UK and Europe Turn Clocks Back Oct. 25, a Week Before the U.S.: What Happens to the Time Difference
Britain and the EU end summer time on Sunday, Oct. 25, 2026; the U.S. waits until Nov. 1. For one week London is 4 hours ahead of New York instead of 5.
In this article
Clocks in the United Kingdom and the European Union go back one hour on Sunday, Oct. 25, 2026, one week before the United States and most of Canada make the same change on Nov. 1. For those seven days the usual time differences across the Atlantic shrink by an hour: London is 4 hours ahead of New York instead of 5, and Paris and Berlin are 5 hours ahead instead of 6.
When the clocks change
In the UK, British Summer Time ends at 2:00 a.m. on the last Sunday of October, and clocks go back to 1:00 a.m. Greenwich Mean Time, according to GOV.UK. EU countries switch at the same moment under a 2000 directive that sets the change at 01:00 UTC across the bloc. That is 2:00 a.m. in London, Dublin and Lisbon, and 3:00 a.m. in Paris, Berlin, Madrid and Rome.
The U.S. rule is different. Federal law ends daylight saving time on the first Sunday in November, so U.S. clocks go back on Nov. 1, 2026. Most of Canada follows the same dates as the U.S.
The one-week gap
Between Oct. 25 and Nov. 1, Europe is on winter time while North America is still on daylight time. Every transatlantic difference drops by one hour:
| Cities | Usual difference | Oct. 25 to Oct. 31, 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| London to New York | 5 hours | 4 hours |
| London to Chicago | 6 hours | 5 hours |
| London to Los Angeles | 8 hours | 7 hours |
| Paris or Berlin to New York | 6 hours | 5 hours |
| Paris or Berlin to Los Angeles | 9 hours | 8 hours |
A 9:00 a.m. call in New York during that week is 1:00 p.m. in London, not 2:00 p.m. The normal gap returns at 2:00 a.m. on Sunday, Nov. 1, when U.S. clocks go back.
Who is affected
- Recurring meetings. Calendar apps store most invitations in the organizer’s time zone, so a weekly meeting set in New York will show up an hour earlier for colleagues in Europe that week, and the reverse.
- Flights and trains. Timetables are in local time, so nothing changes on the ticket, but connection times and arrival times relative to home can look an hour off.
- Markets. London trading hours stay the same in local time, so the overlap with New York shifts by an hour for the week.
- Families and friends abroad. If you call at a set time each week, check the difference before you dial.
Spring has a two-week gap
The same mismatch happens in spring, and it lasts longer. U.S. clocks go forward on Sunday, March 14, 2027, while the UK and EU wait until Sunday, March 28, 2027. For those two weeks London is again 4 hours ahead of New York.
| Change | United States | UK and EU |
|---|---|---|
| Clocks go back, 2026 | Sunday, Nov. 1 | Sunday, Oct. 25 |
| Clocks go forward, 2027 | Sunday, March 14 | Sunday, March 28 |
| Clocks go back, 2027 | Sunday, Nov. 7 | Sunday, Oct. 31 |
Will Europe stop changing clocks?
The European Parliament voted in 2019 to end seasonal clock changes in the EU, but member governments never agreed on a final plan, Royal Museums Greenwich notes, so the twice-yearly change continues. The UK, outside the EU since 2020, keeps its own rules under the Summer Time Act.
In the U.S., the House passed a bill in July 2026 to make daylight saving time permanent, but the Senate has not voted on it. Our report on the Nov. 1 clock change covers where that bill stands.
Quick checklist
- Confirm any transatlantic meetings or calls scheduled between Oct. 26 and Oct. 30.
- If you travel between Europe and North America that week, double-check pickup and check-in times.
- Mark Oct. 25 and Nov. 1 on your calendar; the gap closes when the U.S. changes clocks.
Frequently asked questions
When do the clocks go back in the UK in 2026?
At 2:00 a.m. on Sunday, Oct. 25, 2026, when British Summer Time ends and clocks go back to 1:00 a.m. Greenwich Mean Time.
Do all of Europe's clocks change on the same day?
Yes, in the EU and the UK. The change happens at the same instant, 01:00 UTC, which is 2:00 a.m. in London and 3:00 a.m. in Paris or Berlin.
What is the time difference between London and New York after Oct. 25?
Four hours, from Oct. 25 until the U.S. changes clocks on Nov. 1, 2026. After that it returns to the usual five hours.
Is the EU getting rid of clock changes?
Not yet. The European Parliament backed ending seasonal clock changes in 2019, but EU governments have not reached a final decision, so the twice-yearly change continues.
When do the clocks go forward in 2027?
In the U.S., on Sunday, March 14, 2027. In the UK and EU, on Sunday, March 28, 2027.
Sources
- When do the clocks change? (GOV.UK)
- When do the clocks go back? (Royal Museums Greenwich)
- Directive 2000/84/EC on summer-time arrangements (EUR-Lex, European Union)
- Daylight Saving Time (DST) (National Institute of Standards and Technology)
