When Do the Clocks Go Forward?

The exact next date and time

The clocks next go forward at 1am (01:00 GMT) on Sunday 28 March 2027. At this precise moment, the time changes from 01:00 to 02:00, and everyone loses an hour of sleep. This starts British Summer Time (BST, UTC+1) and gives the UK lighter evenings through spring and summer.

Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland change their clocks at exactly the same time as England. The whole of the United Kingdom switches together — there are no regional differences.

GMT vs BST — what do they mean?

GMT (Greenwich Mean Time) is the UK's standard winter time. It sits at UTC+0, meaning it is aligned with Coordinated Universal Time with no offset. The UK uses GMT from late October until late March.

BST (British Summer Time) is the UK's summer time. It sits at UTC+1 — one hour ahead of GMT. The UK uses BST from late March until late October to make better use of daylight during longer summer days.

When the clocks go forward in March, the UK moves from GMT (UTC+0) to BST (UTC+1). When they go back in October, the UK returns from BST (UTC+1) to GMT (UTC+0).

What actually changes when the clocks go forward

When the clocks go forward, you lose an hour of sleep overnight. The night is effectively one hour shorter. Evenings become noticeably lighter and stay light much longer, but mornings feel darker for a few weeks as the sun rises later. This adjustment can affect sleep patterns and mood for some people.

Most smartphones, computers, and smart devices update automatically overnight. Analogue clocks, cooker timers, and some car clocks need to be changed manually. The easy way to remember the direction: spring forward, fall back.

Why the UK changes the clocks

The UK has used daylight saving time for over a century. The idea, associated with builder William Willett who campaigned for it in the early 1900s, is to align waking hours more closely with daylight hours. In spring, shifting an hour of daylight into the evening makes better use of longer summer days and aligns the UK with most of Europe.

Will the UK stop changing the clocks?

There are no confirmed plans to stop. In 2019 the European Parliament voted in favour of ending seasonal clock changes for EU member states, proposing that each country would choose a permanent standard or summer time from 2021. However, the UK left the European Union and the EU proposal was not implemented in any coordinated way. The UK currently continues to change its clocks twice a year, as it has done for over a century. No legislation has been passed to end the practice.

What to expect after the change

After 28 March 2027, evenings will be noticeably lighter and stay light much longer. Mornings will feel darker for a few weeks as the sun rises later. The next clock change comes on Sunday 25 October 2027, when clocks go back at 2am — ending British Summer Time and returning to GMT for winter.