UK School Holidays 2022 | Half Term Dates / Holidays (2024)


Start planning the perfect trip away during the school holidays

We know it can be hard to plan the ultimate family holiday, especially with so much to think about! Below we've put together some information on UK school holidays so you can start to build you perfect family getaway; you worry about the "where" and we'll help you with the "when".

If you're looking to put together a UK short break or you're looking fly abroad and want to save some pennies on your aiport extras then you're in the right place!

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The below dates are guidelines which may vary from school to school.

School Holidays EnglandSchool Holidays ScotlandSchool Holidays Wales
School Holidays Northern IrelandHalf Term DatesHotels, Parking, and Lounges
FAQMore Info
UK School Holidays 2022 | Half Term Dates / Holidays (1)

School Holidays 2022 UK - England


See our table below for the full range of UK school holidays.

Holiday
Start Date
End Date
Spring Holidays 2022
21/02/22
25/02/22
Easter Holidays 2022
11/04/22
22/04/22
Summer Holidays 2022
25/07/22
02/09/22 (31/08/22 in Hampshire)
Autumn Holidays 2022
24/10/22
28/10/22
Christmas Holidays 2022
19/12/22
02/01/23

2022 School Holidays UK - Scotland


School term dates vary hugely between districts and local councils. We have displayed the entire date range of all Scottish school holidays below, though it is very likely your child's school will not be broken up for the entire date range. Ensure you check with your school for your local holiday dates.

Holiday
Start Date
End Date
Spring Holidays 2022
21/02/22
25/02/22
Easter Holidays 2022
11/04/22
22/04/22
Summer Holidays 2022
25/07/22
02/09/22
Autumn Holidays 2022
24/10/22
28/10/22
Christmas Holidays 2022
19/12/22
02/01/23

UK School Holidays 2022 - Wales


Want to know the dates for school holidays in Wales? We've gathered information about the date ranges of all holidays across Welsh schools, so have a look below.

Holiday
Start Date
End Date
Spring Holidays 2022
21/02/22
25/02/22
Easter Holidays 2022
11/04/22
22/04/22
Summer Holidays 2022
25/07/22
02/09/22 (31/08/22 in Hampshire)
Autumn Holidays 2022
24/10/22
28/10/22
Christmas Holidays 2022
19/12/22
02/01/23

School Holidays 2022 - Northern Ireland


Have a look below for the whole range of school term dates in Northern Ireland. Make sure you check with your school for specific dates before you book.

Holiday
Start Date
End Date
Spring Holidays 2022
21/02/22
25/02/22
Easter Holidays 2022
11/04/22
22/04/22
Summer Holidays 2022
25/07/22
02/09/22 (31/08/22 in Hampshire)
Autumn Holidays 2022
24/10/22
28/10/22
Christmas Holidays 2022
19/12/22
02/01/23

School Half Term Dates


See the table below for a full breakdown of the UK school half terms. This table shows only half term dates and doesn't include summer holidays, end of year or Christmas holidays.

Half Term Dates 2022
England
Scotland
Wales
Northern Ireland
May Half Term 2022
30/05/22 - 03/06/22
31/05/22 - 03/06/22
31/05/22 - 03/06/22
31/05/22 - 03/06/22
October Half Term 2022
24/10/22 - 28/10/22
24/10/22 - 28/10/22
24/10/22 - 28/10/22
24/10/22 - 28/10/22

Dates shown are the full range of possible school half term dates, and exact dates vary. Please only use this only as a guideline and check with your child's school for the exact date before you make a booking.

Get a whole lot more holiday with Holiday Extras!


UK School Holidays 2022 | Half Term Dates / Holidays (2)

As you may already have realised, booking a holiday during school breaks is one of the more expensive times of the year to do so, thankfully we've got your back! With Holiday Extras you can browse amazing airport related deals from parking to hotels and lounges and with our Holiday Extras app you can have all these amazing deals at your fingertips!

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Holiday Extras UK Breaks


Planning a family getaway for 2022? Holiday Extras has a wealth of exciting Short Breaks packages available in the UK. We have thrilling Theme Park Breaks, including The LEGOLAND® Windsor Resort where your children's imaginations can run wild as they enjoy fantastic rides, live shows, 4D movie experiences and more. Or you could book one of our Theatre Breaks packages where the whole family can enjoy a top London show. Perfect for a show-stopping staycation with family friendly entertainment, including the much-loved Back to the Future and The Lion King.

Speaking of London, at Holiday Extras we have a number of city breaks packages available for you and the family including memorable London City Breaks. Transport yourself and the children on a Nimbus 2000 to the wizarding wonderland that is Warner Bros. Studio Tour London - The Making of Harry Potter with Hotel Stay & Breakfast, or enjoy The View from The Shard London with Hotel Stay at one of three luxurious London hotels, or a London Thames River Cruise with Afternoon Tea & Hotel Stay.

We're working with the Leisure Pass Group to bring you amazing deals on London attractions with a hotel stay. The London Explorer Pass is a great way to find packages for over 60 attractions including famous London landmarks that you've always wanted to see.

Thanks to our partners at TravelZoo we can give you great offers on a variety of London experiences. Grab a high-speed ride on a speedboat along the Thames, enjoy some fine dining in Michelin star restaurants or test yourself in a themed escape room. There are bungee jumps from the O2, various museum visits or just some relaxing afternoon bubbly to make your day out in London a memorable one.

UK Short Breaks

UK School Holidays 2022 FAQ's


We've gathered together some of the most popular questions around half-terms and school holidays to help you along as you begin to plan your epic family getaway.


When are UK School Holidays?

There are multiple school holidays in the UK, with the date ranges varying across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. The summer holidays are typically the longest school holidays, and often the most popular time for families looking for a taste of adventure. There are also holidays around Christmas and Easter, as well as several half-terms.


When is School Half Term?

There are several half term breaks for schools in Wales, England and Scotland, with half terms typically found in February, May and October. Half terms tend to fall in the middle of a school term. Northern Ireland doesn't have typical half terms, but has several shorter breaks throughout the year, such as Mid Term and a couple of days for Halloween.


How Long is a Half Term?

Half terms are typically a week in length, end of term holidays typically two weeks, with an extended break for the summer.


How Long are UK School Summer Holidays?

Summer holidays in the UK typically last for around 6 weeks, though this can differ from school to school, and district to district. Make sure you check with your child's school for the exact dates.


How Long is a School Term?

School terms are normally between 10-13 weeks, depending on your location and school. There is normally a week's break in the middle of term.

More Important Information


  • Want to find out when the UK bank holidays are? Have a look at our Bank Holidays page.

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Flights

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UK School Holidays 2023

Information for the 2023 UK school holidays can be found here.

UK School Holidays 2021

If you needed to know anything about the UK school holidays for 2021, check out this page.

UK School Holidays 2022 | Half Term Dates / Holidays (2024)

FAQs

UK School Holidays 2022 | Half Term Dates / Holidays? ›

Schools in England and Wales usually have two-week holidays for Christmas and Easter, a break of around six weeks for summer, and week-long breaks halfway through each of the three terms.

How do British school holidays work? ›

Schools in England and Wales usually have two-week holidays for Christmas and Easter, a break of around six weeks for summer, and week-long breaks halfway through each of the three terms.

How are school holidays different in the US and UK? ›

Speaking of those smaller breaks, the UK provides a half-term week off in the middle of each term during the school year. Half-term breaks typically fall in October, February and April. By comparison, the US typically gives a few days off for Thanksgiving and a week off in March or April for Spring Break.

How many holidays are in a school year UK? ›

Schools have around 13 weeks of holiday each year, but this does vary by area and individual schools so please check the above or contact your school for the most accurate and up-to-date school calendars for your kids.

What date do UK schools break up for summer holidays? ›

Most schools in England and Wales will finish around Friday 21 July. Summer is fast approaching and with it the promise of warm, sunny days, long, light evenings and for those of school age at least six weeks off school.

Why do UK schools have 6 weeks off? ›

One popular idea is that school children have a long summer holiday (six weeks for most pupils in the UK) so that they could help work in the fields over the summer.

Why are school holidays different in the UK? ›

The number of school holidays is consistent within the UK but the start date may vary accordingly to the Local Education Authorities, i.e. the local administrative authorities. Just to remind you, there are 150 different Local Authorities in the U.K. In London alone, these dates may be different between Boroughs.

Is UK or US school harder? ›

Pace. In the case of the British curriculum, it can be found that in primary/secondary school, the level of learning in the U.K. school system was considerably higher. This is because the students have in-depth knowledge of each topic taught in each stage.

How is the school year in the UK compared to the US? ›

In the UK schools go for approximately 6 – 8 weeks and then have a week off, a slightly longer break in December and spring and a shorter summer break than their US counterparts. The number of actual school days is approximately the same, just a difference in how the breaks are distributed throughout the year.

Who has more national holidays UK or US? ›

List of countries by number of public holidays
CountryNumber of public holidays
Turkey14
Ukraine11
United Kingdom8–10 depending on nation
United States11
77 more rows

How long is summer break UK? ›

Children attending state schools in England and Wales typically take a six-week summer holiday before starting school again at the beginning of September. Scotland has an early summer break, so students return around the middle of August. The date is anticipated to fall on or around Wednesday, August 16, this year.

Do all schools in the UK have the same holidays? ›

School term and holiday dates vary across the UK.

How many holidays do international students get in the UK? ›

Instead of 12 weeks, university students have approximately 20 weeks of holiday across the year. During university terms, the work is a lot more compacted, so students can have a longer holiday.

Why do UK schools end in July? ›

Why do English state school summer holidays start in late July, thereby ensuring that children miss the longest days and the best chance of good weather? The original purpose of long school holidays was to release children to help with the harvest.

What is summer break called in England? ›

1. England
DatesSchool Holidays
May 29 – Jun 2, 2023Summer Break (half term)
Jul 24 – Aug 31, 2023Summer Holiday
Oct 23 – 27, 2023Autumn Holiday
Dec 18, 2023 – Jan 1, 2024Christmas Holiday
4 more rows

Do British schools have winter break? ›

School holidays in England, United Kingdom include summer, autumn, winter, and spring holidays (easter). Winter holidays are fairly shorter compared to autumn and summer holidays which can last up to 3 weeks.

Do British kids get a week off school? ›

The English academic year runs from September to July. Schools are open for 195 days each school year. English schools have six terms (semesters), separated by holidays (vacations). We also have a one week holiday at the end of every odd numbered term.

Do British schools have summer break? ›

Children attending state schools in England and Wales typically take a six-week summer holiday before starting school again at the beginning of September. Scotland has an early summer break, so students return around the middle of August.

Why do UK private schools have longer holidays? ›

Longer student holidays off at private school helps all day & boarding school pupils with traveling back to they're homes in UK and abroad. Also, provides students time away from academic study and allows an extended time with family & friends at home. Christmas/New year school students 4 weeks off.

References

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