Does Scotland get more bank holidays than England? Exact number Scots can expect each year
Over the weekend, the England women's national football team defeated Spain on penalties in the Euros final in Switzerland, prompting calls for the country to be given a Bank Holiday to celebrate the Lioness' success.
There was no Bank Holiday in place in 2022 when England's women lifted the Euros trophy for the first time, but Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, who was the Leader of the Opposition at the time, backed calls for an extra day off.
However, in an apparent change of heart, the Prime Minister's spokesman has confirmed to the BBC that there are "no plans" for an extra Bank Holiday this Monday, July 28.
But speaking of Bank Holidays - does Scotland get more bank holidays than England? And what are the exact number of Bank Holidays Scots can expect each year?
Scotland has nine Bank Holidays in 2025, whereas England and Wales have eight. Scots enjoy one more Bank Holiday because of St Andrew's Day on Sunday, November 30, which gives us the day off on Monday, December 1.
Northern Ireland comes up trumps, though, with 10 bankers this year. This is because, unlike Scotland, the north mark St Patrick's Day on March 17, Battle of the Boyne (Orangemen's Day) on July 14, and Easter Monday on April 21.
England and Wales also have Easter Monday as a bank holiday, whereas Scotland doesn't. The day is not a nationwide Bank Holiday in Scotland. Instead, it's up to individual councils to decide whether to recognise it as a public holiday, often based on local tradition or custom. We do list Good Friday as a Bank Holiday, though.
This trend will continue into 2026, with Scotland, England and Wales, and Northern Ireland keeping the same number of Bank Holidays. However, there will be a change in Bank Holiday dates in 2026 and 2027.
Three 'substitute days' are being planned. While 2025 will have eight Bank Holidays, these won't all occur on the same dates in the next two years.
In 2026, most of the dates will largely stay the same. Across the UK, we'll enjoy time off on January 1, followed by an extended Easter weekend with a day off on April 3 for Good Friday.
England and Wales will have April 6 off for Easter Monday but this date does not apply to Scotland.
Nationwide days off will also happen on May 4, May 25, August 3 (August 31 for England and Wales) and December 25. Scotland will squeeze in another Bank Holiday between these dates - November 30 for St Andrew's Day.
However, Boxing Day, December 26, won't be recognised as a Bank Holiday next year as it falls on a Saturday. Instead, an additional substitute day off will be allocated on December 28.
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In general, Bank Holidays in Scotland differ from local or public holidays, which are set by individual councils and can vary from place to place. Bank Holidays, on the other hand, are set at a national level – though not everyone is guaranteed the day off. There's also no legal requirement for businesses or banks to close on a Bank Holiday.
In fact, banks in Scotland typically follow the same holiday schedule as those in England and Wales.
If a bank holiday falls on a weekend, it's usually moved to a substitute weekday, typically the following Monday – to ensure people don't miss out.
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