The school holidays always arrive sooner than you expect them too and more often than not take parents by surprise. The half term and holiday schedules differ across the UK so we’ve rounded up the most important dates and created a handy guide* to help you plan when to take your family break.
| Holiday | Start Date | End Date |
|---|---|---|
| Christmas Holidays 2023 | 23/12/2023 | 07/01/2024 |
| February Half Term Holidays 2024 | 17/02/2024 | 21/02/2024 |
| Easter Holidays 2024 | 31/03/2024 | 11/04/2024 |
| Spring Half Term Holidays 2024 | 26/05/2024 | 30/05/2024 |
| Summer Holidays 2024 | 24/07/2024 | 29/08/2024 |
| Autumn Half Term Holidays 2024 | 28/10/2024 | 01/11/2024 |
| Holiday | Start Date | End Date |
|---|---|---|
| Christmas Holidays 2023 | 25/12/2023 | 08/01/2024 |
| February Half Term Holidays 2024 | 12/02/2024 | 16/02/2024 |
| Easter Holidays 2024 | 29/03/2024 | 15/04/2024 |
| May Half Term Holidays 2024 | 06/05/2024 | 08/05/2024 |
| Summer Holidays 2024 | 29/06/2024 | 14/08/2024 |
| October Half Term Holidays 2024 | 12/10/2024 | 22/10/2024 |
| Holiday | Start Date | End Date |
|---|---|---|
| Christmas Holidays 2023 | 25/12/2023 | 05/01/2024 |
| February Half Term Holidays 2024 | 12/02/2024 | 26/02/2024 |
| Easter Holidays 2024 | 25/03/2024 | 05/04/2024 |
| May Half Term Holidays 2024 | 27/05/2024 | 31/05/2024 |
| Summer Holidays 2024 | 22/07/2024 | 30/08/2024 |
| October Half Term Holidays 2024 | 28/10/2024 | 01/11/2024 |
*Please note that the school holiday dates listed above are to be used as a rough guide only. We recommend that you check with your local council and school to find the dates specific to you and/or your children.
Taking children out of school during term-time is possible, but you have to get permission from the head teacher and they decide how many days a child can be away from school, if leave is granted at all. If you do so without asking, not only can you as parents get into trouble with the school, but the local council can also issue a fine.
Family holidays are where memories are made so they're worth every penny, but imagine being able to get more for less?
Use icelolly.com: If you want to ensure you’ve got the best possible deal, a holiday price comparison website like icelolly.com really comes into its own. There are various holiday providers advertising their deals on our site at any one time, which means you’ll save time and money when comparing all the different deals, rather than going to each individually to see which one best suits you and your family.
Be flexible: When typing your travel criteria in the search bar, don’t get too specific! Make sure to enter a variety of different dates around the period you’re looking to jet away and make a note of which ones bring back the best offers. Packages are generally cheaper for the last week in August and the first week in September, as most travellers prefer to jet off earlier in the school holidays.
Go all inclusive: It’s reassuring to know exactly what your holiday is going to cost. It also eliminates the worry of working out a budget for spending money, as a lot of meals, drinks and other commodities will be at the hotel, which is included in the price.