Planning school holidays around Easter can be a challenge because dates are not the same across the United Kingdom. Each nation and, in England, each local authority sets its own term calendar. For families in London, Manchester, or elsewhere, knowing exactly when the Easter break falls in 2025 requires checking local sources. This guide pulls together the available information from official and regional records.
Easter 2025 is a late Easter, with Easter Sunday on 20 April, Good Friday on 18 April, and Easter Monday on 21 April – both public bank holidays. School holidays are typically two weeks around this period, but the exact start and end dates vary by location. The most authoritative published dates for 2025 come from Northern Ireland’s Department of Education, which lists the school break from 17 to 25 April. For England, Wales, and Scotland, no single official list exists for 2025, but common patterns emerge from local authority calendars.
This article summarises the known dates, highlights where uncertainty remains, and provides practical steps to find the exact schedule for your area.
What are the Easter school holidays 2025 in the UK?
Overview of key dates by region
| Region | Easter school holidays 2025 |
|---|---|
| UK (overview) | Varies by nation; Easter Sunday 20 April, Good Friday 18 April, Easter Monday 21 April. School holidays typically two weeks around this period. |
| England | No centralised dates; typical term ends Friday 11 April, returns Tuesday 22 April. Readers must check local council. |
| London (example Camden) | Not found in top results; similar to England pattern. Check borough council. |
| Manchester (example Manchester City Council) | Not found in top results; similar to England pattern. Check local council or school. |
Key insights about Easter school holidays 2025
- Easter school holidays 2025 are not uniformly set; each UK nation and local authority decides term dates independently.
- The most authoritative dates found from official sources are from Northern Ireland: 17–25 April 2025.
- Most UK local authority websites have published 2025‑2026 term dates, but many focus on 2026 Easter, reflecting the academic year cycle.
- Users searching for “easter school holidays 2025 near London” may need to visit their local council’s website for exact dates.
- Easter 2025 falls late in April; this may affect half‑term break planning for the summer term.
Key facts: Easter school holidays 2025
| Fact | Value |
|---|---|
| Easter Sunday 2025 | 20 April 2025 |
| Good Friday 2025 | 18 April 2025 (bank holiday) |
| Easter Monday 2025 | 21 April 2025 (bank holiday) |
| Northern Ireland school holidays | 17–25 April 2025 |
| England school holidays (typical range) | Approximately 7 April – 21 April 2025 (varies by council) |
| Scotland school holidays | Vary by area; many have two‑week break around mid‑April |
| Wales school holidays | Typically similar to England but confirm with local authority |
What are the Easter school holidays 2025 in England?
In England, term dates are set by local authorities, academies, and multi‑academy trusts. There is no nationwide schedule. Based on many local authority calendars, the Easter break for 2025 often falls around Monday 7 April to Monday 21 April, but this is not universal. For example, Southampton’s published calendar for 2025‑2026 does not list 2025 Easter dates, but other councils may have them. The most reliable way to confirm your school’s break is to check your local council website or the school’s own calendar.
For exact dates in England, visit your local authority’s term‑dates page. If your child attends an academy or free school, consult the trust’s published calendar. Oxfordshire’s term‑dates page is an example of how councils present this information.
What are the Easter school holidays 2025 near London?
London follows the English local‑authority model, so Easter dates vary by borough. Many London schools are likely to use the same general window as the rest of England – approximately 7 April to 21 April 2025 – but some boroughs or individual schools may differ slightly due to INSET days or local scheduling.
How to find London borough dates
Each London borough publishes its own term dates. For example, Hackney Education provides a term‑dates page that covers its schools. Searching for your borough’s name plus “school term dates” should lead you to the official list.
Typical pattern for London schools
While no centralised list exists for all London schools, most follow the England pattern. Parents in London should check both the borough website and the school’s own calendar, as academies and free schools may have different schedules.
What are the Easter school holidays 2025 near Manchester?
Manchester is also subject to local authority / school‑specific term dates. The most common Easter window for England applies, but you must verify with the council or school.
Manchester City Council and surrounding authorities (e.g., Salford, Trafford, Stockport) each set their own dates. Visit the council’s website for your specific area. Private and independent schools may also follow different schedules.
For schools within the Greater Manchester region, the 2025 Easter break is likely to fall in the mid‑April window, but no single source covers the whole area. The same advice applies: check the HolidayExtras guide to UK school holidays 2025 for bank holidays, but rely on the council for exact school closure dates.
When do Easter school holidays start and end across the UK in 2025?
- – Many English schools break up for Easter (end of spring term).
- – Easter week; Good Friday 18 April.
- – Official school holidays in Northern Ireland.
- – Easter Sunday.
- – Easter Monday (bank holiday).
- – Many English schools return (summer term begins).
- – Easter school holidays 2026 (example from Oxfordshire and Southampton).
What is known and what remains unclear about Easter school holidays 2025?
| Established information | Information that remains unclear |
|---|---|
| Easter 2025 falls on 20 April; Good Friday and Easter Monday are bank holidays. | Exact start and end dates for each English local authority are not listed in the top search results for 2025; typical ranges are based on common patterns. |
| Northern Ireland’s school holidays are 17–25 April 2025 as per the Department of Education. | Scottish and Welsh school holiday dates for 2025 are not covered by the top 5 results. |
| All UK nations have a two‑week Easter break, but exact dates differ. | Whether private/independent schools follow the same dates as state schools is not stated in the sources. |
Why are Easter school holidays so variable across the UK?
School holiday dates in the UK are set by local authorities or national education departments (England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland) independently. There is no central body that publishes a single UK‑wide calendar. This fragmentation is a clear gap in official information. Users often need to perform additional searches for their specific local council.
Easter 2025 is a “late Easter”, occurring in the third full week of April. This timing affects the alignment of spring term endings and summer term starts. Councils and trusts adjust their calendars accordingly, which can shift the break by a few days in either direction.
What official sources are available for Easter school holiday dates?
“St Patrick’s Day, 17 March 2025 ; Easter, 17 April to 25 April 2025 ; May Day, 5 May 2025”
Department of Education Northern Ireland (education-ni.gov.uk)
“New Year’s Day: January 1st, Good Friday: April 18th, Easter Monday: April 21st”
HolidayExtras.com (bank holidays overview)
These are the two most direct source quotes available from the top search results. The Department of Education Northern Ireland page provides the only officially confirmed school holiday dates for 2025. The HolidayExtras article lists bank holidays but does not give school closure dates. GOV.UK directs families to local council websites but does not publish a consolidated list.
How can I plan ahead for Easter school holidays?
The most reliable method is to check your specific local authority website (e.g., .gov.uk domain) for confirmed term dates. For 2026 Easter school holidays, several councils have already published dates – for example, Oxfordshire lists Easter holidays from 30 March to 10 April. Subscribing to local council newsletters or school communication channels can also help keep you updated. For a broader look at UK school holidays, see the October Half Term 2025 UK – Regional Dates and Full Calendar.
Frequently asked questions
What are the Easter school holidays 2025 in London?
Exact dates vary by London borough. Check your local council website (e.g., Camden, Westminster). Typical Easter holidays in London schools run from early April to late April, often aligning with the national bank holidays.
What are the Easter school holidays 2025 near Manchester?
Manchester City Council and surrounding authorities set their own dates. Check the council website for your specific area. Typically two weeks around mid‑April.
What are the UK school holidays for 2026?
Several councils have published 2025‑2026 term dates. For example, Oxfordshire lists Easter holiday 30 March – 10 April 2026. Southampton shows Easter holidays 30 March – 10 April 2026 as well. Easter Sunday in 2026 is 5 April.
Easter school holidays 2026 UK?
See above; dates are already set by some local authorities. The pattern suggests a break from 30 March to 10 April 2026 for many English schools. How Many Days Until Easter – Live Countdown and Key Dates can help track the countdown.
Why are Easter school holidays different across the UK?
Each nation (England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland) and each local authority sets its own term dates. There is no national UK‑wide schedule.
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