Please check before you travel during the May Bank Holiday weekends

The next Early May Bank Holiday weekend runs from Saturday 2 May to Monday 4 May 2026. The next Late May (also known as Spring) Bank Holiday weekend runs from Saturday 23 May to Monday 25 May 2026. This travel summary page will start being updated approximately 12 weeks prior to those dates. We look forward to your return visit then.

A very warm welcome to our May Bank Holidays travel advice for 2026.

Planned essential engineering works and upgrades will be taking place at numerous locations during the bank holiday weekend as Network Rail works to improve the railway.

Some train companies will also be making changes to their timetable, and to some train times, to match services to the number of customers travelling.

We do recommend that you plan your bank holiday weekend travel in advance. Check before you travel using the National Rail Journey Planner (below). Important information and useful travel advice relating to your journey may show with warning symbols on your journey results.

Please note though that this information is subject to change as timetables are still being finalised, please check before you travel. Please check our Status and Disruptions pages for up to date real time information.

Major improvement work on your railway during the May Bank Holiday weekends

A considerable number of engineering and improvement projects will be undertaken during the May Bank Holiday weekends. Details of the biggest works taking place will be published here when available.

Please visit our Status and Disruptions pages where you can find details of all the engineering works for the Late May bank holiday weekend.

Check your journey

Please check your journey before you travel using the National Rail real-time Journey Planner.

Find out more about your rights if a train changes.

Social media

For the latest rail travel news, why not follow National Rail on X? Over 1 million people follow @nationalrailenq on X. Our social media team are available 24/7 over the bank holiday weekend to answer your rail queries and supply you with the latest real-time travel updates.

May Bank Holiday changes being made by your train company

​​​​​​​Details of the service each train company will be providing over the bank holiday weekends will be listed below nearer to the time (these page links are currently showing information for the next bank holiday period):

• Avanti West Coast

• c2c

• Caledonian Sleeper

• Chiltern Railways

• CrossCountry

• East Midlands Railway

• Elizabeth line

• Gatwick Express

• Grand Central

• Great Northern

• Great Western Railway

• Greater Anglia

• Heathrow Express

• Hull Trains

• Island Line

• LNER

• London Northwestern Railway

• London Overground

• Lumo

• Merseyrail

• Northern

• ScotRail

• South Western Railway

• Southeastern

• Southern

• Stansted Express

• Thameslink

• TransPennine Express

• Transport for Wales

• West Midlands Railway