The Campaign
Is 12 July 2027 a Bank Holiday?
No — not as things stand. As of June 2026, the UK government has not declared a bank holiday for 12 July 2027, the 1100th anniversary of England’s unification. There is a grassroots campaign and some cross-party sympathy — but the petitions remain small. Here is exactly where it stands.
Status · reviewed 7 June 2026
- Bank holiday confirmed?
- No
- Most-signed live petition
- ~1,089 of 10,000 needed
- That petition closes
- 11 Sep 2026
- Government response?
- Not yet
What’s being asked for
Several UK Parliament petitions call for Monday 12 July 2027 to be a one-off bank holiday in England, marking 1,100 years since King Æthelstan united the country in 927. The date points to his meeting with the rulers of Britain at Eamont, in Cumbria, on 12 July 927 — after which he styled himself Rex Anglorum, “King of the English.”
Where the petitions stand
The numbers are modest. The most-signed live petition (number 759778) had around 1,089 signatures in June 2026 and is open until 11 September 2026. An earlier petition (729375) closed in January 2026 with just 326 signatures. Under the rules, a petition needs 10,000 signatures for an official government response and 100,000 to be considered for a debate — so none is yet close.
The political backing
The idea has friends in Westminster. Cross-party MPs have called for a one-off holiday, and Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey has publicly backed it, telling the BBC the anniversary “absolutely deserves a bank holiday” and framing it as a chance to reclaim a confident, history-rooted patriotism. So far, that support has not translated into a government commitment.
How a one-off bank holiday actually happens
Bank holidays aren’t set by petition. A one-off holiday is granted by the government, by royal proclamation under the Banking and Financial Dealings Act 1971 — the same route used for the 2022 Platinum Jubilee and the 2023 Coronation. Petitions and press pressure can move the politics, but the decision rests with ministers.
Will it happen?
Honestly: possible, but not currently on track. The anniversary’s profile is rising, a Monday date makes a tidy long weekend, and jubilee-style holidays have recent precedent — but with petitions in the hundreds and no government signal, a holiday is far from assured. If that changes, this page will be the first to say so.
Sources
- UK Parliament — petition 759778 (open)
- UK Parliament — petition 729375 (closed, Jan 2026)
- GB News — Ed Davey calls for a new bank holiday
Frequently asked questions
Is 12 July 2027 a bank holiday?
No. As of June 2026 the UK government has not declared a bank holiday for 12 July 2027. It remains an ordinary Monday unless the government decides otherwise.
Why do people want a bank holiday on 12 July 2027?
It would mark the 1,100th anniversary of the unification of England under King Æthelstan, whose meeting with the other rulers of Britain at Eamont on 12 July 927 is taken as the birth of England.
How many people have signed the petition?
The most-signed live UK Parliament petition (759778) had about 1,089 signatures as of June 2026 and is open until 11 September 2026. A petition needs 10,000 signatures for a government response and 100,000 to be considered for a debate.
Who decides whether there is a bank holiday?
The UK government. One-off bank holidays are granted by royal proclamation under the Banking and Financial Dealings Act 1971 — as happened for the 2022 Platinum Jubilee and the 2023 Coronation.
Has the government responded?
Not yet. No petition on the subject has reached the 10,000-signature threshold that triggers an official government response.
We’re tracking this. Join the countdown and we’ll tell you the moment a bank holiday is announced — plus everything else for England’s 1100th.