When do clocks go back UK? Exact date clocks change in 2024 | Time change in Britain
When do the clocks go back this year?
With winter approaching and the days getting shorter, November is just around the corner. To help adjust for the decreasing daylight, the clocks in the UK will go back, providing us with an extra hour of daylight as we head into the darker months.
Here’s all you need to know about the clock changes in the UK this year.
When do the clocks go back?
In the autumn, the clocks go back at 2:00 AM on the last Sunday of October. This year, that will be on Sunday, October 27th. The change gives us an extra hour in bed for your Sunday morning, as well as an extra hour of daylight during the increasingly dark evenings.
Do I need to change the clocks myself?
In most cases, you won’t need to manually change your clocks. Any device connected to the internet, like smartphones, televisions, laptops, and tablets, will adjust the time automatically.
However, be cautious with devices that are not connected to the internet, such as alarm clocks, car radios, and other gadgets, which will need to be adjusted manually.
Why do we change the clocks?
The main reason for changing the clocks is to maximize the use of daylight. The first clock change was introduced by the German government in 1916 during World War I as a way to save energy—longer daylight hours meant less electricity was needed. Many European governments followed suit, including the UK, leading to the introduction of British Summer Time (BST). The current system has been in place since 1971.
