Christmas School Holidays 2026/2027 UK
The 2026/2027 UK Christmas and New Year school holidays begin on Monday 21 December 2026 and conclude on Friday 1 January 2027. Children break up on Friday 18 December 2026 and return to school on Monday 4 January 2027.
Regional Timelines & Scottish / Welsh Differences
In Scotland, the 2 January bank holiday extends the winter break. Many Scottish councils return to school on Tuesday 5 or Wednesday 6 January 2027. In England and Wales, where Monday 28 December is a substitute bank holiday for Boxing Day, schools resume on Monday 4 January.
Documented Authority Variations:
Winter break extends through 5 January 2027 to accommodate statutory Scottish bank holidays on 1 and 2 January.
Travel Advice & Peak Pricing Analysis
Christmas flight and rail bookings reach statutory peak between 18 December and 24 December. Commuters and families can save significantly by booking off-peak travel before Friday 18 December.
Pair the statutory Christmas bank holidays with 4 days of annual leave to achieve 10 consecutive days off over Christmas.
Double Your Annual Leave
Connect Christmas Holidays 2026 with statutory UK bank holidays to get extended blocks of time off.
Launch Leave MaximizerSchool Absence Fine Rules
Review the DfE statutory £80/£160 penalty framework before booking flights or days outside official dates.
Check Fine CalculatorWhile local authority maintained schools adhere to published council dates, academies and foundation trusts set independent term dates and individual staff INSET days.
Local Authority Breakdown for Christmas Holidays 2026
Review official dates across UK local authorities with 1-click Google, Apple, and Outlook `.ics` calendar sync:
| Council | Nation & Region | Official Break Schedule | Calendar |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coventry City Council | england (West Midlands) | Monday 21 December 2026 – Friday 1 January 2027 | View → |
| Birmingham City Council | england (West Midlands) | Monday 21 December 2026 – Friday 1 January 2027 | View → |
| Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council | england (West Midlands) | Monday 21 December 2026 – Friday 1 January 2027 | View → |
| Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council | england (West Midlands) | Monday 21 December 2026 – Friday 1 January 2027 | View → |
| Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council | england (West Midlands) | Monday 21 December 2026 – Friday 1 January 2027 | View → |
| Walsall Council | england (West Midlands) | Monday 21 December 2026 – Friday 1 January 2027 | View → |
| City of Wolverhampton Council | england (West Midlands) | Monday 21 December 2026 – Friday 1 January 2027 | View → |
| Warwickshire County Council | england (West Midlands) | Monday 21 December 2026 – Friday 1 January 2027 | View → |
| Worcestershire County Council | england (West Midlands) | Monday 21 December 2026 – Friday 1 January 2027 | View → |
| Staffordshire County Council | england (West Midlands) | Monday 21 December 2026 – Friday 1 January 2027 | View → |
| Stoke-on-Trent City Council | england (West Midlands) | Monday 21 December 2026 – Friday 1 January 2027 | View → |
| Shropshire Council | england (West Midlands) | Monday 21 December 2026 – Friday 1 January 2027 | View → |
| Telford & Wrekin Council | england (West Midlands) | Monday 21 December 2026 – Friday 1 January 2027 | View → |
| Herefordshire Council | england (West Midlands) | Monday 21 December 2026 – Friday 1 January 2027 | View → |
| London Borough of Barnet | england (London) | Monday 21 December 2026 – Friday 1 January 2027 | View → |
| London Borough of Camden | england (London) | Monday 21 December 2026 – Friday 1 January 2027 | View → |
| Royal Borough of Greenwich | england (London) | Monday 21 December 2026 – Friday 1 January 2027 | View → |
| London Borough of Hackney | england (London) | Monday 21 December 2026 – Friday 1 January 2027 | View → |
| London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham | england (London) | Monday 21 December 2026 – Friday 1 January 2027 | View → |
| London Borough of Islington | england (London) | Monday 21 December 2026 – Friday 1 January 2027 | View → |
| Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea | england (London) | Monday 21 December 2026 – Friday 1 January 2027 | View → |
| London Borough of Lambeth | england (London) | Monday 21 December 2026 – Friday 1 January 2027 | View → |
| London Borough of Lewisham | england (London) | Monday 21 December 2026 – Friday 1 January 2027 | View → |
| London Borough of Southwark | england (London) | Monday 21 December 2026 – Friday 1 January 2027 | View → |
Frequently Asked Questions
When do UK schools break up for Christmas 2026?
Most UK maintained schools break up on Friday 18 December 2026. The official Christmas school holiday runs from Monday 21 December 2026 through Friday 1 January 2027.
When do children go back to school after Christmas 2027?
In England and Wales, pupils return on Monday 4 January 2027. In Scotland, where 2 January is a statutory public holiday, pupils in several local authorities resume between Tuesday 5 and Wednesday 6 January 2027.
Are bank holidays included in the school Christmas holiday?
Yes. Christmas Day (25 Dec), Boxing Day substitute (28 Dec), and New Year’s Day (1 Jan) fall within the standard two-week school holiday schedule.