May half term 2027
When schools break up for May half term 2027 and when they go back, for 72 councils in England and Wales, from each council's own published term dates. In England, schools in 50 of the 50 councils we have break up on Friday 28 May 2027 and go back on Monday 7 June 2027.
May half term 2027 at a glance
| Where | Last day of term | Back to school |
|---|---|---|
| England50 of 50 councils | Fri 28 May | Mon 7 Jun 2027 |
| Wales22 of 22 councils | Fri 28 May | Mon 7 Jun 2027 |
The most common dates in each nation: in most of England that's off school Sat 29 May to Sun 6 Jun 2027, weekends included. Find your council below; academies and independent schools can differ.
England: May half term 2027
In England, schools in 50 of the 50 councils we have break up on Friday 28 May 2027 and go back on Monday 7 June 2027. Every English council's holidays side by side.
| Council, leave to cover it | Last day | Back |
|---|---|---|
| Birminghamone week off4 days' leave | Fri 28 May | Mon 7 Jun |
| Bournemouth, Christchurch and Pooleone week off4 days' leave | Fri 28 May | Mon 7 Jun |
| Brentone week off4 days' leave | Fri 28 May | Mon 7 Jun |
| Bristolone week off4 days' leave | Fri 28 May | Mon 7 Jun |
| Buckinghamshireone week off4 days' leave | Fri 28 May | Mon 7 Jun |
| Cambridgeshireone week off4 days' leave | Fri 28 May | Mon 7 Jun |
| Cheshire Eastone week off4 days' leave | Fri 28 May | Mon 7 Jun |
| Cheshire West and Chesterone week off4 days' leave | Fri 28 May | Mon 7 Jun |
| Cornwallone week off4 days' leave | Fri 28 May | Mon 7 Jun |
| County Durhamone week off4 days' leave | Fri 28 May | Mon 7 Jun |
| Coventryone week off4 days' leave | Fri 28 May | Mon 7 Jun |
| Croydonone week off4 days' leave | Fri 28 May | Mon 7 Jun |
| Derbyshireone week off4 days' leave | Fri 28 May | Mon 7 Jun |
| Dorsetone week off4 days' leave | Fri 28 May | Mon 7 Jun |
| Ealingone week off4 days' leave | Fri 28 May | Mon 7 Jun |
| East Riding of Yorkshireone week off4 days' leave | Fri 28 May | Mon 7 Jun |
| East Sussexone week off4 days' leave | Fri 28 May | Mon 7 Jun |
| Essexone week off4 days' leave | Fri 28 May | Mon 7 Jun |
| Gloucestershireone week off4 days' leave | Fri 28 May | Mon 7 Jun |
| Hampshireone week off4 days' leave | Fri 28 May | Mon 7 Jun |
| Hertfordshireone week off4 days' leave | Fri 28 May | Mon 7 Jun |
| Kentone week off4 days' leave | Fri 28 May | Mon 7 Jun |
| Lancashireone week off4 days' leave | Fri 28 May | Mon 7 Jun |
| Leedsone week off4 days' leave | Fri 28 May | Mon 7 Jun |
| Leicesterone week off4 days' leave | Fri 28 May | Mon 7 Jun |
| Leicestershireone week off4 days' leave | Fri 28 May | Mon 7 Jun |
| Lincolnshireone week off4 days' leave | Fri 28 May | Mon 7 Jun |
| Liverpoolone week off4 days' leave | Fri 28 May | Mon 7 Jun |
| Manchesterone week off4 days' leave | Fri 28 May | Mon 7 Jun |
| Newhamone week off4 days' leave | Fri 28 May | Mon 7 Jun |
| Norfolkone week off4 days' leave | Fri 28 May | Mon 7 Jun |
| North Northamptonshireone week off4 days' leave | Fri 28 May | Mon 7 Jun |
| North Yorkshireone week off4 days' leave | Fri 28 May | Mon 7 Jun |
| Northumberlandone week off4 days' leave | Fri 28 May | Mon 7 Jun |
| Nottinghamshireone week off4 days' leave | Fri 28 May | Mon 7 Jun |
| Oxfordshireone week off4 days' leave | Fri 28 May | Mon 7 Jun |
| Sandwellone week off4 days' leave | Fri 28 May | Mon 7 Jun |
| Sheffieldone week off4 days' leave | Fri 28 May | Mon 7 Jun |
| Shropshireone week off4 days' leave | Fri 28 May | Mon 7 Jun |
| Somersetone week off4 days' leave | Fri 28 May | Mon 7 Jun |
| Staffordshireone week off4 days' leave | Fri 28 May | Mon 7 Jun |
| Suffolkone week off4 days' leave | Fri 28 May | Mon 7 Jun |
| Surreyone week off4 days' leave | Fri 28 May | Mon 7 Jun |
| Wakefieldone week off4 days' leave | Fri 28 May | Mon 7 Jun |
| Warwickshireone week off4 days' leave | Fri 28 May | Mon 7 Jun |
| West Northamptonshireone week off4 days' leave | Fri 28 May | Mon 7 Jun |
| West Sussexone week off4 days' leave | Fri 28 May | Mon 7 Jun |
| Wiganone week off4 days' leave | Fri 28 May | Mon 7 Jun |
| Wiltshireone week off4 days' leave | Fri 28 May | Mon 7 Jun |
| Worcestershireone week off4 days' leave | Fri 28 May | Mon 7 Jun |
Not published in a form we could check for 2026/27 yet: Devon.
Wales: May half term 2027
In Wales, schools in 22 of the 22 councils we have break up on Friday 28 May 2027 and go back on Monday 7 June 2027. Every Welsh council's holidays side by side.
| Council, leave to cover it | Last day | Back |
|---|---|---|
| Angleseyone week off4 days' leave | Fri 28 May | Mon 7 Jun |
| Blaenau Gwentone week off4 days' leave | Fri 28 May | Mon 7 Jun |
| Bridgendone week off4 days' leave | Fri 28 May | Mon 7 Jun |
| Caerphillyone week off4 days' leave | Fri 28 May | Mon 7 Jun |
| Cardiffone week off4 days' leave | Fri 28 May | Mon 7 Jun |
| Carmarthenshireone week off4 days' leave | Fri 28 May | Mon 7 Jun |
| Ceredigionone week off4 days' leave | Fri 28 May | Mon 7 Jun |
| Conwyone week off4 days' leave | Fri 28 May | Mon 7 Jun |
| Denbighshireone week off4 days' leave | Fri 28 May | Mon 7 Jun |
| Flintshireone week off4 days' leave | Fri 28 May | Mon 7 Jun |
| Gwyneddone week off4 days' leave | Fri 28 May | Mon 7 Jun |
| Merthyr Tydfilone week off4 days' leave | Fri 28 May | Mon 7 Jun |
| Monmouthshireone week off4 days' leave | Fri 28 May | Mon 7 Jun |
| Neath Port Talbotone week off4 days' leave | Fri 28 May | Mon 7 Jun |
| Newportone week off4 days' leave | Fri 28 May | Mon 7 Jun |
| Pembrokeshireone week off4 days' leave | Fri 28 May | Mon 7 Jun |
| Powysone week off4 days' leave | Fri 28 May | Mon 7 Jun |
| Rhondda Cynon Tafone week off4 days' leave | Fri 28 May | Mon 7 Jun |
| Swanseaone week off4 days' leave | Fri 28 May | Mon 7 Jun |
| Torfaenone week off4 days' leave | Fri 28 May | Mon 7 Jun |
| Vale of Glamorganone week off4 days' leave | Fri 28 May | Mon 7 Jun |
| Wrexhamone week off4 days' leave | Fri 28 May | Mon 7 Jun |
Leave to cover May half term
On the most common English dates, Sat 29 May to Sun 6 Jun 2027, being off for every school day takes 4 days of leave for 9 days off: Spring bank holiday is a bank holiday, so it comes free.
May half term 2027: book 4 days, get 9 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 May bank holidays 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 is May half term 2027?
In England, schools in 50 of the 50 councils we have break up on Friday 28 May 2027 and go back on Monday 7 June 2027. In Wales, schools in 22 of the 22 councils we have break up on Friday 28 May 2027 and go back on Monday 7 June 2027. Councils set their own dates, so check yours above.
When do schools go back after May half term 2027?
England: Monday 7 June 2027 (50 of 50 councils). Wales: Monday 7 June 2027 (22 of 22 councils).
How much annual leave do I need to cover May half term 2027?
4 days on the most common English dates, Sat 29 May to Sun 6 Jun 2027, working Monday to Friday, with Spring bank holiday free as bank holiday. Each council's own dates are in the tables above, with the leave to cover them.
Do all schools break up for May half term on the same day?
No. Each council sets its own dates. Academies, free schools, voluntary aided and independent schools can set their own too.