What Is London Time Called Now?

By Michael Ferguson

London Time, also known as Greenwich Mean Time (GMT), is the time zone that is used in London, United Kingdom. This time zone is based on the location of the Royal Observatory in Greenwich, London.

If you are wondering what the current London Time is called, it’s important to note that it depends on the time of year. During the winter months, from late October to late March, London Time is referred to as GMT. However, during the summer months, from late March to late October, London Time changes to British Summer Time (BST).

What Is British Summer Time?

British Summer Time (BST) is a daylight saving time that was first introduced in 1916 during World War I. The purpose of daylight saving time was to make better use of daylight and save energy by reducing the amount of artificial light needed during the evenings.

In order to switch from GMT to BST, clocks are moved forward by one hour at 1:00 am on the last Sunday in March. This means that when it’s 1:00 am GMT, clocks are moved forward to 2:00 am BST. This change allows for an extra hour of daylight in the evenings.

What Is The Current London Time Called?

As we approach the end of September and move into October, we are approaching the end of British Summer Time. On Sunday 31st October at 2am BST (which will be 1am GMT), clocks will be set back one hour which means we will move back into Greenwich Mean Time (GMT).

Until then though if you’re wondering what current London Time is called now then it’s British Summer Time (BST).

    London Time Changes

  • To change from GMT to BST clocks go forward an hour at 1:00 am on last Sunday in March.
  • To change from BST back to GMT clocks go back an hour at 2:00 am on last Sunday in October.

It’s worth noting that London Time is not the same as Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) which is used as a standard time reference across the world. London Time is one hour behind UTC during the winter months when Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) is in effect, and two hours behind UTC during the summer months when British Summer Time (BST) is in effect.

Conclusion

In summary, London Time refers to either Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) or British Summer Time (BST), depending on the time of year. We are currently in British Summer Time until Sunday 31st October, when clocks will be set back one hour and we will move back into Greenwich Mean Time. It’s important to keep these changes in mind if you are traveling or doing business with someone in London, so you can adjust your schedule accordingly.