Time zone
Greenwich Mean Time
UTC offset
UTC+0 / UTC+1
Daylight saving
Yes — March & October
Country
UK 🇬🇧
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Fun facts about London time 🕐
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London is literally the centre of world time — the Prime Meridian runs through Greenwich, making London the original reference point. Every timezone on Earth is defined as an offset from here.
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Railway companies forced Britain to standardise to London time in 1847. Before that, Bristol was 10 minutes behind London. Trains accidentally invented time zones.
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London's golden hour over the Thames — warm light hitting Tower Bridge and the City skyline — is one of the world's most photographed urban moments.
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London has two time zones per year — GMT in winter and BST in summer. It has been confusing international schedulers since the first transatlantic telegraph cable in 1858.
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When London observes GMT in winter, it shares its timezone with Iceland, Ghana, Senegal and Portugal. A remarkably eclectic group of timezone neighbours.
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The Speaking Clock — a phone service that tells you the exact time — was invented in London in 1936. People called it so often it still exists. Just dial 123.
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London has two time zones per year — GMT in winter and BST in summer. The city has been confusing international call schedulers since 1847.
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Railway companies forced Britain to standardize to London time in 1847. Trains: accidentally inventors of time zones.
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British pubs used to have strict closing times set by the government during WWI to keep factory workers sober. Time literally controlled drinking.
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When London observes GMT, it shares its timezone with Iceland, Ghana, Senegal and Portugal. Quite the eclectic group.
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The speaking clock — a phone service that tells you the time — was invented in London in 1936. People called it so much it still exists today. Just dial 123.
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