UK Time Guides
Clock changes
- When Do the Clocks Change in the UK? Dates for the Next Five Years
The exact dates the UK clocks go forward and back for the next five years, what time they change, and how to remember the rule.
- When Do the Clocks Go Back in 2026?
The UK clocks go back on Sunday 25 October 2026. What changes, what to adjust, and what it means for sunrise and sunset.
- When Do the Clocks Go Forward in 2027?
The UK clocks go forward on Sunday 28 March 2027, starting British Summer Time. Dates, effects and what to adjust.
- When Do the Clocks Go Back in 2027?
The UK clocks go back on Sunday 31 October 2027. Date, time and what changes for sunrise and sunset.
- When Do the Clocks Go Forward in 2028?
The UK clocks go forward on Sunday 26 March 2028. Date, time and what changes.
- UK Clock Change Dates for the Next 10 Years
A full list of UK clock change dates from 2026 to 2035, with the rule used to calculate them.
- What Time Do the Clocks Change in the UK?
The clocks go forward at 1am and back at 2am. Here is the exact time, why it is early on a Sunday, and what happens to devices.
- UK vs Europe vs US Clock Change Dates
The UK and EU change clocks together, but the US changes earlier in spring and later in autumn. See the dates and the effect on time gaps.
- When Do the Clocks Go Back in 2028?
The UK clocks go back on Sunday 29 October 2028, ending British Summer Time. Date, time and what changes.
- When Do the Clocks Go Forward in 2029?
The UK clocks go forward on Sunday 25 March 2029, starting British Summer Time. Date, time and what to expect.
- When Do the Clocks Go Back in 2029?
The UK clocks go back on Sunday 28 October 2029. Date, time and what to prepare.
- When Do the Clocks Go Forward in 2030?
The UK clocks go forward on Sunday 31 March 2030. Date, time and what changes.
- How to Change the Clocks: Phones, Cars, Ovens and More
A practical checklist for what changes automatically when the UK clocks change and what you have to set by hand.
Explainers
- What Is BST? British Summer Time Explained
BST stands for British Summer Time, UTC+1, in use from the last Sunday of March to the last Sunday of October. Learn what it is and why it exists.
- GMT vs BST: What Is the Difference?
GMT is the UK's winter time (UTC+0) and BST is its summer time (UTC+1). Understand the difference and which one the UK is using.
- Why Do the Clocks Change in the UK?
The clocks change to shift daylight into the evening during the lighter months. Learn the history and the arguments for and against.
- Should the UK Stay on Summer Time All Year? The Debate
The arguments for and against permanent summer time in the UK, including the effect on Scotland and the 1968 to 1971 experiment.
- A Short History of British Summer Time
From William Willett's 1907 proposal to the 1916 Summer Time Act and the double summer time of the Second World War.
- GMT vs UTC: Are They the Same?
GMT and UTC show the same clock time, but GMT is a time zone and UTC is a standard. Learn the difference and when it matters.
- Greenwich Mean Time Explained
How Greenwich became the world's time reference, from the Royal Observatory in 1675 to the 1884 International Meridian Conference.
- The 24-Hour Clock Explained
How the 24-hour clock works, how to convert to and from the 12-hour clock, and where it is used in the UK.
- AM and PM Explained: Is Noon 12 AM or 12 PM?
What am and pm stand for, why noon is 12 pm and midnight is 12 am, and how to avoid confusion.
- Time Zone Abbreviations: BST, IST, EST and Why They Confuse
Many time zone abbreviations are ambiguous. Learn which BST, IST and CST people mean, and what to write in international emails.
- Clock Changes and Sleep: How to Adjust
Why the clock change disturbs sleep and simple ways to ease into it, including gradual bedtime shifts and morning light.
- Clock Changes, Pets and Farm Animals
Animals follow routine, not clocks. How to shift feeding and walking times gently when the UK clocks change.
- What Is UTC? Coordinated Universal Time Explained
UTC is the world's time standard. Learn what it is, why the abbreviation is not UCT, and how UK time relates to it.
- The IANA Time Zone Database: How Computers Know UK Time
How the shared database behind phones and servers handles UK clock changes, and why identifiers like Europe/London name cities, not countries.
- How UK Time Is Kept: Atomic Clocks and the MSF Signal
The role of the National Physical Laboratory, atomic clocks and the radio signal that sets radio-controlled clocks.
- The Pips: The Greenwich Time Signal Explained
What the six pips on BBC radio mean, when they began in 1924 and why digital radio can run seconds late.
- Leap Seconds Explained
Why UTC sometimes gains an extra second, how many have been added and why the practice is due to end.
- UK and Ireland Time: Same Clocks, Different Names
The UK and the Republic of Ireland always show the same time, but name their summer time differently.
- UK Daylight Hours by Month: London, Edinburgh and Belfast
How many hours of daylight London, Edinburgh and Belfast get in each month, from mid-winter to midsummer.
- The Longest and Shortest Day in the UK
How long the longest and shortest days are in London, Edinburgh and Belfast, and when the solstices fall.
Practical guides
- UK Business and Bank Hours
Typical UK office, bank, shop and market hours, and how Sunday trading rules work.
- Best Time to Call the UK from the USA
The best calling windows between the UK and the US east and west coasts, including the weeks when the gap changes.
- Clock Changes for Shift Workers: Pay, Hours and Rotas
What happens to night shifts that cross the clock change, and the questions to ask your employer about pay and hours.
- Clock Changes and Road Safety in the UK
How the autumn change affects the dark commute, and practical steps for drivers, cyclists and pedestrians.
- Best Time to Call the UK from India
The best windows for calls between India and the UK, with exact conversions for UK summer and winter.
- Best Time to Call the UK from Australia
The best calling windows between the UK and Sydney or Melbourne, and how daylight saving in both countries moves the gap.
- Scheduling Meetings Across UK and US Time Zones
Practical rules for meetings between UK, East Coast and West Coast teams, including the weeks when the gap changes.