How many bank holidays do employees living in England and Wales get?

Bank holidays for employees in England and Wales form part of the UK’s annual public holiday calendar. These dates often affect business opening hours, employee schedules and holiday entitlement.

For employees, bank holidays can mean a paid day off. For employers, they raise important questions around leave policies, contracts and payroll.

Below, we explain how bank holidays for employees work and how they effect statutory annual leave.

How many bank holidays are there in England and Wales?

Most years, employees in England and Wales experience 8 bank holidays.

Bank holidays for England and Wales in 2026

The exact dates change each year because some holidays fall on different days depending on the calendar.

If a bank holiday falls on a weekend, it is usually moved to the following weekday.

Are employees automatically entitled to bank holidays off?

Employees are not automatically entitled to time off on bank holidays.

Employment law in the UK states full-time employees must receive 5.6 weeks of paid annual leave per year. For someone working a 5-day week, this equals 28 days of paid holiday.

Employers can choose how bank holidays are handled within that allowance.

Typical arrangements include:

• 20 days annual leave plus 8 bank holidays
• 28 days annual leave including bank holidays
• Shift-based arrangements where bank holidays are treated as normal working days

The employment contract sets the exact approach.

Bank holidays and statutory annual leave

Statutory annual leave for full-time employees is 28 days per year, including bank holidays.

Employers may structure leave in different ways, such as:

• 20 days annual leave + 8 bank holidays
• 28 days flexible leave including bank holidays

For part-time employees, employers calculate leave on a pro rata basis.

For example:

• Someone working 3 days per week would receive 16.8 days of annual leave per year (3 × 5.6 weeks)

The employer's holiday policy sets how bank holidays are included

Do employees get paid extra for working on bank holidays?

Employers have no legal obligation to pay employees extra for bank holiday work. 

However, many businesses choose to offer enhanced pay or time off in lieu. Common arrangements include:

• Time and a half pay
• Double pay
• Additional leave instead of higher pay

The employment contract or staff handbook should set out these terms.

Bank holidays and part-time employees

Part-time employees must not be treated less favourably than full-time staff.

Employers usually calculate bank holiday entitlement as part of the employee’s total annual leave allowance.

This makes sure part-time staff receive a fair share of the annual holiday entitlement even if they do not work on Mondays, when many bank holidays occur.

Why bank holiday policies matter for employers

Bank holidays affect staffing levels, payroll planning and employee expectations.

A clear holiday policy helps employers:

• Maintain consistent treatment across teams
• Avoid confusion about entitlement
• Plan staff cover during public holidays
• Keep payroll calculations accurate

For businesses with shift work, retail operations or hospitality services, bank holidays can also affect working patterns and wage costs.

Final thoughts on bank holidays for employees

Bank holidays for employees in England and Wales are part of the wider statutory holiday framework. Most years include 8 bank holidays, but employees are not automatically entitled to them as separate paid leave.

The employment contract sets employees' actual entitlement. Employers must state if the contract includes bank holidays in annual leave or adds them on top.  

Clear policies help businesses manage staffing. They give employees a clear understanding of their holiday rights.

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