Clocks in the UK will go back one hour on October 25, bringing an extra hour in bed but also darker evenings as winter approaches. The change marks the end of British Summer Time (BST) and the return to Greenwich Mean Time (GMT).
When do the clocks change?
In the UK, clocks go forward one hour at 1am on the last Sunday in March and back one hour at 2am on the last Sunday in October. This year, the clocks go back on October 25, and the country will see lighter mornings but darker evenings throughout the winter, with the sun setting before 5pm.
Why do we change the clocks?
Daylight saving has been happening in the UK since 1916, but the idea was first put forward by American inventor Benjamin Franklin in 1784. The concept gained traction when builder William Willett campaigned in Britain to change the clocks until his death from influenza in March 1915. The German army turned clocks forward to conserve energy, and many European governments, including the UK, followed suit.
The change was introduced in the UK during the First World War to make better use of daylight hours, allowing people to work longer and save fuel. However, some argue that changing clocks is now redundant, as many people spend most of their time in well-lit homes, shops, and offices.
Global practice and practical tips
Royal Museums Greenwich said: "About 70 countries have some form of daylight saving time, but it varies from region to region. Much of Europe and North America, as well as parts of South America and Australasia, change their clocks. However, many countries in Africa and Asia situated around the equator do not change the time."
Some watches and clocks in cars and kitchens may not change on their own, so people should be ready to wind them back. The clocks changing on a weekend was chosen as the least disruptive option for schools and businesses.
Astronomical autumn officially began this week, as the autumn equinox falls every year on September 22 or 23. During the equinox, the sun shines directly above the Earth's equator, resulting in day and night being nearly equal in length across the globe.
