Is Today a Business Day in the United Kingdom?
Get an instant answer for any date, with UK bank holidays built in — the next bank holiday, the next working day, and how many business days remain in the month.
Business days and bank holidays
In the UK, a business day is a weekday that is not a bank holiday. "Bank holiday" is the everyday term for a public holiday — the name comes from the days banks were legally required to close, and today most businesses, schools, and government offices close too. People check because a payment might not clear, a delivery slips, or a deadline counted in "working days" needs the holidays taken out.
England and Wales have eight bank holidays a year: New Year's Day, Good Friday, Easter Monday, the early May bank holiday, the spring bank holiday, the summer bank holiday at the end of August, Christmas Day, and Boxing Day. When Christmas or New Year lands on a weekend, a substitute weekday is given instead — this checker follows those substitute days.
England & Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland
The four nations of the UK don't share one list. This page answers on the England & Wales calendar, which covers most of the population. Scotland doesn't observe Easter Monday but adds 2 January, St Andrew's Day, and a summer bank holiday in early August. Northern Ireland adds St Patrick's Day (17 March) and the Battle of the Boyne (12 July). If you're in Scotland or Northern Ireland, expect a few days to differ from what's shown here.
Need a plain weekday count, or another country? Use the Business Day Checker hub, or the Business Days Counter to count working days across a date range.
Frequently asked questions
Is today a bank holiday in the UK?
The checker above answers instantly for today or any date, using the England & Wales bank holiday calendar. If it's a weekday and not a bank holiday, it's a business day.
Which UK bank holidays does this use?
The eight England & Wales bank holidays: New Year's Day, Good Friday, Easter Monday, the early May, spring, and late-August bank holidays, Christmas Day, and Boxing Day, including substitute days when they fall on a weekend.
Are Scotland and Northern Ireland the same?
No. Scotland skips Easter Monday but adds 2 January and St Andrew's Day; Northern Ireland adds St Patrick's Day and the Battle of the Boyne. This tool uses the England & Wales list, so a handful of days differ for those nations.
Do UK banks process payments on bank holidays?
Faster Payments run every day, but many other transfers — BACS, cheque clearing, and some card settlements — only move on working days, so a bank holiday can add a day. That's the usual reason people ask whether today is a business day.
How many working days are in a UK month?
Typically 20 to 23, depending on weekends and any bank holidays. The checker shows the exact number for any month with bank holidays already removed.