year’s Day Mon 3 Jan, 2nd January Tue 4 Jan) | |||
| A week off | Wed 29 Dec to Fri 31 Dec | 3 days’ leave | 11 days off Sat 25 Dec to Tue 4 Jan 2028 |
| Two weeks off | Wed 29 Dec to Fri 31 Dec and Wed 5 Jan to Fri 7 Jan | 6 days’ leave | 16 days off Sat 25 Dec to Sun 9 Jan 2028 |
Northern Ireland
| Book these days | Leave | Days off in a row | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Christmas 2026 (Christmas Day Fri 25 Dec, Boxing Day Mon 28 Dec, New Year’s Day Fri 1 Jan) | |||
| A week off | Tue 29 Dec to Thu 31 Dec | 3 days’ leave | 10 days off Fri 25 Dec to Sun 3 Jan 2027 |
| Two weeks off | Mon 21 Dec to Thu 24 Dec and Tue 29 Dec to Thu 31 Dec | 7 days’ leave | 16 days off Sat 19 Dec to Sun 3 Jan 2027 |
| St Patrick’s Day (St Patrick’s Day Wed 17 Mar) | |||
| A week off | Mon 15 Mar to Tue 16 Mar and Thu 18 Mar to Fri 19 Mar | 4 days’ leave | 9 days off Sat 13 Mar to Sun 21 Mar 2027 |
| Two weeks off | Mon 15 Mar to Tue 16 Mar and Thu 18 Mar to Fri 19 Mar and Mon 22 Mar to Thu 25 Mar | 8 days’ leave | 17 days off Sat 13 Mar to Mon 29 Mar 2027 |
| Easter (Good Friday Fri 26 Mar, Easter Monday Mon 29 Mar) | |||
| A week off | Mon 22 Mar to Thu 25 Mar | 4 days’ leave | 10 days off Sat 20 Mar to Mon 29 Mar 2027 |
| Two weeks off | Mon 15 Mar to Tue 16 Mar and Thu 18 Mar to Fri 19 Mar and Mon 22 Mar to Thu 25 Mar | 8 days’ leave | 17 days off Sat 13 Mar to Mon 29 Mar 2027 |
| Early May bank holiday (Early May bank holiday Mon 3 May) | |||
| A week off | Tue 4 May to Fri 7 May | 4 days’ leave | 9 days off Sat 1 May to Sun 9 May 2027 |
| Two weeks off | Mon 26 Apr to Fri 30 Apr and Tue 4 May to Fri 7 May | 9 days’ leave | 16 days off Sat 24 Apr to Sun 9 May 2027 |
| Spring bank holiday (Spring bank holiday Mon 31 May) | |||
| A week off | Tue 1 Jun to Fri 4 Jun | 4 days’ leave | 9 days off Sat 29 May to Sun 6 Jun 2027 |
| Two weeks off | Mon 24 May to Fri 28 May and Tue 1 Jun to Fri 4 Jun | 9 days’ leave | 16 days off Sat 22 May to Sun 6 Jun 2027 |
| Battle of the Boyne (Orangemen’s Day) (Battle of the Boyne (Orangemen’s Day) Mon 12 Jul) | |||
| A week off | Tue 13 Jul to Fri 16 Jul | 4 days’ leave | 9 days off Sat 10 Jul to Sun 18 Jul 2027 |
| Two weeks off | Mon 5 Jul to Fri 9 Jul and Tue 13 Jul to Fri 16 Jul | 9 days’ leave | 16 days off Sat 3 Jul to Sun 18 Jul 2027 |
| Summer bank holiday (Summer bank holiday Mon 30 Aug) | |||
| A week off | Tue 31 Aug to Fri 3 Sep | 4 days’ leave | 9 days off Sat 28 Aug to Sun 5 Sep 2027 |
| Two weeks off | Mon 23 Aug to Fri 27 Aug and Tue 31 Aug to Fri 3 Sep | 9 days’ leave | 16 days off Sat 21 Aug to Sun 5 Sep 2027 |
| Christmas 2027 (Christmas Day Mon 27 Dec, Boxing Day Tue 28 Dec, New Year’s Day Mon 3 Jan) | |||
| A week off | Wed 29 Dec to Fri 31 Dec | 3 days’ leave | 10 days off Sat 25 Dec to Mon 3 Jan 2028 |
| Two weeks off | Wed 29 Dec to Fri 31 Dec and Tue 4 Jan to Fri 7 Jan | 7 days’ leave | 16 days off Sat 25 Dec to Sun 9 Jan 2028 |
How these are worked out
For each bank holiday, every run of days around it is tried, and the working days inside it are the leave it would take. A week off is the fewest days of leave that give at least nine days off in a row; two weeks off is the fewest that give at least sixteen. A Monday-to-Friday week is assumed, with each nation’s own bank holidays off. Bank holidays from GOV.UK, read 15 October 2026.
Check with your employer before you book: some contracts treat bank holidays differently, and many workplaces close between Christmas and New Year anyway.
Questions
How can I get the most days off at Christmas 2026?
In England, Wales and Northern Ireland, book Tue 29 Dec to Thu 31 Dec: three days of leave give 10 days off in a row, from Fri 25 Dec 2026 to Sun 3 Jan 2027. In Scotland, where 4 January 2027 is a bank holiday, the same three days give 11.
How many days of leave do I need for Easter 2027?
4 in England and Wales for 10 days off (Mon 22 Mar to Thu 25 Mar). 8 give 16 days (Mon 22 Mar to Thu 25 Mar and Tue 30 Mar to Fri 2 Apr). Scotland has no Easter Monday bank holiday, so 4 days of leave give 9 days off there.
How many days of annual leave am I entitled to?
Most people working a five-day week are entitled to at least 28 days of paid holiday a year, and an employer can include the bank holidays in that. (GOV.UK)
Do I get bank holidays off?
There is no legal right to paid leave on a bank holiday: whether you have the day off depends on your contract. These plans assume a Monday-to-Friday job with the bank holidays off.
More: bank holidays 2027 · working days in a year · working days calculator · 2027 calendar
Booked the time off? Make sure the work fits around it
Radar shows everything due in the next ninety days and whether your calendar has the hours for it, so the week before your holiday is not the week everything lands.