- Summer bank holiday · England & Wales, Northern IrelandMonday 30 August 2027
- Summer bank holiday · ScotlandMonday 2 August 2027
England, Wales and Northern Ireland have the August bank holiday on Monday 30 August 2027, the last Monday of the month. Scotland’s summer bank holiday comes four weeks earlier, on Monday 2 August 2027.
Why does Scotland have a different August bank holiday?
The dates are set separately in law. Schedule 1 of the Banking and Financial Dealings Act 1971 lists “the last Monday in August” for England and Wales and for Northern Ireland, and “the first Monday in August” for Scotland. GOV.UK calls both days the summer bank holiday.
The gap between the two depends on the calendar. When August has five Mondays, as in 2027, the two holidays are four weeks apart; with four Mondays they are three weeks apart, as in 2028 (7 and 28 August). Each region gets one August bank holiday, not two.
August 2027
- England & WalesBank holiday: Summer bank holiday
- ScotlandNormal working day
- Northern IrelandBank holiday: Summer bank holiday
August bank holiday dates by year
| Year | England & Wales | Scotland | Northern Ireland |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Mon 26 Aug | Mon 5 Aug | Mon 26 Aug |
| 2025 | Mon 25 Aug | Mon 4 Aug | Mon 25 Aug |
| 2026 | Mon 31 Aug | Mon 3 Aug | Mon 31 Aug |
| 2027 | Mon 30 Aug | Mon 2 Aug | Mon 30 Aug |
| 2028 | Mon 28 Aug | Mon 7 Aug | Mon 28 Aug |
| 2029 | Mon 27 Aug | Mon 6 Aug | Mon 27 Aug |
Source: GOV.UK bank holidays data (confirmed years), checked 4 November 2026. Later years are calculated from the usual rules and marked provisional.
The last Monday in August always falls between 25 and 31 August, and Scotland’s first Monday between 1 and 7 August. Because both are Mondays, neither ever needs a substitute day.
Planning a break around the August bank holiday
Four days of annual leave after the bank holiday give nine days off in a row. In England, Wales and Northern Ireland that is Saturday 28 August to Sunday 5 September 2027, with leave from Tuesday 31 August to Friday 3 September. In Scotland the same pattern runs from Saturday 31 July to Sunday 8 August 2027.
A bank holiday is not automatically a paid day off. GOV.UK says employers do not have to give paid leave on bank holidays and may include them in the statutory 5.6 weeks of annual leave.
Frequently asked questions
Is the English August bank holiday a holiday in Scotland?
No. Monday 30 August 2027 is not a bank holiday in Scotland. Scotland also has local holidays, but these are not bank holidays.
When is the August bank holiday in 2028?
Monday 28 August 2028 in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, and Monday 7 August 2028 in Scotland. Both dates are confirmed by GOV.UK.
Sources: GOV.UK bank holidays data and Privy Council proclamations. Checked 4 November 2026.