“How many times a year does London time change?” is a question most tourists ask at one point. The capital of England, London, has been a center for business, culture, and finance for a very long time. No wonder it’s one of the world’s top tourist destinations. Before you schedule your visit, however, it’s best to take note of the time change in the UK. Just like many other countries, daylight saving time in London is a regular practice. Here’s how chaps from this global city make sure they never miss a spot of their afternoon tea.
Understanding London Time As Tourist
London Standard Time
Since 1960, the world has used UTC, or Universal Coordinated Time, a standard used to regulate clocks. Most people, however, are also aware of GMT, also known as the Greenwich Mean Time. This was the mean solar time at the Royal Observatory in Greenwich, London. During the cooler months, or standard time, the United Kingdom falls under GMT/UTC+0. Another term for the time zone in the UK is called Western European Time, or WET for short.
British Summer Time
Daylight saving in London became a regular practice in 1916 in order to make better use of daylight during sunnier months. During this time, London switches to the British Summer Time (BST), or GMT/UTC+1. Clocks are changed to move an hour of daylight from morning to evening. You’re probably asking, so when does time go back? The answer is that it varies from year to year. In 2017, for example, daylight saving was observed on Sunday, March 26, at 1:00AM. London is set to switch back to Standard Time on Sunday, October 29, 2:00AM.
Hours of Precious Daylight
In overcast London, a spot of sunlight is considered a treat. The shifting seasons, however, mean that different months of the year have varying hours of sunlight. During the winter months of December and January, Londoners get a measly 8 hours of sunlight in the day. However, during the summer, they can enjoy up to 16 and a half hours of sunshine. That’s certainly something to consider when planning your London trip!
Converting Your Clock to London Time
Now that you know London’s timezone, you’re ready to become an expert time converter. Of course, it all depends on where you’re from. For example, if you’re in New York, your standard time is UTC-4. If you fly to London in July, for example, you will convert your clock to follow UTC+1. If it’s 6AM in New York, then it’s 11AM in London. It helps to be aware of daylight saving time, so you never arrive a moment too late.
Curious to learn more about daylight saving time? Check out this video:
In our rapidly globalized world, knowing the nuances of time zones and standards is a useful skill. Just because answers are a search result away, doesn’t mean people should be lax in educating themselves. This knowledge helps especially if you are constantly traveling all over the world. That way, you’re never be caught asking, “What time is it in London?” again.
Calling all travel junkies! What are your experiences with different time zones? Share them with us in the comments section below.
Let Us Know What You Think