Holidays — there never seem to be quite enough of them. If you’re looking for ways to maximise the UK bank holidays 2025 to get the most out of them, you’ve come to the right place. As you probably already know, it’s worth being smart about your annual leave and taking it strategically around bank holidays in order to extend your time off. Suddenly, a long weekend can turn into a full week or even two away from the office — which is more than long enough to take a long trip, unwind and forget about it all.
Here are the best ways to maximise your annual leave (assuming you get 28 days off) using the UK bank holidays 2025 and get a total of 65 days off work next year.
UK bank holidays 2025
First of all, here are the bank holidays next year:
How to get 65 days off in 2025
January
Kick off the New Year with a long nine day break using just four days of your annual leave
Days off: Sat 28 Dec – Sun 5 Jan
Days to book off: 30-31 Dec, 2-3 Jan
April
Give yourself an extra long Easter break and maybe even book a springtime getaway. Using eight of your annual leave days, you can give yourself a total of 16 days off.
Days off: Sat 12 April – Sun 27 April
Days to book off: 14-17 April and 22-25 April
Early May
In early May, you can take another nine day break (yes, right after 16 day break — basically, you won’t be working much this spring!) using just four days of annual leave.
Days off: Sat 3 May – Sun 11 May
Days to book off: 6-9 May
Early May
The late May bank holiday gives you another chance for a nine day break using just four days of annual leave.
Days off: Sat 24 May – Sun 1 June
Days to book off: 27-30 May
August
Take a nine day late summer getaway for nine whole days with four days of annual leave.
Days off: Sat 23 Aug – Sun 31 Aug
Days to book off: 26-29 Aug
December
Take an extended Christmas or festive break for a total of 13 days using your remaining six days of annual leave.
Days off: Sat 20 Dec – Thurs 1 Jan
Days to book off: 22-24 Dec, 29-31 Dec
