Working with London Teams
Time zone strategies for remote collaboration with UK-based colleagues
⚡ Quick Answer
London operates on GMT/BST, with core business hours from 9 AM to 5:30 PM. For Americans, your morning is London's afternoon — perfect overlap. For Asia-Pacific, early mornings catch London before they leave. Europe? You're basically in sync.
🌍 Time Zone Overlap Guide
| Your Location | Best Overlap Window | Quality |
|---|---|---|
| New York (-5h) | 2 PM - 5:30 PM London | Good |
| Los Angeles (-8h) | 5 PM - 6 PM London | Limited |
| Dubai (+4h) | 9 AM - 1 PM London | Good |
| Singapore (+8h) | 9 AM - 11 AM London | Limited |
| Tokyo (+9h) | 8 AM - 10 AM London | Difficult |
| Sydney (+11h) | 7 AM - 9 AM London | Difficult |
| Paris/Berlin (+1h) | All day | Excellent |
🇬🇧 UK Work Culture
⏰ Working Hours
- • Standard hours: 9 AM - 5:30 PM (longer than US 9-5)
- • Lunch: Usually 1 hour, typically 12-1 PM or 1-2 PM
- • Friday: Some offices wind down after 4 PM
- • Overtime: Less expected than in US; work-life balance valued
📧 Communication Style
- • Polite indirectness: "I wonder if you might..." rather than direct requests
- • Understatement: "Not bad" often means "quite good"
- • Email formality: More formal than US, especially initially
- • Response time: Same-day reply expected for urgent matters
🎯 Meeting Culture
- • Punctuality: Being on time means being 1-2 minutes early
- • Small talk: Brief pleasantries expected before diving in
- • Tea breaks: Don't schedule over traditional tea time (3-4 PM)
- • Decision making: Often requires consultation, not immediate answers
💬 Async Communication Tips
Write for morning reading
If you're in the US, messages sent at your end of day arrive as London starts theirs. Make them comprehensive — include all context so they can act without follow-up questions.
Use scheduled sends
Schedule emails to arrive during London working hours. An email at 9 AM London time gets faster responses than one that arrives at 3 AM.
Respect bank holidays
The UK has different holidays than the US. Don't expect responses on UK bank holidays, and check the calendar before scheduling important deadlines.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
What's the best meeting time for London-NYC?
2-4 PM London / 9-11 AM New York is the sweet spot — both sides are fully awake and in work mode.
Do UK offices close early on Fridays?
Not officially, but productivity often dips after 4 PM on Fridays. Schedule important meetings earlier in the week.
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Last updated: December 2024.