UK School Holiday Restrictions Affecting Travel and Tourism 2024  

In August 2024, the new UK government announced it would continue the previous government’s policy of fining parents who take their children out of school during term time, and that the fines would increase at the start of school in September 2024. The government emphasized that the fines are mainly issued to parents who take their children out of school for vacation, representing around 89% of the current fines. Many parents look to do this as the cost of plane tickets/vacation packages during the select school holiday weeks can be prohibitively expensive in comparison to typical prices. Parents are fined by their local council if their children have accumulated five days of unauthorized absences.  

This recent increase may force more parents to travel only during the peak holiday times over Christmas, Easter, and the summer. American businesses operating in the travel and tourism industry should make note of these school holiday dates as these will represent peak dates for tourism by British families. Also of note, this new policy could have a negative impact on family dependent destinations, e.g. Florida as families may no longer be able to afford to travel to the U.S. during “high” season.  

Unlike in other countries like Germany that have staggered school holidays to prevent busy travel periods, British public schools have largely the same calendar, starting and ending each term on the same dates. For the current school year 2024-2025, the travel and tourism industry should take note of the following dates: 

•    Autumn Half Term: 10/28 – 11/03 
•    Christmas Holidays: 12/23 – 01/05 
•    February Half Term: 02/17 – 02/23 
•    Easter Holidays: 04/07 – 04/21 
•    May Half Term: 05/26 – 06/02 
•    Summer Holidays: 07/22 – 08/31 

These increased fees represent potential challenges and opportunities for U.S. companies in travel and tourism.  

For more information contact Stephen.Brown@trade.gov.