Planning a visit over a bank holiday? London follows the England and Wales bank-holiday calendar. Dates matter for transport, shopping and booked attractions: opening hours vary by venue, and engineering works or altered timetables can affect journeys. Always check the venue and TfL before travelling.
Bank holidays in London: 2026 and 2027 dates
The dates below are the official bank holidays for England and Wales. When Christmas Day or Boxing Day falls at a weekend, the following weekday can be a substitute bank holiday.
| Bank holiday | 2026 | 2027 |
|---|---|---|
| New Year’s Day | Thursday 1 January | Friday 1 January |
| Good Friday | Friday 3 April | Friday 26 March |
| Easter Monday | Monday 6 April | Monday 29 March |
| Early May bank holiday | Monday 4 May | Monday 3 May |
| Spring bank holiday | Monday 25 May | Monday 31 May |
| Summer bank holiday | Monday 31 August | Monday 30 August |
| Christmas Day bank holiday | Friday 25 December | Monday 27 December (substitute) |
| Boxing Day bank holiday | Monday 28 December (substitute) | Tuesday 28 December (substitute) |
For December 2026: Boxing Day itself is Saturday 26 December; the substitute bank holiday is Monday 28 December. In December 2027, Christmas Day is Saturday 25 December and Boxing Day is Sunday 26 December, so their substitute bank holidays fall on Monday 27 and Tuesday 28 December. Check GOV.UK’s England and Wales calendar for the latest dates.
What is open on a London bank holiday?
Many museums, attractions, restaurants and central London shops open on ordinary bank holidays, sometimes with shorter hours. Some attractions need timed tickets, so check the official opening calendar before planning a route. The City of London’s business districts tend to be quieter on office holidays, while visitor areas can be busy.
Christmas Day is different: most attractions and shops close, and TfL does not normally run its usual services. For practical ideas, see our Christmas Day guide. On Boxing Day and New Year’s Day, some venues open and others close or change their hours. Our 24–26 December guide and New Year’s Day guide are useful starting points, but check each venue’s current schedule.
Getting around on a bank holiday
Services can run to a different timetable and planned works may affect Tube and rail routes. Check TfL status updates close to your journey. For Easter plans, see our Easter in London guide.
Hi, we are Alberto and Amy, the London locals behind PlanTrip London. We’ve lived in London since 2010 and have spent every year since exploring the city, from its famous landmarks to the markets, pubs, parks and hidden corners most visitors never find. Over the years we became the go-to trip planners for friends and family visiting London, so we created this site to share the same first-hand, tried-and-tested advice with you. Every itinerary, tip and recommendation here comes from our own experience with our two children, so you can plan a London trip that’s easier, better value and far more memorable.