What Is BST? British Summer Time Explained
BST stands for British Summer Time. It is one hour ahead of Greenwich Mean Time and runs through the lighter months of the year.
The basics
BST is UTC+1. It starts at 01:00 GMT on the last Sunday of March and ends at 02:00 BST on the last Sunday of October. During BST, the UK is one hour ahead of GMT countries such as Iceland and Ghana.
Why use it
Moving the clocks forward shifts an hour of daylight from the early morning to the evening. The idea is to make better use of daylight in the lighter months, with benefits often linked to energy use, leisure and road safety.
BST is not the only BST
The abbreviation is also used for Bangladesh Standard Time, which is UTC+6. In international calendars it is better to write the offset, such as UTC+1, or to name the city, such as London.
Frequently asked questions
Is BST the same as daylight saving time?
Yes. BST is the UK's version of daylight saving time, used in the months when the clocks are an hour ahead.
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.