13: How To Go Max With Your Travel in 2026!

Maximising your 2026 bank holidays is all about smartly adding one or two days of annual leave to turn standard weekends into mini 4–5 day adventures. Below is a Tamare London–style guide to stretching your time off for UK bank holidays, plus a full table of 2026 UK bank holidays.

Key 5‑day break hacks (using 2 days’ leave)

These examples assume a typical Monday–Friday job and focus on England & Wales dates; Scotland and Northern Ireland variations are flagged separately.

• New Year reset escape

  • Take: Friday 2 January off (if your employer treats 1 Jan as the only bank holiday and you can flex), plus either Mon 5 Jan or Thu 1 Jan as part of a longer break policy.

  • Get: A long New Year reset (for some workplaces this is more about how they close between Christmas and New Year than the pure bank holiday rules).

• Easter 5‑day spring getaway

  • Bank holidays: Good Friday 3 April, Easter Monday 6 April (England, Wales, NI; Scotland only has Good Friday).

  • Take off: Thu 2 April and Tue 7 April.

  • Get: Thu–Mon–Tue off together = 6 days away including the weekend, while only using 2 annual leave days.

• Early May budget city break

  • Bank holiday: Early May Monday 4 May (all UK nations).

  • Take off: Fri 1 May and Tue 5 May.

  • Get: 5 days (Fri–Tue) for the price of 2 leave days – perfect for a cheap Europe hop or UK coastal break.

• Spring bank holiday slow travel

  • Bank holiday: Spring bank holiday Monday 25 May (all UK nations).

  • Take off: Fri 22 May and Tue 26 May.

  • Get: 5 days (Fri–Tue), ideal for a budget solo rail trip or a multi‑city hostel run.

• Late‑summer escape (England, Wales, NI)

  • Bank holiday: Monday 31 August (England, Wales, NI).

  • Take off: Fri 28 August and Tue 1 September.

  • Get: 5 days to chase late‑summer sun or a cheap shoulder‑season flight.

• Alternative August in Scotland

  • Bank holiday: Monday 3 August (Scotland only).

  • Take off: Fri 31 July and Tue 4 August.

  • Get: 5 days for the Edinburgh festivals or Highlands without burning a full week of leave.

• Festive stretch at Christmas

  • Bank holidays (UK‑wide core): Christmas Day Friday 25 December, Boxing Day substitute Monday 28 December.

  • Take off: Tue 29 and Wed 30 December.

  • Get: A long festive run from Christmas Eve/weekend through to New Year’s build‑up with just 2 days’ leave, depending on how your employer handles the non‑stat days.

Ideas for budget solo travellers:

Swap UK stays for these epic European escapes – all reachable with Ryanair/EasyJet from London (book early via Skyscanner/Google Flights). Perfect for 5-day hacks: city vibes, beaches, or culture. 

• Easter/May (Apr/May breaks):

  • Prague: Wander castles, sip local beers, stay in hostels. Solo magic without crowds.

  • Porto: Port wine tastings, riverside walks, beach day trips. Foodie heaven on a budget.

  • Amsterdam: Canals by bike, markets, no-frills stays. Skip the hype, embrace the chill.

• August (Summer vibes):

  • Ibiza shoulder: Quiet coves, hikes, tapas spots. Ditch parties for relaxed solo recharge.

  • Budapest: Thermal baths, ruin bars, Danube views. Ultimate unwind spot.

  • Malaga/Costa del Sol: Endless beaches, tapas crawls, easy trains. Sun-soaked simplicity.

• Christmas stretch (Dec break):

  • Vienna: Festive markets, mulled wine, palaces lit up. Cosy winter wanderlust.

  • Krakow: Markets, historic old town, pierogi feasts. Reflective solo season.

UK bank holidays 2026 (all nations)

https://www.gov.uk/bank-holidays