If you have children, planning for special days be it birthdays, days out, weekends away or longer holidays will usually be centred around the school holidays.
Planning ahead and getting your timing right can help you save on great deals on things to do and getaways, as well as maximizing how you use your holiday allowance off from work.
Remember typically children have 6 holiday breaks each school year
- February half-term (1 week)
- Easter (April – 2 weeks)
- May half-term (1-2 weeks)
- Summer (July/August – 6 weeks)
- October half-term (1 week)
- Christmas (December – 2 weeks).
School terms and holiday schedules can differ across the UK so we’ve rounded up the most important dates for England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland below.
UK School Holiday Dates 2024
*Please note that the school holiday dates listed below are a general guide and we recommend that you check with your local school authorities for dates specific to your area and schools.
England School Holidays 2024
| Holiday | Start Date | End Date |
|---|---|---|
| February half-term holidays | 12/02/2024 | 16/02/2024 |
| Easter holidays | 29/03/2024 | 12/04/2024 |
| Spring half-term holidays | 27/05/2024 | 31/05/2024 |
| Summer holidays | 25/07/2024 | 30/08/2024 |
| Autumn half-term holidays | 28/10/2024 | 01/11/2024 |
| Christmas holidays | 23/12/2024 | 03/01/2025 |
Wales School Holidays 2024
| Holiday | Start Date | End Date |
|---|---|---|
| February half-term holidays | 12/02/2024 | 16/02/2024 |
| Easter holidays | 25/03/2024 | 05/04/2024 |
| May half-term holidays | 27/05/2024 | 31/05/2024 |
| Summer holidays | 23/07/2024 | 30/08/2024 |
| Autumn half-term holidays | 28/10/2024 | 01/11/2024 |
| Christmas holidays | 23/12/2024 | 03/01/2025 |
Scotland School Holidays 2024
| Holiday | Start Date | End Date |
|---|---|---|
| February half-term holidays – Edinburgh | 12/02/2024 | 16/02/2024 |
| February half-term holidays – Glasgow | 12/02/2024 | 14/02/2024 |
| Easter Holidays | 29/03/2024 | 12/04/2024 |
| May half-term holidays – Edinburgh | Day off: May 7 | Day off: May 20 |
| May half-term holidays – Glasgow | Day off: May 2 | Day off: May 24 |
| Summer holidays – Edinburgh | 01/07/2024 | 13/08/2024 |
| Summer holidays – Glasgow | 27/06/2024 | 13/08/2024 |
| Autumn half-term holidays | 14/10/2024 | 18/10/2024 |
| Christmas holidays | 23/12/2024 | 03/01/2025 |
Northern Ireland School Holidays 2024
| Holiday | Start Date | End Date |
| Spring Half-term Holidays | 15/02/2024 | 16/02/2024 |
| Easter Holidays | 28/03/2024 | 05/04/2024 |
| Summer Holidays | 01/07/2024 | 01/09/2024 |
| Autumn Half-term Holidays | 31/10/2024 | 01/11/2024 |
| Christmas Holidays | 23/12/2024 | 02/01/2025 |
UK School Holiday Dates 2025
*Please note that the school holiday dates listed below are a general guide and we recommend that you check with your local authorities for dates specific to your area and schools.
England School Holidays 2025
| Holiday | Start Date | End Date |
| Spring Half-term Holiday 2025 | 17/02/2025 | 21/02/2025 |
| Easter Holidays 2025 | 11/04/2025 | 28/04/2025 |
| May Half-term 2025 | 26/05/2025 | 30/05/2025 |
| Summer Holidays 2025 | 21/07/2025 | 01/09/2025 |
| Autumn Holidays 2025 | 27/10/2025 | 31/10/2025 |
| Christmas Holidays 2025 | 19/12/2023 | 05/01/2026 |
Wales School Holidays 2025
| Holiday | Start Date | End Date |
| Spring Half-term Holiday 2025 | 17/02/2025 | 21/02/2025 |
| Easter Holidays 2025 | 11/04/2025 | 28/04/2025 |
| May Half-term 2025 | 26/05/2025 | 30/05/2025 |
| Summer Holidays 2025 | 21/07/2025 | 01/09/2025 |
| Autumn Half-term Holidays 2025 | 27/10/2025 | 31/10/2025 |
| Christmas Holidays 2025 | 19/12/2023 | 05/01/2026 |
Scotland School Holidays 2025
| Holiday | Start Date | End Date |
| Spring Half-term Holiday 2025 | 17/02/2025 | 20/02/2025 |
| Easter Holidays 2025 | 07/04/2025 | 22/04/2025 |
| May H Half-term 2025 | 05/05/2025 | 06/05/2025 |
| Summer Holidays 2025 | 25/06/2025 | 12/08/2025 |
| Autumn Holidays 2025 | 13/10/2025 | 17/10/2025 |
| Christmas Holidays 2025 | 22/12/2023 | 05/01/2026 |
Northern Ireland School Holidays 2025
| Holiday | Start Date | End Date |
| Spring Holidays 2025 | 13/02/2025 | 14/02/2025 |
| Easter Holidays 2025 | 17/03/2025 | 25/04/2025 |
| Summer Holidays 2025 | 01/07/2025 | – |
Things to do during School Holidays
School holidays are a great opportunity for some quality family time. So here are some ideas of things to do with kids during school holidays that will suit all the family.
February half-term school holidays (1 week)
Skiing in Europe
Winter activities in Scotland
Indoor activities at a lodge or park
Museum and gallery trips
Easter school holidays (April – 2 weeks)
Desert surfing in Dubai
Visit Botanic gardens
Go on Safari in South Africa
Take a historical city break
May half-term school holidays (1 week)
Cycling around Europe
Camping in the UK
Sightseeing around Europe
Go to a summer concert
Summer school holidays (July/August – 6 weeks)
Beach holiday
Camping in France
Visit an outdoor waterpark
Water sports on a lake
October half-term school holidays (1 week)
End-of-the-season theme park trips
Sightseeing around Europe
Go to an outdoor festival
Christmas school holidays (December – 2 weeks)
Skiing in the USA
Winter outdoor activities
Get some sunshine in Barbados
Winter in an Australian summer
FAQs
How many school holidays do children have each year?
Schools have six holidays each year and include
February half-term (1 week)
Easter (April – 2 weeks)
May half-term (1 week)
Summer (July/August – 6 weeks)
October half-term (1 week)
Christmas (December – 2 weeks)
What is half-term?
Half-term is the short break halfway through each school term (semester) which usually consists of one week, allowing for a chance to rest and recuperate for students but can also be an opportunity for a quick getaway. There are three half-term breaks through the year in February, May and October!
Are schools open on a bank holiday?
The great news, schools are closed on Bank Holidays and usually fall within the school breaks listed above, helping parents manage their time and work holiday allocations more conveniently as well as save on their work holiday allowance.
How many weeks of holiday do schools have?
Schools have around 13 weeks of holiday each year, but this does vary by school authority but plenty of time to rest, recuperate and spend quality time as a family.
How long do the summer holidays last in the UK?
the summer school break is the longest of all the school holiday breaks and lasts around six weeks, a perfect length to organize longer trips abroad. It also falls within summer allowing you to take advantage of the warmer weather across teh globe.
Can parents take children out of school during term time?
Parents are not allowed to take children out of school during term terms and could be eligible for school fines if they do without the school’s consent. However, exceptions may be allowed for special circumstances and usually require writer permission from teh headteacher for it to be possible.