Current Time in Ascension Island
Ascension Island is a volcanic island in the middle of the South Atlantic and part of the British Overseas Territory of Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha. It uses Greenwich Mean Time all year, so it matches the UK in winter and is one hour behind in summer.
About time in Ascension Island
The island has an airfield used by the Royal Air Force and a Space Force base, and the Falklands air bridge stops here. Green turtles nest on its beaches from January to May.
Ascension does not change its clocks, so it keeps GMT while the UK moves forward to BST in summer. That makes it among the easiest overseas territories to time: its clocks never move.
A cable station on the island carried telegraph messages across the Atlantic, and the island still hosts relay stations and tracking stations, so accurate time has long mattered here. The BBC Atlantic Relay Station has broadcast from Ascension since 1966.
The island sits at 8 degrees south, so sunrise and sunset are near 06:00 and 18:00 all year.
- About 800 residents.
- Capital: Georgetown.
- GMT all year.
Other UK territories
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 is it in Ascension Island?
Ascension Island uses Greenwich Mean Time all year, so it matches the UK in winter and is one hour behind in summer.
When do the clocks change in Ascension Island?
Ascension Island does not change its clocks. It stays on GMT while the UK moves to BST between the last Sunday of March and the last Sunday of October.
Is Ascension Island part of the UK?
Ascension Island is a British Overseas Territory, which is under British sovereignty but is not part of the United Kingdom itself.
How do you get to Ascension Island?
The main route is an air link from RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire, a flight of about 9 hours, with a limited service for civilians.
Why do turtles come to Ascension?
The island's beaches are important nesting sites for green turtles, which arrive from Brazil to lay eggs.