National days and public holidays are event date blunders. People, in general, aren't inclined to go to a corporate event on such dates unless it's a concert or an entertaining outdoor event. Many corporate events will fail if scheduled on public holidays. Event planners must choose a date that works for both their speakers and attendees. Always consult public holiday lists when organizing international corporate events and conferences to achieve that. Avoiding public holidays in the UK is a success factor for event organizers. The UK event market is more than well-developed, with more than 1.3 million business events annually, according to the source.
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List of holidays in the UK (2023)
Public holidays in the UK may vary if you are in England, Scotland, Wales, or Northern Ireland
Types of holidays in the UK
There are two types of holidays in the UK; public and religious.
UK public holidays
Public holidays, or bank holidays as they are called in the UK, are spread throughout the year marking religious, historical, and special events. The UK has eight public holidays: New Year's Day, Good Friday, Easter Monday, Early May bank holiday, Coronation of King Charles III, Spring bank holiday, Summer bank holiday, Christmas Day, and Boxing Day.
UK religious holidays
Religious holidays in the UK include, among others, Easter and Christmas. On Easter Sunday, large shops have to close by law. Small shops, pharmacies, and shops in airports and train stations are allowed to open, while most attractions stay open.
List of holidays in the UK (2023)
Cultural holidays
As a country with rich cultural history, the UK reflects its heritage on different public holidays that may vary from region to region. Holidays such as The Fringe, Nothing Hill Carnival, Manchester Pride, and Belfast International Arts Festival are celebrated every year through different musical, cultural, dance, visual arts, and other experiences.
Informal holidays
When organizing corporate events or conferences in the UK, keep in mind the existence of many informal holidays, such as:
St Patrick's Day • Mar 17, 2023
Summer solstice • Jun 21st, 2023
Nothing Hill Carnival • Late August 2023
Manchester Pride • Late August 2023
Halloween• Oct 3, 2023
Bonfire Night • Nov 5, 2023
Public holidays in the UK may vary if you are in England, Scotland, Wales, or Northern Ireland
Keeping track of public holidays in the UK can be confusing and take you by surprise. Most public holidays are days on which most businesses and non-essential services are closed. Many retail businesses (especially the larger ones) do open on some public holidays. There are restrictions on trading on Sundays, Easter Day, and Christmas Day in England and Wales and New Year's Day and Christmas Day in Scotland. So make sure to update your calendar regularly.