How to maximise your annual leave in 2026 & 2027
Strategic tips to turn 20 days of annual leave into 30+ days using bank holiday weekends.
The math of strategic leave booking
Most UK workers get 28 days annual leave (the statutory minimum). But with smart planning around bank holidays, you can effectively get significantly more time off without using extra days.
Leave plans for England and Wales
England and Wales have 8 bank holidays in 2027.
Christmas and New Year 2026–27
Christmas Day (Friday, 25 December 2026) and Boxing Day (Monday, 28 December 2026) already give you a free long weekend, and New Year's Day (Friday, 1 January 2027) gives you another — bridge the working days in between and it's one long break.
Book 1 day
Take: Thursday 24 December
Use 1 day leave for 5 days off
(Thursday 24 December – Monday 28 December)
Book 4 days
Take: Monday 21 December – Thursday 24 December
Use 4 days leave for 10 days off
(Saturday 19 December – Monday 28 December)
Book 3 days
Take: Tuesday 29 December – Thursday 31 December
Use 3 days leave for 10 days off
(Friday 25 December 2026 – Sunday 3 January 2027)
Book 1 day
Take: Monday 4 January
Use 1 day leave for 4 days off
(Friday 1 January – Monday 4 January)
Good Friday & Easter Monday 2027
Good Friday falls on Friday, 26 March 2027, and Easter Monday on Monday, 29 March 2027 — already a 4-day weekend with no leave booked.
Book 1 day
Take: Thursday 25 March
Use 1 day leave for 5 days off
(Thursday 25 March – Monday 29 March)
Book 4 days
Take: Monday 22 March – Thursday 25 March
Use 4 days leave for 10 days off
(Saturday 20 March – Monday 29 March)
Book 1 day
Take: Tuesday 30 March
Use 1 day leave for 5 days off
(Friday 26 March – Tuesday 30 March)
Book 4 days
Take: Tuesday 30 March – Friday 2 April
Use 4 days leave for 10 days off
(Friday 26 March – Sunday 4 April)
Early May bank holiday 2027
Early May bank holiday falls on Monday, 3 May 2027 — already a 3-day weekend with no leave booked.
Book 1 day
Take: Friday 30 April
Use 1 day leave for 4 days off
(Friday 30 April – Monday 3 May)
Book 5 days
Take: Monday 26 April – Friday 30 April
Use 5 days leave for 10 days off
(Saturday 24 April – Monday 3 May)
Book 1 day
Take: Tuesday 4 May
Use 1 day leave for 4 days off
(Saturday 1 May – Tuesday 4 May)
Book 4 days
Take: Tuesday 4 May – Friday 7 May
Use 4 days leave for 9 days off
(Saturday 1 May – Sunday 9 May)
Spring bank holiday 2027
Spring bank holiday falls on Monday, 31 May 2027 — already a 3-day weekend with no leave booked.
Book 1 day
Take: Friday 28 May
Use 1 day leave for 4 days off
(Friday 28 May – Monday 31 May)
Book 5 days
Take: Monday 24 May – Friday 28 May
Use 5 days leave for 10 days off
(Saturday 22 May – Monday 31 May)
Book 1 day
Take: Tuesday 1 June
Use 1 day leave for 4 days off
(Saturday 29 May – Tuesday 1 June)
Book 4 days
Take: Tuesday 1 June – Friday 4 June
Use 4 days leave for 9 days off
(Saturday 29 May – Sunday 6 June)
Summer bank holiday 2027
Summer bank holiday falls on Monday, 30 August 2027 — already a 3-day weekend with no leave booked.
Book 1 day
Take: Friday 27 August
Use 1 day leave for 4 days off
(Friday 27 August – Monday 30 August)
Book 5 days
Take: Monday 23 August – Friday 27 August
Use 5 days leave for 10 days off
(Saturday 21 August – Monday 30 August)
Book 1 day
Take: Tuesday 31 August
Use 1 day leave for 4 days off
(Saturday 28 August – Tuesday 31 August)
Book 4 days
Take: Tuesday 31 August – Friday 3 September
Use 4 days leave for 9 days off
(Saturday 28 August – Sunday 5 September)
Christmas and New Year 2027–28
Christmas Day (Monday, 27 December 2027) and Boxing Day (Tuesday, 28 December 2027) already give you a free long weekend, and New Year's Day (Monday, 3 January 2028) gives you another — bridge the working days in between and it's one long break.
Book 1 day
Take: Friday 24 December
Use 1 day leave for 5 days off
(Friday 24 December – Tuesday 28 December)
Book 5 days
Take: Monday 20 December – Friday 24 December
Use 5 days leave for 11 days off
(Saturday 18 December – Tuesday 28 December)
Book 3 days
Take: Wednesday 29 December – Friday 31 December
Use 3 days leave for 10 days off
(Saturday 25 December 2027 – Monday 3 January 2028)
Book 1 day
Take: Tuesday 4 January
Use 1 day leave for 4 days off
(Saturday 1 January – Tuesday 4 January)
Your 2026 & 2027 plan at a glance: England and Wales
| Period | Leave used | Days off |
|---|---|---|
| Christmas and New Year | 3 | 10 |
| Good Friday & Easter Monday | 4 | 10 |
| Early May bank holiday | 5 | 10 |
| Spring bank holiday | 5 | 10 |
| Summer bank holiday | 5 | 10 |
| Christmas and New Year | 3 | 10 |
| Total | 25 | 60 |
This table adds up every plan from now to January 2028, which is more than one leave year. You don't need to book them all: pick the breaks you want. If you work 5 days a week you get at least 28 days' paid holiday a year, and your employer can count bank holidays as part of that.
Leave plans for Scotland
Scotland has 9 bank holidays in 2027. It has 2 January and St Andrew's Day (30 November), but not Easter Monday, and its summer bank holiday is the first Monday in August, not the last.
St Andrew's Day 2026
St Andrew's Day falls on Monday, 30 November 2026 — already a 3-day weekend with no leave booked.
Book 1 day
Take: Friday 27 November
Use 1 day leave for 4 days off
(Friday 27 November – Monday 30 November)
Book 5 days
Take: Monday 23 November – Friday 27 November
Use 5 days leave for 10 days off
(Saturday 21 November – Monday 30 November)
Book 1 day
Take: Tuesday 1 December
Use 1 day leave for 4 days off
(Saturday 28 November – Tuesday 1 December)
Book 4 days
Take: Tuesday 1 December – Friday 4 December
Use 4 days leave for 9 days off
(Saturday 28 November – Sunday 6 December)
Christmas and New Year 2026–27
Christmas Day (Friday, 25 December 2026) and Boxing Day (Monday, 28 December 2026) already give you a free long weekend, and New Year's Day (Friday, 1 January 2027) gives you another — bridge the working days in between and it's one long break.
In Scotland, 2 January is also a bank holiday. In 2027 it moves to Monday 4 January, so the Christmas break runs a day longer than in England and Wales.
Book 1 day
Take: Thursday 24 December
Use 1 day leave for 5 days off
(Thursday 24 December – Monday 28 December)
Book 4 days
Take: Monday 21 December – Thursday 24 December
Use 4 days leave for 10 days off
(Saturday 19 December – Monday 28 December)
Book 3 days
Take: Tuesday 29 December – Thursday 31 December
Use 3 days leave for 11 days off
(Friday 25 December 2026 – Monday 4 January 2027)
Book 1 day
Take: Tuesday 5 January
Use 1 day leave for 5 days off
(Friday 1 January – Tuesday 5 January)
Good Friday 2027
Good Friday falls on Friday, 26 March 2027 — already a 3-day weekend with no leave booked. Easter Monday is not a bank holiday in Scotland.
Book 1 day
Take: Thursday 25 March
Use 1 day leave for 4 days off
(Thursday 25 March – Sunday 28 March)
Book 4 days
Take: Monday 22 March – Thursday 25 March
Use 4 days leave for 9 days off
(Saturday 20 March – Sunday 28 March)
Book 1 day
Take: Monday 29 March
Use 1 day leave for 4 days off
(Friday 26 March – Monday 29 March)
Book 5 days
Take: Monday 29 March – Friday 2 April
Use 5 days leave for 10 days off
(Friday 26 March – Sunday 4 April)
Early May bank holiday 2027
Early May bank holiday falls on Monday, 3 May 2027 — already a 3-day weekend with no leave booked.
Book 1 day
Take: Friday 30 April
Use 1 day leave for 4 days off
(Friday 30 April – Monday 3 May)
Book 5 days
Take: Monday 26 April – Friday 30 April
Use 5 days leave for 10 days off
(Saturday 24 April – Monday 3 May)
Book 1 day
Take: Tuesday 4 May
Use 1 day leave for 4 days off
(Saturday 1 May – Tuesday 4 May)
Book 4 days
Take: Tuesday 4 May – Friday 7 May
Use 4 days leave for 9 days off
(Saturday 1 May – Sunday 9 May)
Spring bank holiday 2027
Spring bank holiday falls on Monday, 31 May 2027 — already a 3-day weekend with no leave booked.
Book 1 day
Take: Friday 28 May
Use 1 day leave for 4 days off
(Friday 28 May – Monday 31 May)
Book 5 days
Take: Monday 24 May – Friday 28 May
Use 5 days leave for 10 days off
(Saturday 22 May – Monday 31 May)
Book 1 day
Take: Tuesday 1 June
Use 1 day leave for 4 days off
(Saturday 29 May – Tuesday 1 June)
Book 4 days
Take: Tuesday 1 June – Friday 4 June
Use 4 days leave for 9 days off
(Saturday 29 May – Sunday 6 June)
Summer bank holiday 2027
Summer bank holiday falls on Monday, 2 August 2027 — already a 3-day weekend with no leave booked.
Book 1 day
Take: Friday 30 July
Use 1 day leave for 4 days off
(Friday 30 July – Monday 2 August)
Book 5 days
Take: Monday 26 July – Friday 30 July
Use 5 days leave for 10 days off
(Saturday 24 July – Monday 2 August)
Book 1 day
Take: Tuesday 3 August
Use 1 day leave for 4 days off
(Saturday 31 July – Tuesday 3 August)
Book 4 days
Take: Tuesday 3 August – Friday 6 August
Use 4 days leave for 9 days off
(Saturday 31 July – Sunday 8 August)
St Andrew's Day 2027
St Andrew's Day falls on Tuesday, 30 November 2027 — already a day off with no leave booked.
Book 1 day
Take: Monday 29 November
Use 1 day leave for 4 days off
(Saturday 27 November – Tuesday 30 November)
Book 3 days
Take: Wednesday 1 December – Friday 3 December
Use 3 days leave for 6 days off
(Tuesday 30 November – Sunday 5 December)
Christmas and New Year 2027–28
Christmas Day (Monday, 27 December 2027) and Boxing Day (Tuesday, 28 December 2027) already give you a free long weekend, and New Year's Day (Monday, 3 January 2028) gives you another — bridge the working days in between and it's one long break.
In Scotland, 2 January is also a bank holiday. In 2028 it moves to Tuesday 4 January, so the Christmas break runs a day longer than in England and Wales.
Book 1 day
Take: Friday 24 December
Use 1 day leave for 5 days off
(Friday 24 December – Tuesday 28 December)
Book 5 days
Take: Monday 20 December – Friday 24 December
Use 5 days leave for 11 days off
(Saturday 18 December – Tuesday 28 December)
Book 3 days
Take: Wednesday 29 December – Friday 31 December
Use 3 days leave for 11 days off
(Saturday 25 December 2027 – Tuesday 4 January 2028)
Book 1 day
Take: Wednesday 5 January
Use 1 day leave for 5 days off
(Saturday 1 January – Wednesday 5 January)
Your 2026 & 2027 plan at a glance: Scotland
| Period | Leave used | Days off |
|---|---|---|
| St Andrew's Day | 5 | 10 |
| Christmas and New Year | 3 | 11 |
| Good Friday | 5 | 10 |
| Early May bank holiday | 5 | 10 |
| Spring bank holiday | 5 | 10 |
| Summer bank holiday | 5 | 10 |
| St Andrew's Day | 3 | 6 |
| Christmas and New Year | 3 | 11 |
| Total | 34 | 78 |
This table adds up every plan from now to January 2028, which is more than one leave year. You don't need to book them all: pick the breaks you want. If you work 5 days a week you get at least 28 days' paid holiday a year, and your employer can count bank holidays as part of that.
Leave plans for Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland has 10 bank holidays in 2027: all 8 that England and Wales have, plus St Patrick's Day (17 March) and the Battle of the Boyne (12 July).
Christmas and New Year 2026–27
Christmas Day (Friday, 25 December 2026) and Boxing Day (Monday, 28 December 2026) already give you a free long weekend, and New Year's Day (Friday, 1 January 2027) gives you another — bridge the working days in between and it's one long break.
Book 1 day
Take: Thursday 24 December
Use 1 day leave for 5 days off
(Thursday 24 December – Monday 28 December)
Book 4 days
Take: Monday 21 December – Thursday 24 December
Use 4 days leave for 10 days off
(Saturday 19 December – Monday 28 December)
Book 3 days
Take: Tuesday 29 December – Thursday 31 December
Use 3 days leave for 10 days off
(Friday 25 December 2026 – Sunday 3 January 2027)
Book 1 day
Take: Monday 4 January
Use 1 day leave for 4 days off
(Friday 1 January – Monday 4 January)
St Patrick's Day 2027
St Patrick's Day falls on Wednesday, 17 March 2027 — already a day off with no leave booked.
Book 2 days
Take: Monday 15 March and Tuesday 16 March
Use 2 days leave for 5 days off
(Saturday 13 March – Wednesday 17 March)
Book 2 days
Take: Thursday 18 March and Friday 19 March
Use 2 days leave for 5 days off
(Wednesday 17 March – Sunday 21 March)
Good Friday & Easter Monday 2027
Good Friday falls on Friday, 26 March 2027, and Easter Monday on Monday, 29 March 2027 — already a 4-day weekend with no leave booked.
Book 1 day
Take: Thursday 25 March
Use 1 day leave for 5 days off
(Thursday 25 March – Monday 29 March)
Book 4 days
Take: Monday 22 March – Thursday 25 March
Use 4 days leave for 10 days off
(Saturday 20 March – Monday 29 March)
Book 1 day
Take: Tuesday 30 March
Use 1 day leave for 5 days off
(Friday 26 March – Tuesday 30 March)
Book 4 days
Take: Tuesday 30 March – Friday 2 April
Use 4 days leave for 10 days off
(Friday 26 March – Sunday 4 April)
Early May bank holiday 2027
Early May bank holiday falls on Monday, 3 May 2027 — already a 3-day weekend with no leave booked.
Book 1 day
Take: Friday 30 April
Use 1 day leave for 4 days off
(Friday 30 April – Monday 3 May)
Book 5 days
Take: Monday 26 April – Friday 30 April
Use 5 days leave for 10 days off
(Saturday 24 April – Monday 3 May)
Book 1 day
Take: Tuesday 4 May
Use 1 day leave for 4 days off
(Saturday 1 May – Tuesday 4 May)
Book 4 days
Take: Tuesday 4 May – Friday 7 May
Use 4 days leave for 9 days off
(Saturday 1 May – Sunday 9 May)
Spring bank holiday 2027
Spring bank holiday falls on Monday, 31 May 2027 — already a 3-day weekend with no leave booked.
Book 1 day
Take: Friday 28 May
Use 1 day leave for 4 days off
(Friday 28 May – Monday 31 May)
Book 5 days
Take: Monday 24 May – Friday 28 May
Use 5 days leave for 10 days off
(Saturday 22 May – Monday 31 May)
Book 1 day
Take: Tuesday 1 June
Use 1 day leave for 4 days off
(Saturday 29 May – Tuesday 1 June)
Book 4 days
Take: Tuesday 1 June – Friday 4 June
Use 4 days leave for 9 days off
(Saturday 29 May – Sunday 6 June)
Battle of the Boyne 2027
Battle of the Boyne falls on Monday, 12 July 2027 — already a 3-day weekend with no leave booked.
Book 1 day
Take: Friday 9 July
Use 1 day leave for 4 days off
(Friday 9 July – Monday 12 July)
Book 5 days
Take: Monday 5 July – Friday 9 July
Use 5 days leave for 10 days off
(Saturday 3 July – Monday 12 July)
Book 1 day
Take: Tuesday 13 July
Use 1 day leave for 4 days off
(Saturday 10 July – Tuesday 13 July)
Book 4 days
Take: Tuesday 13 July – Friday 16 July
Use 4 days leave for 9 days off
(Saturday 10 July – Sunday 18 July)
Summer bank holiday 2027
Summer bank holiday falls on Monday, 30 August 2027 — already a 3-day weekend with no leave booked.
Book 1 day
Take: Friday 27 August
Use 1 day leave for 4 days off
(Friday 27 August – Monday 30 August)
Book 5 days
Take: Monday 23 August – Friday 27 August
Use 5 days leave for 10 days off
(Saturday 21 August – Monday 30 August)
Book 1 day
Take: Tuesday 31 August
Use 1 day leave for 4 days off
(Saturday 28 August – Tuesday 31 August)
Book 4 days
Take: Tuesday 31 August – Friday 3 September
Use 4 days leave for 9 days off
(Saturday 28 August – Sunday 5 September)
Christmas and New Year 2027–28
Christmas Day (Monday, 27 December 2027) and Boxing Day (Tuesday, 28 December 2027) already give you a free long weekend, and New Year's Day (Monday, 3 January 2028) gives you another — bridge the working days in between and it's one long break.
Book 1 day
Take: Friday 24 December
Use 1 day leave for 5 days off
(Friday 24 December – Tuesday 28 December)
Book 5 days
Take: Monday 20 December – Friday 24 December
Use 5 days leave for 11 days off
(Saturday 18 December – Tuesday 28 December)
Book 3 days
Take: Wednesday 29 December – Friday 31 December
Use 3 days leave for 10 days off
(Saturday 25 December 2027 – Monday 3 January 2028)
Book 1 day
Take: Tuesday 4 January
Use 1 day leave for 4 days off
(Saturday 1 January – Tuesday 4 January)
Your 2026 & 2027 plan at a glance: Northern Ireland
| Period | Leave used | Days off |
|---|---|---|
| Christmas and New Year | 3 | 10 |
| St Patrick's Day | 2 | 5 |
| Good Friday & Easter Monday | 4 | 10 |
| Early May bank holiday | 5 | 10 |
| Spring bank holiday | 5 | 10 |
| Battle of the Boyne | 5 | 10 |
| Summer bank holiday | 5 | 10 |
| Christmas and New Year | 3 | 10 |
| Total | 32 | 75 |
This table adds up every plan from now to January 2028, which is more than one leave year. You don't need to book them all: pick the breaks you want. If you work 5 days a week you get at least 28 days' paid holiday a year, and your employer can count bank holidays as part of that.
Planning 2027 in more detail? See the 2027 bank holidays for every nation, including the 27–28 December substitute days.
Pro tips for booking
- Book early: Popular periods like Christmas, Easter, and summer fill up fast
- Check your employer's calendar: Some offices close between Christmas and New Year
- Use floating holidays: If your company offers floating days, use them to extend bank holidays
- Consider partial days: Some employers allow half-day bookings for maximum flexibility
Calculate your actual entitlement
Use our calculator to see exactly how many days and hours you're entitled to, and plan your leave hacks accordingly:
Frequently asked questions
How can I maximise my annual leave in 2026 & 2027?
By strategically booking days around bank holiday weekends, you can significantly extend your time off. The key strategies include: booking days adjacent to bank holidays, using the Christmas/New Year gap, planning around Easter, and combining multiple bank holidays in summer.
Are bank holidays different in Scotland and Northern Ireland?
Yes. Scotland has 2 January and St Andrew's Day (30 November) but not Easter Monday, and its summer bank holiday is the first Monday in August. Northern Ireland has every England and Wales bank holiday plus St Patrick's Day (17 March) and the Battle of the Boyne (12 July). In 2027 that makes 8 bank holidays in England and Wales, 9 in Scotland and 10 in Northern Ireland. If a bank holiday falls at a weekend, a weekday — normally the following Monday — becomes the bank holiday instead.
What is the Christmas holiday hack?
The Christmas hack means booking the working days between Christmas Day and New Year's Day. In England, Wales and Northern Ireland, you can use just 3 days of annual leave to get 10 days off: in 2026, take Tuesday 29 December – Thursday 31 December for a break running Friday 25 December 2026 – Sunday 3 January 2027. In Scotland, 2 January is also a bank holiday, so the same 3 days give you 11 days off.
How many days can I get off for Easter 2027?
In England, Wales and Northern Ireland, Good Friday is 26 March and Easter Monday is 29 March in 2027. Book 4 days of annual leave (Monday 22 March – Thursday 25 March) and you get 10 days off. Scotland has Good Friday but not Easter Monday, so the plans for Scotland above are different.
What's the best way to use summer bank holidays?
In England, Wales and Northern Ireland, the summer bank holiday is the last Monday in August: Monday 30 August 2027. Book 5 days of leave (Monday 23 August – Friday 27 August) for a 10-day break. In Scotland it is the first Monday in August (Monday 2 August 2027). See the plans for Scotland above.
Can my employer refuse my holiday request?
Yes, employers can refuse holiday requests, particularly if there's a business need. However, they must give notice equal to the leave duration (e.g., for a 5-day request, they must give at least 5 days notice of refusal). Popular times like Christmas may have booking restrictions.
Put these tips into action
Use our Bank Holiday Hack Generator to see exactly how to turn bank holidays into extended breaks.
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