The 2027 holiday dates to book now for 36 days off with 14 days’ annual leave

10 days off next year? Yes please (Picture: Shutterstock) Summer is coming to an end. Most people have enjoyed their annual August getaway, and it’s back to business as usual. To avoid the looming winter blues, the only sensible thing to do is get next year’s calendar in order and plan your 2027 holidays. But while not everyone is blessed with unlimited annual leave, there are ways to extend your OOO if you’re savvy with your bank holidays. From booking a Thursday off here and a Monday there, what starts as a three-day weekend can turn into a five-day mini break. Staycation, anyone? Keen to find out how you can make the most of your time off? Here are all the 2027 annual leave dates to book now: What are 2027’s bank holiday dates? First things first, there are eight bank holidays in 2027. That equals an extra eight days paid holiday. Plan in advance for a cheeky summer mini break (Picture: Shutterstock / Pixel-Shot) The dates are: Friday, January 1 (New Year’s Day) Friday, March 26 (Good Friday) Monday, March 29 (Easter Monday) Monday, May 3 (Early May bank holiday) Monday, May 31 (Spring bank holiday) Monday, August 30 (Summer bank holiday) Monday, December 27 (Christmas Day substitute day) Tuesday, December 28 (Boxing Day substitute day) The government website also explains bank holiday rules, including what happens if they fall on a weekend.It states: ‘If a bank holiday is on a weekend, a “substitute” weekday becomes a bank holiday, normally the following Monday. Your employer does not have to give you paid leave on bank or public holidays. ‘Bank holidays might affect how and when your benefits are paid.’ How to get the most days off in 2027 Ask Metro Use AI to go deeper into the stories you care about – powered by Metro and trusted publications. Now you know the exact dates, it’s time to start planning around them. Whether you prefer more time off over Christmas (because let’s be honest, it takes at least a week to recover from all that food and drink), or you want to extend your summer holidays, there are a few strategic dates that maximise your time. Swap the UK for a European Christmas market (Picture: Shutterstock/SCStock) It may be the furthest away, but given it’s one of the most in-demand times for holiday, winter is worth planning ahead for, and if you’re savvy you can get 10 days off around Christmas 2027, despite using just three days of annual leave allowance. Next year, Christmas Day and Boxing Day happen over a weekend, so the bank holiday dates shift to Monday, December 27 and Tuesday, December 28. As such, most employees will get four full days off in a row, only returning to work for three days in the interim between Christmas and New Year. Then, because New Year’s Day also falls on a Saturday, that bank holiday moves to Monday, January 3, 2028 — which is where the potential extended break comes in. If you book Friday, December 24 (unfortunately Christmas Eve isn’t considered an official public holiday) and Wednesday, December 29 off, you’ll ensure almost a week of paid leave with just two days off your allowance. Or, for those who are prepared to sacrifice two extra days’ holiday, requesting December 30 and 31 off equates to 11 days away from the office. The UK has plenty of pretty seaside spots (Picture: Getty Images) Then there’s Easter. Because you’re already off from Friday, March 26 to Monday, March 29, it may make sense to take four days from Tuesday, March 30 to Friday, April 2. Effectively, this gives you 10 days away with just four days’ annual leave. Or, prefer the end of summer to last a little longer? Request Friday, August 27 and Tuesday, August 31 for five consecutive days off that only takes two days off your holiday balance. The same goes for the early May and spring bank holidays. You could book Friday and Tuesday off (or Thursday and Friday) to ensure an extra-long weekend. If you request a day either side of the government-confirmed dates, you could end up with a minimum of five consecutive days off, while only using two days of your annual leave. As Del Boy would say, ‘You know it makes sense.’ When is the next bank holiday this year? It’s all well and good getting organised for next year, but it’s likely many are already pining for their next day off in 2026. Sadly, we’ve got a few months to wait for the next bank holiday, as it’s actually Christmas Day. But, if you want to duplicate the six-day method this year, why not book Thursday, December 24 and Tuesday, December 29, for an extended Christmas break? 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