Annual depart hack that would greater than double your day off
By strategically booking annual leave around certain days of the year, workers can maximise their time off
As we dive into the first full working week of the New Year, many employees are already daydreaming about their next holiday. But before you hastily book your annual leave for the upcoming months, consider a strategy that could nearly double your time off without costing you a penny.
By cleverly coordinating your days off with bank holidays and other special occasions, you could bag up to 63 days of leave, says consumer champion Which? It’s worth noting, though, this only applies to workers who receive at least 25 days of leave or the standard 28 days most UK workers are entitled to.
Even if you’re granted just 25 days of leave, you can still optimise your time off to enjoy as much as 58 days away from work. However, this will only maximise your time if you’re certain you won’t be working any bank holidays throughout 2026.
UK Bank Holidays for 2026
The following bank holidays are planned for 2026 in the UK:
- Friday, April 3 (Good Friday)
- Monday, April 6 (Easter Monday)
- Monday, May 4 (Early may bank holiday)
- Monday, May 25 (Spring bank holiday)
- Monday, August 31 (Summer bank holiday)
- Friday,December 25 (Christmas Day)
- Monday, December 28 (Boxing Day)
What dates to book off?
By booking the following 28 days off, you could as much as double your annual leave for 2026:
- Friday, January 2
- Monday, March 30
- Tuesday, March 31
- Wednesday, April 1
- Thursday, April 2
- Tuesday, April 7
- Wednesday, April 8
- Thursday, April 9
- Friday, April 10
- Tuesday, May 5
- Wednesday, May 6
- Thursday, May 7
- Friday, May 8
- Tuesday, May 26
- Wednesday, May 27
- Thursday, May 28
- Friday, May 29
- Tuesday, September 1
- Wednesday, September 2
- Thursday, September 3
- Friday, September 4
- Thursday, December 24
- Tuesday, December 29
- Wednesday, December 30
- Thursday, December 31
- Monday, December 21
- Tuesday, December 22
- Wednesday, December 23
You might have noticed that many of the suggested days to take off fall either before or just after a weekend, potentially offering a three or four-day weekend in some instances. While this is great news for those who are guaranteed weekends off work, others may find their holidays disrupted if they need to work a weekend sandwiched between their time off.
This year also deviates from the norm regarding bank holidays as the government confirmed it will shift Boxing Day due to Christmas Day falling on a Friday this year. As a result, Boxing Day will be observed on the following Monday, ensuring the Bank Holidays still occur.
