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Hand-picked deals by our pirate team
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- Inspiration Get the most consecutive days off using your annual leave and bank holidays
How to maximise your annual leave in 2026
We’ve done the planning, so you don’t have to. Get ahead and book your 2026 holiday dates now to maximise your time off. By strategically booking your annual leave around bank holidays and weekends in England, you can enjoy the longest consecutive breaks possible.
Perfect for Monday-to-Friday workers, this annual leave hack helps you stretch your 28 days of statutory leave into 59 consecutive days off throughout 2026. Plus, this is only using 27 days' of annual leave, so you'll have one day spare.
March & April 2026 (16 consecutive days over Easter)
Bank Holidays: Good Friday (3 April), Easter Monday (6 April)
Days to book off: Monday 29 March–Thursday 2 April, then Tuesday 7–Friday 10 April (8 days annual leave)
Consecutive days off: Saturday 28 March–Sunday 12 April
Where to go?
Take advantage of this longer period with a trip somewhere long haul, this is a great time to visit Thailand when it’s their dry season with low humidity and rainfall.
May 2026
Early May Bank Holiday (9 consecutive days off)
Bank Holiday: 4 May
Days to book off: Tuesday 5 May–Friday 8 May (4 days annual leave)
Consecutive days off: Saturday 2 May–Sunday 10 May
Late May Bank Holiday (9 consecutive days off)
Bank Holiday: 25 May
Days to book off: Tuesday 26 May–Friday 29 May (4 days annual leave)
Consecutive days off: Saturday 23 May–Sunday 31 May
Where to go?
This is great time to take advantage of lower prices and fewer crowds in hot spots like Greece or Italy but lovely temps.
Summer 2026 (9 consecutive days off)
Bank Holiday: 31 August
Days to book off: Tuesday 1 September–Friday 4 September (4 days annual leave)
Consecutive days off: Saturday 29 August–Sunday 6 September
Where to go?
This is a great time to enjoy the Canary Islands that offer consistent pleasant summer temperatures, usually in the high twenties.
Christmas 2026 (16 consecutive days off)
Bank Holiday: 25 December (Christmas Day), 28 December (substitute Boxing Day Bank Holiday), 1 January (New Year's Day)
Days to book off: Monday 21–Thursday 24 December then, Tuesday 29–Thursday 31 December (7 days annual leave)
Consecutive days off: Saturday 19 December–Sunday 3 January
Where to go?
This season is lovely to cosy up in the Lake District, think long crisp walks and pub lunches by the fireplace.
Or escape to the sunshine in Dubai, when temperatures extremely pleasant.
(December hotel links will take you to 2025 dates as December 2026 dates aren't showing yet)
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