Planning your next family trip? Knowing the school holiday dates for 2026/27 is essential. Below, you’ll find a comprehensive breakdown of holiday periods for England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. School holiday dates can vary depending on your local authority and school, so always check your local council and school website for the most accurate details. For up-to-date and official term date information, visit the UK Government School Term and Holiday Dates page and your school website which will provide the most accurate details.
School holiday dates in England vary by local authority and school. The dates below are a general guide based on commonly used local authority dates for 2026/27. Check your local council and school website before making travel plans.
Travelling between 24th July and 31st August?
This is the UK’s busiest travel period. With airports operating at high capacity, delays and cancellations can be more common – particularly during the school summer holidays.
Consider whether your travel insurance provides appropriate cover for your trip, including potential delays and cancellations. You can learn more here.
Scotland has a different school calendar from England and Wales, and holiday dates vary between local authorities. There is no single set of school holiday dates that applies across Scotland, so check your local authority and school website for exact dates.
Scottish school holiday dates are set by individual local authorities, so be sure to check your local council website before booking travel.
The Welsh Government has directed harmonised school term dates for 2026/27. However, Powys has two differences from the dates followed by other Welsh local authorities. Always check your local authority or school website before booking your holiday.
For most Welsh schools, the autumn term ends on 18th December 2026 and the spring term ends on 19th March 2027, with the summer term starting on 5th April 2027. Powys schools have different dates, with the autumn term ending on 22nd December 2026 and the summer term ending on 16th July 2027.
Schools in Northern Ireland can also use additional staff training and school development days, so exact closure dates can differ between schools. For 2026/27, three additional closure days have also been specified: 25th September 2026, 25th January 2027 and 4th May 2027.
School holidays = busier airports.
When most families travel at the same time, airlines and airports are under pressure.
Explore our family travel insurance to find a policy that suits you.
Understanding the school holiday calendar is crucial for families planning vacations, as traveling during school breaks ensures children don’t miss any critical school days. Additionally, booking travel around school holidays helps avoid potential fines for taking children out of school during term time.
In England, holidays during term time are generally not considered an exceptional circumstance. You can be fined or face legal action for taking your child on holiday during term time without permission.
You can also explore our family travel insurance for peace of mind and take a look at some helpful family travel advice to help make your holiday planning even easier.
Many schools do add inset days to the start and end of school breaks so do check your schools website, you might be able to snag a bargain. You can also check the official UK Government website for the most accurate dates.
Remember that some schools, including academies and free schools, can set their own term dates, so always check directly with your child’s school before booking your holiday.
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The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office has up-to-date advice on staying safe abroad, see gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice. FCDO Travel Advice can change so check regularly for the latest information and sign up to email alerts for your destination. For more general travel information, visit the FCDO Travel Aware website at travelaware.campaign.gov.uk.
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