Are all UK public holidays identical across the country?

No. Good Friday and the Spring Bank Holiday apply only to England and Wales. Scotland and Northern Ireland observe their own sets. The UK-wide holidays are New Year's Day, May Day, Christmas Day, and Boxing Day (or its substitute).

What happens to the London Stock Exchange on a bank holiday?

The LSE closes on all England and Wales bank holidays. No trading takes place. The exchange calendar is published in advance and matches the government's list.

Do London shops close on bank holidays?

Most shops open on bank holiday Mondays, often with standard Monday hours. Some choose reduced hours. Large shops are not restricted by Sunday trading laws on bank holidays. Check individual store websites.

Is public transport affected on bank holidays?

Yes. London's buses, Tube and trains typically run a Sunday or reduced service. Engineering work is common. Check TfL before travelling.

Do bank holidays change the time zone?

No. Bank holidays do not alter the clocks. The time of year determines whether London is on GMT (UTC+0) or BST (UTC+1). See daylight saving time in London for the 2026 transition dates.

What is the best way to plan a meeting with London around a bank holiday?

Confirm the date is not a bank holiday first. Then use a meeting planner that accounts for the current offset (GMT or BST). For the most reliable overlap window, aim for 09:00 to 12:00 London time.

United Kingdom Public Holidays 2026

Date	Day	Holiday
1 January	Thursday	New Year's Day
3 April	Friday	Good Friday
4 May	Monday	May Day
25 May	Monday	Spring Bank Holiday
25 December	Friday	Christmas Day
26 December	Saturday	Boxing Day
28 December	Monday	Boxing Day (observed)

London gets eight public holidays in 2026. Every single one lands on a weekday. The list splits into two tiers: four holidays apply across the whole UK, and another two are specific to England and Wales. Scotland and Northern Ireland keep their own separate dates.

Full list of UK public holidays in 2026

Date	Day	Holiday	UK-wide?
1 January	Thursday	New Year's Day	Yes
3 April	Friday	Good Friday	England & Wales only
4 May	Monday	May Day (Early May Bank Holiday)	Yes
25 May	Monday	Spring Bank Holiday	England & Wales only
25 December	Friday	Christmas Day	Yes
26 December	Saturday	Boxing Day	Yes
28 December	Monday	Boxing Day (observed)	Yes

Boxing Day falls on a Saturday in 2026, so the substitute bank holiday moves to Monday 28 December. Christmas Day is a Friday: no substitute needed.

How bank holidays hit business hours and transport

UK bank holidays are set by government. Some cover the whole country; others apply only to England and Wales, Scotland, or Northern Ireland. For London, the relevant list is the England and Wales set above.

Business hours. Most offices, shops and services run reduced hours or shut entirely. The London Stock Exchange closes on every bank holiday. Its trading calendar tracks the England and Wales public holiday schedule, not the UK-wide one.

Transport. All UK transport timetables are published in local time, switching between GMT and BST. Holiday schedules follow the same local time. On bank holidays, London's public transport runs a Sunday or reduced service. Check TfL's website for specific line closures: engineering work is often scheduled on these days.

Retail. Large shops in England face Sunday trading laws that cap them at six continuous hours on Sundays. Bank holiday Mondays are exempt. Most supermarkets and shops open standard Monday hours, typically 08:00 to 20:00 or similar. Some still choose reduced hours.

UK-wide versus London-specific holidays

Four bank holidays are UK-wide: New Year's Day, May Day, Christmas Day, and Boxing Day (or its substitute). Good Friday and the Spring Bank Holiday apply only to England and Wales. Scotland adds St Andrew's Day and 2 January. Northern Ireland includes St Patrick's Day and the Battle of the Boyne.

For meetings or travel in London, the England and Wales list is the one that counts. The UK-wide list matters for cross-border scheduling.

How public holidays interact with GMT and BST

Public holidays do not change the clocks. But the time of year dictates the offset.

In 2026, clocks go forward to British Summer Time on Sunday 29 March at 01:00 GMT. The next two bank holidays (Good Friday on 3 April and May Day on 4 May) fall in BST. Clocks go back to GMT on Sunday 25 October at 02:00 BST, after the last bank holiday.

The full sequence: - New Year's Day (1 January): GMT - Good Friday (3 April): BST - May Day (4 May): BST - Spring Bank Holiday (25 May): BST - Christmas Day (25 December): GMT - Boxing Day (26 December): GMT - Boxing Day observed (28 December): GMT

Planning travel and meetings around bank holidays

Public holidays wipe out the normal business overlap windows with international partners. On a bank holiday, London is effectively offline for financial markets, most offices and many government services.

What to do. Before contacting a London-based colleague or client, check whether the date is a bank holiday. If it is, expect silence. Travelling to London? Book accommodation and transport early. Bank holiday weekends are peak travel periods.

What to skip. Never schedule a meeting with a London team on a bank holiday unless they have confirmed they are working. Never assume a bank holiday Monday follows Sunday trading hours. It does not. Never rely on the London Stock Exchange being open.

Practical next step. Check the London time FAQ for the current offset and a live clock. Scheduling across time zones? Use a meeting planner that accounts for both DST and bank holidays.

Public Holidays in United Kingdom 2026