Surrey County Council has published its 2027/28 school calendar. These dates apply to its community and voluntary-controlled schools. Academies and other schools can use different dates; check the individual school before booking.
Surrey term dates 2027/28
| Term | Starts | Ends |
|---|---|---|
| Autumn | 1 September 2027 | 21 December 2027 |
| Spring | 4 January 2028 | 31 March 2028 |
| Summer | 18 April 2028 | 19 July 2028 |
Surrey school holidays 2027/28
| Holiday | First weekday off | Last weekday off |
|---|---|---|
| October half term | 25 October 2027 | 29 October 2027 |
| Christmas | 22 December 2027 | 3 January 2028 |
| February half term | 14 February 2028 | 18 February 2028 |
| Easter, including bank holidays | 3 April 2028 | 17 April 2028 |
| May half term, including bank holiday | 29 May 2028 | 2 June 2028 |
| Summer | 20 July 2028 | Check the school’s September return date |
The holiday table includes bank holidays adjacent to the school break. Schools set their own INSET days, which can change the dates pupils attend.
Source: Surrey County Council calendar, checked 22 October 2026.
Planning a group break around Surrey school holidays
Surrey families are well connected. You’re within easy reach of the Brighton coast, the Surrey Hills, the Cotswolds, and half the South East’s countryside.
Coordinate with neighbouring counties. If your group includes families from Hampshire, Sussex or London, dates might not align perfectly. A day’s difference either side of half term can mean half the group is still at school. Check our Hampshire, Kent, and national school holidays 2027–2028 guides to find where the dates overlap.
February half term is underrated. It’s the shortest break of the year but falls at a time when rental prices for group houses are well below summer peaks. A house with a hot tub and a few walks in the Surrey Hills or South Downs makes for a proper mid-winter reset.
Book early for Easter and summer. The South East is one of the most densely populated parts of the country. Large group houses within a couple of hours of Surrey fill months ahead for school holiday periods. If you know your dates, don’t wait.
Inset days in Surrey
Surrey schools have five INSET days per academic year. Each school picks its own dates, often attaching them to the start or end of a term. They can turn a half-term week into a nine-day break.
Your school will publish its INSET days at the start of the academic year. If they fall on a Friday before half term or a Monday after it, that’s your cue to book a long weekend in a family holiday house before everyone else does.
Where to stay for a Surrey group break
Surrey itself is one of the smaller counties, but it sits at the centre of some excellent group getaway territory. The Surrey Hills are an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty with walks, pubs and villages. Head south and you’re in Sussex; west and you’re approaching the New Forest; north-east and central London is 45 minutes by train.
For a group weekend, the sweet spot is often just outside Surrey. The Cotswolds and Brighton are both under two hours. Canterbury is about the same distance east. All three have strong options for group houses that sleep 10 or more.
Browse all our properties and filter by group size, features and location to find the right fit. Our bank holidays 2028 guide has the full list of long weekends if you’re planning around those too.
