Grab your calendar because we’re about to spill the beans on the key dates you need to know, and how to turn 25 days of annual leave into 57 in 2025. Plus, we’ll share what we’d be booking to make the most of that extra time off.
How Much Annual Leave Are You Legally Entitled to in the UK?
The majority of full-time workers who follow a Monday to Friday work week are typically entitled to 28 days of paid holiday, which includes bank holidays. Some companies will throw in a few extra paid days of leave on top of the legal allowance.
If your workplace is closed on bank holidays, you will likely have them off. There will be eight bank holidays in 2025, although it’s up to your company whether they give you bank holidays off.
When Should You Request Your Annual Leave for 2025?
Don’t forget to get a head start on your leave requests, as many of our suggested dates are quite popular, and you might find yourself competing with your colleagues for time off.
New Year
New Year’s Day (1 January) is on a Wednesday in 2025, so if you book the following Thursday and Friday as leave, you can get a five day break to ease you into the new year.
If you also used your 2024 leave to take time off over Christmas, then this could give you as many as 16 days off in a row.
Book 2 days’ annual leave:
2 and 3 January 2025
Get 5 days off:
1–5 January 2025
or
If you also booked 5 days’ leave over Christmas 2024:
23, 24, 27, 30, 31 December 2024, 2 and 3 January 2025
Get 16 days off:
21 December 2024 – 5 January 2025
Easter
Easter 2025 will fall between 18 April (Easter Friday) and 21 April (Easter Monday). So, if you book 14, 15, 16 and 17 April off (the preceding Monday to Thursday) you will be able to get a 10 day break, while only using four days of annual leave.
Adding in 22, 23, 24 and 25 April (the following Tuesday to Friday) will take you to 16 consecutive days of time off over the Easter period, while only using eight days of your annual leave.
Alternatively, as Easter falls late in 2025, you could arrange your leave to take you from the Easter weekend until the early May bank holiday weekend. This will get you a whopping 18 days of leave – now that’s a bumper break!
Book 4 days’ annual leave:
14, 15, 16 and 17 April 2025
Get 10 days off:
12 – 21 April 2025
or
Book 8 days’ annual leave:
14, 15, 16, 17, 22, 23, 24 and 25 April 2025
Get 16 days off:
12 – 27 April 2025
or
Book 9 days’ annual leave:
22, 23, 24, 25, 28, 29, 30 April and 1 and 2 May 2025
Get 18 days off
18 April – 5 May 2025
Where we would go: With the opportunity to get so many consecutive days’ leave, this is a great time to do a long-haul trip. James and I recently went to South Korea for the first time, and I have to say it would make a fab Easter getaway. We scored flights for under £400pp in October but they’re a little more at this time of year due to Easter being a peak period, though it’s pretty affordable while you’re there.
For a decent-value stay in Seoul, stay at the DRIP&DROP in Myeongdong, the city’s bustling shopping district. It’s partly a capsule hotel but… with windows! And the pods are really cute. You can get a private one with two double beds from £117 a night, or your own capsule in a dorm from £25 a night.
May
There’s a bank holiday at the beginning of the month on 5 May and at the end of the month on 26 May.
Now we did mention you could run your Easter Holiday into early May for an extended break, but if mega-long holidays don’t appeal, then why not take 2 May off for a four day break while only using one day of your annual leave?
If you want a longer break, take 6 May off as well to make it a five day break.
At the end of the month, if you take 27, 28, 29 and 30 May off, then this will give you a nine day break while only using four days of your annual leave.
Book 2 days’ annual leave:
2 May and 6 May 2025
Get 5 days off:
2 May – 6 May 2025
and
Book 4 days’ annual leave:
27, 28, 29 and 30 May 2025
Get 9 days off:
24 May – 1 June 2025
Where we would go: Five days is an ideal amount of time to visit Corfu, when temperatures can reach a nice warm 24 degrees.
For a longer break at the end of the month, you could head to Spain’s Golden Triangle – the cities of Seville, Granada and Cordoba. This region (Andalusia) can get pretty hot in summer, so this is a good time to go. You won’t want to miss Granada’s epic Alhambra palace, the interiors of Cordoba’s mosque-cathedral or the drama of Seville’s flamenco shows.
August
Have a long weekend with the 25 August Summer Bank holiday. Book Friday 22 August off for a long weekend and get a four day break over the weekend and Monday, while just using one day of leave.
If you want a longer break, book 26, 27, 28 and 29 August off for a total of nine days holiday.
Book 1 days’ annual leave:
22 August 2025
Get 4 days off:
22 – 25 August 2025
or
Book 4 days’ annual leave:
26, 27, 28 and 29 August 2025
Get 9 days off:
23 August – 31 August 2025
Where we would go: James and I like to do a city break in late August, since you get to enjoy warmer weather and the amazing deals on luxury hotels! In 2024 we went to Tallinn in Estonia and it didn’t disappoint. For just £76 per night, you can stay in a suite WITH YOUR VERY OWN SAUNA at L’Ermitage Hotel.
Who said you have to dial things back in peak periods?
December
The Christmas and New Year periods are a great time to use your annual leave as there are three national days off. Both 25 and 26 December are bank holidays, as well as 1 January 2026, which is New Year’s Day.
This year Christmas Day and Boxing Day fall on a Thursday and Friday, so you can get four consecutive days off without taking any leave at all.
If you want a longer break over the festive period, then take off 22, 23, 24, 29, 30 and 31 December 2025, and borrow a day from 2026 to take off 2 January 2026, and you’ll get 16 consecutive days off.
Book 7 days’ annual leave (including 1 day from your 2026 allowance):
22, 23, 24, 29, 30 and 31 December and 2 January 2026
Get 16 days off:
22 December – 5 January 2026
Where we would go: If you’re chasing some winter sun, check out the Canary Islands, Cape Verde and Egypt. Or, for an affordable Christmas getaway that’s a little further afield, try The Gambia!
Turn Your Time Off From Work Into 57 Days Annual Leave
Plan smart and get 57 days’ annual leave in 2025 by booking your time off from work around the UK bank holidays during January Easter, May, August and December.
