As the new year approaches, a savvy financial adviser has unveiled a strategic plan to dramatically extend your time away from the office in 2026. Claire Milne, sharing her advice on TikTok, has pinpointed specific dates to book for annual leave that cleverly align with UK bank holidays, creating substantial blocks of consecutive time off.
Strategic Dates for Maximum Time Off
Claire Milne's method is designed for those with a standard 27-day annual leave allowance who do not work weekends. By booking leave on key dates adjacent to bank holidays, you can create several extended breaks throughout the year.
The Easter Getaway: 16 Days for 8
Her first recommendation focuses on the spring. By booking eight days of annual leave across two blocks, you can secure a 16-day break over Easter. She suggests taking Monday, March 30 through Thursday, April 2, and Tuesday, April 7 through Friday, April 10. This bridges two weekends with the four-day Easter bank holiday weekend in the middle.
Double the Break in May: 18 Days for 8
May presents two opportunities, thanks to the early and late May bank holidays (the 4th and 25th). Again, using just eight days of leave strategically can yield 18 total days off. Book May 5 to 8 and May 26 to 29. Each block, combined with the preceding bank holiday Monday and weekends, creates two separate nine-day breaks.
The September Respite: 9 Days for 4
For a late-summer break, target September. Booking Tuesday, September 1 to Friday, September 4 as annual leave will grant you nine consecutive days off. This works because the August bank holiday (Monday the 31st) and the surrounding weekends bookend your four days of leave.
The Festive Feast: 16 Days for 7
The most significant extension comes over the Christmas and New Year period. Claire Milne's plan turns seven days of annual leave into a mammoth 16-day festive break. To achieve this, book Monday, December 21 to Thursday, December 24, and Tuesday, December 29 to Thursday, December 31. This schedule incorporates weekends, the Christmas Day and December 28 bank holidays, and the New Year's Day bank holiday, creating an uninterrupted period away from work.
Planning for Enhanced Wellbeing
Claire Milne emphasised that this strategy is about more than just holidays; it's a tool for enhancing work-life balance. "Plan your time off wisely to enhance your work-life balance," she advised in her online clip. This forward-planning approach allows individuals to lock in extended periods of rest and recreation well in advance, potentially beating colleagues to the most desirable dates.
While this method is powerful, it is specifically tailored to the 2026 UK bank holiday calendar and assumes a typical Monday-to-Friday working pattern. Success also depends on securing managerial approval for these specific dates, so early consultation with your employer is highly recommended.
