How to more than double your annual leave in 2025

Sign up to Simon Calder’s free travel email for expert advice and money-saving discounts Get Simon Calder’s Travel email Get Simon Calder’s Travel email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Book off four days from 6 to 9 May to have to bag yourself nine days of holiday by combining this with two weekends and the Early May bank holiday on 5 May. Or if you want to extend your annual leave even more in May, booking off another four days over 27–30 May will give you another nine days off, utilisng May’s spring bank holiday on 26 May. Double your Christmas Getting 13 days off for only six days of annual leave around Christmastime is easily done, as the festive season delivers three bank holidays to rest before a new year begins. Bank Holiday dates 2024 Wednesday, 1 January – New Year’s Day Friday, 18 April – Good Friday Monday, 21 April – Easter Monday Monday, 5 May – Early May bank holiday Monday, 26 May – Spring bank holiday Monday, 25 August – Summer bank holiday Thursday, 25 December – Christmas Day Friday, 26 December – Boxing Day For more travel news and advice, listen to Simon Calder’s podcast