Most English schools finish for summer 2027 in the third or fourth week of July. Scotland finishes in late June, Wales in mid-July. Below: the last day of term for the councils we checked, the dates schools return, how the summer bank holiday falls, and what that means if you are trying to book a large group house for the summer.
When do schools break up for summer 2027?
| Council | Last day of term | Summer holiday starts |
|---|---|---|
| Hampshire | Wed 21 July 2027 | Thu 22 July |
| Kent | Wed 21 July 2027 | Thu 22 July |
| Essex | Wed 21 July 2027 | Thu 22 July |
| Lancashire | Wed 21 July 2027 | Thu 22 July |
| Birmingham | Wed 21 July 2027 | Thu 22 July |
| Hertfordshire | Thu 22 July 2027 | Fri 23 July |
| Leeds | Thu 22 July 2027 | Fri 23 July |
| Surrey | Wed 28 July 2027 | Thu 29 July |
| Cardiff | Tue 20 July 2027 | Wed 21 July |
| Glasgow | Fri 25 June 2027 (1pm) | Mon 28 June; back 18 Aug |
| Edinburgh | Tue 29 June 2027 | Wed 30 June; back early Aug |
These are the dates for community and voluntary-controlled schools from each council’s published 2026/27 academic calendar. Academies, free schools and voluntary-aided schools can set their own last days; individual schools also add INSET days. Always confirm with the school itself.
How long is the summer holiday in 2027?
For most English councils, roughly six to seven weeks: from around 22 July to early September 2027. Surrey’s community schools start a week later (29 July) and may finish a week later too. Scotland is different: Glasgow pupils finished on 25 June 2027, more than three weeks before Hampshire, and are back on 18 August — giving around seven and a half weeks off but starting and ending much earlier. Edinburgh breaks up on 29 June.
For groups mixing English and Scottish families, the practical overlap is roughly 22 July to 18 August 2027 for Glasgow, or 22 July into late August for Edinburgh — about four to five weeks when everyone is off at the same time.
The August bank holiday weekend 2027
The summer bank holiday falls on Monday 30 August 2027 in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. That makes the weekend of Saturday 28 to Monday 30 August the last long weekend of the school summer holidays in England — which is exactly why it is the single most competitive booking weekend of the year for large group houses. In Scotland, the equivalent is Monday 2 August 2027 (Scotland’s summer bank holiday differs), but Scottish pupils are already back at school by then. See UK bank holidays 2027 for every date and the full picture of long weekends.
When do schools go back in September 2027?
Most English councils start their autumn term in the first or second week of September. In 2026/27 all eight English councils we checked returned on Monday 1 September 2026 (or in some cases Tuesday 2 September). The same pattern is likely for September 2027, but councils have not yet published 2027/28 dates. Glasgow pupils are back on 18 August 2027 — mid-August, several weeks ahead of England. Edinburgh returns in early August. Check your school when 2027/28 dates are published.
Planning a group summer trip
Summer 2027 books earlier than any other time of year, particularly August. A few things worth knowing:
- The August bank holiday (28–30 August) fills first. If that weekend is your target, the window to book without a fight is winter 2026 or very early 2027. By spring it is tight; by summer it is often gone.
- Late July beats August on price and availability. Most English families are not yet off school in the third week of July, so the last week of July and first two weeks of August are usually slightly easier to book than the final two weeks.
- Surrey schools finish a week later. If your group is from Surrey (or similar — check your own school), the first free Friday is not until around 29 July, so a late-July house is more useful than it might seem.
- Scottish families. If anyone in the group is from Glasgow or Edinburgh, they are available from late June — a June group stay in the Highlands or the Cotswolds is much easier to book than August and the weather is often just as good.
- Garden and outdoor space. For summer, look at houses with a pool and games room, houses with a hot tub, or our general search by group size. Our rainy-day guide is still worth reading: a week in August can go either way.
- Hen parties in summer. Brighton is the most popular summer destination for hen weekends in the south, particularly June and early July before families fill August. Bath and the Cotswolds suit groups who want countryside rather than coast.
Browse group houses by size, large family holiday homes, or multi-generational holiday houses. Every enquiry goes straight to the owner.
Sources
Summer term end dates are from each council’s published 2026/27 academic calendar, checked 24 September 2026: Hampshire, Kent, Surrey, Essex, Hertfordshire, Lancashire, Birmingham, Leeds, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Cardiff. Autumn 2027 return dates are not yet confirmed; check your school when 2027/28 term dates are released.
