The exact date when the clocks go back in the UK for winter 2024 has been confirmed. On Sunday, 27 October 2024, at 2am, clocks will be turned back by one hour, marking the end of British Summer Time (BST) and the return to Greenwich Mean Time (GMT). This change means an extra hour of sleep for many, but also signals darker evenings as winter approaches.
The clocks always go back on the last Sunday of October, a tradition that has been in place for over a century. The practice was first introduced in the UK during World War I in 1916 as a measure to save coal and make better use of daylight hours. The idea originated from New Zealand entomologist George Vincent Hudson in 1895.
The reason clocks change at 2am rather than midnight is based on historical railway schedules. During World War I, this time was chosen because few trains were running, minimising disruption to travel. It was also considered convenient for early morning churchgoers and shift workers. Changing at midnight would also alter the date, which was deemed undesirable.
Looking ahead, the clocks will go forward again on Sunday, 30 March 2025, which coincides with Mother's Day. At 1am, clocks will spring forward by one hour, ushering in British Summer Time and longer, lighter evenings. This change always occurs on the last Sunday of March.
Many countries around the world observe daylight saving time, though some do not. Nations that do not change their clocks include Iceland, Iran, Jordan, Russia, Samoa, Syria, Turkey, and Uruguay, as well as parts of Mexico. In Europe, most countries switch on the same night as the UK, but France and Spain, which are on GMT+1, adjust their clocks at 3am local time (2am in the UK), keeping the UK one hour behind.
