Is Monday 1 August a bank holiday? Why Scotland gets a day off today and full list of 2022 UK bank holidays

For many, August bank holiday offers them the chance to enjoy the last of the summer sun before the autumn draws in.

The long weekend is a historic time of celebration in the UK; originally introduced to allow workers time off to enjoy the cricket calendar, it is now the weekend of the iconic Notting Hill Carnival in London.

However, dates for the bank holiday vary across the UK, with Scotland taking the August bank holiday weeks before England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Here’s everything you need to know…

Is Monday a bank holiday?

Scotland has a bank holiday on Monday 1 August, however, England, Wales and Northern Ireland have their bank holiday on Monday 29 August.

It’s believed that the August bank holiday was introduced in 1871 to give bank employees time to enjoy cricket season.

The holiday was moved to the last week of August in England, Wales and Northern Ireland in 1965, however, Scotland chose to keep the original date.

Full list of bank holidays for 2022

Bank holiday dates slightly vary 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 aforementioned summer bank holiday always falls at the start of August rather than the end of the month.

Here are the 2022 bank holiday dates for the four UK nations in full:

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)
• Friday 25 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)

Christmas Day falls on a Sunday in 2022, so its bank holiday will be moved, just as in 2021.

While the Boxing Day bank holiday falls as usual on Monday 26 December, there will be a substitute Christmas day off on Tuesday 27 December, meaning the UK will once again get a four-day festive weekend.