✈️ How UK Parents Can Turn 25 Days of Annual Leave Into 52 Days Off in 2025–2026

Planning family holidays around school breaks can be overwhelming — especially with limited leave. But here’s the good news: with a bit of smart planning, you can turn just 25 days of annual leave into 52 days off with your kids during the 2025–2026 academic year!

This blog breaks down:

• 📆 UK school holiday dates

• 🏖️ Bank holidays you can align with

• ✅ The exact days to book for max time off

• 📌 FREE Canva templates to help you plan it all visually

Let’s dive in…

🧭 The Strategy: How It Works

By pairing your leave days with school breaks and UK bank holidays, you can stretch your time off across every major school holiday, including:

• October Half-Term 🍂

• Christmas 🎄

• February Half-Term ❄️

• Easter 🐣

• May Half-Term 🌸

• Summer ☀️

The trick is knowing which dates to book and when to take leave — without using all your allowance at once.

🇬🇧 UK Bank Holidays (Sept 2025 – Aug 2026, England)

• Monday 25 August 2025 – Summer Bank Holiday

• Thursday 25 December 2025 – Christmas Day

• Friday 26 December 2025 – Boxing Day (substitute)

• Thursday 1 January 2026 – New Year’s Day

• Friday 3 April 2026 – Good Friday

• Monday 6 April 2026 – Easter Monday

• Monday 4 May 2026 – Early May Bank Holiday

• Monday 25 May 2026 – Spring Bank Holiday

• Monday 31 August 2026 – Summer Bank Holiday

Note: Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland may differ slightly.

🏫 England School Holidays (2025–2026 Academic Year – Approximate)

These dates can vary slightly by local authority or school, so check with your child’s school directly.

• Autumn Half-Term: Monday 27 October – Friday 31 October 2025

• Christmas Break: Monday 22 December 2025 – Friday 2 January 2026

• Spring Half-Term: Monday 16 February – Friday 20 February 2026

• Easter Holidays: Monday 30 March – Friday 10 April 2026

• May Half-Term: Monday 25 May – Friday 29 May 2026

• Summer Holidays: Start around Monday 20 July 2026 and run into early September

📅 Exact Leave Days to Book (Using Just 25 Days)

🍂 October Half Term (9 Days Off Using 5 Days Leave)

• Take off: 20–24 October 2025 (5 days)

• Total break: Saturday 18 – Sunday 26 October

✅ 5 days leave = 9 days off

🎄 Christmas Holidays (12 Days Off Using 3 Days Leave)

• Take off: 29–31 December 2025 (3 days)

• Bank holidays: 25 & 26 Dec, 1 Jan

• Total break: Wednesday 24 Dec – Sunday 4 Jan

✅ 3 days leave = 12 days off

❄️ February Half Term (9 Days Off Using 5 Days Leave)

• Take off: 16–20 February 2026 (5 days)

• Total break: Saturday 14 – Sunday 22 February

✅ 5 days leave = 9 days off

🌸 Easter Holidays (10 Days Off Using 4 Days Leave)

• Bank Holidays: Good Friday (3 April), Easter Monday (6 April)

• Take off: 7–10 April 2026 (4 days)

• Total break: Friday 3 – Sunday 12 April

✅ 4 days leave = 10 days off

🌼 May Half Term (9 Days Off Using 4 Days Leave)

• Bank Holiday: Monday 25 May

• Take off: 26–29 May 2026 (4 days)

• Total break: Saturday 23 – Sunday 31 May

✅ 4 days leave = 9 days off

☀️ Summer Holidays (12 Days Off Using 4 Days Leave)

• Bank Holiday: Monday 31 August 2026

• Take off: 24-28 August 2025 (5 days)

• Total break: Saturday 23 – Sunday 31 August

✅ 5 days leave = 10 days off

🧮 Annual Leave Used: 25 Days Total

• October: 5 days

• Christmas: 3 days

• February: 5 days

• Easter: 4 days

• May: 4 days

• Summer: 5 days

  
  

  ✔ Total: 25 days + 1 unpaid leave

🎉 52 days off when combining weekends and bank holidays!

📊 Summary

• Annual leave used: 25 days

• Time off achieved: 52 days

• Every school holiday covered? ✅ Yes!

🎨 Free Canva Templates to Help You Plan & Share

Want a visual version of this strategy you can print, post, or share with other parents?

I’ve created a set of FREE Canva templates:

• Customisable family leave planners

• Social media carousels

• Calendar-style visuals

👉 Click here to access the Canva template folder

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🧡 Final Tips for Parents

• 📌 Always check your school’s term dates & INSET days before booking

• 🛫 Book travel early for cheaper flights & better availability

• 🔁 Share this strategy with a fellow parent!

📩 Got questions or feedback? DM me on Instagram: @theschoolholidaytravellers

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💬 Save this blog, plan your year, and turn every school break into a memory. You’ve got this! 💼✈️👨‍👩‍👧‍👦