Every UK bank holiday in 2027, including Scotland and Northern Ireland, the best annual leave hacks, and an idea for a warm Easter break.
Bank holidays 2027 at a glance: England and Wales get eight bank holidays in 2027. Christmas Day and Boxing Day fall on a weekend, so they move to Monday 27 and Tuesday 28 December. Easter is early, with Good Friday on 26 March, and May has its usual two Mondays. Book 4 days of annual leave around Easter and you get 10 days off in a row.
Below are all the UK bank holiday dates for 2027, including Scotland and Northern Ireland, the best ways to stretch your annual leave, and an idea for an Easter break somewhere properly warm.
Bank holidays 2027 in England and Wales
- New Year's Day: Friday 1 January 2027
- Good Friday: Friday 26 March 2027
- Easter Monday: Monday 29 March 2027
- Early May bank holiday: Monday 3 May 2027
- Spring bank holiday: Monday 31 May 2027
- Summer bank holiday: Monday 30 August 2027
- Christmas Day (substitute day): Monday 27 December 2027
- Boxing Day (substitute day): Tuesday 28 December 2027
Scotland and Northern Ireland
- Scotland: New Year's Day (Friday 1 January), 2 January (substitute day, Monday 4 January), Good Friday (26 March), the two May bank holidays, Summer bank holiday on Monday 2 August, St Andrew's Day (Tuesday 30 November) and the Christmas substitute days (27 and 28 December). There is no Easter Monday bank holiday in Scotland.
- Northern Ireland: the England and Wales dates, plus St Patrick's Day (Wednesday 17 March) and the Battle of the Boyne (Monday 12 July).
Sunset on a palm-fringed beach in São Tomé. Photo: Príncipe Collection
How to make the most of your annual leave in 2027
These are based on the England and Wales dates.
- Easter: take 4 days (Tuesday 30 March to Friday 2 April) and you are off from Good Friday 26 March to Sunday 4 April: 10 days. Or take the week before (22 to 25 March) for 20 to 29 March.
- Early May: 4 days' leave (4 to 7 May) gives you 9 days off, Saturday 1 to Sunday 9 May.
- Late May: 4 days' leave (1 to 4 June) gives you Saturday 29 May to Sunday 6 June, 9 days off.
- August: 4 days' leave (31 August to 3 September) gives you 9 days, from 28 August to 5 September.
- Christmas: with the substitute days on 27 and 28 December, just 3 days' leave (29 to 31 December) gets you from Christmas Day to Sunday 2 January 2028.
Easter is the best deal of the year: two bank holidays in the same week, and it lands at the end of March, when the UK is still grey and the far side of the world is not.
Easter 2027: ten days on the Equator
Ten days off at Easter is enough for a long-haul trip that would never fit into an ordinary week: São Tomé and Príncipe, two small islands in the Gulf of Guinea, right on the Equator. Expect around 30 °C. Late March is the rainy season, which means short, heavy showers between sunny spells, a jungle at its greenest and hardly any other tourists.
Our small-group Easter 2027 tour runs from 24 to 31 March, right across Good Friday and Easter Monday, so it only costs you 4 days of annual leave (24, 25, 30 and 31 March), plus travel days. Prices start at €1,400 per person, excluding international flights.
Lagoa Azul in the north of São Tomé island, with clear water and baobab trees around it. Photo: Príncipe Collection
Featured trip
Easter Holidays 2027 in São Tomé and Príncipe: Small Group Tour of Africa's Unspoilt Islands
From 24 to 31 March 2027: Holy Week and Easter on an African island almost nobody has heard of, with an optional extension to Principe
How to get from the UK to São Tomé
There are no direct flights from the UK. The usual route is via Lisbon with TAP Air Portugal, from London Heathrow or Gatwick, Manchester and other UK airports. Allow a full day of travel. British citizens can visit visa-free for tourist stays of up to 15 days; check the latest FCDO travel advice before you go.
Once you land, we take care of everything: we are a local agency based in São Tomé, with our own guides and 4x4s. If you would rather travel privately on any bank holiday, our 8-day private tour with a local guide starts at €1,250 per person.
Bank holidays 2027: frequently asked questions
What are the bank holidays in 2027?
In England and Wales: 1 January, Good Friday (26 March), Easter Monday (29 March), 3 May, 31 May, 30 August, and the Christmas substitute days on 27 and 28 December.
Why are the Christmas bank holidays on 27 and 28 December 2027?
Christmas Day falls on a Saturday and Boxing Day on a Sunday, so the bank holidays move to the following Monday and Tuesday.
When is Easter 2027?
Easter Sunday is 28 March 2027. Good Friday is 26 March and Easter Monday is 29 March.
How can I get 10 days off at Easter 2027 with 4 days' leave?
Book Tuesday 30 March to Friday 2 April. With Good Friday and Easter Monday, you are off from 26 March to 4 April.
Where is hot at Easter 2027?
For guaranteed warmth without the crowds, São Tomé and Príncipe sits on the Equator: around 30 °C, rainforest, empty beaches and cocoa plantations.
Frequently asked questions
In England and Wales: 1 January, Good Friday (26 March), Easter Monday (29 March), 3 May, 31 May, 30 August, and the Christmas substitute days on 27 and 28 December.
Christmas Day falls on a Saturday and Boxing Day on a Sunday, so the bank holidays move to the following Monday and Tuesday.