Leave HackerGuidesPlan my yearAnnual leave guides and answers
The days to book for every bank holiday in 2027 and 2028, and short, sourced answers to the questions people ask about annual leave: how much you get, when your employer can say no, and what happens to the days you don't use.
2027: the days to book
- Best time to book annual leave in 2027Every break ranked, and when to ask
- Easter 2027Book 4 days, get 10 off
- St Patrick's Day 2027Book 4 days, get 9 off (Northern Ireland)
- May bank holidays 2027Book 4 days, get 9 off
- Twelfth of July 2027Book 4 days, get 9 off (Northern Ireland)
- August bank holiday 2027Book 4 days, get 9 off
- St Andrew's Day 2027Book 4 days, get 9 off (Scotland)
- Christmas 2026Book 3 days, get 10 off
- Christmas 2027Book 3 days, get 10 off
- Annual leave hacks 202725 days of leave into 64 days off
- Bank holidays 2027Every date, by nation
2028: the days to book
- Best time to book annual leave in 2028Every break ranked, and when to ask
- Easter 2028Book 4 days, get 10 off
- St Patrick's Day 2028Book 4 days, get 9 off (Northern Ireland)
- May bank holidays 2028Book 4 days, get 9 off
- Twelfth of July 2028Book 4 days, get 9 off (Northern Ireland)
- August bank holiday 2028Book 4 days, get 9 off
- St Andrew's Day 2028Book 4 days, get 9 off (Scotland)
- Christmas 2028Book 3 days, get 9 off
- Annual leave hacks 202825 days of leave into 60 days off
- Bank holidays 2028Every date, by nation
Bank holidays
- What happens when a bank holiday falls on a weekend?You get a weekday instead
- How many bank holidays are there in a year?8 in England and Wales
- When is the next bank holiday?Christmas Day
- How many working days are there in 2027?253 days
- How many working days are there in 2028?252 days
- Why are Scotland's bank holidays different?9 in Scotland in 2027
- Is St David's Day a bank holiday?No
How much leave you get
- How much annual leave am I entitled to?5.6 weeks: 28 days for a 5-day week
- Do bank holidays count as annual leave?They can
- How much holiday do part-time workers get?5.6 × the days you work
- Do part-time workers get bank holidays?Pro rata, whichever days you work
- How is holiday worked out for irregular hours?12.07% of the hours you work
- How much holiday do I get when I start a new job?1/12 of the year's leave a month
- When does my leave year start?Check your contract
- Can I carry over unused annual leave?Up to 8 days, if your contract allows
Booking and asking for leave
- How much notice do I need to give for annual leave?Twice the leave you want
- Can my employer refuse or cancel my annual leave?Yes, for particular dates
- Can my employer make me take annual leave on certain days?Yes, with notice
- How do I ask my manager for annual leave?Early, in writing, with exact dates
Pay, sickness and leaving
- How is holiday pay calculated?A week's pay for a week off
- Can I be paid instead of taking my holiday?Only when you leave
- What happens to my unused holiday when I leave a job?It's paid in your final pay
- What happens to my annual leave if I'm sick?You don't lose it
- Do I build up holiday on maternity leave?Yes, bank holidays included
- Do I get extra pay for working a bank holiday?Only if your contract says so
Parents, schools and teachers
- How do working parents cover the school holidays?58 working days of school holidays
- Can I take my child on holiday during term time?Usually not, in England
- How does annual leave work for teachers?Holidays are the school holidays
- School holidays by councilYour council's term dates, and the days to book
Getting the most days off
- How do I get the most days off from my annual leave?25 days of leave, 64 days off
- How do I plan my annual leave for the year?Plan it all when your year opens
Outside the UK
- Ireland: bank holidays 2027Public holiday dates and the days to book
- Australia: public holidays 2027Every state and territory, side by side
- United States: federal holidays 2027Observed dates, and PTO hacks