What is the Time Zone in UK?

The history of time zones in the UK dates back to the mid-19th century with the beginning of rail service. There was no concept of Greenwich Mean Time, only Local Mean Time was observed throughout the nation. In this article, we will explore what is the time zone in UK, how many are there and more.

How Many Time Zones are there in the UK?

There are about 9 different time zones, if we count all the territories belonging to the UK. This is because these territories are spread out into the world and each follows its time zone based on where it is.

UK Time Zones

The United Kingdom observes Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) during standard time and British Summer Time (BST) during daylight saving time, which is GMT+1.

British Overseas Territories and Their Time Zones

1. Gibraltar

   • Central European Time (CET) – GMT+1
   • Central European Summer Time (CEST) – GMT+2 (DST)

2. Bermuda

   • Atlantic Standard Time (AST) – GMT-4
   • Atlantic Daylight Time (ADT) – GMT-3 (DST)

3. Falkland Islands

   • Falkland Islands Time (FKT) – GMT-3

4. South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands

   • GMT-2 (No DST)

5. Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da Cunha

   • GMT (No DST)

6. British Indian Ocean Territory (Diego Garcia)

   • Indian Chagos Time (IOT) – GMT+6

7. British Antarctic Territory

   • Varies depending on the research station; the main station, Rothera, typically uses GMT-3

8. Pitcairn Islands

   • GMT-8 (No DST)

9. Turks and Caicos Islands

   • Eastern Standard Time (EST) – GMT-5
   • Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) – GMT-4 (DST)

Interesting Facts about UK Time Zones

• GMT is named after Greenwich, a borough in London where the Royal Observatory is located. It is the mean solar time at the Prime Meridian (0° longitude), established in 1884 at the International Meridian Conference.
• The United Kingdom is west of the Prime Meridian, so it is ahead of time zones to the east and behind time zones to the west. As a result, the UK is one of the first countries to enter each new day.
• The UK has enacted legislation to define its time zones, ensuring uniformity throughout the country.
• The Royal Observatory in Greenwich features a time ball atop its building, dropping exactly at 1:00 PM GMT daily. This practice has been in place since 1833 and was utilized by ships to adjust their clocks precisely.

Time Difference Between the UK and the Top 10 cities of the USA

The time difference between the UK (specifically London) and various cities in the US varies depending on the time zone each city is in. Here’s a breakdown of the time difference between London, UK, and the top 10 most populous cities in the US:

1. New York, NY
   • Standard Time: London is 5 hours ahead.
   • Daylight Saving Time: London is 4 hours ahead.
2. Los Angeles, CA
   • Standard Time: London is 8 hours ahead.
   • Daylight Saving Time: London is 7 hours ahead.
3. Chicago, IL
   • Standard Time: London is 6 hours ahead.
   • Daylight Saving Time: London is 5 hours ahead (CDT).
4. Houston, TX
   • Standard Time: London is 6 hours ahead (CST).
   • Daylight Saving Time: London is 5 hours ahead.
5. Phoenix, AZ
   • Standard Time: London is 7 hours ahead.
   • Daylight Saving Time: London is 7 hours ahead.
6. Philadelphia, PA
   • Standard Time: London is 5 hours ahead.
   • Daylight Saving Time: London is 4 hours ahead.
7. San Antonio, TX
   • Standard Time: London is 6 hours ahead.
   • Daylight Saving Time: London is 5 hours ahead.
8. San Diego, CA
   • Standard Time: London is 8 hours ahead.
   • Daylight Saving Time: London is 7 hours ahead.
9. Dallas, TX
   • Standard Time: London is 6 hours ahead.
   • Daylight Saving Time: London is 5 hours ahead.
10. San Jose, CA
    • Standard Time: London is 8 hours ahead.
    • Daylight Saving Time: London is 7 hours ahead.

Related Links

• Key Facts of United Kingdom
• Is the UK in Europe?
• What is Brexit?