Current Time in London
About London
London is located in United Kingdom, in the Northern Hemisphere, and is one of the most populous cities in the world with a population of around 8,961,989. It runs on Europe/London time, currently UTC+1:00 relative to UTC. London observes Daylight Saving Time, so this offset shifts by an hour twice a year.
- CountryUnited Kingdom
- Population8,961,989
- Latitude51.5085°
- Longitude-0.1257°
- Time zoneEurope/London
- Current UTC offsetUTC+1:00
- Daylight Saving TimeObserved
Sunrise & Sunset in London Today
For Sunday, October 11, 2026, calculated from London's own coordinates.
Sunrise
Sunset
Daylight
Seasons in London
Approximate dates — the exact moment a season begins shifts by about a day from year to year.
Spring
Summer
Fall
Winter
Top Places to Visit in London
Tower of London
The Tower of London has stood on the north bank of the Thames since William the Conqueror began building it in 1078, and over nearly a thousand years it has served as a royal residence, an armory, a prison, and a treasury. Today it's best known for housing the Crown Jewels, including the Imperial State Crown and the controversial Koh-i-Noor diamond, displayed in the Jewel House under close guard. Beyond the jewels, visitors can explore the White Tower's collection of historic armor, walk the medieval walls, and hear the darker history of the Bloody Tower, long associated with royal imprisonments and executions, including that of Anne Boleyn. The Yeoman Warders, popularly known as Beefeaters, lead free guided tours included with admission and are a good first stop for context before exploring independently. The Tower is also home to a resident population of ravens, tied to a centuries-old superstition that the kingdom will fall if they ever leave. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, it sits directly beside Tower Bridge, making it easy to combine both landmarks, along with a Thames river cruise, into a single day.
From Heathrow Airport: take the Elizabeth line to Liverpool Street, then the Circle or District line one stop to Tower Hill, a short walk from the entrance. Alternatively, take the Piccadilly line into central London and transfer to the District or Circle line at a station like Earl's Court or Green Park. From Gatwick Airport: take the Gatwick Express to Victoria station, then the District or Circle line to Tower Hill.
From King's Cross St Pancras or Paddington: take the Circle or District line directly to Tower Hill station, a two-minute walk from the entrance. From Victoria: the District or Circle line runs directly to Tower Hill as well.
From Victoria Coach Station, take the District or Circle line from Victoria Underground station (a short walk away) to Tower Hill, or take a direct bus route toward the City of London.
British Museum
The British Museum, founded in 1753, is one of the world's oldest and most comprehensive museums of human history, holding a permanent collection of roughly eight million objects, with a fraction on public display at any time. Admission to the main collection is free, funded instead through donations and special exhibitions, which makes it one of the most-visited attractions in London despite charging nothing at the door. Its most famous holdings include the Rosetta Stone, key to deciphering ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs, and the Parthenon Sculptures (also known as the Elgin Marbles), whose presence in London remains a long-running point of diplomatic dispute with Greece. The Great Court, redesigned in 2000 with a striking glass roof over the museum's central courtyard, is a landmark in its own right and a popular meeting point. Given the sheer scale of the collection, spanning Egyptian, Greek, Roman, Mesopotamian, and Asian galleries among many others, most visitors focus on a handful of wings rather than attempting the whole museum in one visit. It's located in Bloomsbury, within easy walking distance of several major Underground stations.
From Heathrow Airport: take the Piccadilly line directly to Russell Square or Holborn station, both a short walk from the museum. From Gatwick Airport: take the Gatwick Express to Victoria, then the Piccadilly line to Russell Square.
From King's Cross St Pancras: it's about a 15-minute walk south, or take the Piccadilly line one stop to Russell Square. From Paddington: take the Circle, District, or Bakerloo line to Holborn, then walk north.
From Victoria Coach Station, take the Victoria line Underground to King's Cross St Pancras, then the Piccadilly line one stop to Russell Square, or take a direct bus toward Bloomsbury.
Buckingham Palace
Buckingham Palace has been the official London residence of the British monarch since 1837, and remains the working headquarters of the Royal Family alongside its role as a major tourist attraction. The Changing of the Guard ceremony, held on select days outside the palace gates, draws large crowds and is one of the most photographed events in London, though it's worth checking the schedule in advance since it doesn't happen daily year-round. During the Summer Opening, typically from mid-July through September, visitors can tour 19 of the palace's State Rooms, filled with artwork and treasures from the Royal Collection, including pieces by Rembrandt and Rubens; outside this window, the interior isn't open to the public. The palace overlooks St James's Park, one of London's most scenic royal parks, and sits within easy walking distance of The Mall, the ceremonial avenue leading to Trafalgar Square. Even without an interior tour, the palace forecourt, the Victoria Memorial directly in front of it, and the surrounding gardens make it a worthwhile stop, particularly combined with a walk through the neighboring parks.
From Heathrow Airport: take the Piccadilly line to Green Park station, a short walk from the palace. From Gatwick Airport: take the Gatwick Express to Victoria station, then it's about a 10-minute walk north through St James's Park.
From Victoria station, it's roughly a 10-minute walk north along Buckingham Palace Road. From King's Cross St Pancras or Paddington, take the Circle, District, Piccadilly, or Victoria line to Victoria or Green Park station, then walk.
From Victoria Coach Station, Buckingham Palace is about a 10-minute walk north, or take any bus routed toward Victoria station and continue on foot.
London Eye
The London Eye, also known as the Millennium Wheel, has offered sweeping views over the city from the South Bank of the Thames since it opened in 2000, standing 135 meters tall and remaining one of the most recognizable additions to London's skyline in recent decades. Each of its 32 enclosed glass capsules represents one of London's boroughs, and a full rotation takes around 30 minutes, giving passengers time to pick out landmarks like Big Ben, the Houses of Parliament, Buckingham Palace, St Paul's Cathedral, and, on clear days, views stretching more than 25 miles. Sunset rides are particularly popular for the way the city lights come on gradually during the rotation, though this also means they sell out fastest. The Eye sits directly across the river from Westminster and is part of a dense cluster of South Bank attractions, including the Sea Life London Aquarium and the London Dungeon, which are commonly bundled together on multi-attraction tickets. Booking online in advance is worth doing both for savings and to skip the standard ticket queue, which can be long during summer and December.
From Heathrow Airport: take the Piccadilly line to Green Park, then the Jubilee line to Waterloo, and walk across Westminster Bridge or along the South Bank. From Gatwick Airport: take the Gatwick Express to Victoria, then the Circle or District line to Westminster, and cross the river on foot via Westminster Bridge.
From Waterloo station, it's about a 10-minute walk along the South Bank. From King's Cross St Pancras, take the Northern line to Waterloo and walk, or the Circle/District line to Westminster and cross the bridge.
From Victoria Coach Station, take the Victoria line to Victoria Underground, then the Circle or District line to Westminster, and cross Westminster Bridge on foot to reach the South Bank.
Westminster Abbey
Westminster Abbey has been the site of every English and British coronation since 1066 and remains an active place of worship alongside its role as one of the country's most significant historic buildings. Gothic in architecture and vast in scale, it holds the tombs and memorials of more than 3,000 people, including numerous monarchs, poets, scientists, and statesmen; Poets' Corner, with memorials to writers from Chaucer to Dickens, is one of its most visited sections. The Abbey has also hosted numerous royal weddings, most recently that of Prince William and Catherine Middleton in 2011, and remains the setting for state funerals and other national ceremonies. Visitors can explore the nave, the Lady Chapel with its elaborate fan-vaulted ceiling, and the Cloisters, with an audio guide included in standard admission. Directly across the road stands the Houses of Parliament and the Elizabeth Tower, home to Big Ben, making this stretch of Westminster one of the most concentrated clusters of historic landmarks in the city, all walkable from one another in a single visit.
From Heathrow Airport: take the Piccadilly line to Green Park, then the Jubilee line one stop to Westminster station, right by the Abbey. From Gatwick Airport: take the Gatwick Express to Victoria, then the Circle or District line to Westminster.
From Victoria station, take the Circle or District line two stops to Westminster. From King's Cross St Pancras, take the Circle line directly to Westminster (about 20 minutes).
From Victoria Coach Station, take the Circle or District line from Victoria Underground station directly to Westminster, a two-minute walk from the Abbey.
United Kingdom National Holidays
2026
| Holiday | Date |
|---|---|
| New Year's Day | Thu, Jan 1 |
| Good Friday | Fri, Apr 3 |
| Easter Monday | Mon, Apr 6 |
| Early May Bank Holiday | Mon, May 4 |
| Spring Bank Holiday | Mon, May 25 |
| Summer Bank Holiday | Mon, Aug 31 |
| Christmas Day | Fri, Dec 25 |
| Boxing Day | Mon, Dec 28 |
2027
| Holiday | Date |
|---|---|
| New Year's Day | Fri, Jan 1 |
| Good Friday | Fri, Mar 26 |
| Easter Monday | Mon, Mar 29 |
| Early May Bank Holiday | Mon, May 3 |
| Spring Bank Holiday | Mon, May 31 |
| Summer Bank Holiday | Mon, Aug 30 |
| Christmas Day | Mon, Dec 27 |
| Boxing Day | Tue, Dec 28 |
| New Year's Day | Fri, Dec 31 |
2028
| Holiday | Date |
|---|---|
| Good Friday | Fri, Apr 14 |
| Easter Monday | Mon, Apr 17 |
| Early May Bank Holiday | Mon, May 1 |
| Spring Bank Holiday | Mon, May 29 |
| Summer Bank Holiday | Mon, Aug 28 |
| Christmas Day | Mon, Dec 25 |
| Boxing Day | Tue, Dec 26 |
2029
| Holiday | Date |
|---|---|
| New Year's Day | Mon, Jan 1 |
| Good Friday | Fri, Mar 30 |
| Easter Monday | Mon, Apr 2 |
| Early May Bank Holiday | Mon, May 7 |
| Spring Bank Holiday | Mon, May 28 |
| Summer Bank Holiday | Mon, Aug 27 |
| Christmas Day | Tue, Dec 25 |
| Boxing Day | Wed, Dec 26 |
2030
| Holiday | Date |
|---|---|
| New Year's Day | Tue, Jan 1 |
| Good Friday | Fri, Apr 19 |
| Easter Monday | Mon, Apr 22 |
| Early May Bank Holiday | Mon, May 6 |
| Spring Bank Holiday | Mon, May 27 |
| Summer Bank Holiday | Mon, Aug 26 |
| Christmas Day | Wed, Dec 25 |
| Boxing Day | Thu, Dec 26 |
Daylight Saving Time
London observes Daylight Saving Time. Clocks last changed on Sunday, March 29, 2026 (to BST), and are next scheduled to change on Sunday, October 25, 2026 (to GMT).
Time Difference from Top 10 US Cities
Time Difference from Top 10 Cities Worldwide
Time Converters from London
Full hour-by-hour conversion, best time to call and daylight saving notes for London against 58 cities. Current difference shown against each.
Frequently Asked Questions About Time in London
What time zone is London in?
London, United Kingdom uses the Europe/London time zone. It is currently on BST (UTC+1:00). The live local time is shown at the top of this page.
Does London observe Daylight Saving Time?
Yes. London observes Daylight Saving Time, so its UTC offset shifts by an hour twice a year. The next clock change is on Sunday, October 25, 2026, when it moves to GMT.
What time is sunrise and sunset in London today?
The sun rises at 7:17 AM and sets at 6:16 PM in London today, giving 10h 58m of daylight.
What is the time difference between London and New York City?
New York City is 5 hours behind London right now. The full comparison against other major cities is in the tables above.
What is the UTC offset for London?
London is currently UTC+1:00. Because the city observes Daylight Saving Time, this offset is not the same all year.