As winter fades away, evenings are gradually becoming brighter, signaling the upcoming time change for clocks in the UK. Daylight saving time is set to commence on the last Sunday of March, prompting clocks to move forward by one hour at 1 am. This year, the forward change will occur on March 29, a day earlier than in 2025 and a day later than in 2027.

The shift to daylight saving time marks the official beginning of British Summer Time (BST). Clocks will be turned back by one hour at 2 am on the last Sunday of October, which falls on October 25 this year. Last year, the reversal took place on October 26, while next year it is scheduled for October 31.

While the time adjustment signifies the onset of summer, it also means losing an hour of sleep. A helpful mnemonic to remember the clock changes is that they ‘spring forward’ in spring and ‘fall back’ in autumn.

The concept of advancing clocks for the summer season originated from a movement at the start of the 20th century. William Willett, a strong advocate for British Summer Time and the great-great-grandfather of Coldplay’s Chris Martin, proposed the idea in 1907 through his pamphlet ‘The Waste of Daylight’. Although his initial proposal was complex, involving multiple 20-minute increments, the Summer Time Act was eventually passed in 1916 by Parliament, establishing the practice of adjusting clocks forward by an hour during the summer months.

The decision to change clocks on a weekend morning was made to minimize disruptions for schools and businesses. While most internet-connected devices like smartphones automatically adjust for the time change, some may require manual updates. Daylight saving time is observed in around 70 countries worldwide, albeit with variations across regions.

During World War I, the German army led the way by moving clocks forward in April 1916 to conserve fuel. Subsequently, many European nations, including the UK, followed suit with clock adjustments.

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