London Time Zone: The Complete Guide
Your complete guide to time in the capital of the United Kingdom
Whether you're scheduling a meeting with colleagues in the UK, planning a trip to see Big Ben, or trying to catch the opening of the London Stock Exchange — understanding London's time zone is essential.
London operates on Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) in winter and British Summer Time (BST) in summer. As the home of the Prime Meridian, London's time zone is literally the reference point for the entire world's timekeeping.
But there's more to London time than just knowing it's "GMT." What matters is understanding when businesses actually open, how the Tube schedule changes, and when you can realistically expect a British colleague to respond to your email (hint: probably after their tea break).
This guide covers everything you need to know — from business hours and bank holidays to the best times to call London from abroad and tips for beating jet lag.
⚡ Quick Facts: London Time Zone
Time Zone Basics
- • Standard Time: GMT (UTC+0)
- • Summer Time: BST (UTC+1)
- • Clocks Forward: Last Sunday of March
- • Clocks Back: Last Sunday of October
Key Time Differences
- • New York: -5 hours (usually)
- • Tokyo: +9 hours
- • Dubai: +4 hours
- • Sydney: +11 hours
Need exact conversions? Try our Time Converter
Explore the Complete Guide
Business Hours
Banks, shops, restaurants, and government hours in London
Best Time to Visit
Month-by-month weather, crowds, and events guide
Remote Work Guide
Working with London teams across time zones
24 Hours in London
The city's daily rhythm from dawn to night
Best Time to Call
Optimal calling times from major cities worldwide
Stock Market Hours
LSE & FTSE trading times for global investors
UK Bank Holidays
Public holidays, closures, and what to expect
Digital Nomad Guide
Coworking, cafes, WiFi, and cost of living
Time Difference
London time compared to NYC, Tokyo, Dubai, and more
Travel Planning
Flight times, jet lag tips, and arrival advice
Understanding London Time
GMT vs BST: What's the Difference?
London uses two time zones throughout the year. Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) is used from late October to late March — this is UTC+0, the baseline for world time. During summer months, clocks move forward one hour to British Summer Time (BST), which is UTC+1.
The switch happens on the last Sunday of March (clocks "spring forward") and the last Sunday of October (clocks "fall back"). This aligns closely with most European countries, though the exact dates can differ from the US by a week or two.
Why Greenwich Mean Time Matters
London's connection to timekeeping is historic. The Royal Observatory in Greenwich established the Prime Meridian — the line of 0° longitude — in 1851. This made Greenwich the reference point for global time zones. Even though UTC (Coordinated Universal Time) is now the official standard, GMT remains synonymous with London time.
For travellers and business people, this means London is the natural "zero point" for calculating time differences. New York is GMT-5, Tokyo is GMT+9, and so on. This makes London a convenient hub for international coordination.
When London Changes Time
Spring Forward (to BST)
Last Sunday of March at 1:00 AM
Clocks move from 1:00 AM → 2:00 AM
Fall Back (to GMT)
Last Sunday of October at 2:00 AM
Clocks move from 2:00 AM → 1:00 AM
Pro tip: During the weeks when the UK and US change clocks on different dates, the time difference shifts temporarily. London-NYC is usually 5 hours, but briefly becomes 4 hours in late March and 6 hours in early November.
London Time vs Major Cities
| City | Difference | When it's 12 PM in London |
|---|---|---|
| 🇺🇸 New York | -5 hours | 7:00 AM |
| 🇺🇸 Los Angeles | -8 hours | 4:00 AM |
| 🇫🇷 Paris | +1 hour | 1:00 PM |
| 🇦🇪 Dubai | +4 hours | 4:00 PM |
| 🇮🇳 Mumbai | +5.5 hours | 5:30 PM |
| 🇸🇬 Singapore | +8 hours | 8:00 PM |
| 🇯🇵 Tokyo | +9 hours | 9:00 PM |
| 🇦🇺 Sydney | +11 hours | 11:00 PM |
* Times shown are approximate and may vary during daylight saving transitions. See detailed time differences →
Practical Tips for Dealing with London Time
🌍 For International Business
London's position makes it ideal for bridging time zones. A 9 AM meeting in London catches New York at 4 AM (too early), but a 2 PM London meeting is 9 AM NYC — perfect for both sides. For Asia, early morning London calls (7-8 AM) align with end-of-day in Singapore and Tokyo.
✈️ For Travellers
Flying from North America? You'll "lose" 5-8 hours travelling east. Take an overnight flight, arrive in the morning, and push through the first day to adjust faster. Flying from Asia or Australia? You'll "gain" time — but jet lag can still hit hard. Plan a quiet first day.
📱 For Remote Workers
London's GMT base makes it surprisingly central for global teams. You can comfortably overlap with European colleagues all day, catch Americas in the afternoon, and start early for Asia-Pacific standups. Many remote workers consider London one of the best locations for distributed team coordination.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is London on GMT or BST right now?
London uses GMT from late October to late March, and BST from late March to late October. Check the current date — if it's between April and October, London is most likely on BST (GMT+1).
What's the time difference between London and New York?
Usually 5 hours — London is ahead. When it's noon in London, it's 7 AM in New York. However, for about 2-3 weeks in spring and autumn, the difference changes to 4 or 6 hours because the US and UK change clocks on different dates.
Does all of the UK use the same time zone?
Yes — all of England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland use the same time (GMT/BST). The only exception is the British Overseas Territories, which have various time zones.
Why doesn't the UK stay on BST year-round?
There have been proposals, but changing would mean darker winter mornings in Scotland (sunrise after 10 AM in December). The current system balances light across seasons, though debates continue about potential changes.
Ready to Dive Deeper?
This overview is just the start. Explore our detailed guides on specific topics:
Last updated: December 2024. This guide is regularly updated to reflect current information.