When Do the Clocks Change in the United Kingdom?
Clocks go back on Sunday, October 25, 2026. At 1:59 AM the clocks jump to 1:00 AM, putting the country on GMT.
What Happens, and When
The UK moves to British Summer Time on the last Sunday in March and back to Greenwich Mean Time on the last Sunday in October. The change happens at 1:00 am UTC in both directions, so the clocks always shift while most of the country is asleep.
| Zone | Next change | Clocks |
|---|---|---|
| London | Oct 25, 2026 | 1:59 AM → 1:00 AM (back) |
Which Time Differences Move on Oct 25, 2026
A clock change is only interesting because of what it does to the gap between you and everyone else. These are the differences from the United Kingdom before and after the change — note that a gap only moves if the other side does not change on the same date.
| Difference to | Before | After |
|---|---|---|
| New York | -5:00 | -4:00 changes |
| UTC | -1:00 | 0 changes |
| India | +4:30 | +5:30 changes |
| Tokyo | +8:00 | +9:00 changes |
| Sydney | +10:00 | +11:00 changes |
| Dubai | +3:00 | +4:00 changes |
6 of these 6 differences move on the day.
Why the United Kingdom Does Change Its Clocks
British Summer Time was introduced in 1916 as a wartime fuel-saving measure and has run every year since. Between 1968 and 1971 the country tried staying on UTC+1 permanently; it was abandoned after sustained complaints about dark winter mornings in Scotland, and the experiment is still cited whenever abolition is proposed.
The practical consequence is that every time difference involving the United Kingdom shifts by an hour on Sunday, October 25, 2026. Anything recurring — a standing call, an automated report, a flight connection — is worth checking across that date, particularly against countries that change on a different day or not at all.
To see the exact gap between any two places on any date, use the time zone converter, or the meeting planner for a whole group at once.
Cities Affected
Frequently Asked Questions
When do the clocks change in the United Kingdom?
The next change is Sunday, October 25, 2026, when clocks go back — 1:59 AM becomes 1:00 AM. That is 13 days from today.
Do the clocks go forward or back?
They go back at the next change. Clocks going forward means an hour of sleep lost and lighter evenings; going back means an hour gained and darker afternoons.
Will my meetings be affected?
Any recurring meeting booked across a clock change needs checking, because the two ends move at different times — or one end does not move at all. The time zone converter shows the exact gap for any pair on any date.