August Bank Holiday in the UK Date in the current year: August 25, 2025

The Bank Holidays Act of 1871 first introduced public holidays in the United Kingdom, designating four bank holidays in England, Wales, and Ireland (Easter Monday; Whit Monday; the first Monday in August; and Boxing Day, if it falls on a weekday) and five in Scotland (New Year’s Day, or January 2 if New Year’s Day falls on a Sunday; Good Friday; the first Monday in May; the first Monday in August; Christmas Day, or Boxing Day, if Christmas falls on a Sunday). The act did not specify Good Friday and Christmas Day as bank holidays in England, Wales, and Ireland, as these days were already considered traditional rest days.

Thus, the August Bank Holiday was originally observed on the first Monday in August throughout the United Kingdom. It was the only holiday in England, Wales, and Ireland that was not linked to a religious festival. In 1964, Edward Heath, the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development, announced the experimental move of the August Bank Holiday in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland to late August to extend the holiday season.

After a two-year trial period, Parliament began announcing the date of the Summer Bank Holiday on an ad hoc basis each year, which caused some confusion. In 1968 and 1969, Parliament chose the weekend of the last Saturday in August for the holiday. As a result, the August Bank Holiday fell on the first Monday in September rather than in August.

This was rectified in 1971 with the passing of the Banking and Financial Dealings Act 1971, which officially set the date of the August Bank Holiday as the last Monday in August for England, Wales, and Northern Ireland. However, Scotland continued to celebrate the holiday on the first Monday in August.

The August Bank Holiday is one of two UK bank holidays not linked to religious or traditional holidays; the other is the Spring Bank Holiday, celebrated on the last Monday in May. The Early May Bank Holiday, celebrated on the first Monday in May, can be traced back to the traditional May Day celebration, which predates Christianity.

In 2013, Conservative MP Peter Bone introduced a bill to rename the August Bank Holiday Margaret Thatcher Day, in honor of the late prime minister. Labour MPs filibustered the bill, preventing it from progressing past the first reading.