Bank holiday guide
Is Good Friday a Bank Holiday?
Yes. Good Friday, sometimes called Easter Friday, is a bank holiday in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. It starts the Easter weekend and moves every year with the date of Easter.
Next Good Friday bank holiday
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Then Friday 14 April 2028.
The short answer
Yes. Good Friday is a bank holiday in every part of the UK.
When is Good Friday?
Good Friday is the Friday before Easter Sunday. Easter Sunday is the first Sunday after the first full moon on or after 21 March, so Good Friday can fall on any date from 20 March to 23 April.
Because it is always a Friday, there is never a substitute day.
Good Friday bank holiday dates 2027 to 2036
Upcoming dates for the next ten years. Select a year for every bank holiday in it.
| Year | Bank holiday date |
|---|---|
| 2027 | |
| 2028 | |
| 2029 | |
| 2030 | |
| 2031 | |
| 2032 | |
| 2033 | |
| 2034 | |
| 2035 | |
| 2036 |
Show every Good Friday date from 1971 to 2050
Dates follow the official GOV.UK bank holiday list where published. Later years are calculated from the statutory rules and can change if a holiday is added or moved by royal proclamation.
Good Friday 2027 and the Easter weekend dates
Easter Sunday 2027 is Sunday 28 March 2027. Only the Friday and the Monday are bank holidays, and the Monday not in Scotland.
| Date | England & Wales | Scotland | N. Ireland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Good Friday | Good Friday | Good Friday | Good Friday |
| Easter Saturday | Weekend | Weekend | Weekend |
| Easter Sunday | Weekend | Weekend | Weekend |
| Easter Monday | Easter Monday | Normal day | Easter Monday |
What's open on Good Friday: shops, banks, post and trains
- Shops and supermarkets: open, some with bank holiday hours. The law that closes large shops applies to Easter Sunday, not Good Friday.
- Banks: branches are closed, and the London Stock Exchange does not trade.
- Post: Royal Mail does not normally deliver or collect on bank holidays, and most Post Office branches are closed or keep short hours.
- Trains and buses: often a Saturday or reduced timetable, and engineering works are common over the Easter weekend.
- Schools: closed. Most are already on their Easter break.
Why is it called Good Friday?
Good Friday marks the crucifixion of Jesus in the Christian calendar. The most widely accepted explanation for the name is that "good" once meant holy, in the same sense as the old phrase "the good book" for the Bible.
Traditions include hot cross buns, fish instead of meat and, in many towns, an outdoor walk of witness.
Why Good Friday is a bank holiday
It was a customary holiday long before the first Bank Holidays Act. In England, Wales and Northern Ireland it remains a common law holiday rather than one listed in statute; in Scotland it is on the statutory list.
Easter Sunday itself is not a bank holiday, and Easter Monday is one everywhere except Scotland.
Good Friday: questions
Is Good Friday a bank holiday?
Yes. Good Friday is a bank holiday throughout the UK. The next one is Friday 26 March 2027.
When is Good Friday 2027?
Good Friday 2027 is Friday 26 March 2027. The following one is Friday 14 April 2028.
Is Easter Friday a bank holiday?
Yes. Easter Friday is another name for Good Friday, which is a UK-wide bank holiday.
Is Good Friday a bank holiday in Scotland?
Yes. Good Friday is a bank holiday in Scotland, although Easter Monday is not.
Are supermarkets open on Good Friday?
Yes. Supermarkets and other shops can open as normal on Good Friday, though some keep shorter bank holiday hours. Large shops in England and Wales must close on Easter Sunday instead.
Do Royal Mail deliver on Good Friday?
Royal Mail does not normally deliver or collect on bank holidays. Check its published holiday schedule, as arrangements can differ between nations.
Is the Post Office open on Good Friday?
Most Post Office branches are closed or open for reduced hours on Good Friday. Opening varies by branch, so check the branch finder.
Are banks open on Good Friday?
No. Bank branches are closed, although online banking and cash machines work as normal.
Do trains run on Good Friday?
Yes, usually on a Saturday or reduced timetable. Engineering work is often planned for the Easter weekend, so check before you travel.
Why is it called Good Friday?
"Good" is generally thought to have meant holy. The day commemorates the crucifixion of Jesus.
Is Easter Sunday a bank holiday?
No. Easter Sunday is not a bank holiday, but large shops in England and Wales must stay closed.
Do I get Good Friday off work?
Only if your contract says so. A bank holiday gives no automatic right to time off or extra pay, and employers can count it as part of your 5.6 weeks of statutory annual leave.