Current Time in the UK

Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) · UTC+0 in winter · BST (UTC+1) during British Summer Time

Current Time in the United Kingdom
--:--:--
 
GMT · UTC+0Greenwich Mean TimeLondon

Quick Facts

Winter Time
GMT (UTC+0)
Summer Time
BST (UTC+1)
Clocks Forward
Last Sunday in March
Clocks Back
Last Sunday in October
IANA Identifier
Europe/London
Major Cities
London, Manchester, Edinburgh

UK Time vs World

LocationWinterSummer
New York (ET)UK is +5 hrsUK is +5 hrs
Los Angeles (PT)UK is +8 hrsUK is +8 hrs
Central Europe (CET)UK is −1 hrUK is −1 hr
India (IST)UK is −5:30UK is −4:30
Japan (JST)UK is −9 hrsUK is −8 hrs
Dubai (GST)UK is −4 hrsUK is −3 hrs
Sydney (AET)UK is −11 hrsUK is −9 hrs

GMT vs BST vs UTC \u2014 What's the Difference?

GMT (Greenwich Mean Time) is the UK's winter time zone, based on the Prime Meridian (0\u00b0 longitude) at the Royal Observatory in Greenwich, London. It is equivalent to UTC+0.

BST (British Summer Time) is the UK's summer time zone \u2014 clocks move forward 1 hour to UTC+1. BST runs from the last Sunday in March to the last Sunday in October.

UTC (Coordinated Universal Time) is the global time standard that replaced GMT as the reference. While GMT and UTC are often used interchangeably, UTC is technically defined by atomic clocks and is the basis for all time zones worldwide.

British Summer Time (BST) Dates

YearClocks Forward (BST starts)Clocks Back (GMT resumes)
2025Sunday, March 30 at 1:00 AM \u2192 2:00 AMSunday, October 26 at 2:00 AM \u2192 1:00 AM
2026Sunday, March 29 at 1:00 AM \u2192 2:00 AMSunday, October 25 at 2:00 AM \u2192 1:00 AM
2027Sunday, March 28 at 1:00 AM \u2192 2:00 AMSunday, October 31 at 2:00 AM \u2192 1:00 AM

Note: UK and US DST dates differ by about 2\u20133 weeks. There are brief periods in March and November when the offset shifts by 1 hour.

Major UK Cities \u2014 All on GMT/BST

London
Pop. 9.5M metro · Capital, financial center
Manchester
Pop. 2.8M metro · Northern hub, media city
Birmingham
Pop. 2.6M metro · Second city, Midlands
Edinburgh
Pop. 540K · Scottish capital, festivals
Glasgow
Pop. 1.8M metro · Scotland's largest city
Liverpool
Pop. 910K metro · The Beatles, maritime heritage

United Kingdom Quick Facts

🏛️ Capital City
London
👥 Population
67M
💰 Currency
£ British Pound
📞 Phone Code
+44
🕐 UTC Offset
UTC+0
🔄 Daylight Saving Time
Yes — observed
🗣️ Official Languages
EnglishWelshScottish Gaelic

United Kingdom Time Difference

United Kingdom vs New YorkUnited Kingdom vs London
CityLocal TimeDifference
New York--:--Same time
London--:--Same time
Toronto--:--Same time
Miami--:--Same time
Los Angeles--:--Same time
Mexico City--:--Same time
Madrid--:--Same time
Paris--:--Same time
Berlin--:--Same time
Dubai--:--Same time
Tokyo--:--Same time
Sydney--:--Same time
São Paulo--:--Same time
Singapore--:--Same time

📞 Best Time to Call United Kingdom

Target 9 AM – 5 PM United Kingdom local time for business calls. To call United Kingdom from the US East Coast, the best window is 8–10 AM EST (2–4 PM local). UK callers share similar hours. European business culture values punctuality — avoid calling outside 9 AM–6 PM local time.

🕐 Time Zone in United Kingdom

GMT (UTC+0)BST (UTC+1)

United Kingdom uses GMT (UTC+0) year-round. London is the capital and largest city.

United Kingdom observes Daylight Saving Time (Summer Time). Clocks spring forward on the last Sunday in March (to BST (UTC+1)) and fall back on the last Sunday in October.

✈️ Time-Related Travel Tips for United Kingdom

Traveling to United Kingdom from North America typically involves a 5–9 hour time difference. Jet lag is usually manageable within 1–2 days. European business culture values punctuality, so arrive on time for meetings. United Kingdom uses 24-hour format in official contexts.

💡 Interesting Facts About Time in United Kingdom

  • Time zone boundaries don't always follow geographical lines — they're often adjusted for political, economic, or practical reasons.
  • The concept of standardized time zones was developed in the 19th century with the expansion of railways, replacing local solar time.

About Time in United Kingdom

United Kingdom uses 2 time zones. This makes it important to confirm the specific zone to coordinate times across the country.

The capital city London serves as the political and often economic center of United Kingdom. Major business activities are spread across cities including London, Manchester, Birmingham.

When planning international calls, video conferences, or business meetings with contacts in United Kingdom, it's important to consider the time difference. GMT (UTC+0) is the most commonly referenced time zone for United Kingdom.

United Kingdom uses the British Pound (£) as its official currency. The international dialing code is +44. Official languages include English, Welsh, Scottish Gaelic.

View all 75 cities with live local times →

🌍 Other Countries in Europe

AlbaniaAndorraAustriaBelarusBelgiumBosnia and HerzegovinaBulgariaCroatiaCyprusCzech RepublicDenmarkEstoniaFinlandFranceGermanyGreeceHungaryIcelandIrelandItalyKosovoLatviaLiechtensteinLithuaniaLuxembourgMaltaMoldovaMonacoMontenegroNetherlandsNorth MacedoniaNorwayPolandPortugalRomaniaRussiaSan MarinoSerbiaSlovakiaSloveniaSpainSwedenSwitzerlandTurkeyUkraineVatican City

Frequently Asked Questions

What time is it in the UK right now?
The UK uses Greenwich Mean Time (GMT, UTC+0) in winter and British Summer Time (BST, UTC+1) from late March to late October. The live clock at the top of this page shows the exact current time in the UK. All major UK cities — London, Manchester, Birmingham, Leeds, Glasgow, and Edinburgh — are on the same time zone.
What time zone is the UK in?
The UK uses Greenwich Mean Time (GMT, UTC+0) in winter and British Summer Time (BST, UTC+1) during summer. The IANA time zone identifier is Europe/London. Note: GMT and UTC are different standards but have the same numeric offset (UTC+0). The UK switches to BST on the last Sunday in March and returns to GMT on the last Sunday in October.
What is the difference between GMT and BST?
GMT (Greenwich Mean Time) is the UK's standard time in winter, at UTC+0. BST (British Summer Time) is the UK's daylight saving time in summer, at UTC+1 — one hour ahead of GMT. The switch happens on the last Sunday in March (clocks go forward) and the last Sunday in October (clocks go back). The phrase "spring forward, fall back" describes this change.
What is the time difference between the UK and New York?
The UK (GMT/BST) is typically 5 hours ahead of New York (EST/EDT). In winter (GMT vs EST), London is 5 hours ahead. In summer (BST vs EDT), London is still 5 hours ahead, because both regions switch clocks at different but roughly offsetting times. There are a few weeks each spring and autumn when the gap is temporarily 4 or 6 hours.
What is the time difference between the UK and Los Angeles?
The UK is typically 8 hours ahead of Los Angeles. In winter (GMT vs PST), London is 8 hours ahead. In summer (BST vs PDT), London is 8 hours ahead. As with New York, there are brief windows in spring and autumn where the gap is 7 or 9 hours while only one region has switched clocks.
Does the UK observe Daylight Saving Time?
Yes. The UK observes Daylight Saving Time under the name British Summer Time (BST). Clocks advance by 1 hour on the last Sunday in March and fall back on the last Sunday in October. There have been parliamentary debates about abolishing this practice, but as of 2026, the UK continues to observe BST.
Do all UK cities have the same time?
Yes. England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland all use the same time zone (Europe/London). London, Manchester, Birmingham, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Cardiff, and Belfast are all on GMT in winter and BST in summer. There are no time zone boundaries within the United Kingdom.
What is the time difference between the UK and India?
India (IST, UTC+5:30) is 5 hours and 30 minutes ahead of the UK in winter (GMT). During British Summer Time (BST, UTC+1), India is 4 hours and 30 minutes ahead. IST never changes, so the UK–India gap oscillates between 4.5h and 5.5h depending on whether the UK is on GMT or BST.

Related Time Pages

Time in FranceTime in GermanyTime in SpainTime in IrelandLondon timeNew York timeTime in AustraliaTime converter tool
Time zone data powered by the IANA Time Zone Database. UK: Europe/London (GMT UTC+0 / BST UTC+1). DST observed.