UK clocks go back on 25 October 2026

Summarised from HuffPost UK's report · Updated 9 Oct, 12:37 · Archive

In the UK, the clocks go back on the last Sunday of October, which in 2026 falls on 25 October at 2am.

In the UK, the clocks go back on the last Sunday of October. In 2026, this occurs on 25 October at 2am, meaning people will gain an extra hour in bed that morning.

The practice of adjusting clocks dates back to the early 20th century. William Willett, a Kent builder, championed the idea after noticing drawn curtains on a sunny summer dawn while riding around the country. He self-funded a pamphlet called The Waste Of Daylight to promote the concept. Willett originally proposed adjusting clocks by 80 minutes per season in four instalments rather than a full hour at once. The idea eventually gained support from MP Robert Pearce, who promoted it in the House of Commons. Germany implemented daylight saving time a week after Willett's death in 1916, with the UK following weeks later.

Read the report

• When Do The Clocks Go Back In 2026 – And Why Does It Happen In The First Place?I couldn’t believe it when I first saw it – after a seemingly endless sweltering summer , I spotted my first glittering frost of the year yesterday. To me, that means the seasons have properly changed. It’s time for me to break out the soup recipes , get going on some very involved crafts , and start taking my vitamin D . And I’ll need to change my morning routine to ensure I get some early sunlight , too. That trick has helped me adjust to the clocks going forward for years now. When do the clocks go back in 2026? In the UK, they always go back on the last Sunday of October. This year, that…HuffPost UK · 9 Oct, 11:44

In this story: United Kingdom · William Willett · Robert Pearce · Germany

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