Are trains running on August bank holiday weekend 2024?
Yes, trains will be running over the August Bank Holiday Weekend between Saturday 24th August and Monday 26th August 2024 (in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, the bank holiday is on Monday 26th).
However, there may also be a considerable number of engineering and improvement projects taking place on certain train routes during the August Bank Holiday weekend. It’s important to check ahead of time so you can best plan your route. See below for more details.
Don’t forget, you can view live train time information by searching for your journey in our app. You can also search using our Journey Planner above.
Major engineering works taking place over the August Bank Holiday weekend
Engineering work will be taking place on several routes over the August Bank Holiday weekend from 24th to 26th August. We'll update this page when more information is available on all planned engineering works.
For more details on individual engineering works updates, visit our train engineering works page.
East Coast Main Line
There will be engineering works between London King's Cross and St. Neots on the East Coast Main Line between Saturday 24th August and Monday 26th August. A number of lines will be closed and services along the East Coast Main Line will be affected. Disruption will affect Grand Central, Great Northern, Thameslink, Hull Trains, LNER and Lumo.
West Coast Main Line
Due to planned engineering works between London Euston and North Wembley, there will be a reduced service on the West Coast Main Line to and from London Euston from Saturday 24th August to Monday 26th August. This will affect travellers on Avanti West Coast, London North Western Railway and London Overground (Lioness Line).
Disruption information by train operating company: August Bank Holiday
If you know who you’ll be travelling with over the Late May Bank Holiday weekend (24th–26th August 2024), check below for any potential disruptions to your journey.
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
Popular UK train journeys for August Bank Holiday weekend 2024
Want to explore the UK this August Bank Holiday, but not sure where to go? We're here to help! Here are some of the most popular routes for the August Bank Holiday:
6 of the best events to attend on the August Bank Holiday weekend and how to get there by train
This year, the Summer Bank Holiday weekend takes place between Saturday 24th August to Monday 26th August 2024. Up and down the country, there’ll be plenty of events going on so you can make the most of your long weekend.
Planning on travelling somewhere new for the bank holiday weekend? We’ve compiled a list of our top 6 events to attend on the August Bank Holiday weekend – and of course, we’ll explain how to get there by train!
1. Leeds Festival 2024
- When? Friday 23rd – Sunday 25th August 2024
- Where? Bramham Park, Wetherby, Leeds, LS23 6ND
Leeds Festival is one of the UK’s most renowned music festivals. With featured artists such as Blink 182, Fred Again..., Lana Del Rey and The Prodigy, Leeds is welcoming artists from across the genre spectrum. So, if you love live music, head down to Leeds this Summer Bank Holiday weekend.
- How to get there: Take the train to Leeds train station. From there, you can take the festival bus that will take you direct to Bramham Park. Alternatively, there is a shuttle bus that takes you close to the festival grounds.
2. Notting Hill Carnival
- When? Sunday 25th – Monday 26th August 2024
- Where? Westbourne Grove, London
The Notting Hill Carnival is the largest free street festival in Europe. Choose from over 300 food stalls and bars, listen to the sounds of the carnival with DJs and steel bands, and get involved with the festivities.
- How to get there: Take the train to Paddington station. Then it’s a 20-minute walk to get to Westbourne Grove.
3. A Night at the Musicals
- When? Sunday 25th August 2024
- Where? Battersea Park Rd, London, SW11 4NJ
If you love musicals, ‘A Night at the Musicals’ in Battersea Park is showcasing some classic songs and music from shows like Chicago, Rent and Grease.
- How to get there: Take the train to Battersea Park station. From there, it’s just a short walk to Battersea Park.
4. Foodies Festival
- When? Saturday 24th – Monday 26th August 2024
- Where? South Park, Oxford, OX3 0EB
At the Oxford Foodies Festival, you’ll be able to watch demonstrations from Michelin-starred chefs and MasterChef champions, learn how to make show-stopping cakes with stars from the Great British Bake Off and eat a range of different street food from around the world.
How to get there: Take the train to Oxford. From there, you can get a bus to South Park, which takes around 25 minutes. Buses leave from outside the station.
5. All About Dogs Show, Norfolk
- When? Sunday 25th – Monday 26th August 2024
- Where? Norfolk Showground, Dereham Road, New Costessey, Norwich, NR5 0TT
Bring your dogs to the All About Dogs show to take part in activities testing their agility, recall and lure racing. Shop, sell or compete throughout the day. Will your dog be Best in Show? You can even camp at the Showground if you want to make a weekend of it.
- How to get there: Take the train to Norwich station. From the station or the city centre, you can then catch a bus to the Showground, which can take around an hour.
6. Manchester Pride Festival
- When? Friday 23rd – Monday 26th August 2024
- Where? Greater Manchester
Whether you want to watch the Pride Parade, take part in some of the family events or party the night away in Manchester’s Gay Village, the city’s annual Pride Festival has it all. Many events are free, while others are ticketed (with a donation to Manchester Pride Community Fund as part of the ticket price).
- How to get there: Get the train to Manchester Piccadilly station. There are events all over the city centre, so you can walk, catch a tram or hop on a bus to get to where you want to go.
Cheap train tickets for the bank holiday weekend
If you are travelling by train this bank holiday weekend, we want to make sure you get there as cheaply as possible. Here are some tips for finding the cheapest train tickets.
Book in advance
Keep your eyes peeled for Advance tickets – they are usually released around 12 weeks before the departure date and tend to be cheaper than buying on the day.
Use a Railcard
You can save 1/3 of eligible train journeys across the UK with a Railcard – all for just £30 a year! From Railcards for certain ages to groups or people travelling in certain areas, see which one you’re eligible for. Find out more about buying digital Railcards online with us.
Get split tickets
Did you know it’s sometimes cheaper to split your train journey into sections rather than buying one ticket? Our clever app feature SplitSave does this all for you! Find out more about SplitSave.
UK airport transfers by train
If you're planning on jetting off on holiday this August Bank Holiday, why not get to the airport by train? Many of the UK's biggest airports are served by convenient train links, allowing you to save money on parking or taxis. Here are our guides to getting to some of the most important airports in the UK by train:
Explore Europe by train
Why not travel by train in Europe this August? Enjoy warmer temperatures on a city break to some of Europe's most popular destinations. Here are some of the top routes by train:
Find out more about train travel in the UK
Want to find out more about where trains can take you in the UK? You're in luck. With an extensive rail network, it's easy to reach cities, beaches, National Parks and events by train this summer. Read our travel guides to find out more.