United Kingdom (Parliament Politics Magazine) – Daylight Saving Time officially ends in the UK at 2:00 AM on Sunday, 26 October 2025, as clocks “fall back” one hour to standard time. This change signals the return to Greenwich Mean Time and brings earlier sunrises with darker evenings.
Exact Date and Time for Clock Change
In 2025, the annual end of Daylight Saving Time, known in the UK as the end of British Summer Time, occurs on Sunday, 26 October. At exactly 2:00 AM BST, clocks will be set back one hour to 1:00 AM GMT. This effectively gives everyone an extra hour of sleep while adjusting the country’s time zone to standard time for the colder months.
This moment aligns with tradition: UK clocks always go back one hour at 2:00 AM on the last Sunday of October to minimise social and economic disruption.
Impact on Daylight and Daily Life
When the clocks roll back, the UK transitions from British Summer Time to Greenwich Mean Time. This means sunrise and sunset occur about an hour earlier than the previous day. Mornings become brighter, making early hours easier to navigate, but evenings grow darker earlier, signalling the approach of winter.
This shift mirrors the natural build-up to the winter solstice the shortest day of the year after which daylight hours begin to gradually increase again. For instance, by December 2025, sunrise in London will be as late as 8:06 AM, and many days will have under eight hours of daylight.
Reason for the 2:00 AM Change
The choice of 2:00 AM on a Sunday is intentional to reduce disruption. At this hour, most people are asleep, public transport is minimal, and business activities pause, making the adjustment smoother for society at large. This timing also helps align with international standards where many European and North American countries observe the same clock change around this date.
Ongoing Discussions About Daylight Saving Time
There has been debate both in the UK and across the European Union about whether to abolish the biannual clock changes. Some regions advocate for permanent standard time or permanent summer time. However, as of 2025, the UK continues to observe Daylight Saving Time changes, preserving the familiar cycle of spring forward and fall back adjustments.
The UK regained full sovereignty over time regulation post-Brexit but has maintained alignment with EU timings so far for practical purposes like trade and travel.