Bank holidays were first introduced by the Bank Holidays Act of 1871. There are currently 6 bank holidays in England and Wales, plus 2 public holidays (Christmas Day and Good Friday) making a total of 8 public holidays.
Workers in Scotland have the same public holidays as those in England and Wales, plus an additional day - St Andrew's Day - making a total of 9. Workers in Northern Ireland have the same bank and public holidays as in England and Wales, plus an additional 2 days - St Patrick's Day and Battle of the Boyne Day, making a total of 10.
2011 and 2012 see extra holidays for the whole country - on 29 April 2011 people were invited to commemorate the wedding of William Windsor to Kate Middleton, and 5 June 2012 sees a day off to mark the Queen's Diamond Jubilee (60 years since she became Head of the State and Head of the Church of England).
Although bank holidays are widely observed by UK employers, they are not a statutory right. Your contract of employment will mention whether you have an entitlement to holiday on these days.
Some employers used to include bank holidays within the 4 week European minimum annual leave, rather than allowing them in addition to the 4 weeks. After union campaigning, the Labour Government increased the minimum entitlement. Since October 2007, 8 days have been added to a full-timer's leave entitlement, thereby ensuring that people get 5.6 weeks (ie 4 weeks plus bank holidays).
A list of the days which bank holidays fall on every year is maintained at the Directgov website: www.direct.gov.uk.
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