As temperatures drop and foliage adopts autumn colours, it’s clear that summer is drawing to a close. This heralds the moment for British clocks to go back by one hour, bringing us in line with Greenwich Mean Time (GMT).
This yearly event is set for 2am on the final Sunday of October (26th), marking the conclusion of ‘British Summer Time‘ (BST) which has delivered extended daylight throughout spring and summer months.
The shift means we’ll revert to Greenwich Mean Time (GMT). As a result, days may appear briefer and evenings longer – though there’s the potential advantage of gaining an additional hour of sleep, according to the Mirror.
Experts from the Royal Museums Greenwich previously explained: “Daylight saving, or summer time, is a mechanism to make the most of increased summer daylight hours in the northern hemisphere… A campaign at the beginning of the 20th century successfully argued in favour of changing the clocks during the summer months to avoid wasting time in the morning.”
Today, supporters contend that this time adjustment assists in cutting energy consumption, encourages outdoor pursuits and even reduces traffic collisions, the specialists note. Nevertheless, some contend that gloomier mornings might create safety risks or lead to ‘inconvenience’ for particular workers.
The experts add: “It’s an ongoing debate that strongly depends on people’s geographical location, occupation and lifestyle.” Britain will follow GMT until March 29, 2025.
At 1am on this date, clocks will leap forward to BST. Internet-connected gadgets, including computers and smartphones, should automatically adapt to this alteration. However, if you wish to note it in your calendar, the Government offers a detailed list of upcoming clock changes on its website.
A summary on its site adds: “In the UK the clocks go forward 1 hour at 1am on the last Sunday in March, and back 1 hour at 2am on the last Sunday in October. The period when the clocks are 1 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).”
