In comparison with most nations, the UK has few financial institution holidays – simply eight a 12 months. That’s why, for a lot of journey lovers, profiting from these nationwide days off is essential.
Aligning your annual go away with public holidays and weekends offers you an prolonged break from work, making it superb for reserving a giant journey that you simply’ll bear in mind lengthy after the 12 months ends. Simply be sure you submit your go away requests earlier than your co-workers do!
Key dates
- New Yr’s Day: Take off 29 to 31 December (2025) and a pair of January for an 11-day break.
- Easter: Take 30 March to 2 April or 7 to 10 April off for a ten-day break.
- Early Might and spring financial institution holidays: Take off both 5 to eight Might or 26 to 29 Might for a nine-day break.
- Summer time financial institution vacation: Take off 1 to 4 September for a nine-day break.
- Christmas Day and Boxing Day: Take off 21 to 24 December and 29 to 31 December off for a 16-day vacation.

January – New Yr’s Day
2026 begins on a Thursday – a disruption to the work week, in case you ask us. So why not e-book the opposite 4 days off and ring within the New Yr with an eleven-day vacation? It’s the right period of time to discover Colombia’s cities, cities and occasional area.
You too can go Down Underneath, the place summer time is in full swing. In only a week, you may cowl a whole lot of floor in Tasmania, balancing seashore time with motion in locations like Wineglass Bay and Cradle Mountain.
Or you may head to South East Asia. Possibly spend a couple of days exploring at your individual tempo after which be a part of a five-day Intrepid journey in Thailand, the place you may absorb some vitamin D on a catamaran.
April – Easter
Use 4 days of annual go away to show two public holidays into ten days off work – the magic of leave-hacking maths. With double-digit days off, you may also journey barely additional afield.
It’s the right month to take certainly one of Intrepid’s hottest journeys, the Vietnam Categorical Southbound, because the climate is cooler and drier than in the summertime. The identical will be stated for Morocco – and in case you have kids and so they’re on faculty holidays, why not take them with you on a household journey? A camel trip alongside the Atlantic Ocean is certain to turn into a core reminiscence.


Might – Early Might financial institution vacation and spring financial institution vacation
Solely having to work two Mondays in Might is fairly candy, however reserving holidays utilising the financial institution vacation Mondays is even sweeter. You possibly can take pleasure in a nine-day break in case you take off both the 5 to eight or 26 to 29 Might – which, coincidentally, is one of the best time for a summer time vacation earlier than the vacationers descend.
In style European summer time spots like Portugal and Greece are sometimes milder, extra inexpensive and fewer crowded in Might. You too can kick off the summer time by consuming your method round South Korea or snorkelling in lovely Bali.
August – summer time financial institution vacation
The summer time financial institution vacation is the final hurrah, a ultimate probability to show summer time hopes into realities. Get one other nine-day break from the every day grind by taking off 1 to 4 September.
The Adriatic Sea is warmest on the finish of summer time, making a crusing journey across the Croatian islands particularly interesting. Croatia’s nationwide parks are additionally price a go to. In the event you like your nature with slightly extra wildlife, take into account a Kenyan safari. Late August falls inside the peak of the Nice Migration, so you may anticipate to see loads of wildebeest and zebras within the Maasai Mara.


December – Christmas Day and Boxing Day
Saving annual go away for the tip of the 12 months is tough – it may be tempting to make use of all of it up when the solar is out – however your self-restraint shall be rewarded. Get a 16-day vacation by reserving off the times earlier than and after Christmas (21 to 24 and 29 to 31).
Escape the chilly with a Sri Lanka getaway, the place you may summit Lion Rock in Sigiriya and cycle via the traditional metropolis ruins of Anuradhapura. Or try Northern India’s hotspots, just like the Taj Mahal and Jama Masjid Mosque, whereas the nation is cooler.
Impressed to maximise your day without work? Be a part of a small group journey with Intrepid.