London Time Difference
How London compares to major cities worldwide
⚡ Quick Answer
London uses GMT (UTC+0) in winter and BST (UTC+1) in summer. It's 5 hours ahead of New York, 8 hours ahead of LA, and 9 hours behind Tokyo. As the home of the Prime Meridian, London time is often used as the global reference point.
🌍 London Time vs World Cities
| City | Difference | When it's 12 PM in London |
|---|---|---|
| 🇺🇸 New York | -5 hours | 7:00 AM |
| 🇺🇸 Los Angeles | -8 hours | 4:00 AM |
| 🇺🇸 Chicago | -6 hours | 6:00 AM |
| 🇫🇷 Paris | +1 hour | 1:00 PM |
| 🇩🇪 Berlin | +1 hour | 1:00 PM |
| 🇦🇪 Dubai | +4 hours | 4:00 PM |
| 🇮🇳 Mumbai | +5.5 hours | 5:30 PM |
| 🇸🇬 Singapore | +8 hours | 8:00 PM |
| 🇭🇰 Hong Kong | +8 hours | 8:00 PM |
| 🇯🇵 Tokyo | +9 hours | 9:00 PM |
| 🇦🇺 Sydney | +11 hours | 11:00 PM |
| 🇳🇿 Auckland | +13 hours | 1:00 AM +1 |
🕐 GMT vs BST Explained
GMT (Winter)
- • UTC+0 — the baseline for world time
- • Late October → Late March
- • Clocks go back on last Sunday of October
- • Earlier sunsets, darker evenings
BST (Summer)
- • UTC+1 — one hour ahead of GMT
- • Late March → Late October
- • Clocks go forward on last Sunday of March
- • Longer evenings, more daylight
DST Tip: For 2-3 weeks in spring and autumn, time differences shift when the UK and other countries change clocks on different dates. Always verify during March and October.
🔄 Quick Converter
When it's 11:47 PM in London:
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Is London ahead or behind New York?
London is 5 hours ahead of New York. When it's noon in London, it's 7 AM in NYC.
What's the time difference between London and Dubai?
Dubai is 4 hours ahead of London in winter (GMT), 3 hours in summer (BST). Dubai doesn't observe DST.
Why is GMT based in London?
The Prime Meridian (0° longitude) passes through the Royal Observatory in Greenwich, London. This was established internationally in 1884, making London the reference point for global timekeeping.
Related Guides
Last updated: December 2024. Time differences may shift during DST transitions.