What Time Do the Clocks Change in the UK?
The change happens in the early hours of a Sunday morning: 01:00 in spring and 02:00 in autumn.
Spring: 01:00 becomes 02:00
At 01:00 GMT the clocks skip to 02:00 BST. Any time between 01:00 and 02:00 does not exist that night.
Autumn: 02:00 becomes 01:00
At 02:00 BST the clocks return to 01:00 GMT. The hour from 01:00 to 02:00 happens twice, so a time such as 01:30 on that night is ambiguous without saying whether it is BST or GMT.
Why 01:00 and 02:00?
Both changes take place at 01:00 UTC. That moment is chosen to affect as few people as possible and to match the rest of Europe, which changes at the same instant.
Frequently asked questions
What time exactly do the clocks change?
Clocks go forward at 01:00 GMT, which becomes 02:00 BST, in spring. They go back at 02:00 BST, which becomes 01:00 GMT, in autumn.
Do the clocks change at the same time across the UK?
Yes. England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland all change at the same moment.
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.