Christmas school holidays 2027
When schools break up for Christmas 2027 and when they go back, for 100 councils in England, Wales and Scotland, from each council's own published term dates. In England, schools in 39 of the 49 councils we have break up on Friday 17 December 2027 and go back on Tuesday 4 January 2028; the last day of term ranges from Fri 17 Dec to Wed 22 Dec.
Christmas school holidays 2027 at a glance
| Where | Last day of term | Back to school |
|---|---|---|
| England39 of 49 councils | Fri 17 Decall: Fri 17 Dec to Wed 22 Dec | Tue 4 Jan 2028 |
| Wales15 of 22 councils | Fri 17 Decall: Fri 17 Dec to Wed 22 Dec | Tue 4 Jan 2028 |
| Scotland14 of 29 councils | Tue 21 Decall: Fri 17 Dec to Wed 22 Dec | Wed 5 Jan 2028 |
The most common dates in each nation: in most of England that's off school Sat 18 Dec 2027 to Mon 3 Jan 2028, weekends included. Find your council below; academies and independent schools can differ.
England: Christmas 2027
In England, schools in 39 of the 49 councils we have break up on Friday 17 December 2027 and go back on Tuesday 4 January 2028; the last day of term ranges from Fri 17 Dec to Wed 22 Dec. Every English council's holidays side by side.
| Council, leave to cover it | Last day | Back |
|---|---|---|
| Birminghamtwo weeks and 1 day off8 days' leave | Fri 17 Dec | Tue 4 Jan |
| Bournemouth, Christchurch and Pooletwo weeks and 1 day off8 days' leave | Fri 17 Dec | Tue 4 Jan |
| Brenttwo weeks and 1 day off8 days' leave | Fri 17 Dec | Tue 4 Jan |
| Bristoltwo weeks and 1 day off8 days' leave | Fri 17 Dec | Tue 4 Jan |
| Buckinghamshiretwo weeks and 1 day off8 days' leave | Fri 17 Dec | Tue 4 Jan |
| Cambridgeshiretwo weeks and 1 day off8 days' leave | Fri 17 Dec | Tue 4 Jan |
| Cheshire Easttwo weeks and 1 day off8 days' leave | Fri 17 Dec | Tue 4 Jan |
| Cheshire West and Chestertwo weeks and 1 day off8 days' leave | Fri 17 Dec | Tue 4 Jan |
| Cornwalltwo weeks off7 days' leave | Wed 22 Dec | Thu 6 Jan |
| County Durhamtwo weeks and 1 day off8 days' leave | Fri 17 Dec | Tue 4 Jan |
| Coventrytwo weeks and 1 day off8 days' leave | Fri 17 Dec | Tue 4 Jan |
| Croydontwo weeks and 1 day off8 days' leave | Fri 17 Dec | Tue 4 Jan |
| Derbyshiretwo weeks off7 days' leave | Wed 22 Dec | Thu 6 Jan |
| Devontwo weeks off7 days' leave | Wed 22 Dec | Thu 6 Jan |
| Dorsettwo weeks and 1 day off8 days' leave | Fri 17 Dec | Tue 4 Jan |
| Ealingtwo weeks and 1 day off8 days' leave | Fri 17 Dec | Tue 4 Jan |
| East Riding of Yorkshiretwo weeks and 2 days off9 days' leave | Fri 17 Dec | Wed 5 Jan |
| East Sussextwo weeks and 1 day off8 days' leave | Fri 17 Dec | Tue 4 Jan |
| Essextwo weeks and 1 day off8 days' leave | Fri 17 Dec | Tue 4 Jan |
| Gloucestershiretwo weeks and 1 day off8 days' leave | Fri 17 Dec | Tue 4 Jan |
| Hampshiretwo weeks and 1 day off8 days' leave | Fri 17 Dec | Tue 4 Jan |
| Hertfordshiretwo weeks and 1 day off8 days' leave | Fri 17 Dec | Tue 4 Jan |
| Kenttwo weeks and 1 day off8 days' leave | Fri 17 Dec | Tue 4 Jan |
| Lancashiretwo weeks and 1 day off8 days' leave | Fri 17 Dec | Tue 4 Jan |
| Leedstwo weeks and 1 day off8 days' leave | Fri 17 Dec | Tue 4 Jan |
| Leicestertwo weeks and 1 day off8 days' leave | Fri 17 Dec | Tue 4 Jan |
| Leicestershiretwo weeks and 1 day off8 days' leave | Fri 17 Dec | Tue 4 Jan |
| Lincolnshiretwo weeks and 2 days off9 days' leave | Fri 17 Dec | Wed 5 Jan |
| Liverpooltwo weeks and 1 day off8 days' leave | Fri 17 Dec | Tue 4 Jan |
| Manchestertwo weeks and 1 day off8 days' leave | Fri 17 Dec | Tue 4 Jan |
| Newhamtwo weeks and 1 day off8 days' leave | Fri 17 Dec | Tue 4 Jan |
| Norfolktwo weeks and 2 days off9 days' leave | Fri 17 Dec | Wed 5 Jan |
| North Northamptonshiretwo weeks and 1 day off8 days' leave | Fri 17 Dec | Tue 4 Jan |
| North Yorkshiretwo weeks and 1 day off8 days' leave | Fri 17 Dec | Tue 4 JanINSET |
| Nottinghamshireone week and 4 days off6 days' leave | Tue 21 Dec | Tue 4 Jan |
| Oxfordshiretwo weeks off7 days' leave | Tue 21 Dec | Wed 5 Jan |
| Sandwelltwo weeks and 1 day off8 days' leave | Fri 17 Dec | Tue 4 Jan |
| Sheffieldtwo weeks and 1 day off8 days' leave | Fri 17 Dec | Tue 4 Jan |
| Shropshiretwo weeks and 1 day off8 days' leave | Fri 17 Dec | Tue 4 Jan |
| Somersettwo weeks and 1 day off8 days' leave | Fri 17 Dec | Tue 4 Jan |
| Staffordshiretwo weeks and 1 day off8 days' leave | Fri 17 Dec | Tue 4 Jan |
| Suffolktwo weeks and 1 day off8 days' leave | Fri 17 Dec | Tue 4 Jan |
| Surreyone week and 4 days off6 days' leave | Tue 21 Dec | Tue 4 Jan |
| Wakefieldtwo weeks and 1 day off8 days' leave | Fri 17 Dec | Tue 4 Jan |
| Warwickshiretwo weeks and 2 days off9 days' leave | Fri 17 Dec | Wed 5 JanINSET |
| West Northamptonshiretwo weeks and 1 day off8 days' leave | Fri 17 Dec | Tue 4 Jan |
| Wigantwo weeks and 1 day off8 days' leave | Fri 17 Dec | Tue 4 JanINSET |
| Wiltshiretwo weeks and 1 day off8 days' leave | Fri 17 Dec | Tue 4 Jan |
| Worcestershiretwo weeks and 1 day off8 days' leave | Fri 17 Dec | Tue 4 Jan |
Not published in a form we could check for 2027/28 yet: Northumberland and West Sussex.
Wales: Christmas 2027
In Wales, schools in 15 of the 22 councils we have break up on Friday 17 December 2027 and go back on Tuesday 4 January 2028; the last day of term ranges from Fri 17 Dec to Wed 22 Dec. Every Welsh council's holidays side by side.
| Council, leave to cover it | Last day | Back |
|---|---|---|
| Angleseytwo weeks off7 days' leave | Wed 22 Dec | Thu 6 Jan |
| Blaenau Gwenttwo weeks and 1 day off8 days' leave | Fri 17 Dec | Tue 4 Jan |
| Bridgendtwo weeks and 1 day off8 days' leave | Fri 17 Dec | Tue 4 Jan |
| Caerphillytwo weeks and 1 day off8 days' leave | Fri 17 Dec | Tue 4 Jan |
| Cardifftwo weeks and 1 day off8 days' leave | Fri 17 Dec | Tue 4 Jan |
| Carmarthenshiretwo weeks and 1 day off8 days' leave | Fri 17 Dec | Tue 4 Jan |
| Ceredigiontwo weeks and 1 day off8 days' leave | Fri 17 Dec | Tue 4 Jan |
| Conwytwo weeks off7 days' leave | Wed 22 Dec | Thu 6 Jan |
| Denbighshiretwo weeks off7 days' leave | Wed 22 Dec | Thu 6 Jan |
| Flintshiretwo weeks off7 days' leave | Wed 22 Dec | Thu 6 Jan |
| Gwyneddtwo weeks off7 days' leave | Wed 22 Dec | Thu 6 Jan |
| Merthyr Tydfiltwo weeks and 1 day off8 days' leave | Fri 17 Dec | Tue 4 Jan |
| Monmouthshiretwo weeks and 1 day off8 days' leave | Fri 17 Dec | Tue 4 Jan |
| Neath Port Talbottwo weeks and 1 day off8 days' leave | Fri 17 Dec | Tue 4 Jan |
| Newporttwo weeks and 1 day off8 days' leave | Fri 17 Dec | Tue 4 Jan |
| Pembrokeshiretwo weeks and 1 day off8 days' leave | Fri 17 Dec | Tue 4 Jan |
| Powystwo weeks and 2 days off9 days' leave | Mon 20 Dec | Thu 6 Jan |
| Rhondda Cynon Taftwo weeks and 1 day off8 days' leave | Fri 17 Dec | Tue 4 Jan |
| Swanseatwo weeks and 1 day off8 days' leave | Fri 17 Dec | Tue 4 Jan |
| Torfaentwo weeks and 1 day off8 days' leave | Fri 17 Dec | Tue 4 Jan |
| Vale of Glamorgantwo weeks and 1 day off8 days' leave | Fri 17 Dec | Tue 4 Jan |
| Wrexhamtwo weeks off7 days' leave | Wed 22 Dec | Thu 6 Jan |
Scotland: Christmas 2027
In Scotland, schools in 14 of the 29 councils we have break up on Tuesday 21 December 2027 and go back on Wednesday 5 January 2028; the last day of term ranges from Fri 17 Dec to Wed 22 Dec. Every Scottish council's holidays side by side.
| Council, leave to cover it | Last day | Back |
|---|---|---|
| Aberdeentwo weeks off6 days' leave | Tue 21 Dec | Wed 5 Jan |
| Aberdeenshiretwo weeks off6 days' leave | Tue 21 Dec | Wed 5 Jan |
| Angustwo weeks off6 days' leave | Wed 22 Dec | Thu 6 Jan |
| Argyll and Buteone week and 4 days off5 days' leave | Wed 22 Dec | Wed 5 Jan |
| Clackmannanshiretwo weeks off6 days' leave | Tue 21 Dec | Wed 5 Jan |
| Dumfries and Gallowaytwo weeks and 1 day off7 days' leave | Tue 21 Dec | Thu 6 Jan |
| Dundeetwo weeks off6 days' leave | Wed 22 Dec | Thu 6 Jan |
| East Ayrshiretwo weeks off6 days' leave | Tue 21 Dec | Wed 5 Jan |
| East Dunbartonshiretwo weeks and 2 days off8 days' leave | Wed 22 Dec | Mon 10 Jan |
| East Renfrewshireone week and 4 days off5 days' leave | Wed 22 Dec | Wed 5 Jan |
| Edinburghtwo weeks and 2 days off8 days' leave | Mon 20 Dec | Thu 6 Jan |
| Falkirktwo weeks off6 days' leave | Tue 21 Dec | Wed 5 Jan |
| Fifetwo weeks off6 days' leave | Wed 22 Dec | Thu 6 Jan |
| Glasgowtwo weeks off6 days' leave | Tue 21 Dec | Wed 5 Jan |
| Highlandtwo weeks off6 days' leave | Tue 21 Dec | Wed 5 Jan |
| Inverclydetwo weeks off6 days' leave | Tue 21 Dec | Wed 5 Jan |
| Midlothiantwo weeks and 1 day off7 days' leave | Tue 21 Dec | Thu 6 Jan |
| Moraytwo weeks off6 days' leave | Tue 21 Dec | Wed 5 Jan |
| North Ayrshiretwo weeks off6 days' leave | Wed 22 Dec | Thu 6 Jan |
| North Lanarkshiretwo weeks and 2 days off8 days' leave | Fri 17 Dec | Wed 5 Jan |
| Perth and Kinrosstwo weeks off6 days' leave | Tue 21 Dec | Wed 5 Jan |
| Renfrewshiretwo weeks off6 days' leave | Wed 22 Dec | Thu 6 Jan |
| Scottish Borderstwo weeks and 1 day off7 days' leave | Tue 21 Dec | Thu 6 Jan |
| Shetlandtwo weeks off6 days' leave | Tue 21 Dec | Wed 5 Jan |
| South Ayrshiretwo weeks off6 days' leave | Wed 22 Dec | Thu 6 Jan |
| South Lanarkshiretwo weeks off6 days' leave | Tue 21 Dec | Wed 5 Jan |
| Stirlingtwo weeks off6 days' leave | Tue 21 Dec | Wed 5 Jan |
| West Dunbartonshireone week and 4 days off5 days' leave | Wed 22 Dec | Wed 5 Jan |
| West Lothiantwo weeks off6 days' leave | Tue 21 Dec | Wed 5 Jan |
Not published in a form we could check for 2027/28 yet: East Lothian, Orkney and Western Isles.
Leave to cover the Christmas holidays
On the most common English dates, Sat 18 Dec 2027 to Mon 3 Jan 2028, being off for every school day takes 8 days of leave for 17 days off: Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day are bank holidays, so they come free. If you can't cover it all, the best value inside it is Wed 29 to Fri 31 Dec: book 3 days, get 10 off.
Christmas school holidays 2027: book 3 days, get 10 off
The tables above have the leave for each council's own dates. Open this break in the planner to see it in your year and get the message for your manager.
No children at school? See Christmas 2027: the days to book for the most days off from the least leave.
Which schools use these dates
These are each council's dates for its own schools: in England, community and voluntary controlled schools; in Wales, as approved by the Welsh Government; in Northern Ireland, the Department of Education's. Academies, free schools, foundation, voluntary aided and independent schools can set their own, and each school sets most of its training (INSET) days, so check with your school before you book.
Taking children out of school in term time has its own rules: can I take my child on holiday in term time?
Questions
When do schools break up for Christmas 2027?
In England, schools in 39 of the 49 councils we have break up on Friday 17 December 2027 and go back on Tuesday 4 January 2028; the last day of term ranges from Fri 17 Dec to Wed 22 Dec. In Wales, schools in 15 of the 22 councils we have break up on Friday 17 December 2027 and go back on Tuesday 4 January 2028; the last day of term ranges from Fri 17 Dec to Wed 22 Dec. In Scotland, schools in 14 of the 29 councils we have break up on Tuesday 21 December 2027 and go back on Wednesday 5 January 2028; the last day of term ranges from Fri 17 Dec to Wed 22 Dec. Councils set their own dates, so check yours above.
When do schools go back after Christmas 2027?
England: Tuesday 4 January 2028 (39 of 49 councils). Wales: Tuesday 4 January 2028 (15 of 22 councils). Scotland: Wednesday 5 January 2028 (14 of 29 councils).
Is there a half term at Christmas 2027?
No. The Christmas holidays aren't a half term but a holiday of their own: two weeks and 1 day off school in most of England, Sat 18 Dec 2027 to Mon 3 Jan 2028. The half terms are in October, February and May.
How much annual leave do I need to cover the Christmas holidays 2027?
8 days on the most common English dates, Sat 18 Dec 2027 to Mon 3 Jan 2028, working Monday to Friday, with Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day free as bank holidays. Each council's own dates are in the tables above, with the leave to cover them.
Do all schools break up for Christmas on the same day?
No. Each council sets its own dates: in England the last day of term ranges from Friday 17 December 2027 to Wednesday 22 December 2027. Academies, free schools, voluntary aided and independent schools can set their own too.