Are trains running on the Late May Bank Holiday weekend 2025?
Yes, trains will be running over the Late May Bank Holiday Weekend (also known as the Spring bank holiday weekend) from Saturday 24th May to Monday 26th May 2025.
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 Late May Bank Holiday weekend
London St Pancras International - Bedford
Lines between London St Pancras International and Bedford will be closed on Saturday 24th May and Sunday 25th May. East Midlands Railway (EMR) services will start and terminate at Bedford, whilst Thameslink services will start and terminate at St Albans and Harpenden. There will be replacement bus services to allow passengers to get to/from central London.
Check our Journey Planner for the latest updates and alternative routes.
Nuneaton - Stafford
Over the late May bank holiday weekend (Saturday 24th - Monday 26th May), the lines between Nuneaton and Stafford will be closed to allow HS2 work to take place. This may affect Avanti West Coast and London Northwestern Railway services. Train timetables will be amended and there will be replacement bus services on some routes.
Check our Journey Planner for the latest updates and alternative routes.
Popular UK train journeys for Late May Bank Holiday weekend 2025
If you want to explore the UK this Late May Bank Holiday, but you’re not sure where to go, we’re here to help! Here are some of the most popular routes for the Late May Bank Holiday:
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 24th May and Monday 26th May 2025. 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 24th, Sunday 25th and Monday 26th 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. Garden celebration weekend at Avebury Manor Garden
- When? Saturday 24th, Sunday 25th and Monday 26th May
- Where? Avebury Manor Garden, Marlborough, Wiltshire
There's something for everyone at Avebury Manor Garden's celebration over the late May bank holiday weekend. It's a great family day out. Make a flower crown, play a spring game or two and browse the wares of local stallholders and artisans.
- How to get there: Catch a train to Swindon station. From Swindon, you can catch the no. 49 bus to Avebury. Visitors travelling by bus get money off their entrance ticket too!
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.