Bridge days in United Kingdom 2026 and 2027
Workdays that, taken as leave, join a UK public holiday to a weekend or to another holiday. Each option uses 1 to 4 leave days and is ranked by days off per leave day.
What this counts
Nationwide public holidays of United Kingdom only, and a Monday to Friday working week. These are England and Wales bank holidays. Days that only Scotland or Northern Ireland observe are not included. The holiday list is on the United Kingdom public holidays page.
United Kingdom bridge days 2026
8 options in 2026, best value first.
Best value
- Take 1 day (Fri 2 Jan 2026) for at least 4 days off in a row, around New Year's Day.
- Take 3 days (Tue 29 Dec to Thu 31 Dec 2026) for 10 days off in a row, around Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year's Day.
- Take 4 days (Mon 30 Mar to Thu 2 Apr 2026) for 10 days off in a row, around Good Friday and Easter Monday.
Every bridge in 2026
| Leave to take | Days off in a row | Public holidays | Days off per leave day |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 day Fri 2 Jan 2026 | At least 4 Thu 1 Jan to Sun 4 Jan 2026 | New Year's Day (Thu 1 Jan) | 4 |
| 3 days Tue 29 Dec to Thu 31 Dec 2026 | 10 Fri 25 Dec 2026 to Sun 3 Jan 2027 | Christmas Day (Fri 25 Dec), Boxing Day (Mon 28 Dec), New Year's Day (Fri 1 Jan) | 3.33 |
| 4 days Mon 30 Mar to Thu 2 Apr 2026 | 10 Sat 28 Mar to Mon 6 Apr 2026 | Good Friday (Fri 3 Apr), Easter Monday (Mon 6 Apr) | 2.5 |
| 4 days Tue 7 Apr to Fri 10 Apr 2026 | 10 Fri 3 Apr to Sun 12 Apr 2026 | Good Friday (Fri 3 Apr), Easter Monday (Mon 6 Apr) | 2.5 |
| 4 days Mon 21 Dec to Thu 24 Dec 2026 | 10 Sat 19 Dec to Mon 28 Dec 2026 | Christmas Day (Fri 25 Dec), Boxing Day (Mon 28 Dec) | 2.5 |
| 4 days Tue 5 May to Fri 8 May 2026 | 9 Sat 2 May to Sun 10 May 2026 | Early May Bank Holiday (Mon 4 May) | 2.25 |
| 4 days Tue 26 May to Fri 29 May 2026 | 9 Sat 23 May to Sun 31 May 2026 | Spring Bank Holiday (Mon 25 May) | 2.25 |
| 4 days Tue 1 Sep to Fri 4 Sep 2026 | 9 Sat 29 Aug to Sun 6 Sep 2026 | Summer Bank Holiday (Mon 31 Aug) | 2.25 |
"At least": the break reaches a date outside the years we hold holidays for, so it may be longer.
United Kingdom bridge days 2027
6 options in 2027, best value first.
Best value
- Take 3 days (Wed 29 Dec to Fri 31 Dec 2027) for at least 9 days off in a row, around Christmas Day and Boxing Day.
- Take 4 days (Mon 22 Mar to Thu 25 Mar 2027) for 10 days off in a row, around Good Friday and Easter Monday.
- Take 4 days (Tue 30 Mar to Fri 2 Apr 2027) for 10 days off in a row, around Good Friday and Easter Monday.
Every bridge in 2027
| Leave to take | Days off in a row | Public holidays | Days off per leave day |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 days Wed 29 Dec to Fri 31 Dec 2027 | At least 9 Sat 25 Dec 2027 to Sun 2 Jan 2028 | Christmas Day (Mon 27 Dec), Boxing Day (Tue 28 Dec) | 3 |
| 4 days Mon 22 Mar to Thu 25 Mar 2027 | 10 Sat 20 Mar to Mon 29 Mar 2027 | Good Friday (Fri 26 Mar), Easter Monday (Mon 29 Mar) | 2.5 |
| 4 days Tue 30 Mar to Fri 2 Apr 2027 | 10 Fri 26 Mar to Sun 4 Apr 2027 | Good Friday (Fri 26 Mar), Easter Monday (Mon 29 Mar) | 2.5 |
| 4 days Tue 4 May to Fri 7 May 2027 | 9 Sat 1 May to Sun 9 May 2027 | Early May Bank Holiday (Mon 3 May) | 2.25 |
| 4 days Tue 1 Jun to Fri 4 Jun 2027 | 9 Sat 29 May to Sun 6 Jun 2027 | Spring Bank Holiday (Mon 31 May) | 2.25 |
| 4 days Tue 31 Aug to Fri 3 Sep 2027 | 9 Sat 28 Aug to Sun 5 Sep 2027 | Summer Bank Holiday (Mon 30 Aug) | 2.25 |
"At least": the break reaches a date outside the years we hold holidays for, so it may be longer.
How the days are found
- A leave day is a Monday to Friday that is not a public holiday.
- A bridge is 1 to 4 leave days that fill the whole gap between two runs of days off, at least one of which includes a public holiday on a weekday. Taking the Friday before a Monday holiday only lengthens a long weekend, so it is not listed.
- Days off in a row counts every calendar day from the first day off to the last, weekends included. A bridge across New Year uses the next year's holidays.
- Best value first: most days off per leave day, then the longer break, then the earlier date.
- "At least" marks a break that reaches a date outside the years we hold holidays for. It may be longer.
Your contract, collective agreement or company calendar may give you more days off, or fewer. Check those before you book.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best bridge day in United Kingdom in 2026?
Take 1 day (Fri 2 Jan 2026) for at least 4 days off in a row, around New Year's Day. That is the best ratio of days off to leave days in 2026 on this page.
What is the best bridge day in United Kingdom in 2027?
Take 3 days (Wed 29 Dec to Fri 31 Dec 2027) for at least 9 days off in a row, around Christmas Day and Boxing Day. That is the best ratio of days off to leave days in 2027 on this page.
Which holidays and working days does this use?
The nationwide public holidays of United Kingdom for 2026 and 2027, the same list as our United Kingdom public holidays page, and a Monday to Friday working week. These are England and Wales bank holidays. Days that only Scotland or Northern Ireland observe are not included.
Can SquadBear count UK public holidays in leave requests?
Yes. When an admin adds a United Kingdom holiday calendar, SquadBear prefills these nationwide holidays, and leave counted in working days (the default) skips them. Admins can add regional or company days to the calendar.
Other countries
- Poland
- Germany
- Austria
- Switzerland
- Netherlands
- Ireland
- Czechia
- Slovakia
- Spain
- France
- Belgium
- Sweden
- Norway
- Denmark
- Finland
- Portugal
- Italy
- Hungary
- Romania
- Lithuania
- Latvia
- Estonia
- Ukraine
- Singapore
- Indonesia
All bridge day pages · More free tools
Count leave around UK holidays
Add a United Kingdom holiday calendar in SquadBear and these nationwide holidays are prefilled. Leave counted in working days skips them. Free for up to 5 people.
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