UK time · GMT / BST

Is it British Summer Time right now?

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British Summer Time

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British Summer Time, explained

The essentials, in plain English.

What is British Summer Time (BST)?

Direct answer. British Summer Time is the name for UK clocks being set one hour ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) during the lighter half of the year — so the UK runs on UTC+1 in summer and UTC+0 (GMT) in winter.

BST starts on the last Sunday of March, when clocks go forward one hour, and ends on the last Sunday of October, when they go back. The change is written into UK law by the Summer Time Order 2002, which is why the exact dates can be calculated years in advance.

Key fact: Between late March and late October the UK is on BST (UTC+1); the rest of the year it is on GMT (UTC+0).

When do the clocks change in the UK?

Direct answer. Clocks go forward one hour at 01:00 on the last Sunday of March, and back one hour at 02:00 on the last Sunday of October.

The next change is on Sunday 25 October 2026, when the clocks go back. The mnemonic “spring forward, fall back” captures the direction: you lose an hour of sleep in spring and gain one in autumn.

Key fact: In spring you lose an hour (clocks 01:00→02:00); in autumn you gain an hour (02:00→01:00).

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Frequently asked questions

Is the UK on BST or GMT right now?

It depends on the date. The UK is on British Summer Time (BST, UTC+1) from the last Sunday of March to the last Sunday of October, and on Greenwich Mean Time (GMT, UTC+0) for the rest of the year. The live clock at the top of this page shows which one is in force now.

What is the difference between GMT and BST?

GMT is the UK’s winter time and equals UTC+0. BST is the UK’s summer time and equals UTC+1 — exactly one hour ahead of GMT. They are the same clock, shifted by an hour twice a year. Full comparison →

Why does the UK change its clocks?

The clocks change to shift an hour of daylight from the early morning to the evening during summer, making better use of daylight. Read the full reasoning, history and the modern debate →

Will the UK stop changing the clocks?

There is no law in force to abolish the twice-yearly change. The EU agreed in 2019 to let member states scrap seasonal clock changes, but it has not been implemented, and the UK — which has left the EU — continues to follow the Summer Time Order 2002. For now, the changes will continue.