Most betting shops open on bank holidays, but often with different hours from a normal weekday. Bookmakers do not publish bank holiday hours for each shop, and BookieFinder does not hold them either. So the honest answer is to check with the shop before you go. This guide covers what we do know.
The short version
- Betting shops in Great Britain do not open on Christmas Day.
- On other bank holidays, most shops open, but hours can be shorter.
- The hours on BookieFinder shop pages are normal weekly hours. They may not apply on a bank holiday.
- Ring the shop or check the bookmaker’s own website or app for bank holiday hours.
Why we don’t show bank holiday hours
We only show hours that a bookmaker has published. None of the six bookmakers we list publishes bank holiday hours shop by shop. We could guess from Sunday hours, but a guess could send you to a closed shop, so we don’t.
When we have reliable bank holiday hours for a shop, we will show them on its page.
Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year
- Christmas Day: betting shops in Great Britain are closed.
- Boxing Day: one of the biggest days in the racing calendar, with meetings including the King George VI Chase at Kempton. Many shops open, but hours vary.
- New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day: shops may close early on New Year’s Eve and open later on New Year’s Day.
Easter and summer bank holidays
- Good Friday and Easter Monday: most shops open. Hours may follow a Sunday pattern, but this is not guaranteed.
- May and August bank holidays: usually close to normal opening, with some shops closing earlier.
Bank holiday dates in England and Wales
| Bank holiday | 2026 | 2027 |
| New Year’s Day | Thursday 1 January | Friday 1 January |
| Good Friday | Friday 3 April | Friday 26 March |
| Easter Monday | Monday 6 April | Monday 29 March |
| Early May | Monday 4 May | Monday 3 May |
| Spring | Monday 25 May | Monday 31 May |
| Summer | Monday 31 August | Monday 30 August |
| Christmas Day | Friday 25 December | Monday 27 December (substitute day) |
| Boxing Day | Monday 28 December (substitute day) | Tuesday 28 December (substitute day) |
Scotland and Northern Ireland have some different bank holidays:
- Scotland: 2 January, the first Monday in August instead of the last, and St Andrew’s Day (30 November).
- Northern Ireland: St Patrick’s Day (17 March) and the Battle of the Boyne (12 July).
How to check a shop’s bank holiday hours
- Find the shop with the shop finder and open its page for the address and normal hours.
- Ring the bookmaker’s customer service line, or check its website or app.
- Pop in the week before. Many shops put a notice in the window.
Planning around big race days
Bank holidays often bring big racing and football fixtures, and shops can be busy. If you are going in to place a bet, allow time to queue.
Bank holiday betting can turn into a long day. Set your limit before you go. Our responsible gambling page lists free, confidential help.