Are trains running on August bank holiday weekend 2025?
Yes, trains will be running over the August Bank Holiday Weekend between Saturday 23rd August and Monday 25th August 2025 (in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, the bank holiday is on Monday 25th).
However, there may also be a considerable number of engineering and improvement projects taking place on certain train routes during the August Bank Holiday weekend. It’s important to check ahead of time so you can best plan your route. See below for more details.
Don’t forget, you can view live train time information by searching for your journey in our app. You can also search using our Journey Planner above.
CrossCountry industrial action - August Bank Holiday
RMT union strike action is expected to disrupt CrossCountry services on:
Saturday 23rd August – No CrossCountry services
Sunday 24th August – Widespread cancellations likely
Monday 25th August – Significantly reduced service
Passengers are advised not to travel on Saturday 23 August and to plan journeys either side of the Bank Holiday weekend where possible.
If you’ve already purchased a ticket, you can use it from Thursday 21st August through to and including Wednesday 27th August 2025. You can also cancel your journey and get a full refund if your train is cancelled, delayed or rescheduled after booking. This applies to all unused tickets (except season tickets).
Major engineering works taking place over the August Bank Holiday weekend
Engineering work will be taking place on several routes over the August Bank Holiday weekend from 23rd to 25th August. We'll update this page when more information is available on all planned engineering works.
For more details on individual engineering works updates, visit our train engineering works page.
National Rail
Kings Cross, Potters Bar and Peterborough
Due to engineering works taking place between King’s Cross, Potters Bar and Peterborough, train services will be heavily disrupted from late evening on Saturday 23rd August until early morning on Monday 25th August. During this period, journeys to and from King’s Cross will be significantly altered. In many cases, part or all of your journey may use a rail replacement bus service.
London Euston
Reduced train services will run to and from London Euston on the morning of Saturday 23rd August to the evening of Monday 25th August.
Planned engineering
The following stations will be affected by planned engineering works for some or all of the bank holiday weekend: Hounslow, Guildford, Lewisham, Birmingham International, Birmingham to Nuneaton.
Network Rail
Birmingham International and Birmingham New Street
Rail replacement buses will be running between Birmingham International and Birmingham New Street due to track renewals at Garrison Street and Tyseley. CrossCountry and Avanti services will be diverted resulting in extended journey times. London Northwestern services will terminate at Birmingham International.
London Victoria to Dartford
There will be no Southeastern train services between London Victoria and Dartford on Sunday 24th and Monday 25th August due to re-signalling work in the Lewisham area. Rail replacement buses will operate between New Cross and Dartford via Bexleyheath to cover affected services.
Popular UK train journeys for August Bank Holiday weekend 2025
Want to explore the UK this August Bank Holiday, but not sure where to go? We're here to help! Here are some of the most popular routes for the August Bank Holiday:
6 of the best events to attend on August Bank Holiday weekend and how to get there by train
This year, the Summer Bank Holiday weekend takes place between Saturday 23rd August to Monday 25th August 2025. Up and down the country, there’ll be plenty of events going on so you can make the most of your long weekend.
Planning on travelling somewhere new for the bank holiday weekend? We’ve compiled a list of our top 6 events to attend on the August Bank Holiday weekend – and of course, we’ll explain how to get there by train!
1. Reading and Leeds Festival 2025
When? Thursday 21st – Sunday 24th August 2025
Where?
- Leeds Festival: Bramham Park, Wetherby, Leeds, LS23 6ND
- Reading Festival: Richfield Avenue, Reading, RG1 8EQ
Reading and Leeds Festival is one of the UK’s most renowned music festivals. With featured artists such as Chappell Roan, Hozier, Bring Me The Horizon and Travis Scott, Reading and Leeds is welcoming artists from across the genre spectrum. So, if you love live music, head down to Reading or Leeds this Summer Bank Holiday weekend.
How to get there:
- Leeds: Take the train to Leeds train station. From there, you can take the festival bus that will take you direct to Bramham Park. Alternatively, there is a shuttle bus that takes you close to the festival grounds.
- Reading: Catch the train to Reading train station and take the festival bus straight to Richfield Avenue.
2. Notting Hill Carnival
- When? Saturday 23rd – Monday 25th August 2025
- Where? Westbourne Grove, London
The Notting Hill Carnival is the largest free street festival in Europe. Choose from over 300 food stalls and bars, listen to the sounds of the carnival with DJs and steel bands, and get involved with the festivities.
- How to get there:
- Take the train to Paddington station. From here it’s a 20-minute walk to get to Westbourne Grove.
- Or you can take the train to Paddington station and catch the Elizabeth line, Circle, Bakerloo or Hammersmith & City lines.
3. Battersea Park in Concert
- When? Saturday 23rd - Monday 25th August 2025
- Where? Battersea Park Rd, London, SW11 4NJ
If you love live music and open-air concerts, Battersea Park in Concert has three nights of entertainment — Symphonic Disco, A Night at the Movies and Jools Holland.
How to get there: Take the train to Battersea Park station. From there, it’s just a short 5 minute walk to Battersea Park.
4. Foodies Festival
- When? Saturday 23rd – Monday 25th August 2025
- Where? South Park, Oxford, OX3 0EB
At the Oxford Foodies Festival, you’ll be able to watch demonstrations from Michelin-starred chefs and MasterChef champions, learn how to make show-stopping cakes with stars from the Great British Bake Off and eat a range of different street food from around the world.
How to get there: Take the train to Oxford. From there, you can get a bus to South Park, which takes around 25 minutes. Buses leave from outside the station.
5. All About Dogs Show, Norfolk
- When? Sunday 24th – Monday 25th August 2025
- Where? Norfolk Showground, Dereham Road, New Costessey, Norwich, NR5 0TT
Bring your dogs to the All About Dogs show to take part in activities testing their agility, recall and lure racing. Shop, sell or compete throughout the day. Will your dog be Best in Show? You can even camp at the Showground if you want to make a weekend of it.
- How to get there: Take the train to Norwich station. From the station or the city centre, you can then catch a bus to the Showground, which can take around an hour.
6. Manchester Pride Festival
- When? Friday 22nd – Monday 25th August 2025
- Where? Greater Manchester
Whether you want to watch the Pride Parade, take part in some of the family events or party the night away in Manchester’s Gay Village, the city’s annual Pride Festival has it all. Many events are free, while others are ticketed (with a donation to Manchester Pride Community Fund as part of the ticket price).
- How to get there: Get the train to Manchester Piccadilly station. There are events all over the city centre, so you can walk, catch a tram or hop on a bus to get to where you want to go.
Cheap train tickets for the bank holiday weekend
If you are travelling by train this bank holiday weekend, we want to make sure you get there as cheaply as possible. Here are some tips for finding the cheapest train tickets.
Book in advance
Keep your eyes peeled for Advance tickets – they are usually released around 12 weeks before the departure date and tend to be cheaper than buying on the day.
Use a Railcard
You can save 1/3 of eligible train journeys across the UK with a Railcard – all for just £30 a year! From Railcards for certain ages to groups or people travelling in certain areas, see which one you’re eligible for. Find out more about buying digital Railcards online with us.
Get split tickets
Did you know it’s sometimes cheaper to split your train journey into sections rather than buying one ticket? Our clever app feature SplitSave does this all for you! Find out more about SplitSave.
UK airport transfers by train
If you're planning on jetting off on holiday this August Bank Holiday, why not get to the airport by train? Many of the UK's biggest airports are served by convenient train links, allowing you to save money on parking or taxis. Here are our guides to getting to some of the most important airports in the UK by train:
Explore Europe by train
Why not travel by train in Europe this August? Enjoy warmer temperatures on a city break to some of Europe's most popular destinations. Here are some of the top routes by train:
Find out more about train travel in the UK
Want to find out more about where trains can take you in the UK? You're in luck. With an extensive rail network, it's easy to reach cities, beaches, National Parks and events by train this summer. Read our travel guides to find out more.