Daylight Savings Time | When to Change the Clocks in London

British Summer Time (BST) is back

Good news, summer in the UK is officially on the way as we’re heading out of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) and into British Summer Time (BST). We’ve been on GMT since Sun 27th October 2024, when the clocks went back one hour, and on the last Sunday in March, the clocks will go forward one hour. Yes that means we lose an hour but it also brings us brighter evenings.

Why do the clocks change in the UK?

The changing of the clocks, also known as Daylight Saving Time, allows us an extra hour of daylight in the evenings during the spring and summer months. Most of the northern hemisphere observes the same practice. In the UK, Daylight Saving Time was formally introduced in 1916 when Parliament passed the Summer Time Act in parliament. this was a result of campaigning by William Willett, who in 1907 suggested advancing the clocks in the summer to make the most of the daylight hours, which people could use to work, and to save on fuel during wartime.

When do the clocks go back?

The clocks will go forward one hour on Sunday 30th March 2025 at 1am. This means we lose the ‘extra’ hour we had in bed over the winter (boo!) but the days are longer, so more time for summer fun (yay!) If you struggle to remember which way the clocks go each time, just think of the seasons – so the clocks ‘spring forward’ in the spring and ‘fall back’ in the autumn.

Will my clocks update automatically?

Many devices that have internet connection, like smartphones, laptops, and smart televisions, update automatically. Other digital display clocks, like those on your oven or in your car, along with wristwatches will need to be manually updated so make sure to wind them back so you don’t get caught out.

When will the clocks go back again?

The clocks will change again on Sunday 26th October 2025 at 1am, going back one hour.

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