2nd January in the United Kingdom

2nd January - Dates

This year

Name	Date	Holiday Type	Countries
2nd January	Thu, 2 Jan 2025	Bank holiday	SCT	Add

Next year

Name	Date	Holiday Type	Countries
2nd January	Fri, 2 Jan 2026	Bank holiday	SCT	Add

Last year

Name	Date	Holiday Type	Countries
2nd January	Tue, 2 Jan 2024	Bank holiday	SCT	Add

Are Businesses Closed?

2nd January is a bank holiday in Scotland. Most businesses are closed.

Are Schools Closed?

Schools are closed throughout the Christmas & New Year and only open after the 2nd January in Scotland.

Short history - how 2nd January became special in Scotland

Hogmanay - the Scottish New Year celebration - has long been a major cultural event in Scotland. Because Hogmanay traditionally involved lengthy celebrations, the extra day off on 2 January became customary to allow people to rest and continue festivities. Over time this practice was formalised in modern bank-holiday lists so Scotland routinely has both 1 and 2 January as public holidays. Learn more about Hogmanay on VisitScotland - Hogmanay.

How 2nd January is observed across the UK

Scotland

In Scotland 2 January is a statutory bank holiday. Many people treat it as an extension of Hogmanay: some councils and organisations continue family events, parades or smaller community gatherings; others use the day for rest and recovery. Public services - banks, many post offices and local authority offices - are typically closed. Check local council pages for specific event listings.

England, Wales and Northern Ireland

In the rest of the UK, 2 January is usually not a bank holiday. After the New Year's Eve events end, many people return to work (unless their employer gives extra leave). Where 1 January falls on a weekend, substitute bank-holiday arrangements can change the status of surrounding days.

Practical local impacts and things to plan for

Transport and travel

In Scotland expect reduced or altered public-transport timetables on 1 and 2 January - trains and buses may run a Sunday or holiday timetable, and some rural services may not run at all. If you are travelling between nations, plan ahead for limited connections. Visitors should check ScotRail and local bus operator pages before travel.

Public services, waste collection and libraries

Local council offices, libraries and household-waste collections are often paused on bank holidays and resumed on a different weekday. Councils publish household-waste calendars - check your local page to avoid missing collections.

Retail and hospitality

Many shops and hospitality venues in Scotland close or operate reduced hours on 2 January. Conversely, some hospitality businesses (cafes, pubs, restaurants) plan extended opening for holiday visitors.

Practical checklist for 2 January

• Check whether 2 January is a bank holiday where you are - it is in Scotland but not normally in the rest of the UK.
• Plan travel ahead if you are using public transport in Scotland - operators usually publish holiday timetables in advance.
• Check local council pages for waste collection and library opening times.
• If you work on 2 January, check your contract or speak with HR about holiday pay and substitute-day rules.

FAQ

Is 2 January a public holiday across the UK?

No - 2 January is a statutory bank holiday in Scotland, but it is not usually a bank holiday in England, Wales or Northern Ireland.

Why does Scotland have 2 January off?

Scotland traditionally celebrates Hogmanay vigorously; the extra day gives people time to recover and continue community celebrations. The practice has been incorporated into the formal bank-holiday calendar.

Will public transport and shops be operating?

Many services in Scotland run reduced or holiday timetables and shops may be closed or on reduced hours. In the rest of the UK services are more likely to be normal, but always check local operators and retailers.