The clocks go forward on Sunday 29 March 2026, marking the start of British Summer Time (BST). At 1:00 AM, clocks will spring forward to 2:00 AM, giving us an extra hour of evening daylight but costing us an hour in bed. With just over two weeks to go, here is everything you need to know about the change, what it means for daylight hours across the UK, and how it ties into the spring weather patterns we can expect heading into April.
When Exactly Do the Clocks Change?
The clocks go forward by one hour at 1:00 AM on Sunday 29 March 2026. This means that 1:00 AM becomes 2:00 AM instantly, and we move from Greenwich Mean Time (GMT, UTC+0) to British Summer Time (BST, UTC+1).
If you are setting an analogue clock or watch, turn it forward one hour before you go to bed on Saturday 28 March. Most smartphones, tablets and computers update automatically, so there is no need to change those manually.
The clocks will remain on BST until Sunday 25 October 2026, when they go back one hour, returning us to GMT for the winter months.
A Brief History of British Summer Time
The idea of moving clocks forward in summer has a longer history than most people realise.
The Origins
British Summer Time was first introduced in 1916, during the First World War, after a campaign by builder William Willett. Willett had published a pamphlet called The Waste of Daylight in 1907, arguing that shifting clocks forward would save energy and give people more usable daylight. Sadly, Willett died in 1915, a year before Parliament passed the Summer Time Act.
Wartime Experiments
During the Second World War, the UK adopted double summer time (UTC+2) in the summer months and single summer time (UTC+1) in winter, maximising daylight for the war effort. Between 1968 and 1971, the government trialled keeping BST all year round, but the experiment was abandoned after opposition from Scotland and northern England, where dark winter mornings made the change unpopular.
Current Legislation
Today, British Summer Time is governed by the Summer Time Act 1972, with the specific dates set by Orders in Council following the EU's harmonised schedule. The UK continues to follow the same pattern post-Brexit: clocks go forward on the last Sunday in March and back on the last Sunday in October.
What the Change Means for Daylight Hours
The spring equinox falls on 20 March 2026, just nine days before the clocks change. By the time BST begins, the days are already noticeably longer than they were in the depths of winter. Moving the clocks forward shifts an hour of daylight from the morning to the evening.
Here is how sunrise and sunset times change for several UK cities on the day the clocks go forward:
| City | Sunrise (Sat 28 Mar, GMT) | Sunset (Sat 28 Mar, GMT) | Sunrise (Sun 29 Mar, BST) | Sunset (Sun 29 Mar, BST) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| London | 05:47 | 18:24 | 06:45 | 19:26 |
| Birmingham | 05:54 | 18:30 | 06:52 | 19:32 |
| Manchester | 05:57 | 18:34 | 06:55 | 19:36 |
| Edinburgh | 06:05 | 18:47 | 07:03 | 19:49 |
| Cardiff | 06:00 | 18:34 | 06:58 | 19:36 |
| Belfast | 06:13 | 18:47 | 07:11 | 19:49 |
The key takeaway: evenings become dramatically lighter. By 29 March, sunset in London is not until 7:26 PM on BST, compared to 6:24 PM the day before on GMT. That extra hour of usable evening light is the whole point of the change.
Regional Daylight Differences
One of the reasons BST remains controversial is the significant difference in daylight between the north and south of the UK.
In late March, Edinburgh gets roughly the same number of daylight hours as London, but the timing is shifted. Scottish sunrises and sunsets are both later on the clock. After the clocks go forward, Edinburgh's sunrise moves past 7:00 AM, and by mid-April it will not get dark until well past 8:30 PM.
The real pinch point is at the transitions. In late October, when clocks go back, parts of northern Scotland would not see sunrise until nearly 9:30 AM if the UK stayed on BST year-round. This was the core objection during the 1968 to 1971 trial, and it remains a powerful argument against proposals to scrap the clock change.
For residents of Shetland and the far north, the clock change is more than a minor inconvenience. It can mean the difference between commuting in darkness or having at least some morning daylight.
Spring Weather as BST Begins
The clocks going forward often coincides with a noticeable shift in weather patterns. Late March sits at the boundary between winter and spring, and the UK's weather can be particularly unpredictable at this time of year.
What to Expect in Late March
Typical conditions for the last week of March include:
- Daytime temperatures of 9 to 12 degrees Celsius in southern England, 6 to 9 degrees in Scotland
- Frost risk still present, particularly overnight and in rural areas
- A mix of sunshine and showers, with the showers sometimes falling as hail or sleet in the north
- Increasing sunshine hours, averaging around 4 to 5 hours per day in southern regions
Spring does not arrive uniformly across the UK. While daffodils may be in full bloom in Cornwall by mid-March, parts of the Scottish Highlands can still see snow showers well into April.
The 2026 Context
If you have been following the weather this year, you will know that 2026 has been remarkably wet. A persistent pattern of Atlantic weather systems has delivered above-average rainfall to much of the UK through January, February and into March. Ground saturation levels are high, rivers have been running full, and many areas have experienced repeated flooding.
As we approach BST, the question is whether this wet pattern will ease. Longer-range forecasts suggest some drier spells are possible in late March and early April, but confidence is low. The jet stream position remains the key factor, and it has stubbornly stayed further south than usual for much of the year.
For Easter 2026, which falls on 5 April, the hope is that the weather pattern will have shifted towards something more settled. But it is worth remembering that April showers exist as a phrase for a reason.
Practical Tips for the Clock Change
Losing an hour of sleep might sound trivial, but research shows that the spring clock change can disrupt routines for several days. Here are some ways to ease the transition.
Adjusting Your Sleep
The NHS recommends gradually shifting your bedtime earlier in the days leading up to the clock change. Try going to bed 15 to 20 minutes earlier on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday before the change. This helps your body clock adjust without a sudden jolt on Sunday morning. For more guidance, the NHS sleep advice page is a useful resource.
Other sleep tips for the transition:
- Avoid caffeine after midday on Saturday and Sunday
- Get outside in natural daylight on Sunday morning; this helps reset your circadian rhythm
- Keep your bedroom cool and dark, even as the evenings get lighter
- Avoid screens for at least an hour before bed
Making the Most of Longer Evenings
The extra evening daylight is one of the great pleasures of BST. Here are some ways to enjoy it:
- After-work walks become viable again; even a 30-minute walk in daylight after work can boost mood and energy
- Evening gardening is possible without a head torch for the first time since October
- Outdoor dining starts to feel realistic, though you will still want a jacket in late March
- Photography benefits from the longer golden hour; the low evening sun creates beautiful light
- Running and cycling after work become safer with better visibility
Outdoor Activities and the Weather
If you are planning outdoor activities for the first weekend of BST, check the forecast carefully. Late March weather can be glorious, but it can also deliver cold showers with very little warning. Layering is the smartest approach: a base layer, a warm mid-layer, and a waterproof outer layer will cover most eventualities. As always, forecast accuracy improves the closer you are to the day in question, so check again on Saturday morning before committing to plans.
If you suffer from hayfever, the start of BST roughly coincides with the beginning of pollen season. Tree pollen, particularly from birch, alder and hazel, is the primary trigger in late March and April. Keep an eye on pollen counts alongside the weather forecast.
What Happens to the Weather After BST Starts?
Moving the clocks does not change the weather, of course, but the psychological shift is real. Lighter evenings make mild temperatures feel warmer, and the same 12-degree day that felt cold and gloomy in February feels pleasant and spring-like in April.
Statistically, April and May bring a steady improvement in conditions across the UK:
| Month | Avg. High (London) | Avg. Rainfall (London) | Avg. Sunshine Hours (London) |
|---|---|---|---|
| March | 11C | 49mm | 114 |
| April | 14C | 47mm | 159 |
| May | 17C | 50mm | 192 |
The trend is clear: temperatures rise, sunshine hours increase, and while rainfall stays relatively steady, the showers tend to be shorter and more convective rather than the prolonged frontal rain of winter.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do phones and devices update automatically?
Yes. Smartphones, tablets, laptops and most modern devices update their clocks automatically using network time. You do not need to do anything. However, some older devices, wall clocks, car clocks and oven displays will need to be changed manually. It is worth doing a quick check around your home on Sunday morning.
Do we gain or lose an hour of sleep?
You lose an hour of sleep when the clocks go forward in spring. Think of it this way: if you normally wake at 7:00 AM, your body will feel like it is 6:00 AM on Sunday morning. The good news is that you gain this hour back when the clocks go back in October.
When do the clocks go back in 2026?
The clocks go back one hour at 2:00 AM on Sunday 25 October 2026, returning the UK to Greenwich Mean Time (GMT). At that point, 2:00 AM becomes 1:00 AM, and you gain an extra hour in bed.
Why do we still change the clocks?
The primary reason is to make better use of daylight hours. Moving the clocks forward in summer means more evening daylight when most people are awake and active. There have been periodic calls to scrap the change, either staying on GMT or BST permanently, but no consensus has been reached. The Royal Observatory Greenwich, the spiritual home of Greenwich Mean Time, has hosted many of these debates over the years. Scotland's dark winter mornings remain the strongest argument for keeping the current system.
Does British Summer Time affect the weather?
No. BST is purely a change to how we measure time on the clock. It does not influence temperature, rainfall or any other weather variable. However, it does change when you experience daylight, which can affect how you perceive the weather. A sunny evening at 7:30 PM feels very different from the same sunshine at 6:30 AM. You can track the UK's clock changes and daylight hours on timeanddate.com.
