In many Science fiction movies, you may have stumbled across the concept of time travel and must have thought about whether it was possible in the real world. Though even after so many technological advancements it still is not possible, did you know that people in the UK can go forward and backward in time by an hour? Well, this is achieved through the concept of daylight savings. Daylight Saving Time (DST) in the United Kingdom (UK) involves adjusting the clocks forward in spring and back in autumn to make better use of natural daylight during the longer days of the year. Curious to know what daylight savings in the UK means? Keep reading this blog further to learn about this magical spell that the Brits have!
This Blog Includes:
- UK Daylight Savings
- When Does Daylight Saving Time Start and End?
- Why Does the UK Observe Daylight Saving Time?
- What Does “Falling Back” and “Springing Forward” Mean?
- Advantages and Disadvantages of Daylight Savings in the UK
- What Time Zones Does the UK Follow?
- Impact of Transitioning from GST to BST on International Students
- Effects of Daylight Savings on Sleeping Pattern
- How to Cope With the Effects of Daylight Savings in the UK?
- Accommodations to Notice Daylight Savings in the UK
- British Summer Time Dates in 2023 & 2024
- Future of Daylight Saving Time in the UK
- FAQs
| Key Takeaways |
| DST starts on the last Sunday in March and ends on the last Sunday in October. |
| The goal is to maximize daylight during the evening, saving energy and encouraging outdoor activity. |
| The UK uses GMT in winter and BST (GMT + 1) in summer. |
UK Daylight Savings
Daylight Savings happens in the UK from spring to autumn. It’s done to make the most of daylight during the summer months in the Northern Hemisphere. In March, the clocks are moved forward by one hour at 1 AM, and in October, it is moved back by an hour at 2 AM.
This doesn’t change the total length of the day. However, during the summer, because of how the Earth is tilted and the UK’s position on the globe, the times when the sun rises and sets are an hour later.
Daylight Savings
Daylight savings, or DST, is a practice where clocks are moved forward in the warmer months to have more daylight in the evening. In the colder months, the clocks are set back because there’s less daylight. The timing of these changes is different in the Northern and Southern Hemispheres because they have different climates.
Some countries use DST while some don’t, and the rules can vary from one place to another. So, it’s important to know when, where, and how DST is used in your area or where you’re visiting.
When Does Daylight Saving Time Start and End?
- Start of DST (Spring Forward): In the UK, clocks go forward by one hour at 1:00 AM GMT (Greenwich Mean Time) on the last Sunday in March. This marks the beginning of British Summer Time (BST).
- End of DST (Fall Back): Clocks go back by one hour at 2:00 AM BST on the last Sunday in October. This marks the return to Greenwich Mean Time (GMT).
The shift effectively means that there is more daylight in the evening during the summer months and less in the morning.
Why Does the UK Observe Daylight Saving Time?
The main reason for adopting Daylight Saving Time is to make better use of daylight during the longer days of the year. The idea is to shift an hour of daylight from the morning, when people are typically indoors, to the evening, when they are more likely to be outside and active. This has benefits for energy consumption, leisure activities, and overall well-being.
Historically, the UK began using DST during World War I and again during World War II as a way to save fuel and resources. It became more widespread in the 20th century.
What Does “Falling Back” and “Springing Forward” Mean?
On the last Sunday of the March month, clocks are set ahead by one hour in the UK, so that they get more daylight in the evening. This helps the people in the UK make the most of the sunlight. Then, on the last Sunday in October, clocks are moved back to get that extra hour back.
These concepts of setting the clock 1 hour ahead and 1 hour back are known as Springing Forward and Falling Back respectively.
Advantages and Disadvantages of Daylight Savings in the UK
If you are currently using housing for students in United Kingdom and aren’t familiar with the implications of daylight savings in the UK then it is quite important to know these as it will help you prepare in advance.
To help you we have listed below some of the advantages and disadvantages associated with the daylight savings transition:
Advantages
- Less artificial light – Since people are active during daylight hours, it helps in reducing the demand for artificial light which is the main objective of daylight savings.
- Safety of People – As there is light during the evenings it results in fewer crimes and accidents. Studies have revealed during daylight savings in the UK pedestrian fatalities reduced by 13% while robberies fell by 7%.
- Longer Evenings – Many studies of daylight savings UK 2023 have shown that longer evenings have encouraged people to step out of their homes for outdoor activities which is good for breaking away from a sedentary modern lifestyle. Also, this has given a push to the local economy as people indulged in going shopping, eating outside, etc.
Disadvantages
- Effects on Health – Daylight savings lead to disruption in cardiac rhythm making people feel sluggish. This can make people procrastinate and also cyberloaf resulting in increased screen time.
- Increased energy consumption – In modern society, everybody uses computers, TVs and other electronic gadgets so whether the sun is up or not people use these which leads to more energy consumption.
Not sure what to do this weekend? Check out our Student Guide to Great Outdoor Adventures in the UK!
What Time Zones Does the UK Follow?
- Greenwich Mean Time (GMT): The UK’s standard time zone during the winter months.
- British Summer Time (BST): The time zone used during DST in the summer months, which is GMT + 1 hour.
This means that during the summer, the UK is one hour ahead of GMT, and during the winter, it is on GMT.
Impact of Transitioning from GST to BST on International Students
If you are an international student who is a native of a country that does not practice daylight savings then it can be a little difficult for you to adjust to daylight savings in the UK. Some of the problems that you might face during the shift to daylight savings are:
- Getting used to the UK time zone change – When you move to a different country you are already struggling to adapt to a different time zone and lifestyle. In addition to this, you will also have to make an effort to adapt to the daylight savings time period which can turn out to be a daunting task.
- Difficulty in communicating back at home – Moving to a different country means that you have to leave your family and friends behind. It is already quite a hassle to talk to your friends and family back at home due to different time zones but when the transition of daylight savings begins it can make communicating back at home more difficult.
- Distance learning – If you are an international student who is taking classes in a different country while staying in your home country through distance learning mode then it can be difficult to schedule your classes timely due to daylight savings in the UK. Your sleep cycle will get disrupted greatly which will affect your mental health. However, the good news is that many universities in the UK have noticed this and are trying to make the transition period smoother for students.
Planning to study in the UK? Check out our blog Study in UK 2023: Cost, Requirements, Scholarships, Visa for comprehensive information.
Effects of Daylight Savings on Sleeping Pattern
Setting the clock one hour ahead means that you are going to lose 1 hour of sleep. Since we are human and not a machine our body takes time to adjust. The daylight savings method is known to affect cardiac rhythm which is associated with a mental, physical and behavioural natural rhythm which is set according to the 24-hour basis. So, if there is going to be a sudden change in this time period it will have effects on our body and thereby on our well-being. If it is going to be dark in the mornings then the cardiac rhythm of the body automatically assumes that it is nighttime and therefore gets delayed which results in poor sleep.
This can continue for a period of time which results in a poor sleep cycle for an extended period of time. Many research has proven that in some rare cases, this shift can have serious consequences which entail mood disorders, suicide cases, insomnia, heart problems, etc.
How to Cope With the Effects of Daylight Savings in the UK?
Mentioned below are some of the tips that you should follow to adapt during the duration of daylight savings in the UK:
- Instead of making efforts when daylight savings in the UK begins, plan ahead and modify your routine accordingly weeks before. About a week or two before start going to bed early by 15 to 30 minutes as your body needs time to make up for the lost hour.
- Carve out a routine and make sure you stick to it. During the transition period to daylight savings follow the routine you created for eating, sleeping, socializing and exercising. Expose yourself to the bright morning light which will make it easier for you to adapt.
- Avoid taking naps during the daytime as it is quite tempting to sleep for a bit especially when you are feeling tired. Sleeping during the daytime will make it hard for you to get a good night’s sleep.
- Before 4 to 6 hours of your bedtime avoid taking any caffeinated drinks as it will hamper your sleep cycle. Also, refrain from consuming alcohol as it is proven in research that it reduces the quality of sleep.
Accommodations to Notice Daylight Savings in the UK
Here is the list of a few accommodations where you will notice daylight saving in UK:
British Summer Time Dates in 2023 & 2024
The table below entails British Summer Time Dates in 2023 & 2024:. CHeck it out below.
| 2023 | 26 March, Sunday | 01:00:00 clocks were turned forward 1 hour to 02:00:00 local daylight time instead. |
| 2023 | 29 October, Sunday | 02:00:00 clocks will be turned backwards 1 hour to 01:00:00 local standard time instead. |
| 2024 | 31 March, Sunday | 01:00:00 clocks will be turned forward 1 hour to 02:00:00 local daylight time instead. |
| 2024 | 27 October, Sunday | 02:00:00 clocks will be turned backwards 1 hour to 01:00:00 local standard time instead. |
Set yourself up for success by checking out our tips on how to network in the UK as an international student.
Future of Daylight Saving Time in the UK
As of now, the UK continues to observe Daylight Saving Time. However, there have been ongoing discussions about its future:
Public Opinion: Some surveys suggest that a majority of the public is in favor of stopping the practice, while others feel that it is a useful tradition. Public opinion on the matter is not uniform.
In 2021, the UK government launched a consultation on the future of time changes, seeking public opinion on whether to keep DST or move to a permanent time zone. Similar debates have taken place in other countries, particularly across the European Union, where many have questioned the efficacy of the time change.
FAQs
Daylight Saving Time (DST) in the UK involves setting clocks forward by one hour in spring (last Sunday in March) and setting them back by one hour in autumn (last Sunday in October).
On the last Sunday in March, the clocks are set 1 hour ahead at 1 am in the UK and on the last Sunday in October, the clocks are again set 1 hour back at 2 am. The period when the clocks in the UK are 1 hour forward is called British Summer Time (BST). All of this is done as there is more daylight in the evening than in the mornings which is why it is called daylight savings time.
There were no immediate plans to stop daylight saving time (DST) in the UK.
In 1916 after the death of Willett, Germany was the first country to adopt daylight savings time. Within a few weeks, the UK and many other nations involved in the First World War did the same thing. After a few years of the beginning of daylight savings, many countries all around the globe adopted the same method.
Since India is located near the equator it does not experience variations in daylight across various seasons.
DST aims to make better use of daylight during the longer summer days, saving energy and encouraging outdoor activities in the evening.
During DST, the UK operates on British Summer Time (BST), which is one hour ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT), used during winter months.
Yes, all regions of the UK, including England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, observe Daylight Saving Time in the same way.
If you forget to adjust your clocks, you’ll be an hour ahead or behind for the day. Many devices adjust automatically, but manual clocks may need attention.
The UK could choose to stay on either permanent Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) or permanent British Summer Time (BST) if it decided to end the seasonal time changes, but no decision has been made.
We hope you liked this blog where we covered important information related to daylight savings in the UK. For booking the best accommodation abroad to start your study abroad experience you can contact Fly Homes at 1800572118.
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