UK Bank Holidays and UK Public Holidays

Aztec calendar stone
National Museum of Anthropology, Mexico City

England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales enjoy similar sets of bank holidays every year. Some are celebrated in all four countries, and some are only celebrated in one or more countries.

We all think of bank holidays and public holidays as being the same, and often use the terms interchangeably. However, there is a difference: bank holidays are those holidays when banks and some other businesses are closed, and public holidays are those holidays that have become established through common practice.

Visa requirements for visitors to the UK

Map of the UK
Image by nearby.org.uk

Visitors to the UK who live in the European Economic Area (EEA) and Switzerland have the right of free movement and residence in the UK. Hence they do not need a visa to enter the UK. Members of their family need an EEA family permit.

Visitors from other countries need a visa to visit the UK. Visitors from some countries might need an entry certificate instead of a visa, but it functions in much the same way as a visa. A visitor to the UK is normally allowed to stay for up to 6 months.

Saint George's Day History and Celebrations

Saint George's Flag
Image by James Yardley

Saint George is the patron saint of England. Saint George's Day, is England's official national day, and is celebrated on April 23rd every year.

St. Patrick's Day History and Celebrations

St. Patrick's Day Parade in Houston
Image by Sarah Worthy

St. Patrick's Day, which was originally a Catholic holiday, is now a recognized all over the world as a celebration of Irish Culture.

British Summer Time

National Maritime Museum, Greenwich
Image by Richard Croft

British Summer Time (BST) starts every year in the Spring, and ends every year in the Autumn (or the Fall as our American cousins call it), when the UK reverts to Greenwich Mean Time (GMT).