The UK clocks are set to go back this weekend on Sunday, October 26, 2025, marking the end of British Summer Time and the return to Greenwich Mean Time. This biannual ritual affects millions of people across the United Kingdom, bringing an extra hour of sleep but also ushering in darker evenings as winter approaches. This comprehensive guide covers everything you need to know about when the clocks change, what time the adjustment happens, why the UK observes daylight saving time, and what this means for daily life across Britain.
When Do Clocks Go Back in 2025?
The clocks go back at 2:00am on Sunday, October 26, 2025, in the United Kingdom. At precisely 2:00am British Summer Time, clocks automatically turn backward one hour to 1:00am Greenwich Mean Time. This means that technically, the hour between 1:00am and 2:00am occurs twice on this date, giving everyone an extra hour.
The specific timing of 2:00am was deliberately chosen to minimize disruption to daily life and business operations. This early Sunday morning hour represents a time when most people are asleep, transport services operate at reduced capacity, and commercial activity reaches its lowest point of the week. The Sunday timing further reduces disruption by avoiding workday complications, though it does affect those working night shifts who must work an additional hour.
For most people, the practical impact means going to bed on Saturday night October 25 and waking up Sunday morning October 26 with clocks showing one hour earlier than they would have otherwise displayed. Modern smartphones, computers, and internet-connected devices typically adjust automatically, though traditional analog clocks, watches, car clocks, and appliances require manual adjustment.
This marks the official end of British Summer Time (BST) that began on March 30, 2025, when clocks moved forward one hour at 1:00am. The return to Greenwich Mean Time means the UK shifts from UTC+1 back to UTC+0, affecting international time zone calculations and coordination with other countries.
Do the Clocks Go Back This Weekend?
Yes, the clocks definitely go back this weekend on Sunday, October 26, 2025. This happens on the last Sunday of October, which this year falls on October 26. If you’re reading this on the weekend of October 25-26, 2025, then the clock change occurs during the early hours of Sunday morning.
The last Sunday of October serves as the consistent annual date for ending British Summer Time, making it relatively easy to predict years in advance. Unlike some countries that use specific calendar dates which can fall on different days of the week, the UK’s use of “last Sunday in October” ensures the change always occurs on the same day of the week, facilitating planning and minimizing disruption.
The mnemonic “spring forward, fall back” helps people remember which direction clocks move during each seasonal change. In spring (March), clocks move forward one hour, while in fall/autumn (October), clocks move back one hour. This simple phrase has helped generations of British residents remember the correct direction of clock adjustments without confusion.
What Time Do the Clocks Go Back?
The clocks go back at exactly 2:00am British Summer Time on Sunday, October 26, 2025. At this precise moment, 2:00am BST becomes 1:00am GMT instantly. Digitally-connected devices including smartphones, computers, tablets, and smart home systems with internet connectivity will make this adjustment automatically without any user intervention required.
However, many household items still require manual adjustment including:
- Analog wall clocks and watches
- Oven and microwave clocks
- Car dashboard clocks
- Traditional alarm clocks
- Central heating timers
- Some older digital devices without internet connectivity
Most people choose to adjust their manual clocks before going to bed on Saturday night October 25, ensuring they wake up on Sunday with all timepieces synchronized. Alternatively, adjustments can be made Sunday morning after waking, though this risks confusion about actual time if some clocks remain unadjusted.
The 2:00am timing represents a practical compromise between minimizing disruption and providing convenient adjustment opportunity. Earlier times like midnight might seem more logical, but many people remain awake at midnight particularly on Saturday nights, creating confusion about whether to adjust clocks immediately or wait. The 2:00am timing ensures nearly everyone is asleep, with automatic adjustments happening seamlessly.
Understanding Daylight Saving Time in the UK
Daylight Saving Time, known in the United Kingdom as British Summer Time, represents the period when clocks move forward one hour to provide longer daylight during evening hours. BST runs from the last Sunday in March through the last Sunday in October, covering approximately seven months of each year when daylight hours naturally expand.
The fundamental concept behind daylight saving involves shifting one hour of morning daylight to the evening, taking advantage of longer summer days by aligning waking hours more closely with available natural light. During BST, sunrise occurs one hour later by the clock than it would under GMT, while sunset similarly occurs one hour later, extending usable daylight into evening hours when more people are awake and active.
The UK implemented its first daylight saving measures in 1916 during World War I, following Germany’s lead in adopting the practice earlier that year. The wartime motivation centered on conserving fuel for the war effort by reducing artificial lighting needs during evening hours when people remained active. If evenings stayed lighter longer, households and businesses required less gas and electric lighting, preserving resources for military priorities.
The concept itself originated with British builder William Willett, who proposed daylight saving in 1907 after observing how much daylight was “wasted” during summer mornings when most people slept while the sun rose early. Willett campaigned for changing the clocks to shift this unused morning daylight to evenings, but died in 1915 before seeing his idea implemented. The wartime pressures of 1916 finally provided the impetus for adopting his proposal.
Following World War I, daylight saving continued with some interruptions and variations. During World War II, Britain even adopted “British Double Summer Time” moving clocks forward two hours during summer to maximize daylight for war production and reduce bombing raid vulnerabilities. From 1968-1971, Britain experimented with permanent BST year-round, but abandoned the trial due to concerns about dark mornings particularly affecting Scotland.
Since 1972, the UK has consistently observed daylight saving with clocks moving forward in March and backward in October. The specific dates have been standardized across the European Union, with the UK maintaining this alignment even after Brexit. Both British Summer Time and Central European Summer Time now begin and end simultaneously, facilitating coordination across Europe.
When Do Clocks Change in the UK Throughout the Year?
The UK experiences two clock changes annually, occurring on predictable dates determined by calendar position rather than specific dates:
Spring Forward – Last Sunday in March
- Clocks move forward one hour at 1:00am GMT
- 1:00am becomes 2:00am instantly
- Marks the beginning of British Summer Time (BST)
- Results in “losing” one hour (shorter night)
- Creates lighter evenings but darker mornings
- In 2025, this occurred on March 30
- In 2026, this will occur on March 29
- In 2027, this will occur on March 28
Fall Back – Last Sunday in October
- Clocks move backward one hour at 2:00am BST
- 2:00am becomes 1:00am instantly
- Marks the end of British Summer Time (BST)
- Results in “gaining” one hour (longer night)
- Creates lighter mornings but darker evenings
- In 2025, this occurs on October 26
- In 2026, this will occur on October 25
- In 2027, this will occur on October 31
The consistent use of “last Sunday” rather than specific dates ensures the changes always occur on weekends, minimizing workplace disruption while providing time for adjustment before the workweek begins. The predictability allows individuals, businesses, and transport operators to plan years in advance.
What Happens When Clocks Go Back?
When clocks go back one hour on October 26, 2025, several immediate and gradual effects occur affecting daily life, health, and routines across the United Kingdom:
Immediate Effects:
The most obvious immediate impact provides everyone with an extra hour on the night of the change. For those sleeping through the 2:00am adjustment, this manifests as an extra hour of sleep, with the night lasting 25 hours instead of the usual 24. Many people appreciate this bonus hour, particularly after losing an hour when clocks moved forward in March.
However, the extra hour poses challenges for those working overnight shifts, who must work an additional hour for the same shift pay unless employers make specific accommodations. Healthcare workers, emergency services, transport operators, and 24-hour business employees all face this complication, with some employers paying overtime for the extra hour while others consider it absorbed within standard shift compensation.
The shift to Greenwich Mean Time affects international time zone coordination, with the UK moving from UTC+1 to UTC+0. This impacts businesses dealing with international partners, requiring adjustment of meeting times and coordination schedules. For example, the time difference between London and New York changes from 4 hours to 5 hours once the US makes its own clock change in early November.
Daylight Pattern Changes:
The most significant effect involves dramatic shifts in sunrise and sunset times from the perspective of clock time. Immediately after the change, sunrise and sunset both occur approximately one hour earlier by the clock than they did the previous day, though the actual solar patterns continue their gradual seasonal progression.
Before the change on October 25, London experiences sunrise around 7:45am BST and sunset around 5:45pm BST. After the change on October 26, sunrise occurs around 6:45am GMT and sunset around 4:45pm GMT. The morning commute suddenly happens in daylight rather than darkness, while the evening commute shifts from twilight into darkness.
This shift creates the phenomenon of “darker evenings” that many find psychologically difficult. Children leave school in darkness, workers leave offices after sunset, and evening outdoor activities become less appealing. The perception of shortened days, even though actual daylight duration continues its natural seasonal cycle, can affect mood and activity levels.
Conversely, mornings become lighter, with sunrise occurring earlier by the clock. This benefits early risers, commuters, and schoolchildren who travel during morning hours. However, as autumn progresses toward winter solstice in December, sunrise times continue moving later, eventually resulting in dark mornings again despite the clock change.
Health and Wellbeing Impacts:
The clock change affects circadian rhythms – the body’s internal biological clock governing sleep-wake cycles, hormone production, and various physiological processes. Even though gaining an hour seems easier than losing one, the disruption still affects some people, causing temporary sleep difficulties, mood changes, and fatigue.
Research suggests the autumn clock change correlates with increased rates of depression and seasonal affective disorder (SAD), though disentangling the specific impact of the clock change from the general effect of decreasing daylight proves difficult. The sudden shift to darker evenings may trigger or worsen seasonal mood disorders in susceptible individuals.
Some studies indicate modest increases in traffic accidents in the days following clock changes in either direction, attributed to disrupted sleep patterns and adjustment difficulties. However, the evidence remains somewhat mixed, with some research showing minimal safety impacts.
Practical Adjustments Required:
Beyond adjusting clocks themselves, the time change requires numerous practical adjustments including:
- Resetting central heating timers to maintain desired temperature schedules
- Adjusting automatic lighting timers for security or convenience
- Modifying pet feeding schedules gradually to avoid disruption
- Recalibrating body rhythms for sleep, meals, and exercise
- Updating international meeting schedules and communications
- Adjusting security systems and access control timing
- Modifying medication schedules if time-sensitive
Most people require several days to fully adjust to the new time, with children and elderly individuals often needing longer adjustment periods. Maintaining consistent sleep schedules, getting morning light exposure, and gradually shifting routines can ease the transition.
Why Does the UK Change the Clocks?
The United Kingdom changes clocks twice annually to maximize daylight during waking hours, though the practice remains controversial with ongoing debates about its necessity and effectiveness. Understanding the stated benefits and criticisms helps contextualize why the UK continues this century-old tradition.
Historical Rationale:
As previously mentioned, the UK adopted daylight saving during World War I primarily for wartime resource conservation, following William Willett’s earlier proposals about maximizing daylight utilization. The reasoning held that lighter evenings reduced artificial lighting needs, conserving coal and gas for war efforts while potentially improving morale by providing more pleasant evening conditions.
Contemporary Justifications:
Modern arguments for maintaining clock changes emphasize several benefits:
Energy Conservation: Proponents argue longer evening daylight reduces electricity consumption for lighting and heating, though evidence for significant energy savings remains debated. Modern studies show relatively modest energy impacts, with lighting savings sometimes offset by increased heating or cooling needs depending on climate and season.
Road Safety: Supporters claim that lighter evenings during summer months improve road safety by reducing accidents during evening rush hour when traffic volume peaks. However, this benefit must be weighed against potential increased morning accidents during the darker winter months after clocks go back.
Outdoor Activity: Extended evening daylight during summer months encourages outdoor recreation, exercise, and social activities, potentially benefiting physical and mental health. Sports clubs, outdoor businesses, and tourism sectors generally support daylight saving for enabling evening activities.
Economic Activity: Longer shopping hours and extended tourism opportunities during summer evenings may provide economic benefits to retail and hospitality sectors, though quantifying these effects proves difficult.
Alignment with Europe: Maintaining synchronized time changes with European neighbors facilitates business, transport, and communications despite Brexit, preserving practical advantages of coordination.
Arguments Against Clock Changes:
Critics of the biannual clock changes present several counterarguments:
Health Impacts: Disrupting circadian rhythms twice annually may cause health problems including sleep disturbances, mood disorders, and potentially increased heart attack and stroke risks in vulnerable populations during the adjustment period.
Questionable Energy Savings: Modern research suggests energy savings from daylight saving are minimal or nonexistent, with lighting efficiencies from LED technology and changed energy usage patterns diminishing any historical benefits.
Accident Risks: Some evidence indicates modest increases in traffic accidents and workplace injuries in the days following time changes in either direction, potentially offsetting any safety benefits.
Agricultural Disruption: Farmers often oppose clock changes, noting that animals operate on solar time rather than clock time, requiring gradual schedule adjustments for milking and feeding that complicate operations.
Modern Lifestyle: Critics argue that indoor, screen-based modern lifestyles reduce relevance of daylight patterns, with many people spending daytime hours indoors regardless of available sunlight.
Confusion and Costs: The twice-yearly adjustment creates confusion, missed appointments, and implementation costs for businesses updating systems and adjusting operations.
Will the UK Stop Changing the Clocks?
The question of whether the United Kingdom will abolish clock changes and adopt permanent standard time or permanent daylight saving remains actively debated, with no definitive decision reached despite periodic discussions and proposals.
Brexit and Regulatory Autonomy:
Following Brexit, the UK gained autonomy to set its own time zone policies independently of European Union decisions. The EU Parliament voted in 2019 to abolish mandatory clock changes for member states, though implementation has been repeatedly delayed due to coordination challenges and lack of consensus among members. The UK could theoretically make independent decisions about its time policy.
Public Opinion:
Various polls suggest British public opinion is divided on the issue, with some surveys indicating majority support for abolishing clock changes, while others show preferences vary significantly by region, age, and lifestyle. Scotland particularly expresses concerns about permanent summer time, which would result in very late winter sunrises making morning commutes and school runs dangerously dark.
Proposed Alternatives:
Several alternatives to the current system have been proposed:
Permanent Greenwich Mean Time: Maintaining GMT year-round would eliminate clock changes while keeping winter time’s earlier sunrises. However, this would result in much earlier summer sunsets, potentially reducing evening outdoor activities and economic activity.
Permanent British Summer Time: Maintaining BST year-round would provide lighter summer evenings but cause very late winter sunrises, particularly affecting Scotland where winter sun might not rise until after 9:00am or 10:00am in northern regions. This raises safety concerns for morning commutes and schoolchildren.
Double Summer Time: Some propose moving forward two hours during summer, maintaining one hour forward during winter, providing even lighter summer evenings while avoiding very dark winter mornings. However, this would require three annual clock changes rather than two, potentially increasing rather than decreasing disruption.
Regional Time Zones: Theoretically, the UK could adopt different time zones for different regions, allowing Scotland to maintain different time than England. However, this would create significant practical complications for a relatively small country with extensive internal travel and business connections.
Current Status:
As of October 2025, no concrete plans exist to abolish clock changes in the United Kingdom. The government has not announced any timeline for reviewing the policy, and the biannual changes continue as scheduled. Any future changes would require parliamentary legislation and extensive public consultation given the significant lifestyle and economic implications.
The debate balances competing priorities including energy conservation, public health, economic activity, regional differences, international coordination, and individual preferences that vary widely across the population. Reaching consensus proves difficult when any chosen option creates winners and losers among different groups and regions.
Preparing for the Clock Change
Making the October clock change as smooth as possible requires some preparation and awareness of both the practical adjustments needed and the potential health impacts to manage:
Before the Change:
- Check which devices adjust automatically versus requiring manual changes
- Prepare a list of all manually-adjusted clocks and devices
- Consider adjusting sleep schedule gradually in days before the change
- Plan Sunday activities accounting for potential temporary fatigue
- Ensure smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors are tested when changing clocks
- Review medication schedules if time-sensitive treatments are involved
- Adjust pet feeding times gradually if animals are sensitive to schedule changes
On the Day:
- Adjust manual clocks before bed Saturday night or first thing Sunday morning
- Verify automatic devices changed correctly, as technical glitches occasionally occur
- Allow extra time for morning routines as body adjusts
- Get outdoor light exposure early in the day to help reset circadian rhythms
- Maintain regular meal and exercise times by clock to help body adjust
- Be aware of potential mood impacts and practice self-care
- Drive carefully and stay alert as some people experience fatigue
After the Change:
- Allow several days for full adjustment to new schedule
- Maintain consistent sleep and wake times to reinforce new pattern
- Get morning light exposure to help circadian rhythm adjustment
- Be patient with children’s adjustment periods, which may be longer
- Watch for signs of seasonal affective disorder as days shorten
- Consider light therapy devices if experiencing mood impacts
- Adjust evening activities to account for earlier darkness
Impact on Different Sectors
The clock change affects various sectors of society differently, creating specific challenges and considerations for different groups:
Transportation: Train, bus, and airline schedules must account for the time change, with overnight services potentially affected by the extra hour. International travel requires attention to different countries’ time change schedules, which don’t always align.
Healthcare: Hospitals must carefully manage patient medication schedules through the transition, ensuring time-sensitive treatments aren’t disrupted. Night shift workers in healthcare face the challenge of working an extra hour during an already demanding shift.
Broadcasting: Television and radio schedules must account for the change, with live programming potentially affected and international broadcasts requiring coordinate adjustments.
Business: Companies with international operations must manage meeting schedules across multiple time zones that change at different dates, requiring careful attention to avoid confusion.
Education: Schools deal with children’s adjustment periods, potentially seeing increased fatigue and attention difficulties in the days following clock changes.
Agriculture: Farmers face particular challenges as animals operate on solar time rather than clock time, requiring gradual schedule adjustments for milking and feeding routines.
Frequently Asked Questions
When do the clocks go back in 2025?
The clocks go back at 2:00am on Sunday, October 26, 2025. At this time, clocks move backward one hour to 1:00am, marking the end of British Summer Time and the return to Greenwich Mean Time. This happens on the last Sunday of October every year.
Do clocks go back this weekend?
Yes, if you’re reading this during the weekend of October 25-26, 2025, the clocks go back during the early hours of Sunday morning, October 26, at 2:00am BST, which becomes 1:00am GMT.
What time do the clocks go back?
The clocks go back at exactly 2:00am British Summer Time, which instantly becomes 1:00am Greenwich Mean Time. Most people adjust their manual clocks before going to bed on Saturday night, while smartphones and internet-connected devices adjust automatically.
Do we gain or lose an hour when clocks go back?
We gain an extra hour when clocks go back in October. The night is 25 hours long instead of 24, giving everyone an extra hour of sleep. Conversely, when clocks go forward in March, we lose an hour.
Why do the clocks change in the UK?
The UK changes clocks to maximize daylight during waking hours, a practice that began in 1916 during World War I for energy conservation. Modern justifications include potential energy savings, road safety during summer evenings, and encouraging outdoor activities, though the practice remains controversial.
Do all countries change their clocks?
No, many countries do not observe daylight saving time, particularly those near the equator where seasonal daylight variation is minimal. Among countries that do change clocks, the specific dates vary, with the US changing clocks in November rather than October.
Will the UK stop changing the clocks?
There are no current plans to stop changing the clocks in the UK. While the question is periodically debated, no concrete legislative proposals exist as of October 2025. Any change would require parliamentary action and extensive public consultation given the significant implications.
What is the difference between GMT and BST?
Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) is the UK’s standard time zone during winter months from late October to late March, equivalent to UTC+0. British Summer Time (BST) is the daylight saving time period from late March to late October when clocks move forward one hour, equivalent to UTC+1.
Do I need to change my phone’s clock?
No, smartphones automatically adjust for daylight saving time changes when connected to cellular networks or WiFi. However, if your phone’s automatic time setting is disabled, you would need to adjust it manually.
When do the clocks go forward again?
The clocks will go forward one hour at 1:00am GMT on Sunday, March 29, 2026, marking the start of British Summer Time. This happens on the last Sunday of March every year, with the mnemonic “spring forward, fall back” helping remember the direction of change.
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