Campaigners are urging ministers to grant England an additional bank holiday in 2027 to commemorate what they describe as one of the most significant moments in the nation’s history.
The Government has already confirmed the standard eight bank holidays for England and Wales in 2027, with substitute holidays falling on December 27 and 28 after Christmas Day and Boxing Day both land on a weekend.
However, a growing campaign is seeking official recognition of another date: July 12, 2027, which supporters say will mark the 1,100th anniversary of the birth of England.
The proposal has been put forward through a parliamentary petition launched by Derek Hilling, who argues that the anniversary deserves national celebration.
Make Monday 12th July 2027 a bank holiday in England to commemorate the 1100th anniversary of the birth of England, so that all the people of England celebrate this occasion,” the petition states.
Mr Hilling also called on the Government to support nationwide events to mark the milestone.
Supporters of the campaign point to a meeting arranged by King Æthelstan in 927 at Eamotum, now believed to be near modern-day Penrith in Cumbria, as the defining moment in the creation of England as a unified kingdom.
Following the gathering, Æthelstan adopted the title Rex Anglorum — King of the English — a development many historians regard as a key step in the formation of the English nation.
The petition argues that recognising the anniversary with a bank holiday would demonstrate official acknowledgement of the country’s origins and allow communities across England to participate in celebrations.
It states: “We believe the Government, by creating a bank holiday on that day, would indicate its recognition of this significant day in England’s history and could allow most people in England to join in the celebrations.
At the time of writing, the petition had attracted more than 1,300 signatures.
Under parliamentary rules, petitions receiving 10,000 signatures are entitled to a formal response from the Government, while those reaching 100,000 signatures may be considered for debate in Parliament.
The petition remains open until September 11, 2026.
Any change to the bank holiday calendar would require formal approval through the established constitutional process. While additional holidays have occasionally been granted to mark major national events, such decisions remain relatively rare.
Whether England will be given a day off to celebrate its 1,100th birthday remains uncertain, but campaigners hope the anniversary will spark renewed interest in the nation’s early history and the legacy of King Æthelstan.
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