When do the clocks go back in 2025?
In England, clocks will go back one hour on the last Sunday in October.
This marks the end of British Summer Time (BST) and a return to Greenwich Mean Time (GMT), a change that has been around for over a century.
Most of us will spend an extra hour in bed or at the bar, but that’s not such good news for night shift workers who will have to spend an extra hour at work.
The clocks will go forward again in March 2026.
You may have noticed that the nights are approaching; In fact, we are deprived of daylight for four or five minutes every day.
However, the time change will move sunset forward one hour at a time, which can be a shock to the system.
At what time will the clocks go back?
The time change will take place at 02:00 BST on Sunday 26 October in the UK.
Clocks will go forward again at 01:00 GMT when we return to British Summer Time on 29 March 2026.
An easy way to remember which way the clocks change is with the phrase “push forward, fall back.”
In other words, we move time forward one hour in spring and back one hour in autumn.
What is Daylight Saving Time?
The first country to use Daylight Saving Time (DST) was Germany in 1916 during World War I.
It was intended to maximize evening daylight, meaning less heating and lighting would be needed, and to reduce fuel consumption during wartime.
Just a few weeks later, many other countries followed suit, including the United Kingdom, where it was renamed British Summer Time.
The time change has mostly continued ever since, but for a brief period during the Second World War there was British Double Summer Time, when clocks were moved two hours forward.
An experiment between 1968 and 1971 tested year-round BST, and some debate continues as to whether the UK should move its clocks forward permanently.
A permanent switch to BST will mean lighter evenings but darker mornings, especially in winter
Arguments for keeping the time zone in summer mode include a potential increase in economic productivity as well as a possible reduction in evening traffic accidents.
This will also eliminate the minor disruption to sleep patterns caused by a yearly gain and loss of hours.
But this can also mean some very dreary winter mornings, especially in Scotland.
In Edinburgh and Glasgow the sun does not rise until around 08:45 GMT in the second half of December; which would equal 09:45 BST.
This will see Scottish commuters and schoolchildren making their winter morning journeys in the dark, leading to increased risks on the roads.
Will my watch change automatically?
Most smartphones, digital devices, and even modern cars will automatically set the time when GMT starts.
However, analog clocks will need to be changed manually; This is especially important if you rely on an old-fashioned alarm clock to wake you up.
And if you’re like me, the clock above the oven will present a special challenge.
Which countries have Daylight Saving Time?
We’re certainly not alone in changing time zones twice a year.
Most of North America and Europe follow Daylight Savings Time, but only small parts of Asia, Oceania, South America, and Africa participate.
But different countries change their clocks on different dates.
For example, in the USA, the transition will take place on November 2 this year, and in Egypt on October 30.
One advantage of sunset starting earlier is that it may be easier to get out and capture it on camera.
If you do, feel free to sign up and send your photos to BBC Weather Watchers.
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