As the air turns chilly and leaves take on autumnal hues, it’s evident that summer is fading. This signals the time for British clocks to fall back an hour, aligning us with Greenwich Mean Time (GMT).
This annual event is scheduled for 2am on the last Sunday of October (26th), marking the end of ‘British Summer Time’ (BST) which has provided us with extended daylight during the spring and summer. This transition means we’ll return to Greenwich Mean Time (GMT). Consequently, days may seem shorter and nights longer – though, there’s the possible bonus of enjoying an extra hour in bed.
According to the Mirror, experts from the Royal Museums Greenwich previously explained: « Daylight saving, or summer time, is a mechanism to make the most of increased summer daylight hours in the northern hemisphere… A campaign at the beginning of the 20th century successfully argued in favour of changing the clocks during the summer months to avoid wasting time in the morning. »
Today, advocates maintain that this clock adjustment helps reduce energy use, promotes outdoor activities and even decreases road accidents, according to the experts. However, some argue that darker mornings could pose safety hazards or cause ‘inconvenience’ to certain workers.
The experts add: « It’s an ongoing debate that strongly depends on people’s geographical location, occupation and lifestyle. » The UK will adhere to GMT until March 29, 2025. At 1am on this day, the clocks will spring forward to BST.
Internet-enabled devices, such as computers and mobile phones, should automatically adjust to this change. However, if you want to mark it in your diary, the Government provides a comprehensive list of future clock changes on its website.
A summary on its site adds: « In the UK the clocks go forward 1 hour at 1am on the last Sunday in March, and back 1 hour at 2am on the last Sunday in October. The period when the clocks are 1 hour ahead is called British Summer Time (BST).
« There’s more daylight in the evenings and less in the mornings (sometimes called Daylight Saving Time). When the clocks go back, the UK is on Greenwich Mean Time (GMT). »
