UK bank holidays: lazy days, barbecues and extra time with the family. Who doesn’t love a bank holiday?

This year, we will get an additional bank holiday on Monday, 8 May to mark King Charles III’s coronation. 
 
When can you expect some well-needed time off? Here are the bank holiday dates for 2023.
 

UK Bank Holidays 2023

Bank holidays are different depending on where in the UK you live. England and Wales share the same bank holidays, while Scotland and Northern Ireland each have separate bank holidays.   
 
Below, we’ve detailed the 2023 Bank Holidays for each nation.
 

Bank Holidays in Scotland 2023

Taps aff! If there’s a little bit of sunshine on a bank holiday in Scotland, it’s guaranteed that we Scots will make the most of things.  
 
But bank holidays aren’t limited to summertime: there are plenty of bank holidays in early and late 2023 too.  
 
There are two substitute bank holidays in Scotland in 2023. This happens when dates usually reserved for holidays fall on a weekend - that way, we don’t have to miss out on an extra day of rest! 
 
Scotland will enjoy 10 bank holidays in 2023. Here’s when they’ll take place: 
 

Scotland 2023

Monday 2 January - New Year’s Day substitute 
Tuesday 3rd January - 2nd January substitute 
Friday 7 April - Good Friday 
Monday 1 May - Early May bank holiday
Monday 8 May - Bank holiday for the coronation of King Charles III
Monday 29 May – Spring bank holiday
Monday 7 August - Summer bank holiday 
Thursday 30 November - St Andrew’s Day 
Monday 25 December - Christmas Day
Tuesday 26 December - Boxing Day
 

Bank Holidays 2023: England and Wales 

England and Wales share the same bank holiday dates. Unlike Scotland, England and Wales take a day off for Easter Monday. However, England and Wales don’t have a bank holiday to mark their Patron Saints days. 

England and Wales have the lowest number of bank holidays of the four nations, with an allowance of nine days.  
 
If you live in England or Wales, here’s when you can look forward to some much-needed time off work:
 

England and Wales 2023

Monday 2 January - New Year’s Day substitute 
Friday 7 April - Good Friday 
Monday 10 April - Easter Monday
Monday 1 May - Early May bank holiday
Monday 8 May - Bank holiday for the coronation of King Charles III
Monday 29 May – Spring bank holiday
Monday 28 August - Summer bank holiday 
Monday 25 December - Christmas Day
Tuesday 26 December - Boxing Day

 

Bank Holidays 2023: Northern Ireland  

Northern Ireland has the highest number of bank holidays of the four nations, with people across the country enjoying 11 days off. 
 
St. Patrick’s day will be a cause for celebration, with revellers traditionally enjoying the day with public parades, parties, dancing, and of course, green garbs. 
 
If you live in Northern Ireland, here’s when you can expect some time off work: 
 

Northern Ireland 2023

Monday 2 January - New Year’s Day substitute 
Friday 17 March - St Patrick’s Day
Friday 7 April - Good Friday 
Monday 10 April - Easter Monday
Monday 1 May - Early May bank holiday
Monday 8 May - Bank holiday for the coronation of King Charles III
Monday 29 May – Spring bank holiday
Wednesday 12 July - Battle of the Boyne
Monday 28 August - Summer bank holiday 
Monday 25 December - Christmas Day
Tuesday 26 December - Boxing Day
 

Extra bank holiday 2023: King Charles III Coronation

2023 will mark the coronation of King Charles III and Queen Consort Camilla. The coronation will take place on Saturday, 6 May, with an extra bank holiday on Monday, 8 May.
 
All four UK nations will mark the extra bank holiday for the coronation.
 

Maximising your annual leave 

Booking your annual leave dates to coincide with bank holidays could help you to maximise your paid time off work. By reserving annual leave on selected dates, you could benefit from an extended break incorporating bank holidays and weekends without needing to take up a large portion of your annual leave allowance.  

Head here for tips on maximising your annual leave. 
 

Who is entitled to paid bank holidays? 

While many companies give their employees paid leave on bank holidays, they are not required to by law.  
 
While almost everyone, including agency and zero-hour contract workers, is entitled to 28 paid days off per year (pro-rata), bank holidays don’t have to be given as paid leave. 

Instead, it’s up to the employer to include bank holidays as part of an employee’s annual leave entitlement.  
 
So, for example, you might be required to work on Christmas or New Year’s Day, depending on the needs of the business.  
 

How can I check if my employer offers paid bank holidays? 

If you’re applying for a job through a recruiter like Eden Scott, you can ask your recruiter about paid bank holidays and annual leave without needing to speak to the employer directly. This can be helpful when you’re applying for a job, as it allows you to focus on making a good impression at the interview.

If you’re applying for a job directly, it’s best to ask about paid bank holidays after being made a job offer but before accepting it.  

If you’re already in a permanent role, you can check information about paid bank holidays by reading your contract.  
 

What can I do if my employer’s annual leave allowance is not competitive? 

Although the minimum annual leave entitlement is 28 days’ holiday, many employers are increasing their team’s contracted annual leave allowance in a bid to become more appealing to employees.   
 
If you’re not happy with your current annual leave allowance, you might wish to look for another job. If you’re thinking about securing a role with a competitive annual leave allowance, you can discuss your career goals with a recruiter at Eden Scott.  
 
We work closely with some of the best companies in Scotland and the wider UK, the majority of whom offer generous annual leave packages. 
 

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