Tool
Half-term crowd impact
England has three different "week groups" for half-term (often labelled A, B and C), so families across the country stagger their week off. This is good news for visitors who can pick the opposite week — and bad news if you arrive on the same week as everyone in your region. This tool maps it out and tells you what to expect at popular UK attractions.
What this solves
UK school holiday dates differ between England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. Even within England, half-terms split into three week-blocks (sometimes labelled A, B and C by Local Authority), so families from different counties take different weeks off. Theme parks get 2–4× more visitors during the same week. National Trust properties and National Parks see similar but lower spikes. The tool gives a concrete verdict so you can avoid the worst weeks.
How to read the result
- Verdict: predicted crowd uplift vs a normal week.
- Tip: if you want to dodge the crowds, travel the week BEFORE or AFTER the listed dates for your venue.
- Best alternative dates: school holiday weeks when families are NOT on holiday.
What it doesn't cover
- Real-time crowd data.
- Local bank holiday weekend uplift (separate tool).
- Half-term + Easter + Christmas overlap across the UK nations (you'd want to look at each region directly).
FAQ
When is the next UK half-term?
2025/2026 typical dates: Autumn half-term late October (~25 Oct–2 Nov), Christmas ~22 Dec, February ~16–20 Feb, Easter ~28 Mar–11 Apr (date varies year to year), May ~22–30 May, Summer holiday ~22 Sep–2 Sep.
Are Scotland and England half-terms different?
Yes — Scotland usually runs a week earlier in February and a different week in May. Useful if you're trying to dodge crowds.
Which week is half-term at my school?
Check your Local Authority website — half-term weeks are split into roughly 3 groups that rotate each year. Outside London it's well documented; inside London all boroughs share one week in February.
Are hotels expensive during school holidays?
Yes — theme parks, coastal cottages and National Park hotels can rise 30–80% during half-term weeks. Booking 6+ weeks ahead is normal for popular sites.
Sources
- Department for Education — school term dates.
- Scottish Government — school holiday dates for Scotland.
- VisitBritain / VisitEngland — published annual visitor figures.