School holidays in United Kingdom, 2027
Term breaks region by region, taken from the published education calendars. Schools add their own staff-training and free-choice days on top, so confirm the exact first and last day with your school.
School holiday dates 2027
There is no single UK school calendar. Wales and Northern Ireland set national dates, Scottish councils each set their own, and in England every local authority and academy trust publishes its own — so English dates below are the pattern the large majority follow. Add one or two INSET days per term that your school picks itself.
England (typical local authority pattern)
Christmas holidays
Starts: 21 Dec 2026
Ends: 1 Jan 2027
12 days
February half term
Starts: 15 Feb 2027
Ends: 19 Feb 2027
5 days
Easter holidays
Good Friday 26 March and Easter Monday 29 March fall inside the break.
Starts: 26 Mar 2027
Ends: 9 Apr 2027
15 days
May half term
Starts: 31 May 2027
Ends: 4 Jun 2027
5 days
Summer holidays
Starts: 21 Jul 2027
Ends: 1 Sep 2027
43 days
October half term
Starts: 25 Oct 2027
Ends: 29 Oct 2027
5 days
Christmas holidays
Starts: 20 Dec 2027
Ends: 3 Jan 2028
15 days
Wales (national dates)
Christmas holidays
Starts: 21 Dec 2026
Ends: 1 Jan 2027
12 days
February half term
Starts: 15 Feb 2027
Ends: 19 Feb 2027
5 days
Easter holidays
Starts: 26 Mar 2027
Ends: 9 Apr 2027
15 days
Whitsun half term
Starts: 31 May 2027
Ends: 4 Jun 2027
5 days
Summer holidays
Starts: 19 Jul 2027
Ends: 31 Aug 2027
44 days
Autumn half term
Starts: 25 Oct 2027
Ends: 29 Oct 2027
5 days
Christmas holidays
Starts: 20 Dec 2027
Ends: 3 Jan 2028
15 days
Scotland (Edinburgh / Glasgow pattern)
Christmas holidays
Starts: 22 Dec 2026
Ends: 5 Jan 2027
15 days
February break
Starts: 8 Feb 2027
Ends: 12 Feb 2027
5 days
Spring (Easter) break
Starts: 5 Apr 2027
Ends: 16 Apr 2027
12 days
Summer holidays
Starts: 2 Jul 2027
Ends: 16 Aug 2027
46 days
October break
Starts: 11 Oct 2027
Ends: 15 Oct 2027
5 days
Christmas holidays
Starts: 22 Dec 2027
Ends: 5 Jan 2028
15 days
Northern Ireland
Christmas holidays
Starts: 21 Dec 2026
Ends: 1 Jan 2027
12 days
Mid-term break
Starts: 15 Feb 2027
Ends: 16 Feb 2027
2 days
Easter holidays
Starts: 26 Mar 2027
Ends: 6 Apr 2027
12 days
Summer holidays
Starts: 1 Jul 2027
Ends: 31 Aug 2027
62 days
Halloween break
Starts: 25 Oct 2027
Ends: 29 Oct 2027
5 days
Christmas holidays
Starts: 20 Dec 2027
Ends: 3 Jan 2028
15 days
Dates published by: Department for Education, Welsh Government, Scottish councils and the NI Education Authority. Official source
Public holidays that close schools anyway
New Year's Day
Regional · GB-ENG, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, GB-WLS
2 January
Regional · GB-SCT
Saint Patrick's Day
Regional · GB-NIR
Good Friday
Nationwide
Easter Monday
Regional · GB-ENG, GB-WLS, GB-NIR
Early May Bank Holiday
Nationwide
Spring Bank Holiday
Nationwide
Battle of the Boyne
Regional · GB-NIR
Summer Bank Holiday
Regional · GB-SCT
Summer Bank Holiday
Regional · GB-ENG, GB-WLS, GB-NIR
Saint Andrew's Day
Regional · GB-SCT
Christmas Day
Nationwide
Boxing Day
St. Stephen's Day · Nationwide