Do locksmiths charge more on bank holidays?

It depends on the locksmith. I charge the same price every day of the year — no bank holiday surcharges, no unsociable hours fees, no weekend premiums. My standard lockout price starts from £59 whether it is a Tuesday afternoon or midnight on Christmas Day. However, some locksmiths (particularly large national call centres) do charge double or triple on bank holidays. Always ask for a firm price before agreeing to any work.

What is the most common cause of bank holiday lockouts?

Changed routines and alcohol are the two biggest factors. On a normal weekday, you have a set routine — keys, wallet, phone — that you do automatically. On a bank holiday, that routine is disrupted. Add in socialising, visiting unfamiliar houses, and uPVC doors that lock automatically when they close, and lockouts become far more likely. The simple fix is to do a "pat-down" check every time you close a door behind you.

Should I fit a key safe to avoid bank holiday lockouts?

A wall-mounted key safe is one of the best investments you can make if you are prone to lockouts or want peace of mind for the whole family. I fit them from around £50 and they give you a secure backup way to get in at any time. They are also useful for letting pet sitters, cleaners, or family members in when you are not there. They are far more secure than hiding a key under a mat or flowerpot.

What should I do if I am locked out and cannot reach a locksmith?

Stay calm and do not try to force entry — broken windows and damaged doors cost far more than a locksmith callout. Check all other doors and windows (one may be unlocked). Check whether a neighbour has a spare key. If you are locked out of someone else's house, call the homeowner. As a last resort, call 101 (non-emergency police) if you are vulnerable or in danger. My number is 07735 336175 and I aim to answer every call, but if I am on another job I will call back within minutes.

Bank Holiday Lockout Survival Guide

Locked out on a bank holiday? Most businesses are closed — but you still need to get in. Here is how bank holiday lockouts work and what it will cost.

Bank Holidays: The UK's Peak Lockout Season

There is something about bank holidays that makes lockouts far more likely. Changed routines, socialising, alcohol, visiting unfamiliar houses, and the general disruption to your normal pattern all contribute. As a locksmith working across Coventry, I can tell you with certainty: bank holiday weekends are my busiest periods.

If you are reading this while locked out on a bank holiday, skip straight to the bottom — my number is 07735 336175 and I work every bank holiday at the same price as any other day.

If you are reading this before a bank holiday (sensible person), here is everything you need to know about avoiding lockouts and what to do if the worst happens.

Why Lockouts Spike on Bank Holidays

Alcohol and Changed Routines

Let's be honest — most bank holiday lockouts involve alcohol. A few drinks at a barbecue, a trip to the pub that goes on longer than planned, or a house party where you set your keys down somewhere and cannot find them. Add in changed routines (you are not doing your normal "keys, wallet, phone" pat-down because it is not a work day) and you have a recipe for being stuck outside at midnight.

Unfamiliar Doors

Visiting friends or family for a bank holiday gathering often means dealing with doors you are not used to. uPVC doors that need lifting and turning. Night latches that lock automatically behind you when you pop out to the car. Back doors with a knack to them. I get calls every bank holiday from people locked out of houses that are not even theirs.

Distraction and Rush

The excitement of a long weekend means people are less careful with the small routines that keep them secure. Running out to the car, stepping outside to check the weather, popping to the shop "for five minutes" — all without checking they have their keys. The door closes, the latch clicks, and that is that.

Do Locksmiths Work on Bank Holidays?

I do. I work every single bank holiday — Easter Friday through Monday, the May bank holidays, the August bank holiday, Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Year's Day, and every other day of the year.

I know the question behind the question, though: "How much more will it cost me?"

Bank Holiday Locksmith Costs: What You Should Actually Pay

Here is my honest advice about bank holiday pricing:

My prices are the same every day of the year. A standard [emergency lockout](/services/emergency-lockout) with me starts from £59, whether it is a Tuesday afternoon in March or midnight on Christmas Day. I do not charge bank holiday surcharges, unsociable hours fees, or weekend premiums. The price I quote on the phone is the price you pay.

But not all locksmiths are the same. Some operators — particularly the large national call centres that advertise heavily on Google — charge double or even triple on bank holidays. I have heard of customers being charged £200-300 for a basic lockout on a bank holiday, for a job that should cost under £100.

Before you call anyone:

Ask for a firm price on the phone, not an estimate

Confirm there are no surcharges for the bank holiday

Ask if there is a call-out fee on top of the quoted price

Be wary of anyone who will not give you a price until they "assess the job"

If in doubt, call me on 07735 336175. I will give you an honest price upfront with no hidden extras.

Bank Holiday by Bank Holiday: What to Expect

Easter (Good Friday to Easter Monday)

Easter is a four-day weekend for most people, which means four days of changed routines. Good Friday and Easter Saturday are busy for lockouts as people visit family. Easter Sunday barbecues (weather permitting in Coventry — optimistic, I know) lead to evening lockouts. Easter Monday is quieter.

Early May Bank Holiday (First Monday in May)

The first genuinely warm bank holiday of the year means garden parties, pub gardens, and people spending more time outdoors. Keys get left inside while you are in the garden. Back doors get locked by a housemate who does not know you are outside.

Spring Bank Holiday (Last Monday in May)

Similar to the early May bank holiday but warmer. More likely to involve travel and overnight stays, so more "locked out of a house I do not normally stay in" calls.

August Bank Holiday

The big one for barbecues and outdoor socialising. Late-night lockouts peak on August bank holiday Saturday and Sunday. Also common: people returning from a weekend away to find they have lost their keys somewhere between Friday and Monday.

Christmas and New Year

Already covered in detail in my [Christmas home security guide](/blog/christmas-home-security), but in short: Christmas Day lockouts happen when people pop out to visit neighbours, and New Year's Eve is the single busiest night of the year for lockouts. I work all of it.

How to Avoid a Bank Holiday Lockout

1. Spare Key Strategy

Do not rely on a single set of keys. Have a spare with a trusted neighbour, family member, or in a [key safe](/services/lock-change). A wall-mounted key safe costs from £50 fitted and means you will never be truly locked out — even at 2am on a bank holiday.

2. The Pre-Exit Pat-Down

Before you close any door behind you — whether it is your own or someone else's — do the pat-down: keys, wallet, phone. Make it a habit. Every time. Even if you are "just popping out for a second."

3. Know Your Door

If you have a uPVC or composite door, understand how it locks. Most have a night latch that engages automatically when the door closes. This means if you step outside without your keys and the door blows shut, you are locked out. Either take your keys or put the door on the latch (the small catch on the inside that stops the latch from engaging).

4. Save a Locksmith's Number Now

Do not wait until you are locked out to Google "locksmith Coventry" at 1am on a bank holiday. The results you get at that hour, in that state of mind, are not always the best-value options. Save my number now: 07735 336175.

5. Do Not Try to Break In

Every bank holiday, someone tries to climb through a window, force a door, or "just pop the lock with a card." The results are usually expensive: a broken window (£150-300 to replace), a damaged door frame (£200+), or a trip to A&E. A locksmith callout from me starts at £59. It is always cheaper than the alternatives.

What Happens When You Call Me on a Bank Holiday

When you call 07735 336175, here is what to expect:

I answer the phone (or call back within minutes if I am on another job)

I ask where you are and what the situation is

I give you a firm price — no estimates, no surprises

I give you a realistic arrival time (usually 20-40 minutes across Coventry)

I open the door using non-destructive techniques wherever possible

You pay the price I quoted — nothing more

I cover all of Coventry and surrounding areas including Kenilworth, Bedworth, Nuneaton, Rugby, Leamington Spa, and Warwick. Check my [areas page](/areas/) for full coverage details.

Bank Holiday Lockout: Quick Reference

**My number:** 07735 336175 (save it now)

**Hours:** 24/7, every day including all bank holidays

**Lockout price:** from £59

**Bank holiday surcharge:** none — same price every day

**Coverage:** all Coventry postcodes plus Warwickshire

**Arrival time:** typically 20-40 minutes

**Full pricing:** [prices page](/prices)

Bank holidays are for relaxing, not for standing outside your house in the cold. But if it happens, you know who to call.