Why London Follows British Summer Time: Understanding UTC Adjustments

Explore why London is not always on UTC and the significance of British Summer Time adjustments.

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London is typically on Greenwich Mean Time (GMT), which is the same as UTC, during the winter. However, from late March to late October, London switches to British Summer Time (BST), which is UTC+1. This adjustment ensures better use of daylight, giving evening sunlight for longer.

FAQs & Answers

  1. What is British Summer Time? British Summer Time is the practice of moving the clock forward by one hour during the warmer months to make better use of daylight.
  2. How does UTC differ from GMT? GMT is a time zone used as a reference point, while UTC is a time standard used internationally, though they are often used interchangeably.
  3. When does London switch to BST? London typically switches to British Summer Time at 1:00 AM on the last Sunday in March and returns to Greenwich Mean Time on the last Sunday in October.
  4. Why do we use daylight saving time? Daylight saving time is implemented to make better use of daylight during longer days, helping to save energy and provide more evening light.

Watch More

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