London uses the Europe/London time zone, abbreviated GMT/BST, which is UTC+0 (UTC+1 in summer). It observes daylight saving time: clocks move forward one hour from the last Sunday in March to the last Sunday in October (British Summer Time). Big Ben is the nickname of the Great Bell; the clock tower was renamed Elizabeth Tower in 2012. Use this page to check the exact current local time in London, with the date, UTC offset and time zone, updated in real time.

Official time zone: Europe/London (United Kingdom)

Estimated population: 8,799,800 people.

Local fact: Big Ben is the nickname of the Great Bell; the clock tower was renamed Elizabeth Tower in 2012.

Offset from UTC—

Daylight saving time—

Compared to New York—

Frequently Asked Questions About the Time in London

What time is it in London right now?

The exact time in London, United Kingdom, appears on the main clock at the top of this page and updates every second using the Europe/London time zone, with no need to reload.

What time zone does London use?

London (United Kingdom) uses the Europe/London time zone from the IANA database, which corresponds to UTC+0 (UTC+1 in summer). This is the reference that devices and servers use to calculate local time.

What is the time difference between London and New York?

The difference is calculated by comparing the Europe/London zone with New York (Eastern Time), so it updates automatically if either zone changes its clocks. The +HR and -HR tags on the cards show how many hours each place is ahead of or behind London.

Does London observe daylight saving time?

Observes daylight saving time: clocks move forward one hour from the last Sunday in March to the last Sunday in October (British Summer Time). This page calculates the time with the Europe/London zone, so it always shows the current local time in London, including any seasonal clock change.

How do I compare the time in London with other cities?

In the Time Across the U.S. and World Times sections you can see the time in other places and how many hours they are ahead (+) or behind (-) London. If the calendar day is different, the date is shown, for example Sun Oct 18. Every card links to that place’s page.

Can I see the time in London in 12-hour or 24-hour format?

Yes. Use the 12-hour (AM/PM) or 24-hour selector below the main clock; the change applies to every card and your preference is saved in your browser.