Bank Holiday Break in Edinburgh
Why choose Edinburgh for your Bank Holiday Break?
Visit Edinburgh during your next Bank Holiday and be part of the hive of activity. Discover Edinburgh’s surprising activities, events and attractions. Edinburgh really captures the best of what a city has to offer.
The Scottish capital has come a long way from the days of "Auld Reekie", as it was affectionately known, to be one of the world's most influential cities. Split between Old Town, New Town and the port of Leith, Edinburgh is well worth a visit.
Public holiday in Edinburgh and Scottish Bank Holidays
There are nine statutory bank holidays in Scotland set by the Scottish Government. There are also other public holidays in Edinburgh which are determined by local authorities, based on local tradition.
- New Year's Day - The 1st day of the new year is a public holiday.
- 2nd January Bank Holiday - The 2nd Scottish Bank Holiday in January.
- Good Friday - Good Friday is part of Easter, a Christian holiday, marking the death of Jesus Christ on the cross.
- Easter Monday -Easter Monday is a local public holiday held on the day after the Christian celebration of Easter (Easter Sunday) May Day Bank Holiday The early May Bank Holiday in Scotland falls on the first Monday of May.
- Victoria Day - Victoria Day is a public holiday in Edinburgh. The day harks back to the heyday of the British Empire, with the cause of celebration a British monarch, Queen Victoria. Queen Victoria was born on 20 June 1819 and died on 22 January 1901 after a 63 year reign. The nearest Monday to 24th May was a local trades holiday in many parts of Scotland to celebrate Queen Victoria's birthday and the tradition has continued long after Queen Victoria's reign.
- Summer Bank Holiday
- Queens Diamond Jubilee Bank Holiday
- August Bank Holiday - Scotland only
- End of August Bank Holiday - UK not Scotland
- St. Andrew's Day - St. Andrew's Day is marked on the 30th November every year and commemorates Scotland's patron saint.
- Christmas Day Bank Holiday - A Christmas Day Bank Holiday takes place on the 25th December if it's a weekday. If Christmas Day is on the weekend then the bank holiday usually takes place on the following Monday.
- Boxing Day Bank Holiday - A Boxing Day Bank Holiday takes place on the 26th December the day after Christmas Day.
