How To Maximise Your Annual Leave For Travel In 2025 (UK & Australia Editions)

Often, to travel to the more remote or faraway destinations you’re longing to go, you need more time. With a full-time 9-5 job that can be tricky.

But with the right planning and some strategic annual leave booking, you can make the most of bank holidays to secure longer stretches of consecutive days off. Giving you the time to get to that desert safari in Namibia or 10-day trek across Greenland!

In this blog, I share exactly what dates you need to request off to turn up to 28 days of annual leave into 59 days of travel time. Use the options below to jump to the dates for the UK or Australia…

• Annual leave dates to maximise holiday in the UK
• Annual leave dates to maximise holiday in Australia

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Annual leave dates to maximise holiday in the UK

With eight bank holidays in 2025 in the UK, there’s plenty of opportunities to enjoy longer stretches of holiday to travel throughout the year – even as much as 16 days in a row. Just note, if you’re in Scotland some dates my differ.

Bank holidays in the UK 2025

• 1st January 2025: New Year’s Day
• 18th April 2025: Good Friday
• 21st April 2025: Easter Monday
• 5th May 2025: Early May Bank Holiday
• 26th May 2025: Spring Bank Holiday
• 25th August 2025: Summer Bank Holiday
• 25th December 2025: Christmas Day
• 26th December 2025: Boxing Day

Ring in the new year on a 5-day trip

Start the year out strong using just two days of annual leave to head off on five days of adventure. Whether you explore closer to home or seize the opportunity to hunt for winter sun, it’s sure to help beat those January blues!

• 1st January 2025 – New Year’s Day Bank Holiday
• 2nd January 2025 – Annual Leave
• 3rd January 2025 – Annual Leave
• 4th January 2025 – Weekend
• 5th January 2025 – Weekend

Best places to go: For the ultimate English countryside escape, there’s nothing prettier than the snowy Cotswolds. What could be better then curling up in a cosy pub with a good book beside the fire!?

If it’s sunshine and warm waters you’re craving, beat the post-Christmas crowds in Cape Verde just off the coast of West Africa. It’s just a six hour flight to get to this off-the-beaten-track gem.

For thrill-seekers, head to Sweden for the ski season in Åre, rated the best resort in the country. Shred the piste all morning then head to the café for an afternoon of classic Swedish fika.

Escape for 16 days over Easter

Save your most ambitious trip of the year for Easter when you can take over two weeks off. This will give you plenty of time to explore beyond Europe, get to your true bucket list destinations or take a road trip or long distance trek to travel slow.

• 12th April 2025 – Weekend
• 13th April 2025 – Weekend
• 14th April 2025 – Annual Leave
• 15th April 2025 – Annual Leave
• 16th April 2025 – Annual Leave
• 17th April 2025 – Annual Leave
• 18th April 2025 – Good Friday Bank Holiday
• 19th April 2025 – Weekend
• 20th April 2025 – Easter Sunday
• 21st April 2025 – Easter Monday Bank Holiday
• 22nd April 2025 – Annual Leave
• 23rd April 2025 – Annual Leave
• 24th April 2025 – Annual Leave
• 25th April 2025 – Annual Leave
• 26th April 2025 – Weekend
• 27th April 2025 – Weekend

Best places to go: With more time to play with, you could get to further flung dream destinations like Cuba or Jordan where the weather is dry and warm but not too hot yet.

Or explore the heart of Europe on an interrail trip, starting in the Netherlands to see the famous blooming tulip fields, tucking into waffles through Belgium, whizzing through the land of Champagne and ending up in the south of France soaking in the beautiful waters of Nice.

May Day 9-day getaway

In early May, make the most of May Day to book an extended break. Also note, you’ll only work one week between your Easter trip and this trip which makes for a pretty good month!

• 3rd May 2025 – Weekend
• 4th May 2025 – Weekend
• 5th May 2025 – May Day Bank Holiday
• 6th May 2025 – Annual Leave
• 7th May 2025 – Annual Leave
• 8th May 2025 – Annual Leave
• 9th May 2025 – Annual Leave
• 10th May 2025 – Weekend
• 11th May 2025 – Weekend

Best places to go: The weather in the Balkans is beautiful in May – over nine days you could explore Croatia, Montenegro and Bosnia Herzegovina by train or car. Packed with history, nature and crystal clear blue coastline it’s the ultimate late spring break.

Portugal is also a great choice at this time after the Easter crowds have thinned and you have lovely longer evenings to stroll the cobbled streets and eat the freshest fish dishes. Discover my complete Portugal itinerary here.

Spring bank holiday adventure

At the end of May, round things out with another incredible nine days away by making the most of the Spring Bank Holiday.

• 24th May 2025 – Weekend
• 25th May 2025 – Weekend
• 26th May 2025 – Spring Bank Holiday
• 27th May 2025 – Annual Leave
• 28th May 2025 – Annual Leave
• 29th May 2025 – Annual Leave
• 30th May 2025 – Annual Leave
• 31st May 2025 – Weekend
• 1st June 2025 – Weekend

Best places to go: For laid back villa cool, choose the Greek Islands before they get too hot over the summer. Laze by the pool, hike coastal trails and feast on gyros – is there anything better!?

Experiencing an incredible safari on your bucket list? It’s the perfect time to see elephants and rhinos in Botswana at the start of the dry season before the bulk of the crowds arrive.

Late August 9-day trip

For the ultimate summer trip, take annual leave around the August Spring Bank Holiday, giving you another nine days of back-to-back travel.

• 23rd August 2025 – Weekend
• 24th August 2025 – Weekend
• 25th August 2025 – Spring Bank Holiday
• 26th August 2025 – Annual Leave
• 27th August 2025 – Annual Leave
• 28th August 2025 – Annual Leave
• 29th August 2025 – Annual Leave
• 30th August 2025 – Weekend
• 31st August 2025 – Weekend

Best places to go: This is the perfect opportunity to drive the infamous North Coast 500 road around the north coast of Scotland. The weather is the best it’s going to get all year, the sea is the warmest it will get and the days are long for barbecuing and campfires. Discover my recommendations for the best restaurants and coffee shops along the way.

At this time of year, you can also enjoy the midnight sun in northern Norway. Head to the Lofoten Islands for a magical nine days of hiking, swimming in fjords, nibbling cinnamon buns and epic mountain views.

Cracking Christmas: 13 days off!

Lastly, whether you want to visit family and friends around the world, head to sunnier climes or lean into Christmas fever, you can get 13 days to explore using only your last six days of annual leave. The perfect end to an incredible year of travel!

• 20th December 2025 – Weekend
• 21st December 2025 – Weekend
• 22nd December 2025 – Annual Leave
• 23rd December 2025 – Annual Leave
• 24th December 2025 – Annual Leave
• 25th December 2025 – Christmas Day Bank Holiday
• 26th December 2025 – Boxing Day Bank Holiday
• 27th December 2025 – Weekend
• 28th December 2025 – Weekend
• 29th December 2025 – Annual Leave
• 30th December 2025 – Annual Leave
• 31st December 2025 – Annual Leave
• 1st January 2026 – New Year’s Day Bank Holiday

Best places to go: For the ultimate classic Christmas, enjoy a full tour of the German markets across Bavaria. From glühwein and gingerbread cookies to sausages and beer, you can taste your way across the Christmas capital.

To escape the cold UK weather, head to sunny Costa Rica to explore jungles, wildlife and volcanoes in 27°C heat. Sounds pretty dreamy!

Or to get off the beaten track a little, choose the Azores. The Portuguese islands in the middle of the Atlantic where you can hike calderas, rappel down waterfalls and spot whales.

Annual leave dates to maximise holiday in Australia

There are a total of seven public holidays across the whole of Australia in 2025 with some states getting extras like the King’s Birthday and Labour Day. Just note that these sometimes fall on different dates depending on the state, you can check your state here. So let’s dive into how you can make the most of these!

Public holidays in Australia 2025

• 1st January 2025: New Year’s Day
• 27th January 2025: Australia Day Public Holiday 
• 18th April 2025: Good Friday
• 21st April 2025: Easter Monday
• 25th April 2025: Anzac Day
• 9th June 2025: King’s Birthday (observed in all states except QLD & WA)
• 6th October 2025: Labour Day (observed in ACT, NSW & SA)
• 25th December 2025: Christmas Day
• 26th December 2025: Boxing Day

Celebrate the new year with a week of travel

Start the year as you mean to go on with a week of travel making the most of the New Year public holiday. As this falls on a Wednesday in 2025 you only need to use two days of annual leave to enjoy five days holiday.

But to give you more time to explore, consider taking the 6th and 7th January too, giving you a full week off!

• 1st January 2025: New Year’s Day Public Holiday
• 2nd January 2025: Annual Leave
• 3rd January 2025: Annual Leave
• 4th January 2025: Weekend
• 5th January 2025: Weekend
• 6th January 2025: Annual Leave
• 7th January 2025: Annual Leave

Best places to go: At this time of year, heading to New Zealand’s South Island is a great choice as the weather is at its warmest and flight times are still on the shorter side.

Another good option is the west coast of Malaysia during the dry season. Head to Kuala Lumpur and Penang for great food, incredible night markets and lots of history.

For a more active break and escape from the heat, why not head to Japan to make the most of their ski season. With heavier snowfall hitting in late December and early January.

7-day trip to beat late January blues

When it comes to getting through January, one trip was never going to be enough. Thankfully, Australia Day provides the opportunity to enjoy another week of travel by using only four days of annual leave.

• 25th January 2025: Weekend
• 26th January 2025: Weekend (Australia Day)
• 27th January 2025: Australia Day Public Holiday
• 28th January 2025: Annual Leave
• 29th January 2025: Annual Leave
• 30th January 2025: Annual Leave
• 31st January 2025: Annual Leave

Best places to go: At the end of January Thailand is a great choice – the Christmas and New Year crowds have thinned out and you can get a dose of island life on golden sand paradises like Koh Tao, Koh Lanta and more.

It’s also a good time to visit the Philippines as the country experiences its lowest rainfall in late January and early February.

Easter 8-day international escape

With three Easter public holidays and Anzac Day following closely after, you can easily enjoy eight days of travel using only three days of annual leave.

• 18th April 2025: Good Friday Public Holiday
• 19th April 2025: Weekend
• 20th April 2025: Easter Sunday Public Holiday
• 21st April 2025: Easter Monday Public Holiday
• 22nd April 2025: Annual Leave
• 23rd April 2025: Annual Leave
• 24th April 2025: Annual Leave
• 25th April 2025: Anzac Day Public Holiday

Best places to go: This is the perfect time to experience cherry blossom season in Kyoto, Japan. Soak up all the food, fun and culture associated with these pretty blooms.

For guaranteed good weather and shorter flight times, choose stunning Pacific Islands, Vanuatu for crystal clear diving, golden beaches and nature.

Another great option is Hawaii. The weather will be turning from cool to hot so it’s warm enough to enjoy but not yet too hot for hiking or exploring.

King’s birthday 9-day trip

As I mentioned earlier, most states are enjoy an extra public holiday for the King’s birthday. While the date can differ slightly, it’s usually on 9th June which means it’s perfect for an early winter break.

• 7th June 2025: Weekend
• 8th June 2025: Weekend
• 9th June 2025: King’s Birthday Public Holiday
• 10th June 2025: Annual Leave
• 11th June 2025: Annual Leave
• 12th June 2025: Annual Leave
• 13th June 2025: Annual Leave
• 14th June 2025: Weekend
• 15th June 2025: Weekend

Best places to go: It’s all about searching for sun as the Australian weather cools off for winter. For that, some of the best options with great weather and shorter flight times are the Cook Islands, Samoa and Vietnam.

Labour Day week of relaxation

Again, some states also benefit from a public holiday for Labour Day which often falls around 6th October. By taking the rest of the week off, you could have the perfect mid-October 9-day break to see you through until Christmas.

• 4th October 2025: Weekend
• 5th October 2025: Weekend
• 6th October 2025: Labour Day Public Holiday
• 7th October 2025: Annual Leave
• 8th October 2025: Annual Leave
• 9th October 2025: Annual Leave
• 10th October 2025: Annual Leave
• 11th October 2025: Weekend
• 12th October 2025: Weekend

Best places to go: South Korea in October is a great choice as the weather is still good but you’ll catch the start of autumn and the beautiful colours that come with it. Head to Seoul for the culture, food and royal palaces.

The mostly dry and warm weather in Taiwan also makes it an ideal option in October – plus, there’s fewer crowds!

Christmas special: 13 days off!

I’ve saved the best until last… With all the public holidays around Christmas and the New Year, by booking smart you could have almost two weeks of travel time using just five days of annual leave!

• 20th December 2025: Weekend
• 21th December 2025: Weekend
• 22nd December 2025: Annual Leave
• 23rd December 2025: Annual Leave
• 24th December 2025: Annual Leave
• 25th December 2025: Christmas Day Public Holiday
• 26th December 2025: Boxing Day Public Holiday
• 27th December 2025: Weekend
• 28th December 2025: Weekend
• 29th December 2025: Annual Leave
• 30th December 2025: Annual Leave
• 31st December 2025: New Year’s Eve Public Holiday
• 1st January 2026: New Year’s Day Public Holiday

Best places to go: To round out your year, you could experience a once in a lifetime trip to Antarctica. Since it’s only possible to visit during the summer months from December to February, this could be your chance!

If it’s less ice and more sunshine you’re craving, Cambodia’s weather is perfect in December – warm and sunny but not too hot and with low levels of rain and humidity. Perfect temple exploring weather!

And for the classic Christmas scenes, don’t miss the iconic markets all across Germany. With nearly two weeks of holiday, you could take a road trip (or interrail) from Germany down to Bavaria.

There we have it, my ultimate guide to making the most of your annual leave in 2025 to book those trips you’ve been dreaming about! If you have any other questions about maximising your travel time or travel planning tips, please drop them in the comments box below and I’ll do my best to help. Happy travelling!

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