When do the clocks go back in October? UK clocks change

The clocks will change so people get more sunlight in the mornings

The UK is set to change back to Greenwich Mean Time next month, which means an extra hour in bed. The clocks change in the summer months – known as Daylight Saving Time – meaning we get up earlier and see more sunlight.

However as the colder nights creep in and the evenings get darker, the clocks go back again for the winter months. Every year the date slightly differs but this year, 2024, clocks are going back by an hour at 2am on Sunday, October 27.

The clocks won’t change again until the last Sunday in March 2025 – when they jump forward one hour just in time for summer. The UK Government’s website explains: “In the UK, the clocks go forward one hour at 1 am on the last Sunday in March, and back one hour at 2 am on the last Sunday in October.

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“The period when the clocks are one hour ahead is called British Summer Time (BST). There’s more daylight in the evenings and less in the mornings (sometimes called Daylight Saving Time). When the clocks go back, the UK is on Greenwich Mean Time (GMT).”

To avoid getting confused, some people use the phrase: “spring forward, fall back”.

Why do the clocks change annually?

The tradition, which started in 1916, saw Germany become the first country to adopt Daylight Saving Time with the aim of conserving energy during World War One. The UK followed suit a few weeks later after Germany along with many other countries dotted across Europe.

Before this, William Willett – the great-great-grandfather of Coldplay’s Chris Martin – campaigned in Britain to change the clocks. It is said he was annoyed because his golfing would be interrupted by the sun going down but his campaign was unsuccessful.

Now, some places across the world, including several states in America do not change their clocks until a later date compared to the UK – this year being November 5, 2023. Whereas the likes of Africa and Asia along with those along the equator do not change their clocks at all.

Will I need to update my mobile phone?

Mobile phones should automatically update with the new times depending on the model you own. Apple iPhones, iPads and Macs update automatically, but it is advised you check you have ‘set automatically’ turned on in your ‘date and time’ settings. If you have an Android phone, it is also advised that you check you have ‘automatic updates’ set to your phone.