UK School Holidays 2027: Full Term Dates & Calendar

Planning around UK school holidays 2027 means juggling 3 main terms, 6 half-term breaks, and roughly 195 school days. Whether you’re counting down to the summer holidays or squeezing in a festive break before Christmas Day, the school holidays in the UK follow a predictable rhythm—but with regional twists.

Here’s your clear, parent-approved roadmap.

Overview of the 2027 Academic Year in the UK

The academic year in 2027 runs from late August/early September 2026 through July 2027, depending on your local council. Yes, that’s slightly confusing—but don’t worry.

In England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, the school calendar typically includes:

• autumn term (September to December)
• spring term (January to March/April)
• summer term (April to July)

Scotland marches to its own drum, with earlier summer breaks and different term dates.

What stays constant? in-service days (teacher training), bank holidays, and the glorious chaos of half-term.

UK School Holidays 2027: Term Dates and Half Term

Here are the UK school holidays 2027 term dates. But remember: local council term dates in 2027 can shift by a few days. Always double-check with your council or the gov.uk term dates page.

Term	Approximate Start	Half-Term	End
Autumn	1 Sept 2027	25–29 Oct 2027	17 Dec 2027
Spring	4 Jan 2028	12–16 Feb 2028	24 Mar 2028
Summer	10 Apr 2028	27–31 May 2028	21 Jul 2028

Autumn Term 2027

The autumn term usually starts in the first week of September. Most schools begin on Wednesday, 1st, or Thursday, 2nd, September 2027. Why midweek? It eases kids (and parents) back into routine.

Half-term hits in late October—typically Monday the 25th to Friday the 29th. Then it’s a sprint to Christmas Day and Boxing Day, with the term ending around 17th December.

Spring Term 2027

After New Year’s Day, the spring term kicks off around 4th January 2028. Yes, 2028. The term feels long, but February’s half-term (12th–16th) provides a breather.

Easter Holidays (the Easter break) begin late March, often overlapping with Good Friday (26th March) and Easter Monday (29th March). That gives families nearly two weeks off.

Summer Term 2027

Wait—summer term 2027? Actually, the summer term in the 2027 academic year starts after Easter 2028. But the school summer holidays of 2027 you’re searching for? Those happen in July–August 2027, before the autumn term.

Confusing? Here’s the fix:

• Summer Holidays 2027 = July–August 2027 (end of the 2026/27 academic year)
• Summer term dates in the 2027/28 academic year = April–July 2028

To keep things simple, most parents want the School Summer Holidays 2027 dates. Those run from mid-July to early September 2027.

UK School Holidays 2027 Dates by Region

This is where school holidays in the UK get messy. Let’s break it down cleanly.

England School Holidays 2027

England follows a similar pattern across counties, but local council term dates in 2027 vary. For example:

• Summer 2027: approx. 23rd July – 3rd September
• Autumn half-term: mostly 25th–29th October
• Christmas break: 20th December – 3rd January 2028

Check your council’s website. Honestly, do it.

Check more: England School Holidays

Scotland School Holidays 2027

Scotland runs differently. Scotland school holidays 2027 often start summer earlier (late June) and return mid-August.

• Summer 2027: 25th June – 16th August
• Autumn break: 11th–15th October
• Christmas: 22nd December – 5th January 2028

Scottish councils also stagger February and October breaks. Don’t assume English dates work for you.

Wales School Holidays 2027

Wales largely mirrors England, but Wales school holidays 2027 sometimes add extra days for St. David’s Day (1st March) if it falls on a weekday.

• Spring half-term often includes a long weekend.

Northern Ireland School Holidays 2027

Northern Ireland school holidays in 2027 have a unique quirk: a longer summer break? Not really. But they do enjoy:

• Halloween break (late October) – a full week
• St. Patrick’s Day (17th March) – always off

Summer runs roughly late June to early September.

Major School Breaks in 2027

Easter Holidays 2027 (Easter Break)

Easter Holidays in 2027 run from late March to mid-April. Good Friday is 26th March, Easter Monday 29th March. Most schools close for two weeks: Monday 22nd March – Friday 2nd April.

Yes, that means Easter Sunday (28th March) lands right in the middle of the Easter break—perfect for egg hunts.

Summer Holidays 2027 (School Summer Holidays 2027)

School summer holidays 2027 typically begin between 19th–26th July and end between 31st August–7th September. That’s roughly six weeks.

But Scotland? They finish in late June. Northern Ireland? Sometimes early July.

Pro tip: Book summer childcare or holidays before February 2027. Prices double after half-term.

Festive Break 2027 (Christmas & New Year)

The festive break covers Christmas Day (25th Dec), Boxing Day (26th Dec), and New Year’s Day (1st Jan). Schools close from around 20th December 2027 until 4th January 2028.

If Christmas Day falls on a weekend (it doesn’t in 2027 – it’s a Saturday), the public holidays shift. But in 2027, Christmas is Saturday, so Monday 27th and Tuesday 28th become substitute bank holidays. Yes, that’s a thing.

Half-Term Dates 2027

In the 2027 academic year, half-term breaks are:

• Autumn half-term: 25–29 October 2027
• Spring half-term: 12–16 February 2028 (yes, 2028)
• Summer half-term: 27–31 May 2028

But wait—you wanted 2027 only? Then focus on October 2027. The other two half-terms cross into 2028 because the academic year spans two calendar years.

INSET Days & In-Service Days 2027

INSET days (in-service days) are teacher training days. Schools get 5 per year. They vary wildly by council. Common INSET days in 2027 include:

• Monday 30th August (before autumn term)
• Friday 17th December (after term ends)
• Monday 3rd January 2028 (spring start)

Here’s the catch: schools don’t publish all five until late 2026. Book holidays after checking your school’s calendar. Or email the admin. They won’t mind.

UK Bank Holidays & Public Holidays 2027

Date	Holiday
1 Jan	New Year’s Day
2 Jan	New Year’s (Scotland only)
26 Mar	Good Friday
29 Mar	Easter Monday
3 May	Early May bank holiday
31 May	Spring bank holiday
30 Aug	Summer bank holiday
25 Dec	Christmas Day
26 Dec	Boxing Day
27–28 Dec	Substitute bank holidays (for Christmas weekend)

Early May bank holiday and spring bank holiday often fall during term time. So no extra day off for kids—sorry.

Family Planning During UK School Holidays 2027

Parents planning for 2027 should:

1. Download your council’s term dates now
2. Add INSET days to your phone’s calendar
3. Book summer holiday childcare by March 2027
4. Check school days vs. public holidays – they rarely align

A quick tip: kids’ activities fill up fast during half-term. Museums, soft play, and family places like farms often sell out 3 weeks in advance.

Best Places to Visit During UK School Holidays 2027

You want family places that don’t break the bank. Try:

• UK beaches (Wales & South West) – cheaper than theme parks
• National Trust sites – free for kids in 2027? Check their spring offer
• Local farms – Easter break is peak lambing season
• Scotland’s Loch Lomond – half-term under £50/day for a family

Avoid August 15th–31st. Every family in England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland seems to swarm the same five spots.

Explore More Holidays:

• UK School Holidays
• Wales School Holidays
• Scotland School Holidays
• Northern Ireland School Holidays
• PKC School Holidays
• Staffordshire School Holidays
• Fife School Holidays

The UK School Holidays 2027 calendar isn’t just about dates—it’s about sanity. Bookmark your council’s term dates, add INSET days to your phone, and always—always—double-check before booking that festive break flight.

Useful Resources

• Government UK: For the official UK school holidays 2027 dates.
• UK Bank Holidays 2027 – official gov page

FAQs