Time zone & holidays

  • 29 October – 26 March: Coordinated Universal Time (UTC)
  • 26 March – 29 October: UTC + 1     


British summer time 
British summer time starts on the last Sunday in March when clocks go forward 1 hour at 01:00, and ends on the last Sunday in October when they go back 1 hour at 01:00. The time for the rest of the year is Coordinated Universal Time.    

  • 2010 – Starts: 00:01, 28 March. Ends: 00:01, 31 October
  • 2011 – Starts: 00:01, 27 March. Ends: 00:01, 30 October

Public holidays

2010

  • New Year's Day (All UK) - 3 January
  • Extra New Year's Bank holiday (Scotland only) - 4 January
  • St Patrick's Day (N. Ireland only) - 17 March
  • Good Friday (All UK) - 2 April 
  • Easter Monday (England, Wales and N. Ireland) - 5 April 
  • Early May Bank Holiday (All UK) - 3 May
  • Spring Bank Holiday (All UK) - 31 May
  • Battle of the Boyne (Northern Ireland only) - 12 July
  • Summer Bank Holiday (Scotland only) - 2 August
  • Summer Bank Holiday (England, Wales and N. Ireland) - 30 August
  • Christmas Day (All UK) - 27 December
  • Boxing Day (All UK) - 28 December

2011

  • New Year's Day (All UK) - 3 January
  • Extra New Year's Bank holiday (Scotland only) - 4 January
  • St Patrick's Day (N. Ireland only) - 17 March
  • Good Friday (All UK) - 22 April
  • Easter Monday (England, Wales and N. Ireland) - 25 April
  • Early May Bank Holiday (All UK) - 2 May
  • Spring Bank Holiday (All UK) - 30 May
  • Battle of the Boyne (Northern Ireland only) - 12 July
  • Summer Bank Holiday (Scotland only) - 1 August
  • Summer Bank Holiday (England, Wales and N. Ireland) - 29 August
  • Christmas Day (All UK) - 26 December
  • Boxing Day (All UK) - 27 December

School holidays

The main summer holiday is about 6 weeks from mid-July to early September. Children also have two weeks holiday at Christmas and at Easter, plus a week in mid-October and in mid-February. Exact dates vary between each education authority.

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