New Year Holiday
Jan 2 – 4
Natural 3-day break — no vacation needed.
Long weekends
Jan 2 – 4
Natural 3-day break — no vacation needed.
Apr 3 – 5
3-day holiday period.
May 2 – 4
Natural 3-day break — no vacation needed.
May 23 – 25
Natural 3-day break — no vacation needed.
Aug 1 – 3
Natural 3-day break — no vacation needed.
Nov 28 – 30
Natural 3-day break — no vacation needed.
Dec 25 – 27
3-day holiday period.
Receive handpicked travel offers for your next adventure from United Kingdom
A long weekend in United Kingdom occurs when a public holiday falls on a Monday or Friday, giving you a 3-day weekend without using any vacation days.
A bridge day is a working day between a public holiday and a weekend. Taking that one day off creates a stretch of 4 or more consecutive days off. For example, if a holiday falls on Thursday, taking Friday off gives you a 4-day weekend.
In 2026, United Kingdom has 5 vacation extension opportunities — a combination of natural long weekends and bridge days.
The best long weekends for travel in United Kingdom depend on the season and your destination. Spring and autumn bridge days often offer the best mix of good weather and fewer crowds.