Summer Bank Holiday in United Kingdom
Quick Facts
The summer bank holiday is on the first Monday of August in Scotland and the last Monday of August in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.Name
Summer Bank HolidaySummer Bank Holiday 2009
Monday, August 3, 2009Monday, August 31, 2009
Summer Bank Holiday 2010
Monday, August 2, 2010Monday, August 30, 2010
See list of observations below
In England, Wales and Northern Ireland, the summer bank holiday is on the last Monday of August. In Scotland it is on the first Monday of August. This day marks the end of the summer holidays for many people who return to work or school in the autumn.
The Notting Hill Carnival is a multicultural celebration in London. ©iStockphoto.com/Aleksandra Kurcman
What do people do?
For many people, the summer bank holiday marks the end of the summer. Some people take trips or short vacations during the three day weekend. For others, it is another opportunity to work in their gardens or carry out home improvements.
In London the Notting Hill Carnival is held. This street festival is best known for its exuberant costumes, dancing and music played by steel drum bands. The festival has been held every year since 1965 and was originally organized by immigrants from the Caribbean, particularly Trinidad, to the United Kingdom. It started as a protest against the racism, poor working and housing conditions that they suffered.
Today, the Notting Hill Carnival is a multicultural celebration, attracting over two million people. It is thought to be the second largest street carnival in the world. In the past, a considerable amount of public disorder occurred round the event, but it has been calmer in recent years.
Public life
On the summer bank holiday, many organizations, businesses and schools are closed. Stores may be open or closed, according to local custom. There is more local variation in Scotland, where local conditions, rather than national laws, dictate whether organizations and businesses close for the day. Public transport systems often run to a holiday timetable. As this three-day weekend marks the end of the summer holiday period, there can be a lot of congestion on roads and public transport systems.Background
The summer bank holiday was introduced in the Bank Holidays Act 1871 and first observed in that year. It was originally intended to give bank employees the opportunity to participate and attend cricket matches. Exactly one hundred years later, the Banking and Financial Dealings Act 1971 moved this bank holiday to the last Monday in August for England, Wales and Northern Ireland. This followed a trial period from 1965 to 1970 of the new date. In Scotland, it remained on the first Monday in August.Summer Bank Holiday Observances
| Weekday | Date | Year | Name | Holiday type | Where it is observed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mon | Aug 4 | 1980 | Summer Bank Holiday | Local holiday | SCT |
| Mon | Aug 25 | 1980 | Summer Bank Holiday | Common Local holidays | ENG, NIR, WAL |
| Mon | Aug 3 | 1981 | Summer Bank Holiday | Local holiday | SCT |
| Mon | Aug 31 | 1981 | Summer Bank Holiday | Common Local holidays | ENG, NIR, WAL |
| Mon | Aug 2 | 1982 | Summer Bank Holiday | Local holiday | SCT |
| Mon | Aug 30 | 1982 | Summer Bank Holiday | Common Local holidays | ENG, NIR, WAL |
| Mon | Aug 1 | 1983 | Summer Bank Holiday | Local holiday | SCT |
| Mon | Aug 29 | 1983 | Summer Bank Holiday | Common Local holidays | ENG, NIR, WAL |
| Mon | Aug 6 | 1984 | Summer Bank Holiday | Local holiday | SCT |
| Mon | Aug 27 | 1984 | Summer Bank Holiday | Common Local holidays | ENG, NIR, WAL |
| Mon | Aug 5 | 1985 | Summer Bank Holiday | Local holiday | SCT |
| Mon | Aug 26 | 1985 | Summer Bank Holiday | Common Local holidays | ENG, NIR, WAL |
| Mon | Aug 4 | 1986 | Summer Bank Holiday | Local holiday | SCT |
| Mon | Aug 25 | 1986 | Summer Bank Holiday | Common Local holidays | ENG, NIR, WAL |
| Mon | Aug 3 | 1987 | Summer Bank Holiday | Local holiday | SCT |
| Mon | Aug 31 | 1987 | Summer Bank Holiday | Common Local holidays | ENG, NIR, WAL |
| Mon | Aug 1 | 1988 | Summer Bank Holiday | Local holiday | SCT |
| Mon | Aug 29 | 1988 | Summer Bank Holiday | Common Local holidays | ENG, NIR, WAL |
| Mon | Aug 7 | 1989 | Summer Bank Holiday | Local holiday | SCT |
| Mon | Aug 28 | 1989 | Summer Bank Holiday | Common Local holidays | ENG, NIR, WAL |
| Mon | Aug 6 | 1990 | Summer Bank Holiday | Local holiday | SCT |
| Mon | Aug 27 | 1990 | Summer Bank Holiday | Common Local holidays | ENG, NIR, WAL |
| Mon | Aug 5 | 1991 | Summer Bank Holiday | Local holiday | SCT |
| Mon | Aug 26 | 1991 | Summer Bank Holiday | Common Local holidays | ENG, NIR, WAL |
| Mon | Aug 3 | 1992 | Summer Bank Holiday | Local holiday | SCT |
| Mon | Aug 31 | 1992 | Summer Bank Holiday | Common Local holidays | ENG, NIR, WAL |
| Mon | Aug 2 | 1993 | Summer Bank Holiday | Local holiday | SCT |
| Mon | Aug 30 | 1993 | Summer Bank Holiday | Common Local holidays | ENG, NIR, WAL |
| Mon | Aug 1 | 1994 | Summer Bank Holiday | Local holiday | SCT |
| Mon | Aug 29 | 1994 | Summer Bank Holiday | Common Local holidays | ENG, NIR, WAL |
| Mon | Aug 7 | 1995 | Summer Bank Holiday | Local holiday | SCT |
| Mon | Aug 28 | 1995 | Summer Bank Holiday | Common Local holidays | ENG, NIR, WAL |
| Mon | Aug 5 | 1996 | Summer Bank Holiday | Local holiday | SCT |
| Mon | Aug 26 | 1996 | Summer Bank Holiday | Common Local holidays | ENG, NIR, WAL |
| Mon | Aug 4 | 1997 | Summer Bank Holiday | Local holiday | SCT |
| Mon | Aug 25 | 1997 | Summer Bank Holiday | Common Local holidays | ENG, NIR, WAL |
| Mon | Aug 3 | 1998 | Summer Bank Holiday | Local holiday | SCT |
| Mon | Aug 31 | 1998 | Summer Bank Holiday | Common Local holidays | ENG, NIR, WAL |
| Mon | Aug 2 | 1999 | Summer Bank Holiday | Local holiday | SCT |
| Mon | Aug 30 | 1999 | Summer Bank Holiday | Common Local holidays | ENG, NIR, WAL |
| Mon | Aug 7 | 2000 | Summer Bank Holiday | Local holiday | SCT |
| Mon | Aug 28 | 2000 | Summer Bank Holiday | Common Local holidays | ENG, NIR, WAL |
| Mon | Aug 6 | 2001 | Summer Bank Holiday | Local holiday | SCT |
| Mon | Aug 27 | 2001 | Summer Bank Holiday | Common Local holidays | ENG, NIR, WAL |
| Mon | Aug 5 | 2002 | Summer Bank Holiday | Local holiday | SCT |
| Mon | Aug 26 | 2002 | Summer Bank Holiday | Common Local holidays | ENG, NIR, WAL |
| Mon | Aug 4 | 2003 | Summer Bank Holiday | Local holiday | SCT |
| Mon | Aug 25 | 2003 | Summer Bank Holiday | Common Local holidays | ENG, NIR, WAL |
| Mon | Aug 2 | 2004 | Summer Bank Holiday | Local holiday | SCT |
| Mon | Aug 30 | 2004 | Summer Bank Holiday | Common Local holidays | ENG, NIR, WAL |
| Mon | Aug 1 | 2005 | Summer Bank Holiday | Local holiday | SCT |
| Mon | Aug 29 | 2005 | Summer Bank Holiday | Common Local holidays | ENG, NIR, WAL |
| Mon | Aug 7 | 2006 | Summer Bank Holiday | Local holiday | SCT |
| Mon | Aug 28 | 2006 | Summer Bank Holiday | Common Local holidays | ENG, NIR, WAL |
| Mon | Aug 6 | 2007 | Summer Bank Holiday | Local holiday | SCT |
| Mon | Aug 27 | 2007 | Summer Bank Holiday | Common Local holidays | ENG, NIR, WAL |
| Mon | Aug 4 | 2008 | Summer Bank Holiday | Local holiday | SCT |
| Mon | Aug 25 | 2008 | Summer Bank Holiday | Common Local holidays | ENG, NIR, WAL |
| Mon | Aug 3 | 2009 | Summer Bank Holiday | Local holiday | SCT |
| Mon | Aug 31 | 2009 | Summer Bank Holiday | Common Local holidays | ENG, NIR, WAL |
| Mon | Aug 2 | 2010 | Summer Bank Holiday | Local holiday | SCT |
| Mon | Aug 30 | 2010 | Summer Bank Holiday | Common Local holidays | ENG, NIR, WAL |
| Mon | Aug 1 | 2011 | Summer Bank Holiday | Local holiday | SCT |
| Mon | Aug 29 | 2011 | Summer Bank Holiday | Common Local holidays | ENG, NIR, WAL |
| Mon | Aug 6 | 2012 | Summer Bank Holiday | Local holiday | SCT |
| Mon | Aug 27 | 2012 | Summer Bank Holiday | Common Local holidays | ENG, NIR, WAL |
| Mon | Aug 5 | 2013 | Summer Bank Holiday | Local holiday | SCT |
| Mon | Aug 26 | 2013 | Summer Bank Holiday | Common Local holidays | ENG, NIR, WAL |
| Mon | Aug 4 | 2014 | Summer Bank Holiday | Local holiday | SCT |
| Mon | Aug 25 | 2014 | Summer Bank Holiday | Common Local holidays | ENG, NIR, WAL |
| Mon | Aug 3 | 2015 | Summer Bank Holiday | Local holiday | SCT |
| Mon | Aug 31 | 2015 | Summer Bank Holiday | Common Local holidays | ENG, NIR, WAL |
Related holidays
- Early May Bank Holiday–Monday, May 4, 2009
- Spring Bank Holiday–Monday, May 25, 2009
Other holidays in August 2009 in United Kingdom
- Ramadan begins (Saturday, August 22, 2009)
Other calendars
- Perpetual yearly calendar - make yearly calendar for any year
- Perpetual monthly calendar - shows only one month at a time
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