How to maximise your annual leave in 2025 in the UK

So, you want to make the most of your holiday in 2025, but you’re not sure how? We’ve got you covered. Once again, we’re coming at you with probably the most handy guide in the world (yes, in the world, ever), telling you exactly how to break down your annual leave next year so you can travel to your heart’s content without having to take any dreaded unpaid leave.

It’s easy: select your amount of annual leave days below, and we’ll provide you with a fully customised calendar which highlights UK bank holidays, the days you should take off, and surrounding weekends, which will effectively double (or even triple) your amount of leave! 

For example, if you have 23 days of leave, you can turn that into a total of 53 days! Wow. And, you can even download this schedule straight to your calendar so you don’t forget – pretty cool, hey?

Right, so now you have your leave all figured out, but you’re stuck on where to go. No worries, we’ve worked that out for you as well. So, let’s take those 53 days of leave, and here’s an example of all the gorgeous holidays you can take – all you have to do is book.

January – New Year’s Day

No better way to start the year off right than by prolonging your sweet festive leave into the New Year. Take the 2nd and 3rd off with annual leave, and gift yourself a little 5 day getaway! 

Spend the long weekend wrapped up and cosy with your loved ones watching good movies and eating good food.

Or, if you’re sick of sitting at home, head out for some skiing in Austria (you’ll have to take one day extra!) to take advantage of the glittering snow while it lasts and celebrate the arrival of a new year with plenty of Après parties and drinks (hot chocolate or otherwise). 

April – Good Friday and Easter Monday

So, you may be waiting a few months for your next holiday between January and April, but it’s so, so, worth the wait because if you play your cards right, you can snag yourself two full weeks off for the low price of 8 days of annual leave! Why did this happen? Well, because of Easter. You’ll get Good Friday and Easter Monday off (18th and 21st), so you just have to take the 14th-17th and 22nd-25th off, and with three weekends in the mix you’ve got yourself a 16 day break. Pretty sexy, hey?

Plus, April is the time of year spring has sprung, so you’ll be able to choose from plenty of pretty born-again getaways. Our suggestions? Japan in a Week is simply a no-brainer as you’ll not only get the vibrant Tokyo and Kyoto atmosphere, but also the gorgeous sight of pastel cherry blossoms floating on the breeze. Dreamy!

If you’re looking for some sunshine and ancient wonders, then Egypt and the Nile might be the one for you. Cruise down the Nile, explore the Valley of Kings, and solve the mystery of how the Pyramids were built. Looking for a different kind of ancient wonder? Mexico in a Week is calling your name, filled with the most mouth-watering food, refreshing cenotes to take a dip in, and Aztec ruins.

May – Spring bank holiday

May really is a blessing because it gives you not one but two bank holidays! One is on the 5th, and the other the 26th. Enjoy a long weekend earlier in the month by making the most of the gorgeous British spring weather and spending time at your favourite beer garden with friends or walking a dog in the park (doesn’t matter who’s dog it is). 

For the spring bank holiday on the 26th, however, take 6 days of leave between the 27th and 30th, as well as a few days before on the 22nd and 23rd, so you can bag yourself a hefty 11 days off!

With this much leave the possibilities are endless –  the world really is your oyster! You could take on the South Korean Soul and explore buzzing cities and different cultures, or you could stay closer to home and bask in the splendid sun of Barcelona, Ibiza, and Mallorca. Enjoy the nightlife and the good life at beaches and clubs. 

If you fancy getting to know the great outdoors then Atlantic Canada or Kruger Safari with Eswatini – both include jaw-dropping views, and opportunities for some majestic wildlife spotting. Or, take one day extra, and relax along the glitzy Mediterranean on our classic Greek Island Hopping trip.

August – Summer bank holiday

If you’re thinking ‘I must be running out of annual leave by now’ think again! You’ve got enough for another full week off, and this time we suggest you take it next to the summer bank holiday on the 25th of August. This is the perfect way to wave off that golden sun and the last specks of summer, before settling into cosy autumn.

Take the 26th to the 29th off using 4 days, and count the weekends on both sides for a beautiful 9 days all to yourself. 

Enjoy the Kenya Safari by hopping on more than your fair share of game drives, or soak up those classic West Coast vibes on our LA Explorer trip. Combine that with a Yellowstone and Grand Tetons ride, and you can make the most of what makes the USA so great: the huge and varied landscapes!

Or, go a completely different route, and traipse through iconic and summer-favourite, Italy for a day extra. You can join our Italian Espresso adventure and live la dolce vita while posing in front of the Tower of Pisa and gorging yourself on crisp and fresh pizzas.

December – Christmas

And last but not least, it’s time for the Christmas break which promises total bliss and relaxation, as well as hearty feel-good food and lots of prezzies (if you’ve been good, that is). Christmas Day and Boxing Day are bank holidays, so make sure you tack on the 22nd, 23rd, and 24th for 3 days of annual leave and you can complete the week. 

Curious to know what Christmas is like on the other end of the world? Why not hop on the New Zealand Sun and Steam trip and find out how our Kiwi friends celebrate. Plus, it’ll be peak summer at the time, so you’ll be able to get away from the chill if it’s not your thing. Or spend the lead up to Christmas bungee jumping, game driving, and engaging with local cultures on the Victoria Falls Explorer in Zimbabwe!

Whatever you choose, just know you’ve had a fantastic 2025 making the absolute most of your bank holidays and annual leave – give yourself a pat on the back. 

Extras for Scotland and Northern Ireland

For those UK residents outside of England, you’re in luck: there are a few extra bank holidays coming your way in 2025, so let’s find out how you can make the most of those as well.

Scotland

November – St. Andrew’s Day

So, sadly the Scots won’t be getting Easter Monday off (though you can of course just use an extra day of annual leave to still get that fabulous 2 week break!), but what you do have instead is St. Andrew’s Day on the 30th of November!

Honestly this comes at the perfect time of year as it allows you a quick little break between the end of summer and the start of the holiday season! As this bank holiday falls on a Sunday in 2025, you’ll get the following Monday (December 1st) off, giving you a lovely long weekend.

Get in the festive mood and visit the snowy Christmas Markets around Edinburgh, or take a quick jaunt down to London to see what’s happening there! Or, rest and relax at home – Scotland is a stunner in winter so make the most of it. 

Northern Ireland

March – St. Patrick’s Day

We’re big big fans of St. Patrick’s Day: it’s festive, it’s green, it’s full of song and dance! This is the perfect time to have a real ball with all your friends and family, and luckily you get a bank holiday to stretch that weekend out. 

Spend it discovering the beautiful Irish coasts and cities, sample your fair share of Guinness, and just have fun celebrating. If you want to take some extra days off for the full week, you could even head to the USA for some colourful St. Patrick’s Day celebrations as well. Chicago dyes their river green, you know, and Boston and New York City get pretty lively as well. 

July – Battle of the Boyne

Also known as Orangemen’s Day or Orange Day, July 12th marks the commemoration of the Battle of the Boyne. It’s on the 12th of July every year, and in 2025 you’ll get the following Monday (the 14th) off, giving you a long weekend to enjoy. 

Spend time with your friends and family, hit up your favourite local pub or stroll along the prettiest hiking route you can find. As you know, Ireland is full of wonders, so it’s a great time to head out there and explore. Or set off to somewhere new and exciting, because, why not? How does LA sound this time of year?