IT'S always good to know when they bank holidays are so you can plan ahead.

To help your diary fill up with long weekends away we have pulled together all of 2019's bank holidays in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

When are the bank holiday dates for 2019?

Across the UK there are 14 days up for grabs as holidays, these are:

• Nationwide, New Year's Day, January 1 – a Tuesday
• Scotland, New Year's Holiday, January 2 – a Wednesday
• Northern Ireland, St Patrick's Day, March 18 – a Monday
• Northern Ireland, Substitute day for St Patrick's Day, March 19 – a Monday
• Nationwide, Good Friday, April 19 – a Friday
• England, Wales, Northern Ireland, Easter Monday, April 22 – a Monday
• Nationwide, May Day, May 6 – a Monday
• Nationwide, Spring Bank Holiday, May 27 – a Monday
• Northern Ireland, Battle of the Boyne, July 12 – a Friday
• Scotland, August Bank Holiday, August 6 – a Monday
• England, Wales, Northern Ireland, August Bank Holiday, August 26 – a Monday
• Scotland, St Andrew's Day, December 2 – a Friday
• Nationwide, Christmas Day, December 25 – a Wednesday
• Nationwide, Boxing Day, December 26 – a Thursday

What is a bank holiday?

A bank holiday is a public holiday in the UK when most people are given an extra day off work.

They were given the name bank holidays as banks are closed – and if they can't do business, no-one else can.

Similarly, schools are shut on bank holidays, and transport services are often scaled back.

Booking certain days off work can help your holiday allowance stretch further.

Why do Scotland and Northern Ireland have some different bank holidays to the rest of the UK?

Unlike the rest of the United Kingdom, most bank holidays are not recognised as statutory public holidays in Scotland.

This is because most public holidays are determined by local authorities across Scotland.

Scotland and Northern Ireland also celebrate their patron saints with a day off – England and Wales do not.

Northern Ireland also celebrates the Battle of the Boyne – a battle in 1690 between the forces of the deposed King James II of England, and those of Dutch Prince William of Orange.

This turned the tide in James's failed attempt to regain the British crown and ultimately aided in ensuring the continued Protestant ascendancy in Ireland.

What are the Christmas dates for 2019?

In 2019, Christmas Day, December 25, is a Wednesday.
Boxing Day, on December 26, is a Thursday.

Christmas Eve, which is on the Monday before Christmas Day, is not a public holiday in England, Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland.

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