Time Difference Between London and New York

The time difference between London and New York is either 4 or 5 hours depending on the time of year — and confusingly, it's not always the same for both cities. Both the UK and the US observe daylight saving time, but they change their clocks on different weekends. For about three weeks each year, the difference is only 4 hours instead of 5.

Standard Time Difference (Winter)

In winter, London is on GMT (UTC+0) and New York is on EST (UTC-5). London is 5 hours ahead of New York. If it's noon in London, it's 7 AM in New York. This applies from approximately early November to mid-March.

Summer Time Difference

In summer, London is on BST (UTC+1) and New York is on EDT (UTC-4). London is still 5 hours ahead of New York. Both cities shift forward by one hour, so the difference stays the same at 5 hours — from late March to late October.

The Tricky 3-Week Windows

The US and UK don't change their clocks on the same day. In spring, the US switches to EDT about 2-3 weeks before the UK switches to BST. During that gap, London is only 4 hours ahead of New York. In autumn, the UK switches back to GMT about a week before the US switches back to EST. During that gap, London is again only 4 hours ahead. Check the exact current difference on TheTimeHub's world clock to avoid scheduling errors.

Best Time to Schedule London–New York Meetings

With a 5-hour difference, the best meeting window is 2-5 PM London time = 9 AM – 12 PM New York time. This is genuinely comfortable for both parties — London is in the afternoon, New York is in the morning. Avoid early London morning (too early for New York) and late New York afternoon (too late for London). The 2-5 PM London window is the transatlantic sweet spot used by banks, law firms and media companies daily.

Quick Reference: London vs New York Times

6 AM London = 1 AM New York
9 AM London = 4 AM New York
12 PM London = 7 AM New York
2 PM London = 9 AM New York ✅
5 PM London = 12 PM New York ✅
6 PM London = 1 PM New York
9 PM London = 4 PM New York
12 AM London = 7 PM New York

Frequently Asked Questions

How many hours ahead is London than New York? +

London is 5 hours ahead of New York for most of the year. During two brief transition periods in spring and autumn (when the two countries switch clocks on different weekends), the difference drops to 4 hours.

What is the best time to call New York from London? +

The best time is 2-5 PM London time, which is 9 AM–12 PM in New York. Both parties are comfortably within working hours.

Is London always 5 hours ahead of New York? +

Almost always, but not quite. For about 2-3 weeks in March and 1 week in November, the difference is only 4 hours because the US and UK change their clocks on different dates.

What time zone is London in? +

London is in GMT (UTC+0) in winter and BST (UTC+1) in summer, observing daylight saving from the last Sunday in March to the last Sunday in October.