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When do the clocks go back this year as British summer time comes to an end

Published 16:46 20 Oct 2026 BST

Updated 16:46 20 Oct 2026 BST

Vese Hyseni
When do the clocks go back this year as British summer time comes to an end

Homenews

Daylight saving time ends this weekend

People across the UK will get an extra hour in bed this Sunday as the clocks go back, marking the end of British Summer Time (BST).

The change takes place at 2am on 25 October, when clocks move back to 1am and the country returns to Greenwich Mean Time (GMT).

While the switch will bring lighter mornings, it also means the sun will set an hour earlier, leaving people with darker evenings as winter approaches.

The UK moves between BST and GMT twice a year. Clocks go forward in spring to make better use of daylight during the evenings, before returning to GMT on the final Sunday in October.

The next change will take place on 28 March 2027, when clocks move forward again and BST returns. They will then go back by an hour on 31 October 2027.

Not all countries follow the UK's clock change schedule

Clock changes will not happen everywhere at once, with different parts of the world following their own schedules.

Across most European countries, the switch to standard time will take place on 25 October, the same day as in the UK. 

Egypt will make the change a few days later, ending daylight saving time on 30 October.

The timetable is different again in North America, where clocks will go back on 1 November. 

Meanwhile, daylight saving time is far less common across Asia, Oceania, South America and Africa, with only a small number of places observing it.