The first Monday of May is usually a bank holiday in the United Kingdom, referred to as the Early May Bank Holiday or simply as May Day. The 2020 Early May Bank Holiday was moved to the Friday before the first Monday to avoid conflicts with celebrations of the 75th anniversary of VE Day, the end of the Second World War in Europe. The Covid-19 outbreak and cancellations of public events made the move a moot point.

A Bank Holiday is a day when all banks, the majority of Government buildings and other businesses close as part of a mandatory public holiday.

The Bank Holidays Act of 1871 originally had four bank holidays in England, Wales: Easter Monday, Whit Monday, the first Monday in August, and Boxing Day in England and Wales. That has since been superseded by the Banking and Financial Dealings Act 1971, which currently rules that there should be eight bank holidays in total – although the dates can often change depending on the way the calendar falls for that particular year.

"Bank Holiday Fun In Moss Bank Park" - by Theo Vaughan

May Bank Holiday Monday Queens Park by Vincent Donlin.