What is BST?
UTC+1
British Summer Time is one hour ahead of GMT
The UK is on BST now. It is 01:00:00. The clocks next go back on Sunday 25 October 2026.
BST (British Summer Time) is the UK's daylight saving time, one hour ahead of Greenwich Mean Time. It starts at 1am GMT on the last Sunday in March, when the clocks go forward, and ends at 1am GMT (2am BST) on the last Sunday in October, when they go back. In 2026 it ends on Sunday 25 October.
BST start and end dates
| Year | BST starts (clocks forward at 1am) | BST ends (clocks back at 2am) |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Sunday 29 March | Sunday 25 October |
| 2027 | Sunday 28 March | Sunday 31 October |
| 2028 | Sunday 26 March | Sunday 29 October |
BST lasts 30 weeks in 2026 and 31 weeks in 2027, depending on where the last Sundays fall. For a countdown to the next change, see when the clocks change.
The rules in law
The Summer Time Act 1972 says that during summer time the time for general purposes is one hour in advance of GMT. The dates come from the Summer Time Order 2002, in force since 11 March 2002: summer time begins at 1am GMT on the last Sunday in March and ends at 1am GMT on the last Sunday in October. EU countries change at the same moment, which is why Paris and Berlin stay exactly one hour ahead of London all year.
Because both changes happen at 1am GMT, the clock reads 1am when it jumps forward to 2am in March, and 2am BST when it falls back to 1am in October.
BST, GMT and UTC
BST is UTC+1, and GMT is UTC+0. When you see a time in "GMT" on a UK summer date, it is usually meant as UK time, so check before you convert. Outside the UK, BST can also mean Bangladesh Standard Time (UTC+6), one of several clashing abbreviations listed on time zones explained. To convert a summer time to anywhere else, use the time zone converter.
A short history of British Summer Time
The Summer Time Act 1916 brought in BST during the First World War to save fuel, after years of campaigning by the builder William Willett. During the Second World War the UK went further with British Double Summer Time, two hours ahead of GMT in summer, from 1941 to 1945, and again in 1947 after a winter of fuel shortages.
From 27 October 1968 to 31 October 1971 the UK stayed one hour ahead of GMT all year, under the British Standard Time Act 1968. On 2 December 1970 the House of Commons voted 366 to 81 to end the trial, and the UK returned to GMT in winter from October 1971.
Frequently asked questions
When does BST end in 2026?
British Summer Time ends at 2am BST on Sunday 25 October 2026, when the clocks go back one hour to 1am GMT.
When does BST start in 2027?
At 1am GMT on Sunday 28 March 2027, when the clocks go forward one hour to 2am. It ends on Sunday 31 October 2027.
Is BST the same as GMT+1?
Yes. BST is one hour ahead of GMT, which also makes it UTC+1. It is the same time as Central European Time in winter and West Africa Time.
Is BST the same as UK time?
Only in summer. UK time is BST from the last Sunday in March to the last Sunday in October, and GMT for the rest of the year.
Has the UK ever kept BST all year?
Yes, from 27 October 1968 to 31 October 1971, under the name British Standard Time. Parliament voted to end the trial in December 1970, mainly because of dark winter mornings in Scotland and the north.
See also the UTC clock and the world clock.