Leave HackerGuidesPlan my yearLeicester school holidays 2026/27 and 2027/28
Leicester's school holidays and term dates for 2026/27 and 2027/28, from Leicester City Council. Leicester schools break up for Christmas on Friday 18 December 2026 and go back on Monday 4 January. For a parent, the best value is Christmas 2026: book 3 days, get 10 off (Fri 25 Dec 2026 to Sun 3 Jan 2027). October half term 2026 is Sat 17 Oct to Sun 25 Oct 2026 (one week), a week earlier than most English councils' dates: Sat 24 Oct to Sun 1 Nov 2026 (one week, 44 of 50 councils).
Leicester school holidays 2026/27
| Holiday | Off, weekends included | Leave to cover it |
|---|---|---|
| October half termone week, past | 17 to 25 Octback Mon 26 Oct | 5 days → 9 off |
| Christmas holidaystwo weeks | 19 Dec to 3 Janback Mon 4 Jan | 7 days → 16 off |
| February half termone week | 13 to 21 Febback Mon 22 Feb | 5 days → 9 off |
| Easter holidaystwo weeks | 20 Mar to 4 Aprback Mon 5 Apr | 8 days → 16 off |
| May half termone week | 29 May to 6 Junback Mon 7 Jun | 4 days → 9 off |
| Summer holidaysseven weeks and 1 day | 10 Jul to 30 Augback Tue 31 Aug | 35 days → 52 off |
The council doesn't publish training (INSET) days for every school: each school sets its own, usually five a year. Check with your school.
Each row is a month, from the 1st on the left. The yellow stickers are the school holidays.
Term dates 2026/27
| Term | First day | Last day |
|---|---|---|
| Autumn term | Mon 24 Aug 2026 | Fri 18 Dec 2026 |
| Spring term | Mon 4 Jan 2027 | Fri 19 Mar 2027 |
| Summer term | Mon 5 Apr 2027 | Fri 9 Jul 2027 |
The terms between Christmas, Easter and the summer. Half terms and the other holidays above fall inside them.
How Leicester compares
- October half term 2026 is Sat 17 Oct to Sun 25 Oct 2026 (one week), a week earlier than most English councils' dates: Sat 24 Oct to Sun 1 Nov 2026 (one week, 44 of 50 councils).
- Easter holidays 2027 are Sat 20 Mar to Sun 4 Apr 2027 (two weeks), a week earlier than most English councils' dates: Fri 26 Mar to Sun 11 Apr 2027 (two weeks and 1 day, 41 of 50 councils).
- Summer holidays 2027 are Sat 10 Jul to Mon 30 Aug 2027 (seven weeks and 1 day), two weeks earlier and longer than the most common English dates: Thu 22 Jul to Tue 31 Aug 2027 (five weeks and 4 days, 17 of 50 councils).
Its Christmas holidays, February half term and May half term match the most common English dates.
Compared with the 50 English councils we have 2026/27 dates for. Every English council side by side.
The best days of leave to book in 2026/27
To be off for every school holiday day in 2026/27 you'd need 64 days of leave. Full-time workers are entitled to at least 28 days a year, and that can include the bank holidays, so most families mix leave with a second parent, family and holiday clubs. These are the holidays where a day of leave goes furthest:
Christmas 2026: book 3 days, get 10 off
Open it in the planner to see it in your year and get the message for your manager.
Easter holidays 2027: book 4 days, get 10 off
Open it in the planner to see it in your year and get the message for your manager.
May half term 2027: book 4 days, get 9 off
Open it in the planner to see it in your year and get the message for your manager.
About these dates: Leicester's own pattern: schools open in late August and the summer holiday starts on 12 July, so it runs to the 31 August 2027 return (about seven weeks). Easter holiday is 22 March to 2 April.
Source: Leicester City Council's term dates page, checked on 26 October 2026. Bank holidays from gov.uk.
Leicester school holidays 2027/28
| Holiday | Off, weekends included | Leave to cover it |
|---|---|---|
| October half termone week | 16 to 24 Octback Mon 25 Oct | 5 days → 9 off |
| Christmas holidaystwo weeks and 1 day | 18 Dec to 3 Janback Tue 4 Jan | 8 days → 17 off |
| February half termone week | 19 to 27 Febback Mon 28 Feb | 5 days → 9 off |
| Easter holidaystwo weeks | 8 to 23 Aprback Mon 24 Apr | 8 days → 16 off |
| May half termone week | 27 May to 4 Junback Mon 5 Jun | 4 days → 9 off |
| Summer holidayssix weeks and 4 days | 15 Jul to 31 Augback Fri 1 Sep | 33 days → 48 off |
The council doesn't publish training (INSET) days for every school: each school sets its own, usually five a year. Check with your school.
Each row is a month, from the 1st on the left. The yellow stickers are the school holidays.
Term dates 2027/28
| Term | First day | Last day |
|---|---|---|
| Autumn term | Tue 31 Aug 2027 | Fri 17 Dec 2027 |
| Spring term | Tue 4 Jan 2028 | Fri 7 Apr 2028 |
| Summer term | Mon 24 Apr 2028 | Fri 14 Jul 2028 |
The terms between Christmas, Easter and the summer. Half terms and the other holidays above fall inside them.
How Leicester compares
- October half term 2027 is Sat 16 Oct to Sun 24 Oct 2027 (one week), a week earlier than most English councils' dates: Sat 23 Oct to Sun 31 Oct 2027 (one week, 45 of 49 councils).
- February half term 2028 is Sat 19 Feb to Sun 27 Feb 2028 (one week), a week later than most English councils' dates: Sat 12 Feb to Sun 20 Feb 2028 (one week, 39 of 49 councils).
- Easter holidays 2028 are Sat 8 Apr to Sun 23 Apr 2028 (two weeks), a week later than most English councils' dates: Sat 1 Apr to Mon 17 Apr 2028 (two weeks and 1 day, 29 of 49 councils).
- Summer holidays 2028 are Sat 15 Jul to Thu 31 Aug 2028 (six weeks and 4 days), a week earlier and longer than most English councils' dates: Sat 22 Jul to Thu 31 Aug 2028 (five weeks and 4 days, 28 of 49 councils).
Its Christmas holidays and May half term match the most common English dates.
Compared with the 49 English councils we have 2027/28 dates for. Every English council side by side.
The best days of leave to book in 2027/28
To be off for every school holiday day in 2027/28 you'd need 63 days of leave. Full-time workers are entitled to at least 28 days a year, and that can include the bank holidays, so most families mix leave with a second parent, family and holiday clubs. These are the holidays where a day of leave goes furthest:
Christmas 2027: book 3 days, get 10 off
Open it in the planner to see it in your year and get the message for your manager.
Easter holidays 2028: book 4 days, get 10 off
Open it in the planner to see it in your year and get the message for your manager.
May half term 2028: book 4 days, get 9 off
Open it in the planner to see it in your year and get the message for your manager.
About these dates: Leicester's own pattern: schools open on 31 August and the summer holiday starts on 17 July. The council counts 192 pupil days, with schools taking further INSET days from them.
Source: Leicester City Council's term dates (PDF), checked on 26 October 2026. Bank holidays from gov.uk.
Which schools use these dates
These are Leicester City Council's dates for community and voluntary controlled schools. Academies, free schools, foundation and voluntary aided schools can set their own, and independent schools always do, so check with your school before you book. Most training (INSET) days are set by each school.
Taking children out of school in term time has its own rules: can I take my child on holiday in term time? Work in a school? Teachers and annual leave.
Questions
When is October half term 2027 in Leicester?
Sat 16 Oct to Sun 24 Oct 2027, weekends included: one week off school. The last day of school before it is Friday 15 October and pupils go back on Monday 25 October.
When do Leicester schools break up for Christmas 2026?
The last day of term is Friday 18 December 2026. The holiday runs Sat 19 Dec 2026 to Sun 3 Jan 2027, and schools go back on Monday 4 January 2027.
When are the summer holidays 2027 in Leicester?
Sat 10 Jul to Mon 30 Aug 2027: seven weeks and 1 day off school. The last day of term is Friday 9 July.
When are the summer holidays 2028 in Leicester?
Sat 15 Jul to Thu 31 Aug 2028: six weeks and 4 days off school. The last day of term is Friday 14 July.
What's the best time to book annual leave around the Leicester school holidays?
Christmas 2026: book Tue 29 to Thu 31 Dec (3 days) and you're off Friday 25 December 2026 to Sunday 3 January 2027, 10 days with the children. Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day are bank holidays, so they come free.
How much annual leave do I need to cover the Leicester school holidays?
64 days in 2026/27 and 63 days in 2027/28, to be off for every school holiday day, Monday to Friday. With 25 days of leave that's about 39% of 2026/27.
Do all schools in Leicester follow these dates?
These are Leicester City Council's dates for community and voluntary controlled schools. Academies, free schools, foundation and voluntary aided schools can set their own, and independent schools always do, so check with your school before you book. Most training (INSET) days are set by each school.