UK Bank Holidays - British Summer Time

British Summer Time (BST) marks the period of the year when clocks in the United Kingdom are moved forward by one hour, typically beginning on the last Sunday in March and ending on the last Sunday in October. Introduced in 1916 as a wartime energy-saving measure, BST was designed to make better use of natural daylight during the longer days of summer. The extra evening light continues to benefit daily life across the UK, encouraging outdoor activity, tourism, and a greater sense of well-being as the darker months give way to brightness and warmth.

Each year, the transition to BST is often welcomed with a sense of renewal. It signals the start of a more active and vibrant season, with lighter evenings providing more time for leisure, sport, and cultural events. From longer walks in the countryside to extended opening hours at craft fairs and markets, the adjustment enriches both work and play. For artisans, this shift often sparks fresh inspiration, inviting new projects influenced by the colours and textures of spring and summer.

While the change in time is now automatic for most digital devices, many still engage in the ritual of adjusting household clocks, symbolising the shift in pace and rhythm that BST brings. There’s also practical value in the added daylight, which contributes to lower energy consumption, safer travel, and an uplift in general mood. The lighter evenings often coincide with a rise in community events, open-air performances, and seasonal festivals that thrive under clearer skies and softer evenings.

British Summer Time is more than just a technical alteration—it is a seasonal turning point that influences everything from our routines to our creative output. For many, it marks a fresh chapter in the calendar, filled with opportunities for growth, celebration, and connection with nature. As the nation adjusts to the longer days, BST becomes a gentle reminder of our relationship with light, time, and the evolving cycles of the year.

Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) is the mean solar time measured at the Royal Observatory in Greenwich, London, and has long been the global benchmark for standardised timekeeping. As the basis for Coordinated Universal Time (UTC), GMT plays a vital role in navigation, international communication, and daily scheduling. In the UK, GMT represents the official time from late autumn through to early spring, aligning with the natural light cycle during the darker months of the year. It reflects a tradition of timekeeping that balances precision with seasonal rhythm.

British Summer Time (BST), by contrast, is a daylight saving system in which clocks are moved forward by one hour in the spring to extend evening daylight during the warmer months. BST begins on the last Sunday in March and ends on the last Sunday in October, at which point clocks return to GMT. This shift allows for more daylight in the evenings and has practical benefits such as reduced energy usage and increased opportunities for outdoor activity and community events. While BST alters the daily schedule, GMT remains the foundation to which the UK returns each winter.

The interplay between GMT and BST is a uniquely British practice that reflects both global timekeeping standards and local seasonal needs. It serves as a subtle but powerful reminder of our connection to the turning of the earth and the changing seasons. As the clocks fall back and the country settles into the deeper months of the year, GMT provides a sense of grounding—rooted in astronomical precision and a rhythm that’s as old as time itself.