School Holiday Flights UK 2026/27: When to Book Each Break

Term dates vary by council, so always check your own before booking. For most schools in England, the year looks roughly like this. October half-term is the week of 26 October 2026. Christmas runs from about 21 December to 1 January. February half-term is the week of 15 February 2027. Easter is early, with most schools off from around 29 March to 9 April. May half-term is the week of 31 May, and summer starts around 21 to 23 July.

Scottish schools break up for summer in late June and go back in mid-August, which shifts the demand. That's useful if you live in Scotland. Flights from Edinburgh and Glasgow are often cheaper in late August, when English families are still away and Scottish ones are back at school.

A family of four can easily pay £300 to £600 more by booking a school holiday late. The patterns are predictable, which means they're beatable.

October half-term is close, so the cheap seats on the obvious routes have gone. The best remaining value is usually in the Canaries and southern Spain. Lanzarote from Stansted on Ryanair and Málaga from Bristol on easyJet often still have fares around £90 to £130 one-way for half-term week. Turkey stays warm too, around 25°C, and Jet2 from Manchester and Birmingham to Antalya often has late package deals.

Christmas is the one to sort now. If you want winter sun over the school holidays, book in October. Tenerife over Christmas week is usually £150 to £220 one-way on Jet2 or easyJet if you book now, and can top £300 in December. Our winter sun guide covers which places are properly warm in December.

The Christmas markets are a cheaper family alternative. Kraków, Prague and Vienna are all two hours or less from London, and a midweek trip in the first school holiday week costs far less than a sun holiday.

February half-term is the best kept secret for families. It's a short break, so fewer people fly, and fares are usually 20 to 30% lower than Easter. Ski trips aside, the Canaries are the go-to choice at about 21°C. Book by early December for the best prices. Gran Canaria from Gatwick on easyJet is often around £80 to £120 one-way if you get in early.

Easter 2027 starts with Good Friday on 26 March, so it's spring rather than summer weather in most of Europe. Families wanting warmth should look at the Canaries, Cyprus or Morocco. Families happy with 18 to 20°C will find better value in Portugal and southern Spain. Book Easter flights before Christmas. Prices climb steadily from January. Our Easter 2027 guide has the routes and leave tricks.

May half-term lines up with the Spring bank holiday on 31 May, which makes it busy. The Algarve, Mallorca, Menorca and Crete are all at their best in late May, warm without the August heat. Faro from Bristol or Gatwick on easyJet is a family favourite, and booking by February usually saves £40 to £80 per person.

For summer 2027, book by January. Airlines and Jet2 open their summer schedules in the autumn, and the best-value family seats go in the January sales period. The last week of July and the first week of August are always the most expensive. If your children's school breaks up on a Wednesday, fly out on Thursday or Friday of the following week instead of the first Saturday, and you'll often save £50 or more each.

Wherever you're going, add the bags before comparing fares. Jet2 includes 22kg per person on package holidays, which often makes it cheaper overall for families than a low headline fare with £45 bags each way. Search your local airport below and compare a few dates before you book.