North West school holidays 2026/27

23 councils · compiled from each council's published calendar · latest check 12 September 2026

Most of the North West takes October half term from Monday 26 October 2026 to Friday 30 October 2026 in 2026/27, and every council we cover agrees on it. The summer holiday starts anywhere from 17 July 2027 in Cumberland to 24 July 2027 in Bolton. The table compares all 23 North West councils for 2026/27, and each council name links to its full term dates, school-day counts and the council's own notes.

North West school holidays 2026/27 by council
CouncilOctober half termChristmasFebruary half termEasterSummer starts
Blackburn with Darwen26 Oct – 30 Oct21 Dec – 1 Jan15 Feb – 19 Feb26 Mar – 9 Apr22 July 2027
Bolton26 Oct – 30 Oct21 Dec – 1 Jan15 Feb – 19 Feb26 Mar – 9 Apr24 July 2027
Bury26 Oct – 30 Oct21 Dec – 1 Jan15 Feb – 19 Feb26 Mar – 9 Apr22 July 2027
Cheshire East26 Oct – 30 Oct21 Dec – 1 Jan15 Feb – 19 Feb26 Mar – 9 Apr22 July 2027
Cheshire West and Chester26 Oct – 30 Oct21 Dec – 1 Jan15 Feb – 19 Feb26 Mar – 9 Apr22 July 2027
Cumberland26 Oct – 30 Oct21 Dec – 4 Jan15 Feb – 19 Feb26 Mar – 9 Apr17 July 2027
Halton26 Oct – 30 Oct21 Dec – 1 Jan15 Feb – 19 Feb26 Mar – 9 Apr22 July 2027
Knowsley26 Oct – 30 Oct21 Dec – 1 Jan15 Feb – 19 Feb26 Mar – 9 Apr22 July 2027
Lancashire26 Oct – 30 Oct21 Dec – 1 Jan15 Feb – 19 Feb26 Mar – 9 Apr22 July 2027
Liverpool26 Oct – 30 Oct21 Dec – 1 Jan15 Feb – 19 Feb29 Mar – 9 Apr22 July 2027
Manchester26 Oct – 30 Oct21 Dec – 1 Jan15 Feb – 19 Feb5 Apr – 16 Apr23 July 2027
Oldham26 Oct – 30 Oct21 Dec – 1 Jan15 Feb – 19 Feb26 Mar – 9 Apr22 July 2027
Rochdale26 Oct – 30 Oct21 Dec – 1 Jan15 Feb – 19 Feb26 Mar – 9 Apr22 July 2027
Salford26 Oct – 30 Oct21 Dec – 1 Jan15 Feb – 19 Feb5 Apr – 16 Apr23 July 2027
Sefton26 Oct – 30 Oct21 Dec – 1 Jan15 Feb – 19 Feb26 Mar – 9 Apr22 July 2027
St Helens26 Oct – 30 Oct21 Dec – 1 Jan15 Feb – 19 Feb26 Mar – 9 Apr22 July 2027
Stockport26 Oct – 30 Oct21 Dec – 1 Jan15 Feb – 19 Feb26 Mar – 9 Apr22 July 2027
Tameside26 Oct – 30 Oct21 Dec – 1 Jan15 Feb – 19 Feb26 Mar – 9 Apr22 July 2027
Trafford26 Oct – 30 Oct21 Dec – 1 Jan15 Feb – 19 Feb26 Mar – 9 Apr22 July 2027
Warrington26 Oct – 30 Oct21 Dec – 1 Jan15 Feb – 19 Feb26 Mar – 9 Apr22 July 2027
Westmorland and Furness26 Oct – 30 Oct21 Dec – 4 Jan15 Feb – 19 Feb26 Mar – 9 Apr17 July 2027
Wigan26 Oct – 30 Oct21 Dec – 5 Jan15 Feb – 19 Feb25 Mar – 9 Apr22 July 2027
Wirral26 Oct – 30 Oct21 Dec – 1 Jan15 Feb – 19 Feb26 Mar – 9 Apr22 July 2027

Term dates by council in the North West

Reading the table: dates are the days off school as each council publishes them, trimmed to the school week. A dash means the council presents that period differently and its own page explains. Academies, free schools and private schools set their own calendars, and every school adds its own inset days.

Common questions

When is October half term in the North West in 2026?

October half term in the North West runs from Monday 26 October 2026 to Friday 30 October 2026, and every North West council we cover takes the same week.

When do schools in the North West break up for summer 2027?

It depends on the council. Cumberland starts the summer holiday first, on 17 July 2027, and Bolton last, on 24 July 2027. The table on this page lists every council's date.

Do all North West councils have the same school holidays?

No. Each council sets its own calendar. In 2026/27, all 23 North West councils take the same October half term, but the summer holiday starts anywhere from 17 July 2027 to 24 July 2027. Families with children at schools under two councils should check both pages. Academies, free schools and private schools set their own calendars, and every school adds its own inset days.

Other regions

East Midlands · East of England · London · North East · Scotland · South East · South West · Wales · West Midlands · Yorkshire and the Humber

Comparing across the whole country? See every UK council's school holidays side by side, or read how we compile term dates.