Annual Leave Hack: How to maximise your annual leave in 2023

Before you submit your holiday requests for 2023, make note of the dates below which will turn just 19 days of annual leave into 48 days out of the office (and 49 in Scotland).

Which days to book off in April

If you fancy a longer break to celebrate Easter, you can use 4 days of annual leave to take 10 days away from the office by booking off Monday 3rd April to Thursday 6th April, and enjoy the long Bank Holiday weekend to 10th April.

Which days to book off in May

Due to the Coronation of King Charles III, employees across the UK will enjoy an additional Bank Holiday in 2023. As the event itself falls on a Saturday, the bank holiday will fall on 8th May. This means there are two consecutive Bank Holiday Monday's in early May, so booking off 4 days of leave from Tuesday 2nd May to Friday 5th May will land you 10 consecutive days away from your desk.

Which days to book off in late May and early June

The late May Bank Holiday gives another opportunity to maximise your leave, and turn 4 days of annual leave into 9 days off by booking off Tuesday 30th May to Friday 2nd June.

Which days to book off in late August and early September

Make the most of the last long weekend of the summer, and book off 4 days of annual leave between Tuesday 29th August to Friday 1st September to enjoy 9 days off in a row.

Which days to book off over Christmas and New Year 2023

The Bank Holidays for Christmas and Boxing day fall on a Monday and Tuesday this year, along with a Bank Holiday Monday for the New Year, so you only need to use 3 days of your annual leave allowance to benefit from 10 consecutive days off over the festive period (employees in Scotland will get 11 days thanks to the extra Bank Holiday). You'll just need to request off the 27th, 28th and 29th December.