May Bank Holidays train travel
Are trains running on the Early May Bank Holiday weekend 2026?
Trains will be running over the Early May Bank Holiday Weekend from Saturday 2nd May to Monday 4th May 2026.
There will be planned engineering works during this time which may cause some disruption to your journey.
It’s important to check ahead of time so you can best plan your route. Don’t forget, you can view live train time information by searching for your journey in our app.
Are trains running on the Late May Bank Holiday weekend 2026?
Yes, trains will be running over the Late May Bank Holiday Weekend (also known as the Spring bank holiday weekend) from Saturday 23rd May to Monday 25th May 2026.
However, there may be some disruption to your journey as there are planned engineering works taking place across both May Bank Holiday weekends. It’s important to check ahead of time so you can best plan your route. See below for more details about disruption over the next Bank Holiday weekend.
Don’t forget, you can view live train time information by searching for your journey in our app.
Disruption information over the Early Bank Holiday weekend
London Euston
Services to and from London Euston will run on a reduced schedule throughout the weekend due to limited line capacity. Check your journey in advance to see how your plans may be affected.
Liverpool Lime Street
On Sunday 3rd May and into the morning of Monday 4th May, key lines into Liverpool Lime Street will be closed for upgrade work. During this period, only Merseyrail services will operate to and from the station.
York - Darlington
The East Coast Main Line will be shut between York and Northallerton for the duration of the weekend. If you’re travelling between York and Darlington, part of your journey is likely to be by replacement bus.
London Charing Cross - Waterloo East
No trains will serve London Charing Cross or London Waterloo East from Saturday 2nd May to Monday 4th May. Additionally, London Cannon Street will be closed on Sunday 3rd May. Southeastern services will be diverted, with many trains running via London Victoria instead.
Other disruptions
Engineering works at Huddersfield, around Ely, and at Bath Spa may also affect services, so it’s worth checking your route before you travel.
Disruption information over the Late May Bank Holiday weekend
London St Pancras International - London Blackfriars
No Thameslink trains will run through central London from Saturday 23rd May to Monday 25th May (inclusive). Services will be significantly disrupted, so please check before you travel.
York – Darlington
The East Coast Main Line will be closed between York and Northallerton from Saturday 23 May to Monday 25 May (inclusive). If you’re travelling between York and Darlington, you’ll likely need to use rail replacement transport.
Check our Journey Planner for the latest updates and alternative routes.
East Grinstead / Uckfield
No Southern trains will run between South Croydon and Oxted, East Grinstead or Uckfield from Saturday 23 May to Monday 25 May (inclusive). Rail replacement transport will be in place, so allow extra time for your journey.
Other planned engineering works
Engineering work between Bristol Parkway and Newport (Severn Tunnel closure), as well as at Huddersfield and London Cannon Street, may also affect journeys over the Late May bank holiday.
Popular UK train journeys for May Bank Holiday weekends 2026
If you want to explore the UK this May, but you’re not sure where to go, we’re here to help! Here are some of the most popular routes for the May Bank Holiday weekends:
Top Early May Bank Holiday events 2026
1. Bluey & Bingo Activity Day, Herefordshire
- When? Saturday 2nd May 2026
- Where? Pinsley Road, Leominster, Herefordshire, HR6 8NL
Meet Bluey and Bingo at Grange Court’s Bank Holiday Activities Day – packed with magical experiences! If you’re looking for a weekend full of activities, games and family fun, look no further. Be sure to secure your tickets for this event, running from 11am to 3pm, to avoid disappointment.
- How to get there: Take the train from London Paddington or London Euston to Newport or Crewe station. From Crewe it's just one train to Leominster. Then from the station, it's around a 5 minute walk to Grange Court.
2. Brilliant Birds Trail, Worcestershire
- When? Monday 4th May 2026
- Where? The Commandery, Sidbury, Worcester, WR1 2HU
Visit the beautiful birds that live around The Commandery, including herons by the canal and robins in the gardens, in this family fun trail experience through the building and gardens. After that, get hands-on andnenjoy decorating your own wooden bird glider!
- How to get there: Take the train from London Paddington to Worcester Foregate Street station. From there it's around a 13 minute walk to The Commandery.
3. Statfold Country Park, Staffordshire
- When? Saturday 2nd to Monday 4th May 2026
- Where? Statfold Country Park, Ashby Road, Tamworth B79 0BU
Children will love being transported back to the prehistoric world for Statfold Goes Jurassic at Statfold Country Park. This action packed weekend of fun involves getting up close and personal with different dino species, watching live dinosaur shows and unlimited train rides throughout the day.
- How to get there: Take the train from London Euston to Tamworth station. From there, takt the 785 bus to Shuttington Road and walk 23 minutes or take a 5 minute taxi to Statfold Country Park.
3 of the best events to attend on the Late May Bank Holiday weekend and how to get there by train
This year, the Late May Bank Holiday weekend takes place between Saturday 23rd May and Monday 25th May 2026. Up and down the country, there’ll be plenty of events going on so you can make the most of your long weekend. We’ve chosen a couple of events to help inspire you when making plans.
1. The Queen's Joust at Leeds Castle, Kent
- When? Saturday 23rd, Sunday 24th and Monday 25th May
- Where? Leeds Castle, Broomfield, Maidstone, ME17 1PL
Get up close to the medieval action and watch the jousting event at Leeds Castle this Spring bank holiday weekend. Jousters from three teams will take part across the weekend, with two events each day. Plus, the event is included in your ticket price - so you can check out the castle too!
- How to get there: Take the train from London Victoria or Ashford International to Hollingbourne or Bearsted station. From either of these stations, it's around a 5 minute taxi journey or a 30 minute walk to Leeds Castle.
2. Nature Explorers Week at Godstone Farm
- When? Saturday 23rd to Sunday 31st May
- Where? Tilburstow Hill Road, Godstone, RH9 8LX
There's something for everyone at Nature Explorers Week over the late May bank holiday weekend. It's a great family day out. Enjoy messy play story time, learn about the fascinating world of insects and get involved with sowing some crop seeds.
- How to get there: Catch a train to Oxted station. From Oxted, you can catch the no. 410 bus that will take you there.
3. Blenheim Palace Food Festival
- When? Saturday 24th, Sunday 25th and Monday 26th May
- Where? Blenheim Palace, Woodstock, Oxfordshire
Calling all foodies! This 3-day festival of food will see you trying out a whole host of food and drink. There'll also be cooking demonstrations and family-friendly entertainment. If that wasn't enough, you can explore the palace and its grounds - so why not make a day of it?
- How to get there: Take the train to Oxford. From Oxford, you can take a bus to Woodstock - the buses even drop you off at the palace gates!
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 on eligible train journeys across the UK with a Railcard – all for just £35 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 airports transfers by train
If you're planning on jetting off on holiday this Early May 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 May? 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.