British Summer Time begins on the last Sunday of March, marking the annual ‘spring forward’ when clocks advance by one hour. This tradition, proposed in the early 20th century, grants the UK longer daylight evenings. Embrace the change by planning outdoor activities, enjoying al fresco dining, and making the most of the extended light.
Want to sponsor British Summer Time Begins? Learn how
History of British Summer Time Begins
It is commonly thought that the idea of daylight saving time was proposed by Benjamin Franklin in 1784 when, in an essay titled ‘An Economical Project’, he suggested Parisians change their sleeping schedule to save money on lamps and candles. Franklin merely concluded that rising with the sun would save the citizens of Paris a great deal of money because the benefits of daylight are more thrifty than artificial light.
George Hudson, an entomologist from New Zealand, was the modern proponent of daylight saving time. In 1895, he suggested a two-hour time shift so that he can have more daylight in the evening to go bug hunting after work hours.
12 years later, William Willet made a serious proposal to the British parliament for daylight saving time. In his pamphlet, titled ‘The Waste of Daylight’, he argued for the clocks to be put forward by 80 minutes, which would result in longer daylight hours for recreation, improving health, and saving the country money in lighting costs. The idea got the support of Winston Churchill and Arthur Conan Doyle but was rejected by the British government. Willet continued arguing for the concept until his death in 1915.
It was not until World War I that Germans started looking for ways to save energy and remembered Willet’s idea to move clocks forward to have more daylight during working hours. Thus Germany adopted the concept and Britain followed suit a few weeks later.
British Summer Time Begins timeline
The latest edition of Willet’s pamphlet, ‘The Waste of Daylight,’ is published.
British Summer Time is first established.
Clocks are forwarded two hours ahead of GMT.
The EU rules that all member states should change their clocks on the last Sunday in March and October.
British Summer Time Begins FAQs
When is British Summer Time?
In 2027, British Summer Time commences on Sunday, March 28, bringing with it the eagerly anticipated shift to extended daylight hours. Get ready to adjust your clocks and embrace the change.
Who proposed British Summer Time?
William Willett, a British builder, is credited with initiating the idea of BST. His pamphlet, ‘The Waste of Daylight,’ published in 1907, laid out the arguments for shifting clocks to make better use of summer daylight.
Why does British Summer Time begin?
The main reason for the start of BST is to maximize daylight during the warmer months. The practice aims to reduce energy consumption by lessening the need for artificial lighting in the evenings and boost public health through increased outdoor activity.
What is the difference between BST and GMT?
BST is essentially GMT+1. During the period of British Summer Time, the UK operates one hour ahead of Greenwich Mean Time, which is the baseline time zone for the country during the rest of the year.
British Summer Time Begins Activities
Change your clock
That must have been completely obvious by now! Put your clocks forward by an hour at 1 A.M. on Sunday, March 28 if you’re residing in the regions that follow Daylight Saving Time.
Attend the British Summer Time festival
You can celebrate the beginning of the warm summertime by taking part in the British Summer Time festival, which is a music festival held over two weekends once a year in London's Hyde Park. You’ll find a wide range of music genres — pop, rock, and hip-hop right in the heart of London’s Royal Park.
Summer events
Celebrate the arrival of summer by quintessential British events like the Royal Ascot and Wimbledon, which are known for their lavish dress codes. Scones, tea, and strawberries are out in full force and enjoyed across the nation.
5 Facts About The Big Ben Clock Change
A team of five people do it
There is a dedicated team of five people who look after the clock-changing of this 154-year-old timepiece.
It takes five hours
It takes a total of five hours to turn the giant hands of Big Ben’s four clocks.
Starts at 9 P.M., ends at 2 A.M.
The team begins at 9 P.M. and finishes at around 2 A.M. and the clock rings to announce British Summer Time.
Doing it for more than a decade
Some of the members of the team have been doing this for more than a decade now.
Other important buildings
More than 2,000 clocks on the Palace of Westminster and the parliamentary building are changed at the same time.
Why We Love British Summer Time Begins
It saves millions of dollars for the government
An extra hour of evening daylight saves the NHS £200 million a year in accident-related costs.
People benefit more from longer evenings
The extra hour of daylight increases the time available for exercise and makes people more likely to attend evening sporting events. Researchers have found that children benefit more from longer evenings, where they can be active for up to 20% longer.
It has helped reduce the crime rate
The crime rate has seen a 3% drop because crimes are more likely to be committed in the evening than in the morning.
