Clocks Go Back Tonight—Don’t Miss Your Extra Hour in Bed

The clocks are going back again in the UK and that means an extra hour in bed. As autumn settles in, the country is preparing for the annual time change that marks the return of Greenwich Time (GMT).

At 2 a.m. on Sunday, October 26, Britain’s clock will go back one hour to 1 a.m., officially ending British Summer Time (BST). The ritual signals darker mornings and earlier sunsets, but also an extra hour of sleep for one night only. 

The change happens automatically on smartphones, laptops and most digital devices. But those with analog clocks will need to turn the hands back manually on Saturday night before bed. It’s an old tradition that still manages to catch a few people off guard every year. 

For early risers, the adjustment means sunrise will arrive earlier, making morning brighter—at least for a few weeks. But evenings will grow dark much sooner, reminding everyone that winter is just around the corner. 

This time shift isn’t unique to the UK many countries in Europe follow the same schedule, winding clocks back on the last Sunday in October. The system has been in place for decades, though debates about its usefulness continue. 

The Daylight saving time (DST) system was originally introduced to make better use of daylight and conserve energy. In Britain, it dates back to world war I, when longer daylight hours were believed to help productivity and save fuel.

However, critics now argue the time change is unnecessary in modern times. There have been repeated calls to stick to one time all year round. The european union ever discussed scrapping the clock change completely in recent years, though the process remains slow.

Many Brits take the shift lightly, often seeing the extra hour as a welcome change to rest or indulge in a longer Saturday night out. Social media always light up with jokes, memes and countdowns as people prepare to “turn back time” for one night. 

Television and radio presenters have already begun reminding audiences to reset their clocks. Travel experts also warn passengers to double-check flight and train times, especially for journeys scheduled overnight. A single missed hour can make a big difference.

For some, especially those who work the night shift, the adjustment can feel strange. The “repeat hour” between 1 a.m. and 2 a.m. technically happens twice, which can confuse scheduling systems and timetables. But for most people, the biggest impact is simply an earlier sunset.

Britain’s time will remain on GMT until the last Sunday of March 2026, when the clocks spring forward again to mark British Summer Time. Until then, cozy evenings, crisp mornings and longer nights are officially here.

So, whether you’re planning a night out, a lazy Sunday morning or Just catching up on sleep, don’t forget the rule: the clocks go back one hour at 2 a.m. this Sunday.