Is London 5 or 6 Hours Ahead of the US?

By Robert Palmer

Are you planning to travel to London or have a business meeting scheduled with someone in the city? One of the most common questions that comes up is, “What is the time difference between London and the US?” In this article, we’ll provide you with a definitive answer to this question.

Firstly, it’s important to note that the United States spans six time zones – Eastern Time (ET), Central Time (CT), Mountain Time (MT), Pacific Time (PT), Alaska Time (AKT), and Hawaii-Aleutian Time (HAT). On the other hand, London follows Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) during winter and British Summer Time (BST) during summer.

During winter, London is 5 hours ahead of Eastern Standard Time (EST), which means if it’s 1:00 PM in New York, it would be 6:00 PM in London. Similarly, during summer when British Summer Time (BST) is followed, London is 6 hours ahead of EST. This means if it’s 1:00 PM in New York during summer, it would be 7:00 PM in London.

To give you a better understanding of the time difference between London and different US time zones, here’s a breakdown:

  • Eastern Standard Time (EST) – During winter: London is 5 hours ahead; During summer: London is 6 hours ahead
  • Central Standard Time (CST) – During winter: London is 6 hours ahead; During summer: London is 7 hours ahead
  • Mountain Standard Time (MST) – During winter: London is 7 hours ahead; During summer: London is 8 hours ahead
  • Pacific Standard Time (PST) – During winter: London is 8 hours ahead; During summer: London is 9 hours ahead

It’s important to keep in mind that the time difference between London and the US changes twice a year. During the second Sunday of March, daylight saving time (DST) starts in most parts of the US, which means clocks are set one hour ahead. On the other hand, British Summer Time (BST) starts on the last Sunday of March, which means clocks in London are also set one hour ahead.

Similarly, daylight saving time ends on the first Sunday of November in most parts of the US, and clocks are set back one hour. In London, British Summer Time (BST) ends on the last Sunday of October and clocks are also set back one hour.

In conclusion, London is either 5 or 6 hours ahead of different time zones in the United States depending on whether it’s winter or summer. It’s important to keep these differences in mind when scheduling meetings or planning travel to avoid confusion and ensure that you’re always on time.