Workers in the UK will have an additional day off next year, as the nation gets a holiday to mark King Charles’s coronation.
Here are all the bank holiday dates for 2023, and how the nation will commemorate the new monarch being crowned.
What are the bank holiday dates in 2023?
Bank holiday dates slightly across the UK: England and Wales always have the same bank holidays, but Scotland and Northern Ireland have some of their own dates.
For example, Scotland’s summer bank holiday falls at the start of August, rather than the end of the month.
All four nations used to mark the same date, following the implementation of the Bank Holidays Act of 1871, introduced by the Liberal politician, Sir John Lubbock.
However, the date for England, Wales and Northern Ireland moved permanently to the end of August in 1971, following a trial period which started in 1965.
England and Wales bank holidays 2023
Monday 2 January – New Year’s Day (substitute day)
Friday 7 April – Good Friday
Monday 10 April – Easter Monday
Monday 1 May – Early May bank holiday
Monday 8 May – Bank holiday for the coronation of King Charles III
Monday 29 May – Spring bank holiday
Monday 28 August – Summer bank holiday
Monday 25 December – Christmas Day
Tuesday 26 December – Boxing Day
Scotland bank holidays 2023
Monday 2 January – New Year’s Day (substitute day)
Tuesday 3 January – 2nd January (substitute day)
Friday 7 April – Good Friday
Monday 1 May – Early May bank holiday
Monday 8 May – Bank holiday for the coronation of King Charles III
Monday 29 May – Spring bank holiday
Monday 7 August – Summer bank holiday
Thursday 30 November – St Andrew’s Day
Monday 25 December – Christmas Day
Tuesday 26 December – Boxing Day
Northern Ireland bank holidays 2023
Monday 2 January – New Year’s Day (substitute day)
Friday 17 March – St Patrick’s Day
Friday 7 April – Good Friday
Monday 10 April – Easter Monday
Monday 1 May – Early May bank holiday
Monday 8 May – Bank holiday for the coronation of King Charles III
Monday 29 May – Spring bank holiday
Wednesday 12 July – Battle of the Boyne (Orangemen’s Day)
Monday 28 August – Summer bank holiday
Monday 25 December – Christmas Day
Tuesday 26 December – Boxing Day
For the first time since 2019, both Christmas Day and Boxing Day will be marked with bank holidays on the correct days, after falling on the weekend for three years in a row.
The King's coronation
The coronation will take place on a Saturday, but Monday May 8 will be a bank holiday.
The Government has already launched a consultation on extending pub opening hours throughout the coronation weekend.
That could mean pubs in England and Wales being allowed to stay open until 1am on the Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights.
The coronation will be a chance to “showcase the very best of the United Kingdom”, ministers have promised.
The plans were considered as Rishi Sunak chaired the final Cabinet meeting of 2022.
Downing Street said the Prime Minister described the coronation as a “unique moment for the country”.
Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Oliver Dowden told ministers it would be a “moment of constitutional significance which will allow us to showcase the very best of the United Kingdom”, No 10 said.
The Prime Minister’s official spokesman said Buckingham Palace was taking the lead on what is a “significant planning event”.
“We are expecting a huge number of foreign heads of state, international dignitaries and of course there will be a huge amount of involvement from the public as well,” the spokesman said.
The “massive” planning operation will involve work “across all government departments”.
How to make the most of your annual leave in 2023
Spring
With Easter Sunday falling April 9, all you need to do to get a 10-day break is take off April 3, 4, 5, and 6. With the weekend before and bank holidays on Friday April 7 and Monday April 10, there’s an excellent opportunity to have extended time off.
Similarly, the Coronation of King Charles will benefit people looking for a springtime getaway. The early May 1 bank holiday, plus the next one on May 8 (for the Coronation), means that if you book just four days of annual leave, from May 2 – 5, you get another 10-day break including weekends.
However, if you’re in the market for a longer trip in 2023 outside of school holiday times, May might be the perfect time. Add an extra four days of annual leave, from May 9 – 12, and altogether you could have 16 days off work, using just eight days of your annual leave allowance.
King Charles III: The life and time of our new monarch
Is there a better way to toast the new chapter of the monarchy?
Then the spring bank holiday rolls around on May 29. You could maximise the long weekend with a day or two of annual leave tagged on either side. Just be mindful that school half term falls May 29 – June 2 (if you want to avoid lots of children and sky rocketing travel prices).
Summer
To maximise time off during summer, simply take four days off after the bank holiday on August 28. That gives you a whole week for exploring with only four days of annual leave used up.
This could be used for a big summer trip, time off with the kids during school holidays, or just as an opportunity to enjoy some late summer sun.
And you may not need to travel far for balmy weather this year. Book Cornwall, Devon, Norfolk, Pembrokeshire or Whitby, Yorkshire, for some of the best beaches in the UK.
Winter
Dark nights and cold, long days could be made easier next year with some extra time off to look forward to – whether it’s to chill out, see family or do a bit of last minute shopping.
Christmas Day falls on a Monday in 2023, so with the Boxing Day bank holiday on a Tuesday, there’s a perfectly timed three days of potential annual leave on December 27, 28 and 29 – allowing you to see through Christmas and New Year and really switch off from work.
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