- Spring bank holiday · all UK regionsMonday 31 May 2027
The spring bank holiday 2027 is on Monday 31 May, the last Monday in May, and it applies in England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. It is the second of the two May bank holidays; the early May bank holiday comes first, on Monday 3 May 2027.
Is the spring bank holiday the same in Scotland?
Yes. In every recent year GOV.UK lists the spring bank holiday on the same day in all three jurisdictions. Scotland differs in August, not in May: its summer bank holiday is on the first Monday in August, while the rest of the UK has it on the last Monday.
May 2027
- England & WalesBank holiday: Early May bank holiday
- ScotlandBank holiday: Early May bank holiday
- Northern IrelandBank holiday: Early May bank holiday
Why is it on the last Monday in May?
The spring bank holiday replaced Whit Monday. Whit Monday followed Whitsun (Pentecost), which moves with Easter, so its date could fall anywhere from mid-May to mid-June. The Banking and Financial Dealings Act 1971 fixed the holiday on the last Monday in May instead, which is why it is sometimes still called the Whitsun bank holiday.
Years when the spring bank holiday moved
The date can be moved by royal proclamation for a national occasion. In 2022 the spring bank holiday moved to Thursday 2 June and the Platinum Jubilee bank holiday followed on Friday 3 June, giving a four-day weekend from 2 to 5 June. In GOV.UK’s data from 2019 onwards, 2022 is the only year it moved.
| Year | England & Wales | Scotland | Northern Ireland |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Thu 2 Jun | Thu 2 Jun | Thu 2 Jun |
| 2023 | Mon 29 May | Mon 29 May | Mon 29 May |
| 2024 | Mon 27 May | Mon 27 May | Mon 27 May |
| 2025 | Mon 26 May | Mon 26 May | Mon 26 May |
| 2026 | Mon 25 May | Mon 25 May | Mon 25 May |
| 2027 | Mon 31 May | Mon 31 May | Mon 31 May |
| 2028 | Mon 29 May | Mon 29 May | Mon 29 May |
| 2029 | Mon 28 May | Mon 28 May | Mon 28 May |
| 2030 | Mon 27 May | Mon 27 May | Mon 27 May |
| 2031 | Mon 26 May | Mon 26 May | Mon 26 May |
| 2032 | Mon 31 May | Mon 31 May | Mon 31 May |
Source: GOV.UK bank holidays data (confirmed years), checked 4 November 2026. Later years are calculated from the usual rules and marked provisional.
Spring bank holiday or early May bank holiday?
Both are in May, which causes confusion. The early May bank holiday is on the first Monday in May and was introduced later, in 1978. The spring bank holiday is on the last Monday. In 2027 they are four weeks apart: 3 May and 31 May. The May bank holidays page covers both together.
Frequently asked questions
Is the spring bank holiday always the last Monday in May?
That is the rule, and it holds in most years. A royal proclamation can move it, as it did in 2022 for the Platinum Jubilee.
What is the bank holiday on 29 May?
In years when the last Monday in May is the 29th, that day is the spring bank holiday. It was in 2023 and will be again on Monday 29 May 2028.
Sources: GOV.UK bank holidays data and Privy Council proclamations. Checked 4 November 2026.