The Complete Guide to Spring Bank Holiday 2023

The spring bank holiday is a national public holiday across the UK. It usually falls on the last Monday in May, and that will be the case for spring bank holiday 2023. For this reason, it’s also often known as the late May bank holiday – unlike May Day, for example, it doesn’t have a traditional name.

Where does this holiday come from? Why does it exist? How do we make the most out of it? And, most importantly, what kind of things can we do on it?

In this complete guide to spring bank holiday 2023, Trip.com will answer all these burning questions, and more...

Village sunlight in the springtime. Source: James Homans / unsplash

What is the Spring Bank Holiday?

✅Like many public holidays in the UK, the spring bank holiday has its origins in the Christian religion, but is now observed in a secular manner. Keep reading to find out more about the origin and history of this holiday!

✅The end of May is a great time to enjoy a long weekend in the UK – the weather is getting warmer, the days are getting longer, and nature is coming into full bloom. That makes it perfect to get out into the countryside or to a new city for a short break.

✅And if you’re smart with your annual leave, you can grab enough consecutive days off to enjoy an even longer break somewhere further afield. Find out more about that below!

A spring lamb in Suffolk. Source: Veronica White / unsplash

The Date and Day of the Spring Bank Holiday 2023

But it has been shifted around the calendar a bit over the course of its history. When it coincides with special jubilee years of the Queen, it’s moved a little later to form part of that holiday. For example, in 2002 it was the Queen’s Golden Jubilee – the 50^th year of her ascension to the throne. So the spring bank holiday was pushed later, to 3 Jun, to add an extra day to that celebration.

Likewise, in 2012, spring bank holiday was moved to 4 Jun. That was the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, which celebrated – of course – the 60^th year of her reign.

And that means that last year, in 2022, we celebrated the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee – 70 years of Queen Elizabeth II. Spring bank holiday was then moved to 2 Jun to play a part in that holiday, too.

But next year we’ll be back to normal – spring bank holiday will be falling on the last Monday of May. It forms a book-end to the month, alongside the early May bank holiday at the beginning.

How to Make the Most of Your Spring Bank Holiday 2023

A three-day long weekend might be enough satisfy you with a getaway to somewhere interesting, like Manchester, Edinburgh, or a tour in London. With 3 days to play with, you can fit in lots of time to sight-see or enjoy the blossoming nature of late May.

But perhaps you want a little more time on your hands, to have a proper break with family or friends to somewhere a bit special. You can beat the worst of the crowds to popular destinations like Barcelona, Faro, or Rome, and get an early summer Mediterranean tan while you’re at it...

Fancy some Mediterranean sunshine this spring bank holiday? Source: Alexandre Chambon / unsplash

Origin and History of the Spring Bank Holiday

Pentecost is the seventh Sunday after Easter. To Christians, it commemorates the descent of the Holy Spirit onto the disciples of Jesus after the crucifixion. As with many traditional Christian festivals, it became combined with pre-existing pagan customs and celebrations – in this case, the Celtic celebrations of Beltane.

Marking the beginning of summer, Whitsunday and the following week (including Whit Monday) were a time for traditional celebrations. These took different forms in different parts of England. In the south, people would enjoy Whitsun ales – festivals at which locally brewed ales would be enjoyed. Also popular in the south was Morris dancing – a form of English folk dance in which rhythmic steps and movements are accompanied by the swinging of sticks, swords, and handkerchiefs.

In the north of the country, there were Whit walks – processions with flowers, banners and ribbons – and Club Days, which would host various competitions. There would be competitions and games for fancy dress, arts and crafts, and cooking, among other things.

Whit Monday was the official public holiday at this time of year until 1973, when it was replaced by the spring bank holiday. At that point, the date became fixed to the last Monday of May, and the holiday became a more secular affair.

Since then, it’s become a great all-purpose day off, which people can use for their own purposes. Dotted around the country, however, you’ll still find some remnants of the older folk customs on this day. Keep reading to find out more!

Traditional Activities on the Early May Bank Holiday 2023

It may sound like just a bit of quaint English fun but it’s not for the fainthearted – the cheese can reach a rolling speed of up to 70 mile an hour! This particular ritual is believed to be over 600 years old – a noble tradition! Naturally, the winner gets to take home the cheese...

Another traditional festivity on spring bank holiday 2023 is what is known as Well Dressing. You’ll find this custom in counties like Staffordshire and Derbyshire, and it’s a celebration of water and life that water brings.

The wells of local villages are decorated with living material – wood, wool, bark, flower petals, leaves, berries and seeds – on a bed of soft clay on a wooden board placed at the opening to the well.

They can take a team of local artists up to a week to produce, and depict biblical and historical scenes. You won’t find them anywhere else, and they disappear quickly – so see them while they last!

Wells are celebrated in local villages on spring bank holiday. Source: Maxime Bouffard / unsplash

New Activities on the Spring Bank Holiday 2023

Whatever your desire is for spring bank holiday 2023, Trip.com can help you realise it. There are a myriad of attractions, trips and tours you can enjoy.

Why not enjoy a tour around one of the UK’s many historic and beautiful cities? One of the best examples of this is of course Edinburgh. With a full-day guided private tour, you’ll be able to see the best Edinburgh has to offer, and you’ll see it in style.

Starting at 9am, your guide will take you in your own private minivan through the picturesque streets of the town, regaling you with fascinating stories of the city’s history. You’ll see everything that Edinburgh is famous for – the Golden Mile, the Castle, and the gorgeous extinct volcano of Arthur’s Seat, to name but a few.

On top of that, you’ll see and hear about it all in the company of a local – there’s no better way to really discover a new city than this.

The view from Arthur's Seat, Edinburgh. Source: Peter Chiykowski / unsplash

Spring Bank Holiday 2023 – the World is Your Oyster

Spring bank holiday 2023 is a great excuse to see more of the UK and refresh your mind from the daily stresses of working life. There’s plenty going on around the country – traditional festivals that will remind you of why and what we celebrate at this time of year, as well as all the new activities you can imagine.

Trip.com is your first and last stop to discovering what there is to do, making your plans, and booking your tickets. From UK hotels and restaurants, to all manner of tickets and tours, Trip.com will have you covered for spring bank holiday 2023. The world is your oyster!

Would you chase it down a hill? Source: Alexander Maasch / unsplash

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