GMT vs BST: What Is the Difference?
GMT and BST are the two times the UK uses. GMT is the winter time and BST is the summer time, one hour ahead.
At a glance
GMT, Greenwich Mean Time, is UTC+0 and applies from the last Sunday of October to the last Sunday of March. BST, British Summer Time, is UTC+1 and applies for the rest of the year.
Which should I write in a meeting invite?
If you write 14:00 GMT in July you are technically describing a time that is 15:00 on UK clocks. It is safer to write 14:00 UK time, or 14:00 London, so the recipient's calendar picks the correct offset.
UK time is the neutral name that covers both. Calendar apps handle it automatically when you set the time zone to Europe/London.
Frequently asked questions
Is London on GMT or BST today?
The live clock on our home page shows the current label. London is on BST between the last Sunday of March and the last Sunday of October.
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.