I understand that August 31, 2015 is a bank holiday in the UK and that crowds will be heavy because of this last summer day off.
We were planning a 2 week trip leaving Aug 28,29, or 30 and are thinking waiting a week, to miss this bank holiday, would be wise. But, then it runs into the US Labor Day, which I assume is not celebrated in the UK.
Any thoughts on the Aug 31 bank holiday crowds and also on US Labor Day (if that is celebrated in UK). Thank you.
Go in September. Better rates than August. Crowds will still be around but not as huge as during the summer travel months. NO the Brits don't celebrate Labor Day. They don't celebrate Thanksgiving or the 4th of July either! Why would they? There was a war. Different countries. Different customs.
Many shops will be closed on August Bank Holiday Monday, but crowds will be at the coast, not in the cities. With one exception .... if you are in London on August Bank Holiday weekend, do not miss the Notting Hill Carnival.
No way "US labor (sic) day" would be celebrated, whenever that is. Labour Day = May Day = 1st May (everybody sing: We'll keep the red flag flying high).
Bank Holidays in England are (Scotland and Northern Ireland are slightly different):
5th November (Guy Fawkes Day, Bonfire Night) is also celebrated, but is not an official holiday.
Schools go back (end of Summer Holiday) first week in September, so many sights will be less crowded. But the weather also starts deteriorating in September.
As a legal oddity, strictly speaking neither Christmas Day nor Good Friday are Bank Holidays in England, as they were ' traditional days of rest' when the first law was enacted concerning bank holidays and so did not need to be mentioned again. Debts or acts that were due on those days could always be paid on the following day instead without penalty, and the bank holiday laws extend this to other proclaimed days.
As to extra crowds on the late summer Bank Holiday this may really depend on where you are going. It isn't a public holiday in Scotland for a start.
To add to the comments above the Scottish variations are 2nd January is a bank holiday and Good Friday is an ordinary working day. The late August holiday in England and Wales is replaced by local holidays that vary where you are. In Glasgow this is at the end of September but can be anytime in August or September depending on the location.
@Chris raises fist to sing 'arise ye workers from your slumber, arise ye prisoners of want!'
Thanks to you all. Ted
