You can strategically book your vacation days around public holidays and weekends to maximise your annual leave in 2025 and turn 28 days into 61 days off. Here’s a step-by-step guide based on the UK bank holidays in 2025:
1. New Year’s Day
-
- Public Holiday: Wednesday, January 1, 2025
- Book: January 2 and 3 (Thursday and Friday)
- Time Off: 5 days (Wednesday, January 1 – Sunday, January 5)
- Leave Days Used: 2
2. Easter Break
- Public Holidays: Friday, April 18 (Good Friday) and Monday, April 21 (Easter Monday)
- Book: April 14–17 and April 22–25
- Time Off: 16 days (Saturday, April 12 – Sunday, April 27)
- Leave Days Used: 8
3. Early May Bank Holiday
- Public Holiday: Monday, May 5
- Book: May 6–9 (Tuesday to Friday)
- Time Off: 9 days (Saturday, May 3 – Sunday, May 11)
- Leave Days Used: 4
4. Spring Bank Holiday
- Public Holiday: Monday, May 26
- Book: May 27–30 (Tuesday to Friday)
- Time Off: 9 days (Saturday, May 24 – Sunday, June 1)
- Leave Days Used: 4
5. Summer Bank Holiday (England and Wales)
- Public Holiday: Monday, August 25
- Book: August 26–29 (Tuesday to Friday)
- Time Off: 9 days (Saturday, August 23 – Sunday, August 31)
- Leave Days Used: 4
6. Christmas and New Year
- Public Holidays: Thursday, December 25 (Christmas Day) and Friday, December 26 (Boxing Day)
- Book: December 22–24 and December 29–31
- Time Off: 16 days (Saturday, December 20 – Sunday, January 4, 2026)
- Leave Days Used: 7
Summary
- Total Days Off: 61
- Leave Days Used: 28
By carefully aligning your leave with public holidays and weekends, you can stretch your vacation time without using extra days. Make sure to plan early as these dates may be popular with colleagues!