The festive season is closing as the New Year dawns, and for many Britons, there lies the anticipation of the next bank holidays. After the hectic end-of-year celebrations, 2025 is bringing exciting opportunities for extended breaks. The UK government has officially announced the bank holiday dates for 2025, offering citizens well-deserved time off.
Here’s where the ambitious holiday seekers can plan for the year: the first bank holiday will occur on January 1, marking New Year’s Day. Following this, Good Friday is set for April 18, with Easter Monday following on April 21, which is noted as exclusive for England and Wales. The Early May Bank Holiday will occur on May 5, with the Spring Bank Holiday on May 26. August see the Summer Bank Holiday on the 25th for England and Wales, whilst Scotland will observe the Summer Bank Holiday on August 4, along with its distinct St Andrew’s Day substitute day on December 1. The year will close out with two key celebrations: Christmas Day on December 25 and Boxing Day on December 26.
Beyond these anticipated days off, there's speculation about the potential for another public holiday being introduced to honor two significant 80th anniversaries related to World War II. The two key dates are Victory in Europe (VE) Day, celebrated on May 8, and Victory over Japan (VJ) Day, recognized on August 15. Reports indicated discussions around creating this additional holiday, likely falling around May 8, coinciding with VE Day commemorations. This suggests possible celebrations could run from May 9 to May 12 or be connected to the August bank holiday.
Recent polls show overwhelming public support for this additional bank holiday. According to the Mirror, 73 percent of survey respondents are favorable toward the idea of setting aside more time to commemorate the end of hostilities and the return of peace. Only 13 percent expressed opposition to the commemorative day. Understandably, this reflects not just nostalgia but also respect for the sacrifices made by previous generations.
Interestingly, when questioned about the awareness younger generations have concerning World War II sacrifices, 66 percent believed young individuals are not as informed as they should be about the struggles faced during this tumultuous time. Dick Goodwin of the Taxi Charity for Military Veterans shared his enthusiasm for the upcoming celebrations, noting, “We are looking forward to celebrating with the remaining Second World War heroes - they deserve Britain's gratitude and respect for their courage and sacrifice. We are ready to help.”
There’s significant backing from the government as well. A spokesperson for the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport emphasized the significance of VE and VJ Day anniversaries: “These will be moments of huge significance for our country, and the government is committed to appropriately commemoraring the occasions. That is why we have announced more than £10 million for events.” They assured, “We will announce the Government's plans to mark the occasion shortly.”
To make the most of the declared holidays, planning can be ideal. For the Easter period, booking only eight days off could yield 16 consecutive days of holiday if done strategically. This means taking four days off between April 14-17, overlapping with Good Friday, and another four days following Easter Monday. This can maximize relaxation time, whether it’s indulging in festive activities or taking vacations.
Moving to May, whether you choose to book off May 6-9 or May 27-30, both options could provide nine consecutive days of leisure. Similarly, there's potential for extending holiday breaks during August. Taking leave from August 26 to 29, alongside the bank holiday on the 25th, allows for another long span of days to recharge.
December offers another fantastic opportunity to capitalize on bank holidays. A strategic selection of days such as December 22-24 and December 29-31 could lead to 13 days off work by utilizing merely six days of holiday allowance, culminating the year with ample time off surrounded by family and friends.
Overall, the bank holiday calendar for 2025 looks promising with scheduled events and potential new holidays on the horizon. Knowing the dates and preparing early can help everyone to maximize their time away from work, celebrate historic moments, and recognize the contributions of previous generations during significant anniversaries.
