Live London Clock: GMT or BST?
The Europe/London IANA zone covers the entire United Kingdom. England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland all run on the same clock. The offset alternates twice a year:
| Period | Abbreviation | UTC Offset |
|---|---|---|
| Winter (late Oct, late Mar) | GMT | UTC+0 |
| Summer (late Mar, late Oct) | BST | UTC+1 |
The Royal Observatory in Greenwich, southeast London, is the historic home of the Prime Meridian (0° longitude). That meridian is the reference line for GMT. Despite that legacy, London spends only about five months of the year on GMT. From late March to late October the city runs on BST. The single most common mistake international visitors make is assuming London always equals UTC+0.
When do the clocks change?
- Spring forward to BST (2026): Sunday 29 March, 01:00 GMT → 02:00 BST.
- Autumn back to GMT (2026): Sunday 25 October, 02:00 BST → 01:00 GMT.
- Spring forward (2027): Sunday 28 March, 01:00 GMT → 02:00 BST.
- Autumn back (2027): Sunday 31 October, 02:00 BST → 01:00 GMT.
Clocks always change at 01:00 UTC to minimise disruption to transport and nightlife.
London Time Zone: Europe/London Explained
No regional variation exists. Scotland does not have a separate time zone, nor do Wales or Northern Ireland. The whole UK runs on one IANA entry.
For more detail on how GMT and BST work, see UK Time Zone Explained: GMT, BST, and Europe/London and GMT vs BST: UK Time Zones Explained Simply.
London vs Other Major Cities: Quick Time Differences
These tables show the time difference from London during each offset period.
When London is on GMT (winter, e.g. 15 January 2026)
| City | Offset from London |
|---|---|
| New York | 5 hours behind |
| Los Angeles | 8 hours behind |
| Chicago | 6 hours behind |
| São Paulo | 3 hours behind |
| Paris | 1 hour ahead |
| Johannesburg | 2 hours ahead |
| Dubai | 4 hours ahead |
| Mumbai | 5.5 hours ahead |
| Singapore | 8 hours ahead |
| Tokyo | 9 hours ahead |
| Sydney | 11 hours ahead |
When London is on BST (summer, e.g. 15 July 2026)
| City | Offset from London |
|---|---|
| New York | 5 hours behind |
| Los Angeles | 8 hours behind |
| Chicago | 6 hours behind |
| São Paulo | 4 hours behind |
| Paris | 1 hour ahead |
| Johannesburg | 1 hour ahead |
| Dubai | 3 hours ahead |
| Mumbai | 4.5 hours ahead |
| Singapore | 7 hours ahead |
| Tokyo | 8 hours ahead |
| Sydney | 9 hours ahead |
The gap to Paris stays at +1 hour year-round. The gap to Dubai shrinks from +4 to +3 in summer because Dubai does not observe daylight saving.
Key London Time Facts: DST, Sunrise, Business Hours
Daylight hours at key dates (2026)
| Date | Sunrise | Sunset | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox (20 Mar) | 06:05 | 18:11 | 12 h 6 min |
| June solstice (21 Jun) | 04:42 | 21:21 | 16 h 39 min |
| September equinox (22 Sep) | 06:44 | 19:01 | 12 h 17 min |
| December solstice (21 Dec) | 08:03 | 15:53 | 7 h 50 min |
City of London financial markets
The London Stock Exchange and major banks operate 08:00 to 16:30 local time (GMT or BST). That means:
- In winter: open 08:00-16:30 GMT (UTC+0)
- In summer: open 08:00-16:30 BST (UTC+1)
For exact trading hours and market holidays, see London Stock Exchange Trading Hours: GMT and BST Schedule.
Scheduling a call or meeting
Check the current offset before you book. During summer, do not assume London matches UTC. Confirm with the live clock, then use the time difference tables above.
For the exact dates of the next clock change, see British Summer Time 2026 Dates.