Leave HackerGuidesPlan my yearChristmas 2028: book 3 days, get 9 off
Book Wed 27 to Fri 29 Dec and you're off from Saturday 23 December to Sunday 31 December 2028: 9 days for 3 days of leave, in the whole UK.
Christmas Day is Monday 25 December. Boxing Day is Tuesday 26 December. gov.uk hasn't published the 2029 bank holidays yet. New Year's Day 2029 is a Monday; the breaks below don't count it until gov.uk confirms it.
Christmas 2028 bank holidays
| Bank holiday | England and Wales | Scotland | Northern Ireland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Christmas Day | Mon 25 Dec | Mon 25 Dec | Mon 25 Dec |
| Boxing Day | Tue 26 Dec | Tue 26 Dec | Tue 26 Dec |
Christmas 2028 in the whole UK
Book 3 days, get 9 off
| Days of leave | Days off | Days to book | Off from |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 5 | Fri 22 Dec | 22 to 26 Dec |
| 2 | 6 | Thu 21 to Fri 22 Dec | 21 to 26 Dec |
| 3 | 9 | Wed 27 to Fri 29 Dec | 23 to 31 Dec |
| 4 | 10 | Fri 22 Dec and Wed 27 to Fri 29 Dec | 22 to 31 Dec |
| 5 | 11 | Mon 18 to Fri 22 Dec | 16 to 26 Dec |
| 6 | 12 | Fri 15 Dec and Mon 18 to Fri 22 Dec | 15 to 26 Dec |
| 8 | 16 | Mon 18 to Fri 22 Dec and Wed 27 to Fri 29 Dec | 16 to 31 Dec |
Leave years that end in December
If your leave year runs January to December, you can't book January 2029 days from your 2028 allowance, which is why the breaks above stop at the first working day in January.
Once gov.uk publishes the 2029 bank holidays, this page adds the New Year to the breaks. A leave year that starts in April can usually stretch the break into January too.
Book it before your colleagues do
Christmas 2028 is a week a lot of people want off, and your employer can turn down a request when too many of the team are already away. The earlier you ask, the better your chance.
- Ask as soon as your leave year opens. If it runs January to December, that's the start of January 2028. Lots of people plan their year then, so the popular weeks can go quickly.
- The legal minimum. Unless your contract sets its own rules, you have to give notice of twice the leave you want plus a day. For these 3 days that means asking by Wednesday 20 December 2028 at the latest. How notice works.
- When they can say no. Your employer can refuse or cancel leave, but they must tell you at least the length of the leave plus a day beforehand: by Saturday 23 December for this break. Wait for a yes before you book flights. Can my employer refuse?
Hi, could I book annual leave on Wed 27 Dec, Thu 28 Dec and Fri 29 Dec? That's 3 days, and I'd be off from Sat 23 Dec to Sun 31 Dec. Thanks!
How to ask for annual leave, with more ways to put it. If you have children at school, check your council's term dates first: school holidays and annual leave.
Questions
When are the Christmas bank holidays in 2028?
Christmas Day: Monday 25 December 2028. Boxing Day: Tuesday 26 December 2028. New Year's Day 2029 is a Monday; gov.uk hasn't published 2029's bank holidays yet.
How many days off can I get at Christmas 2028?
9 days for 3 days of leave in England, Wales and Northern Ireland: book Wed 27 to Fri 29 Dec. The longest break worth booking is 16 days for 8 days.
Is it different in Scotland?
Christmas Day and Boxing Day are the same across the UK. Scotland usually has 2 January off too, but gov.uk hasn't published 2029 yet.