British Summer Time (BST) - The UK's Daylight Saving Time
British Summer Time (BST) is the daylight saving time (DST) observed in the United Kingdom, advancing clocks by one hour from Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) to UTC+1. The UK uses BST from the last Sunday of March to the last Sunday of October, aiming to make better use of daylight during the longer summer days. Introduced in 1916 during World War I, BST has been a fixture of British life for over a century. In 2026, BST begins on 29 March and ends on 25 October. For the current time in London and worldwide, see Time.now.
| Event | Date (2026) | Time | Clock Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| BST starts | 29 March | 01:00 GMT → 02:00 BST | Forward 1 hour |
| BST ends | 25 October | 02:00 BST → 01:00 GMT | Back 1 hour |
Why Does the UK Use BST?
The primary reason for BST is to shift daylight from early morning to later in the evening, providing lighter evenings for outdoor activities, recreation, and reducing energy consumption. The idea was first proposed by William Willett in 1907, but it took the exigencies of World War I for the UK to adopt it in 1916. Since then, BST has been in continuous use, with a few experimental periods (such as year-round BST during WWII and a trial from 1968 to 1971). Today, BST remains a popular feature of British life, though debates about its merits continue.
BST vs GMT and UTC
BST is one hour ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT), which is the UK's standard time zone during winter. GMT is based on the mean solar time at the Royal Observatory in Greenwich, London. In practice, GMT is often used interchangeably with Coordinated Universal Time (UTC), but technically GMT is a time zone while UTC is a time standard. For a detailed explanation, see GMT vs UTC. The difference between BST and GMT is straightforward: BST = GMT + 1 hour. For more on this, visit GMT vs BST.
| Time Zone | Offset from UTC | Used in UK |
|---|---|---|
| Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) | UTC+0 | Late October to late March |
| British Summer Time (BST) | UTC+1 | Late March to late October |
BST Around the World
While BST is specific to the UK, many other countries observe daylight saving time at similar times. In Europe, clocks go forward on the same day as the UK (last Sunday of March) but back one week later (last Sunday of October). In the United States, DST starts on the second Sunday of March and ends on the first Sunday of November. For a comparison of time zones, check London To New York Time. If you need the precise time in London or other cities, our sister site TimeRight.Now provides worldwide city times. For a multi-city world clock view, visit CurrentTime.now. For European time zones, see European time and date, and for US time zones, see US time and date.
History of British Summer Time
BST was first introduced in the United Kingdom on 21 May 1916, following the Summer Time Act 1916. The move was intended to save fuel during World War I by reducing the need for artificial lighting. The clocks were advanced by one hour from 02:00 GMT to 03:00 BST. After the war, BST continued, though its dates have varied. During World War II, the UK used British Double Summer Time (BDST, UTC+2) in summer and BST in winter. A trial of year-round BST (keeping clocks one hour ahead of GMT) ran from 1968 to 1971 but was abandoned due to public dissatisfaction. Since 1972, the current system of BST from late March to late October has been in place.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: When do the clocks go forward in 2026?
A: The clocks go forward on 29 March 2026 at 01:00 GMT, becoming 02:00 BST.
Q: When do the clocks go back in 2026?
A: The clocks go back on 25 October 2026 at 02:00 BST, becoming 01:00 GMT.
Q: Is BST the same as daylight saving time?
A: Yes, BST is the UK's name for daylight saving time (DST). It is one hour ahead of GMT (UTC+1).
Q: Why does the UK change its clocks?
A: The UK changes clocks to make better use of daylight during summer, providing lighter evenings and potentially saving energy.
Q: Does the whole UK observe BST?
A: Yes, BST is observed throughout the United Kingdom, including England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.
Q: What is the difference between BST and GMT?
A: BST is one hour ahead of GMT. GMT is used in winter, while BST is used in summer.