UK bank holidays 2025: Dates & guidance for UK businesses

Planning for national holidays is essential for UK businesses. If you’re a sole trader, company director, or about to launch your first business, read on to find key UK bank holiday dates in 2025. Plus, discover our FAQs for employers and business owners on UK bank holidays.

What are UK bank holidays?

Bank holidays are official public holidays in the UK when most banks, government offices, and many businesses close or operate with reduced staffing. They have been a part of UK life since 1871, when they were officially recognised by Parliament, allowing banks to close their doors, and giving the tradition its name. Although companies aren’t legally required to observe them, most employees expect time off, and certain services may be interrupted.

• Key dates in 2025 small businesses need to know
• The limited company dates that you need to know about
• Unlimited time off – the advantages and disadvantages

All business owners should track bank holiday dates and plan carefully around them. This involves strategically managing operations, carefully organising annual leave, understanding how to minimise customer disruption, and meeting compliance obligations.

Bank holidays 2025 by region

Below are tables showing the official UK bank holidays in 2025. The dates vary slightly across England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland.

England and Wales

England and Wales typically have eight permanent bank holidays per year.

Date	Holiday
Wednesday 1 January	New Year’s Day
Friday 18 April	Good Friday
Monday 21 April	Easter Monday
Monday 5 May	Early May Bank Holiday
Monday 26 May	Spring Bank Holiday
Monday 25 August	Summer Bank Holiday
Thursday 25 December	Christmas Day
Friday 26 December	Boxing Day

Scotland

Scotland has nine bank holidays in a typical year. These include holidays that aren’t applicable in the rest of the UK, such as 2 January and St Andrew’s Day.

Date	Holiday
Wednesday 1 January	New Year’s Day
Thursday 2 January	2nd January Holiday
Friday 18 April	Good Friday
Monday 5 May	Early May Bank Holiday
Monday 26 May	Spring Bank Holiday
Monday 4 August	Summer Bank Holiday
Monday 1 December	St Andrew’s Day (substitute day)
Thursday 25 December	Christmas Day
Friday 26 December	Boxing Day

Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland has 10 bank holidays, including St Patrick’s Day and the Battle of the Boyne.

Date	Holiday
Wednesday 1 January	New Year’s Day
Monday 17 March	St Patrick’s Day
Friday 18 April	Good Friday
Monday 21 April	Easter Monday
Monday 5 May	Early May Bank Holiday
Monday 26 May	Spring Bank Holiday
Monday 14 July	Battle of the Boyne (substitute day)
Monday 25 August	Summer Bank Holiday
Thursday 25 December	Christmas Day
Friday 26 December	Boxing Day

Business impacts to consider

UK bank holidays can have significant operational and financial implications for small businesses. Careful planning is essential to minimise disruptions and maintain strong relationships with customers, clients, and employees. Here are the key areas to focus on:

Banking and Financial Transactions

Bank closures mean that payments, transfers, and deposits may be delayed. Time your financial operations carefully around bank holidays to ensure smooth cash flow.

• Schedule supplier payments, client invoices, and any major transactions well in advance
• Maintain a healthy cash buffer to cover expenses during any disruption
• Communicate with your bank early if you anticipate needing assistance or special arrangements

Staff Scheduling and Resource Planning

Employees may plan holidays around bank holiday weekends, and sudden shortages in staff can disrupt daily operations.

• Encourage staff to submit holiday requests early, especially around long weekends
• Consider operating with a smaller “skeleton crew” while ensuring critical roles are covered
• If possible, offer flexible working arrangements around holidays to maintain goodwill and boost morale

Customer and Client Communication

Being transparent about your availability helps manage customer expectations and keeps your service standards high.

• Update your business hours on your website, social media channels, and Google Business Profile to reflect holiday hours
• Use email newsletters or auto-responders to inform clients in advance of any closures or slower response times
• If providing essential services, make sure customers know who to contact in case of urgent needs

Payroll and HR Administration

Timely wage payments are crucial for maintaining staff trust and morale. Bank holidays can disrupt standard payroll cycles if not planned for.

• Process payroll earlier than usual to ensure employees are paid on time, regardless of banking delays
• Double-check standing orders and automated payments to ensure compliance with payroll schedules
• Review any regulatory obligations relating to pay dates, especially for companies with employees contracted to specific pay periods

Supply Chain and Deliveries

Bank holidays can also affect your suppliers, couriers, and other third-party services.

• Confirm delivery schedules with suppliers ahead of time, particularly if you rely on just-in-time inventory
• Plan for potential stock shortages or shipment delays by ordering key items earlier
• Notify customers in advance if fulfilment times may be extended

Customer Demand Fluctuations

Some industries experience spikes in demand over holidays (e.g., hospitality, retail, e-commerce), while others may slow down.

• Anticipate the likely trend for your sector and adjust inventory, staffing, and marketing efforts accordingly
• Offer holiday-themed promotions if appropriate to boost sales and engagement

Bank holiday FAQs for employers and business owners

Here are some common questions from limited company directors and small business owners:

Do companies have to close on bank holidays?

No, companies are not legally required to close on UK bank holidays. Small businesses can choose different working hours, provided they meet contractual and statutory obligations around paid time off.

Are employees entitled to paid leave on bank holidays?

Employers are not legally required to provide paid time off on UK bank holidays. Whether you’re entitled to take the day off and whether it’s paid depends on the terms of your employment contract.

Some contracts include bank holidays as part of the standard annual leave entitlement, while others may offer them as additional paid leave or not at all. Employers must ensure that total paid annual leave meets the statutory minimum (5.6 weeks per year for full-time employees in the UK, as of April 2025).

Can I have different holiday dates instead of a bank holiday?

Yes. Employees can take alternative holidays provided the statutory annual leave entitlement is met. This should always be agreed in writing. As an employer, you should always tell your employees your company’s rules for bank holidays – especially if they’re new hires or changing from full-time to part-time work.

Is Companies House open on bank holidays?

Physical offices and telephone lines for Companies House are closed on UK bank holidays. The Belfast office is closed on Tuesday 15 July, 2025, and the Edinburgh office is closed on Easter Monday (21 April), Monday 19 May, and Monday 15 September 2025.

Companies House has an online WebFiling service available 24/7, including bank holidays. This means submissions to Companies House (for instance, for incorporations, confirmation statements, or updates) can still be made online.

You should always submit in advance for time-sensitive filings (like annual accounts or confirmation statements) to avoid missed deadlines or late penalties. The deadline for delivering accounts to Companies House is a specific date, regardless of whether it falls on a bank holiday.

What happens if a bank holiday falls on a weekend?

If a bank holiday falls on a weekend, a substitute weekday acts as the official UK bank holiday, and this is usually the following Monday. The total number of national holiday days remains the same each year; however, occasionally national holidays are added due to special circumstances (e.g. the death or coronation of the monarch).

Can I register a new company on a bank holiday?

You can choose a company formation package and apply to register your company on a UK bank holiday. However, processing will not begin until the next working day.

Stay ahead of bank holiday disruptions

Bank holidays don’t have to catch your small business off guard. With a little forward planning – from managing staffing and payroll to communicating with customers – you can navigate these periods smoothly and even turn them into an opportunity to strengthen your operations.

Take the time now to review your business calendar, communicate with your team, and plan key tasks around upcoming bank holidays. Your future self (and your customers) will thank you.

If you’d like even more tips on planning for seasonal downtime or a custom checklist for your business, get in touch – we’re here to help!

For more advice on setting up, running, and growing your business in the UK, explore our latest guides and insights on the 1st Formations blog.