The UK uses two time zones throughout the year — Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) in winter and British Summer Time (BST) in summer. This guide explains the difference, when each applies, and how the UK compares to other time zones around the world.
What is GMT?
Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) is the UK’s standard time zone in winter. It is UTC+0 — meaning it is the same as Coordinated Universal Time. GMT runs from the last Sunday in October until the last Sunday in March. During GMT the UK has shorter days, with sunset as early as 3:53pm in late December.
What is BST?
British Summer Time (BST) is UTC+1 — one hour ahead of GMT. It runs from the last Sunday in March until the last Sunday in October. During BST the UK has longer evenings, with sunset after 9pm at midsummer. BST is sometimes called British Daylight Time or UK Summer Time though BST is the official name.
Is the UK currently on GMT or BST?
GMT and BST compared to other time zones
| City | vs GMT (winter) | vs BST (summer) |
|---|---|---|
| London (UK) | GMT (UTC+0) | BST (UTC+1) |
| New York (USA) | 5 hours behind | 5 hours behind |
| Los Angeles (USA) | 8 hours behind | 8 hours behind |
| Paris / Berlin (Europe) | 1 hour ahead | Same time |
| Dubai (UAE) | 4 hours ahead | 3 hours ahead |
| Mumbai (India) | 5 hrs 30 mins ahead | 4 hrs 30 mins ahead |
| Sydney (Australia) | 11 hours ahead | 10 hours ahead |
| Tokyo (Japan) | 9 hours ahead | 8 hours ahead |
See also
See our UK clocks change 2026 countdown, check the full UK bank holidays 2026 list, or use our UK working days calculator to count days between dates.