Bank holiday
What it really means
A public holiday when many businesses, banks and schools close, such as Christmas, Easter Monday and the late-August Monday. You do not automatically get them off with pay — it depends on your contract.
Context, tips & common mistakes
There is no automatic legal right to a bank holiday off, nor to extra pay for working it — everything hangs on your contract, which is why the phrasing '25 days plus bank holidays' versus '28 days including bank holidays' matters when comparing job offers. In shift-based sectors, working bank holidays is routine and any premium pay is a contractual perk, not an entitlement, so ask at interview rather than assuming. The dates also differ between England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, and occasional one-off holidays are announced for national events; the definitive list is on GOV.UK.
Practically, expect Sunday-style transport timetables, closed banks and GP surgeries, and busy travel the day either side. If your workplace closes on bank holidays but your allowance 'includes' them, those days are deducted from your total — worth understanding before you plan a long trip home.