When do the clocks change?

But why does this happen? Does it also take place across Europe? And what dates should you look out for in 2025?

Read our latest know how guide to learn more.

The clocks will be adjusted forward by one hour at 1:00am on Sunday 30th March 2025, marking the start of Daylight Saving Time.

This means that the time will immediately shift from 1:00am to 2:00am, effectively shortening the night by one hour.

Later in the year, the clocks will be set back by one hour at 2:00am on Sunday 26th October 2025.

This marks the end of Daylight Saving Time, when the time will shift from 2:00am back to 1:00am, giving the majority of us an extra hour of sleep and bringing us back to standard time.

The clocks in the UK next change at 1am on March 30th 2025 – when the time will immediately jump to 2am.

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The clocks change twice a year in the UK as part of the practice of Daylight Saving Time (DST).

The main reason for this is to make better use of natural daylight during the longer days of spring and summer.

The clocks are moved forward by one hour in the spring (typically the last Sunday in March) so that the evening daylight lasts longer

However, the original idea behind DST, particularly during World War I and II, was to save energy. The longer daylight hours meant less need for artificial lighting in the evenings.

Clocks across the UK then go back in the autumn (the last Sunday in October) to return to standard time, which helps ensure that mornings are brighter and safer, particularly for children heading to school.

Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) is a time standard that was once the world’s reference time.

It is based on the mean solar time at the Prime Meridian, which runs through Greenwich, in London.

Other time zones across the world are defined by a certain number of hours ahead or behind GMT.

GMT is used during the winter months when the country is not observing Daylight Saving Time (DST).

During the summer months, the UK switches to British Summer Time (BST), which is GMT+1, to make better use of daylight in the evenings.

British Summer Time (BST) is the time zone used in the summer months, when the clocks are advanced by one hour from Greenwich Mean Time (GMT).

BST begins on the last Sunday in March and ends on the last Sunday in October.

According to the Government, in 2026, the clocks will go forward an hour at 1am on Sunday 29th March and will then go back on Sunday 25th October.

In 2027, the clocks will go forward an hour at 1am on Sunday 28th March and will then go back forward an hour on Sunday 31st October.

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In 2025, the clocks in Europe will go forward by one hour at 1:00am on Sunday, 30th March, marking the start of Daylight Saving Time (beginning of Summer Time).

The clocks will then go back by one hour at 2:00am on Sunday, 26th October, signalling the end of Daylight Saving Time (return to Standard Time).

This affects all countries within the European Union, as well as Norway, Switzerland, Monaco, Ukraine, and Andorra.

Iceland follows Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) year-round.

Turkey remains on Daylight Saving Time (DST) through the year.

Although GMT is still recognised by many countries, Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) is the primary time standard used worldwide.

All counties in Europe are either UTC +0, UTC +1, UTC +2, or UTC +3 – so check what the time zone is for you before your next European holiday.