Bank Holidays 2023: Your Ultimate UK Guide
Get ready to mark your calendars! Here’s the lowdown on all UK bank holiday dates for 2023 – including a special day off to celebrate the coronation of King Charles III. But beware, dates differ across the nations!
When Are the Bank Holidays in 2023?
Bank holidays vary slightly across the UK. England and Wales share the same dates, while Scotland and Northern Ireland each have their own unique line-up.
- England & Wales:
- New Year’s Day – Monday, January 2 (substitute day)
- Good Friday – April 7
- Easter Monday – April 10
- Early May Bank Holiday – Monday, May 1
- Coronation Bank Holiday (King Charles III) – Monday, May 8
- Spring Bank Holiday – Monday, May 29
- Summer Bank Holiday – Monday, August 28
- Christmas Day – Monday, December 25
- Boxing Day – Tuesday, December 26
- Scotland:
- New Year’s Day – Monday, January 2 (substitute day)
- January 3 (substitute day)
- Good Friday – April 7
- Early May Bank Holiday – Monday, May 1
- Coronation Bank Holiday – Monday, May 8
- Spring Bank Holiday – Monday, May 29
- Summer Bank Holiday – Monday, August 7
- St Andrew’s Day – Thursday, November 30
- Christmas Day – Monday, December 25
- Boxing Day – Tuesday, December 26
- Northern Ireland:
- New Year’s Day – Monday, January 2 (substitute day)
- St. Patrick’s Day – Friday, March 17
- Good Friday – April 7
- Easter Monday – April 10
- Early May Bank Holiday – Monday, May 1
- Coronation Bank Holiday – Monday, May 8
- Spring Bank Holiday – Monday, May 29
- Orangemen’s Day (Battle of the Boyne) – Wednesday, July 12
- Summer Bank Holiday – Monday, August 28
- Christmas Day – Monday, December 25
- Boxing Day – Tuesday, December 26
For the first time since 2019, Christmas and Boxing Day fall on weekdays, giving everyone a proper holiday on both days.
King Charles III’s Coronation: A Day to Remember
King Charles III will be crowned on Saturday, May 6, 2023, with a dedicated bank holiday the following Monday, May 8. This is set to be a massive national celebration, with the government considering extended pub hours – possibly until 1am from Friday through Sunday – to keep the party going.
“The coronation is a unique moment for the country to showcase the very best of the United Kingdom,” said Chancellor Oliver Dowden.
Expect a star-studded event with foreign heads of state, dignitaries, and public festivities galore. Behind the scenes, government departments are working hard on what Downing Street calls a “massive” planning operation.
How to Maximise Your Annual Leave in 2023
Want a longer holiday without using up all your annual leave? Here’s how to stretch your days off:
- Spring Break: Take off just April 3-6 to enjoy a full 10-day break around Easter (including the bank holidays on April 7 and 10).
- Coronation Holiday: Book April 29 – May 5 or May 2 – 5 to enjoy two back-to-back bank holidays – early May and the Coronation on May 8. That’s a bonus 10-day break for just 4 days’ leave!
- Extended May Getaway: Add four days off after May 8 (May 9-12) to score a staggering 16 days off, perfect for escaping school holiday chaos.
- Summer Fun: Take four days off after the August 28 bank holiday to create a full week of summer sun, either hitting UK beaches in Cornwall, Devon, Norfolk, Pembrokeshire, or Yorkshire’s Whitby – or jet-setting further afield.
- Christmas Chill: Christmas Day falls on a Monday and Boxing Day on a Tuesday, so if you take off December 27-29, you get a perfect chunk of festive downtime stretching from Christmas through New Year.
Plan smart and enjoy your 2023 holidays like a pro!
