Spring Bank Holiday in the United Kingdom

When is Spring Bank Holiday in United Kingdom?

Spring Bank Holiday in United Kingdom is on May 27, 2024. It falls on Monday.

How many days until Spring Bank Holiday in United Kingdom?

There are 31 Days left until Spring Bank Holiday in the United Kingdom.

Is Spring Bank Holiday a public holiday in United Kingdom?

Spring Bank Holiday (otherwise called Late May Bank Holiday) is a bank holiday in the United Kingdom. On this day, establishments, educational institutions and offices are closed hence students and workers enjoy a day off which is usually spent with their family and friends.

Origin of Spring Bank Holiday

Spring Bank Holiday is a bank holiday that has been celebrated across the entire United Kingdom every last Monday of May. It’s one of the two bank holidays for the month of May, following the Early May Bank Holiday. Most employees don’t have to report to work since most businesses and organizations are not open on this public holiday. The Spring bank holiday is celebrated on the last Monday of May and summertime is approaching hence, this holiday gives a great opportunity to enjoy a practically tropical weather. On this day, it is common for people to go outdoors and enjoy time bonding with their loved ones.

From Whit Monday to Spring Bank Holiday

Spring Bank Holiday is used to be celebrated on the Monday after Pentecost. It was referred to as Pentecost Monday. Pentecost is a Christian holiday that is observed on the 7th Sunday after Easter Sunday. For Christians, Pentecost remembers the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles and other followers of Jesus Christ while they were celebrating the Feast of Weeks in Jerusalem. In the United Kingdom, Pentecost is also called “White Sunday”, “Whitsunday”, or shortly “Whitsun”. Whit Monday was celebrated as a bank holiday in the United Kingdom until 1967. It was officially replaced by the currently observed Spring Bank Holiday.


Spring Bank Holiday Traditions in UK

It has been a long-established practice for most people in the United Kingdom to get together with family and friends during the Spring Bank Holiday. Since most businesses and offices are closed, it’s a perfect time for workers to bond with families and engage to some outdoor activities for the Late May bank holiday. That includes going on a vacation or a short trip, going on a picnic or barbecue with family and friends, among many others.

The Annual Cooper's Hill Cheese Rolling

Some people choose to celebrate the Spring Bank Holiday in a more traditional and fun way by participating in a cheese rolling tradition that is observed in Gloucestershire. The Cooper’s Hill Cheese-Rolling is a yearly event that occurs at the middle of the day on the Late Spring Bank Holiday. As the name suggests, the event is characterized by rolling a Double Gloucester cheese from the top of the Cooper’s Hill. Double Gloucester is a hard kind of cheese that is circular in shape and on this particular event, the cheese is protected by a wooden casing. The cheese usually weighs seven to nine pounds and is rolled down of an approximately 200 yards. People who take part in racing down the hill would aim to chase the cheese and whoever gets to the finish line first would win the event. Prize include the cheese, some cash prizes, and others. Before, the locals in Gloucester are the ones who participate in this traditional event however, in more recent years, even people from other countries head to Cooper’s Hill in Brockworth, Gloucestershire either to witness or join the race.

Enjoying spring flowers at garden centers or countryside

Usually, the weather on the later part of May gives warm and bright days hence, it’s a great time to visit garden centers or countryside. A lot of people enjoy going on trips to see flowers that blooms on spring such as tulips, hyacinth, lilac, daffodil, bluebell, crocus, among many others.

Dates of Observance for Spring Bank Holiday
Year Date Day Holiday
2024 May 27 Monday Spring Bank Holiday
2025 May 26 Monday Spring Bank Holiday
2026 May 25 Monday Spring Bank Holiday
2027 May 31 Monday Spring Bank Holiday
2028 May 29 Monday Spring Bank Holiday
2029 May 28 Monday Spring Bank Holiday
Upcoming United Kingdom Holidays
Holiday Date
Early May bank holiday May 06, 2024
Spring bank holiday May 27, 2024
Christmas Day December 25, 2024
Other things you might find helpful:
Yearly calendar with United Kingdom Holidays

Download or print free 2024 calendar which includes the list of holidays in United States. Free holiday calendar templates in more than 130 countries are provided in PDF, Excel, and Microsoft Word format. For those who like to get a calendar that starts on Monday, we also have ISO calendar.


Monthly Calendar with United Kingdom Holidays

The April 2024 monthly calendar for the United States shows the holidays for the month, which is helpful in planning schedule and events in reference to the upcoming holidays in the US. It is available in PDF, Microsoft Word and Microsoft Excel formats. You may select your preferred orientation and preferred start of week since we have Monday start calendar or Sunday start calendar.


Printable 2024 List of Holidays in United Kingdom

If you are looking for just a list of holidays in the United States for the year 2024, we have that available in PDF, Word and Excel formats. This can be helpful for those who like to keep track of the holidays, be it for travel, work or any other purposes. It is free to use, just like the rest of our templates. You can choose from Letter, Legal and A4 paper sizes.