If the January blues are kicking in and you’re already Googling ‘get rich quick’ schemes to stay on holiday forever, it’s time to start planning your next escape.
With travel deals in full swing this month, there’s no better time to snap up a bargain and get your annual leave sorted early.
Plotting days off around weekends and bank holidays can help to maximise your holiday allowance, giving you more time to unwind on the beach without burning through leave too quickly.
So, whether you’re dreaming of a relaxing all-inclusive escape or a quick weekend getaway, planning opens up a world of possibilities.
Metro has crunched the numbers so you don’t have to. This is how you could turn your 2025 annual leave into a whopping 61 days off.
How to maximise your days off this year
Easter: Friday, April 18 to Tuesday, May 6
Good Friday falls on April 18 next year, with the Easter Monday bank holiday on the following Monday 21. Then, the early May bank holiday is just two weeks later. So, you can enjoy an extra long Easter break of 18 days by only booking nine days off.
May: Saturday, May 3 to Sunday, May 11 or Saturday, May 24 to Sunday, June 1
Thanks to the two bank holidays in May, there are two ways for you to enjoy nine days off in a row while only using four days of annual leave.
August: Saturday, August 23 to Sunday, August 31
Book four days off in August to gain nine days off for a summer holiday thanks to the bank holiday on August 25.
December: Saturday, December 20 to Monday, January 5, 2025
To end the year and enjoy the festive period with family and friends, book seven days off to gain a total of 16 days off.
When are the Bank Holidays in 2025?
The bank holidays in England and Wales are as follows:
January 1: New Year’s Day
April 18: Good Friday
April 21: Easter Monday
May 5: Early May bank holiday
May 26: Spring bank holiday
August 25: Summer bank holiday
December 25: Christmas Day
December 26: Boxing Day
How much annual leave do I get?
In the UK, full-time workers are entitled to 28 days’ paid leave each year, although the exact amount you get will depend on your employer, shift patterns and length of service.
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This schedule is suitable for those who work Monday to Friday, get bank holidays off as standard, and are able to take any days they want throughout the year – unfortunately, that’s not always the case for those in retail, hospitality or seasonal trades.
It also may not apply if you live outside of England, as bank holidays differ slightly across the UK.
If you can take advantage, though, get those holiday requests in ASAP and mark them down on your calendar. You may even have a few days left over for spontaneous adventuring.
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