How to maximise annual leave 2023

For those of us working full time, we have a minimum of 28 paid holiday dates to take each year. But sometimes, that doesn’t feel like enough. Now more than ever, many of us are prioritising family time and rest in a way that we might not have in the past. 

So, we’re going to let you in on a little secret. If you want to boost your annual leave dates, you can book your time off work to coincide with this year’s bank holidays and weekends. That way, you can enjoy longer periods of time off without needing to use up a high percentage of your annual leave allowance.
 

Who can maximise holidays in 2023?

This only applies to people whose employers give them paid time off on bank holidays. While employers must give employees 28 days of paid leave per year (pro rata for part-time employees), it’s at the employer’s discretion whether these days should fall on a bank holiday.

These holiday hacks will also only be effective if you work the traditional Monday - Friday full time, with time off work on weekends.
 

What are the bank holiday dates in 2023?

Bank holiday dates vary in each of the UK’s four nations. Head here to find out bank holiday dates in the UK in 2023.

Because the bank holidays are different depending on where in the UK you live, we’ve detailed how to maximise annual leave in 2023 for England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland below.
 

Maximise your annual leave 2023: Scotland 

Here’s how Scottish residents can maximise holidays in 2023:

January 

If you’re looking for an extended break after Christmas, booking 3 days of annual leave in January would give you 9 days off work. 

Here’s how:

31 December 2022 - Weekend
1 January - Weekend 
2 January - Bank holiday
3 January - Bank holiday
4 January - Annual leave 
5 January - Annual leave 
6 January - Annual leave
7 January - Weekend 
8 January - Weekend


Early April*

Booking 4 days of annual leave in early April would give you 9 days off work. 

Here’s how:

1 April - Weekend
2 April - Weekend 
3 April - Annual leave
4 April - Annual leave 
5 April - Annual leave 
6 April - Annual leave 
7 April - Bank holiday
8 April - Weekend 
9 April - Weekend


April/May 

Booking 4 days of annual leave in early May would give you 10 days off work. 

Here’s how:

29 April - Weekend
30 April - Weekend 
1 May - Bank holiday
2 May - Annual leave 
3 May - Annual leave 
4 May - Annual leave 
5 May - Annual leave 
6 May - Weekend
7 May - Weekend 
8 May - Bank Holiday


May/June*

Booking 4 days of annual leave in late May and early June would give you 9 days off work. 

Here’s how:

27 May - Weekend
28 May - Weekend
29 May - Bank Holiday
30 May - Annual leave
31 May - Annual leave
1 June - Annual leave 
2 June - Annual leave 
3 June - Weekend
4 June - Weekend 


August*

Booking 4 days of annual leave in August would give you 9 days off work.

Here’s how:

5 August - Weekend
6 August - Weekend
7 August - Bank holiday 
8 August - Annual leave
9 August - Annual leave
10 August - Annual leave 
11 August - Annual leave
12 August - Weekend
13 August - Weekend


November

Don’t forget the extra bank holiday in November! it falls on a Thursday in 2023, so it’s not a great option to take annual leave around this time if you want to make the most of your 28 days’ holiday entitlement plus weekends.

30 November - Bank holiday


December

Christmas falls on a Monday in 2023. You could get 10 days of work by booking just 2 days of annual leave:

23 December - Weekend
24 December - Weekend
25 December - Bank holiday
26  December - Bank holiday 
27 December - Annual leave 
28 December - Annual leave 
29 December - Annual leave
30 December - Weekend
31 December - Weekend
_________
1 Jan 2024 - Bank holiday 
2 Jan 2024 - Bank holiday 

*To stay under the 28-day limit, choose 2 of the 3 starred groups to take as annual leave.

 

Maximise your annual leave 2023: England and Wales

Here’s how residents in England and Wales can maximise holidays in 2023:


January* 

If you’re looking for an extended break after Christmas, booking 4 days of annual leave in January would give England and Wales residents 9 days off work. 

Here’s how:

31 December 2022 - Weekend
1 January - Weekend 
2 January - Bank holiday
3 January - Annual leave
4 January - Annual leave 
5 January - Annual leave
6 January - Annual leave 
7 January - Weekend 
8 January - Weekend


Early April

Booking 4 days of annual leave in early would give you 10 days off work. 

Here’s how:

1 April - Weekend
2 April - Weekend 
3 April - Annual leave
4 April - Annual leave 
5 April - Annual leave
6 April - Annual leave
7 April - Bank holiday
8 April - Weekend 
9 April - Weekend
10 April - Bank holiday


April/May

Booking 4 days of annual leave in early May would give you 10 days off work. 

Here’s how:

29 April - Weekend
30 April - Weekend 
1 May - Bank holiday
2 May - Annual leave 
3 May - Annual leave 
4 May - Annual leave 
5 May - Annual leave 
6 May - Weekend
7 May - Weekend 
8 May - Bank Holiday



May/June*

Booking 4 days of annual leave in late May and early June would give you 9 days off work. 

Here’s how:

27 May - Weekend
28 May - Weekend
29 May - Bank Holiday
30 May - Annual leave
31 May - Annual leave
1 June - Annual leave 
2 June - Annual leave 
3 June - Weekend
4 June - Weekend 


August/September*

Booking 4 days of annual leave in late August and early September would give you 9 days off work.

Here’s how:

26 August - Weekend
27 August - Weekend
28 August - Bank holiday 
29 August - Annual leave
30 August - Annual leave
31 August - Annual leave 
1 September - Annual leave
2 September - Weekend
3 September - Weekend



December

Christmas falls on a Monday in 2023. You could get 10 days of work by booking just 3 days of annual leave:

23 December - Weekend
24 December - Weekend
25 December - Bank holiday
26  December - Bank holiday 
27 December - Annual leave 
28 December - Annual leave 
29 December - Annual leave
30 December - Weekend
31 December - Weekend
_________
1 Jan 2024 - Bank holiday

*To stay under the 28-day limit, choose 2 of the 3 starred groups to take as annual leave.

 

Maximise your annual leave 2023: Northern Ireland

Here’s how residents in Northern Ireland can maximise holidays in 2023:

January*

If you’re looking for an extended break after Christmas, booking 4 days of annual leave in January would give Northern Ireland residents 9 days off work. 

Here’s how:

31 December 2022 - Weekend
1 January - Weekend 
2 January - Bank holiday
3 January - Annual leave
4 January - Annual leave 
5 January - Annual leave
6 January - Annual leave 
7 January - Weekend 
8 January - Weekend


OR


March*
Booking 4 days of annual leave in March would give you 9 days off work 

11 March - Weekend
12 March - Weekend
13 March - Annual leave
14 March - Annual leave
15 March - Annual leave
16 March - Annual leave
17 March - Bank holiday
18 March - Weekend 
19 March - Weekend


OR


Early April

Booking 4 days of annual leave in early would give you 10 days off work. 

Here’s how:

1 April - Weekend
2 April - Weekend 
3 April - Annual leave
4 April - Annual leave 
5 April - Annual leave
6 April - Annual leave
7 April - Bank holiday
8 April - Weekend 
9 April - Weekend
10 April - Bank holiday


April/May

Booking 4 days of annual leave in early May would give you 10 days off work. 

Here’s how:

29 April - Weekend
30 April - Weekend 
1 May - Bank holiday
2 May - Annual leave 
3 May - Annual leave 
4 May - Annual leave 
5 May - Annual leave 
6 May - Weekend
7 May - Weekend 
8 May - Bank Holiday


May/June*

Booking 4 days of annual leave in late May and early June would give you 9 days off work. 

Here’s how:

27 May - Weekend
28 May - Weekend
29 May - Bank Holiday
30 May - Annual leave
31 May - Annual leave
1 June - Annual leave 
2 June - Annual leave 
3 June - Weekend
4 June - Weekend 


July*

Booking 4 days of annual leave in late July would give you 9 days off work.

Here’s how:

8 July - Weekend
9 July - Weekend
10 July - Annual leave
11 July - Annual leave
12 July - Bank holiday
13 July - Annual leave
14 July - Annual leave 
15 July - Weekend
16 July - Weekend

August/September*

Booking 4 days of annual leave in late August and early September would give you 9 days off work.

Here’s how:

26 August - Weekend
27 August - Weekend
28 August - Bank holiday 
29 August - Annual leave
30 August - Annual leave
31 August - Annual leave 
1 September - Annual leave
2 September - Weekend
3 September - Weekend


December

Christmas falls on a Monday in 2023. You could get 10 days of work by booking just 3 days of annual leave:

23 December - Weekend
24 December - Weekend
25 December - Bank holiday
26  December - Bank holiday 
27 December - Annual leave 
28 December - Annual leave 
29 December - Annual leave
30 December - Weekend
31 December - Weekend
_________
1 Jan 2024 - Bank holiday

*To stay under the 28-day limit, choose 2 of the 5 starred groups to take as annual leave.

 

My employer’s annual leave allowance is not competitive: what can I do?

Looking for a role with a competitive annual leave allowance? Discuss your career goals with a recruiter at Eden Scott.

We work closely with some of the best companies in Scotland and the wider UK, the majority of whom offer generous annual leave packages. 
 

Ready to start your job search? 

Submit your CV. We’ll soon be back in touch to discuss potential opportunities with you.