Summer Bank Holiday 2027: date and countries

Dates by country

Summer Bank Holiday 2027 by country
Country	Date	Local name
Guernsey	Mon 30 Aug	Summer Bank Holiday
Jersey	Mon 30 Aug	Summer Bank Holiday

What is Summer Bank Holiday?

The Summer Bank Holiday is the last public holiday of the summer in the Channel Islands, observed on the last Monday of August in both Guernsey and Jersey. It is a secular holiday, and for many families it is the last long weekend before the new school year, used for beach trips, boating, picnics and family gatherings. It is traditionally a day for local events. The date marks the end of the high summer season in the islands, and the weekend is often busy with visitors from Britain and France, who travel by ferry and air.

In the Channel Islands, the long weekend is also a time for local fairs, regattas and open-air events. In England and Wales the same Monday is the Summer Bank Holiday, and in London the Notting Hill Carnival is held on the Sunday and Monday of the weekend, which is one of the largest street festivals in Europe. In Scotland, the date is not the same, because the Scottish summer holiday is the first Monday in August. The islands also have their own local holidays, including Liberation Day on 9 May, which recalls the end of the German occupation in 1945, and which is separate from the bank holidays.

Why it is observed

In Britain, bank holiday dates date from the Bank Holidays Act 1871, introduced by the banker and politician Sir John Lubbock, which let banks close on named days and allowed payments due on those days to be made on the next working day. The first Monday in August was the original summer bank holiday, and the Banking and Financial Dealings Act 1971 moved the English and Welsh date to the last Monday in August, which was also adopted in many dependencies of the Crown. The Channel Islands follow the late August pattern.

How the date is set

The Summer Bank Holiday in Guernsey and Jersey is the last Monday in August, so it falls between 25 and 31 August. The same date applies in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, while Scotland has its summer bank holiday on the first Monday in August.

How it is observed

The Summer Bank Holiday is a public holiday in Guernsey and Jersey. Banks, public offices and schools are closed, many shops open with shorter hours, and ferry and air services are busy because the weekend is a peak time for travel to and from the islands, so early booking is sensible. Entitlements to pay or time off depend on local law, the employer and the contract. Always check local rules when planning a visit. Check the island's website for the date. Plan ahead for ferries. Ferry and flight bookings are essential.

Questions

Good to know

When is Summer Bank Holiday in 2027?

Monday, 30 August 2027 in all 2 countries that observe it (Guernsey, Jersey).

Which countries observe Summer Bank Holiday?

In our coverage: Guernsey, Jersey. Only holidays that apply across a whole country are counted.

Why is Summer Bank Holiday observed?

In Britain, bank holiday dates date from the Bank Holidays Act 1871, introduced by the banker and politician Sir John Lubbock, which let banks close on named days and allowed payments due on those days to be made on the next working day. The first Monday in August was the original summer bank holiday, and the Banking and Financial Dealings Act 1971 moved the English and Welsh date to the last Monday in August, which was also adopted in many dependencies of the Crown. The Channel Islands follow the late August pattern.

How is the date of Summer Bank Holiday set?

The Summer Bank Holiday in Guernsey and Jersey is the last Monday in August, so it falls between 25 and 31 August. The same date applies in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, while Scotland has its summer bank holiday on the first Monday in August.