About the Spring bank holiday in the United Kingdom
The Spring bank holiday is normally the last Monday in May. It appears on the official calendars for England and Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland and is separate from the Early May bank holiday.
The late-May date rule
Schedule 1 of the Banking and Financial Dealings Act identifies the last Monday in May as a bank holiday in England and Wales and Northern Ireland. GOV.UK’s current calendar also lists the Spring bank holiday for Scotland.
Because it is defined by a weekday rule, the date changes from year to year but is always a Monday. It falls between 25 and 31 May and does not need a substitute day for an ordinary weekend.
Exceptional changes can occur
The familiar last-Monday pattern is the normal rule, not a promise that government can never alter a particular year. The official calendar records occasions when bank-holiday arrangements changed for a national event, such as the adjusted Jubilee schedule in 2022.
For that reason, the page uses verified dates for its published years. The annual GOV.UK list is the controlling practical reference when an exceptional proclamation changes a date or creates an additional holiday.
Planning for the Spring bank holiday
The Monday often extends the weekend for people whose work schedule includes the holiday, but there is no universal statutory right to that specific day as paid leave. Employment contracts decide how bank holidays interact with annual leave.
Travel and leisure demand can be higher, while timetables and opening hours vary. Check transport engineering work, local events, accommodation and service schedules early, and do not confuse this date with the first-Monday Early May bank holiday.
Common questions about the Spring bank holiday
When is the Spring bank holiday?
It is normally the last Monday in May, with the official annual calendar confirming the date.
Is the Spring bank holiday the same as the Early May bank holiday?
No. The Early May holiday is normally the first Monday in May, while the Spring bank holiday is normally the last Monday.