England · 2025–26

Christmas holidays 2025–26: when it is, and who differs

For most of England, Christmas holidays 2025–26 runs 22 December 2025 to 2 January 2026. 1 of the 43 councils measured here do something different — and if yours is one of them, that difference is worth money.

The usual dates

MOST COUNCILS
22 Dec 2025
to 2 Jan 2026 — 42 of 43 councils (98%)
COUNCILS THAT DIFFER
1
listed below
COUNCILS MEASURED
43
of England’s 153 — see how this is built

Councils that break at a different time

A council marked off-peak is on holiday in a week when most of England is still in school. That is a legal, penalty-free, off-peak window if you live there.

CouncilStartsEnds
Suffolk County Council20 Dec 20254 Jan 2026off-peak week

Councils using the usual dates

BarnsleyBedfordBexleyBirmingham City CouncilBracknell ForestBromleyBuryCambridgeshire County CouncilCamdenCheshire West and ChesterCoventryDerbyDudleyEalingGloucestershireHaringeyHarrowHertfordshire County CouncilHounslowIslingtonKensington and ChelseaKingston upon Hull, City ofLancashire County CouncilLewishamMedwayNewcastle upon TyneOldhamPlymouthRedbridgeRochdaleRutlandSandwellSheffieldSouth GloucestershireSouthwarkSuttonWalsallWandsworthWarwickshireWest NorthamptonshireWokinghamWolverhampton
Check my own councilWhat a term-time trip costs