Is Monday a bank holiday in the UK? Easter 2022 holiday dates explained and why it’s different in Scotland

Good Friday marks the start of the Easter weekend with a bank holiday across the UK.

With balmy weather predicted, Britons will be hoping to make up for lost time after two years of Covid-19 restrictions disrupting bank holidays significantly.

Many people will then have a four-day weekend with Easter Monday providing an additional day off, but that’s not the case everywhere – here’s how it works.

Is Easter Monday a bank holiday in the UK?

While Good Friday is one of eight bank holidays observed across the UK, not everyone will get a four-day weekend.

That’s because, while England, Wales and Northern Ireland will all get an additional day off for Easter Monday on 18 April, it’s not actually a nationwide bank holiday in Scotland.

How does Easter Monday work in Scotland?

While it’s not an official national holiday, some councils do claim it as one, such as Edinburgh, Falkirk and Dundee.

This is because all local councils in Scotland have the power to make certain days local public holidays.

Additionally, for business reasons Scottish banks are generally closed on the same day as those in England and Wales.

You can find out if your council considers Easter Monday a bank holiday here.

Is there post on Easter Monday?

Just like on Good Friday, there will be no Royal Mail postal collections or deliveries on Easter Monday – normal service will resume on Tuesday 19 April.

This disruption applies to the whole of the UK, even though Easter Monday is not a nationwide bank holiday in Scotland.

The Royal Mail explains: “We deliver and collect your mail on most days of the year, including Saturdays. However, we don’t usually deliver or collect on bank and public holidays.”

You can see a full calendar of the dates that post is affected by public holidays on the Royal Mail website here.

This also means that many Post Offices will close, although local branches, such as those inside convenience stores, may still be open, albeit with reduced hours.

You can use the Royal Mail’s branch finder to check for up-to-date information about your local Post Office, or the information you need to contact it directly.

Full list of UK bank holidays in 2022

Here are the 2022 bank holiday dates for the four UK nations in full, including the extra day off for the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee:

England and Wales bank holidays 2022

• Monday 3 January (New Year’s Day substitute)
• Friday 15 April (Good Friday)
• Monday 18 April (Easter Monday)
• Monday 2 May (early May bank holiday)
• Thursday 2 June (spring bank holiday)
• Friday 3 June (Platinum Jubilee bank holiday)
• Monday 29 August (summer bank holiday)
• Monday 26 December (Boxing Day)
• Tuesday 27 December (Christmas Day substitute)

Scotland bank holidays 2022

• Monday 3 January (New Year’s Day substitute)
• Tuesday 4 January (2 January substitute)
• Friday 15 April (Good Friday)
• Monday 2 May (early May bank holiday)
• Thursday 2 June (spring bank holiday)
• Friday 3 June (Platinum Jubilee bank holiday)
• Monday 1 August (summer bank holiday)
• Wednesday 1 November (St Andrew’s Day)
• Monday 26 December (Boxing Day)
• Tuesday 27 December (Christmas Day substitute)

Northern Ireland bank holidays 2022

• Monday 3 January (New Year’s Day substitute)
• Thursday 17 March (St Patrick’s Day)
• Friday 15 April (Good Friday)
• Monday 18 April (Easter Monday)
• Monday 2 May (early May bank holiday)
• Thursday 2 June (spring bank holiday)
• Friday 3 June (Platinum Jubilee bank holiday)
• Tuesday 12 July (Battle of the Boyne)
• Monday 29 August (summer bank holiday)
• Monday 26 December (Boxing Day)
• Tuesday 27 December (Christmas Day substitute)

England and Wales always have the same bank holidays, but Scotland and Northern Ireland have some of their own dates.