Current Time in the UK
Live, second-by-second UK time, computed from the IANA time zone database so the switch between GMT and BST is always right.
UK time compared with the world
UK time compared with the US cities
The UK and the US change their clocks on different dates, so the gap is usually five hours to New York but drops to four for a few weeks each spring and autumn.
- Best time to call the UK from the USA
- Meeting across UK and US time zones
- UK vs Europe vs US clock change dates
Time in UK cities
How UK time works
England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland all share one time zone. From the last Sunday of October to the last Sunday of March the UK keeps Greenwich Mean Time (GMT), which is the same as UTC. For the rest of the year the clocks move forward one hour to British Summer Time (BST, UTC+1) to give lighter evenings. The UK changes its clocks on the same dates as the European Union, but a few weeks away from the United States, so the time gap between London and New York is briefly four hours instead of five in spring and autumn.
Clock change guides
- What Is Daylight Saving Time (DST)? A Plain-English GuideWhat daylight saving time is, how it works in the UK, Europe and the US, why it exists, its history, who uses it and the argument over scrapping it.
- Why Do the Clocks Go Back in October? The Real ReasonThe clocks go back in autumn to return the UK to GMT, so winter mornings are lighter. The history, the rule, what time it happens and what changes for you.
- When Do the Clocks Go Forward Again After Going Back?When the UK clocks go forward again after the autumn change, how long the UK stays on GMT, when evenings get lighter and how to remember to reset your clocks.
Frequently asked questions
What time zone is the UK in?
The whole UK uses a single time zone. In winter it is Greenwich Mean Time (GMT, UTC+0) and in summer it is British Summer Time (BST, UTC+1).
When do the clocks change in the UK?
The clocks go forward at 1:00 am on the last Sunday of March and back at 2:00 am on the last Sunday of October. In 2026 that is Sunday, 29 March 2026 and Sunday, 25 October 2026.
Is the UK on GMT or BST right now?
The clock at the top of this page shows the current label. The UK is on BST between the last Sunday of March and the last Sunday of October, and on GMT for the rest of the year.
Is GMT the same as UTC?
For everyday purposes yes: GMT and UTC share the same clock time. UTC is the modern atomic standard and GMT is the time zone name used in the UK in winter.