What BST and GMT mean in practice
In the UK, we switch between Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) and British Summer Time (BST) twice a year. From late October to late March, it’s GMT—our standard time. From late March to late October, it’s BST (GMT+1). This isn’t just trivia: your Zoom call with Berlin happens at the same local time in both places during BST—but an hour earlier in winter. If you book a flight from London to New York in late March, confirm whether departure is listed in GMT or BST—it changes the actual UTC offset.
Why the change trips people up
Most smartphones and computers update automatically—but legacy devices (old kitchen timers, car dashboards, analogue wall clocks) don’t. We’ve seen clients miss morning meetings because their alarm clock stayed on GMT while their calendar app switched to BST. Even smart speakers can misfire if location services are off. And crucially: not all UK territories follow the same rules—Guernsey and the Isle of Man do, but Gibraltar uses CET, and the Falklands don’t observe DST at all.
Practical Tips
First, check your phone’s ‘Date & Time’ settings—ensure ‘Set automatically’ is ON and your time zone is set to ‘London’. Second, add a recurring annual reminder for the last Sunday in March (clocks go forward at 1am GMT → 2am BST) and the last Sunday in October (clocks go back at 2am BST → 1am GMT). Write those dates down *now*: 2024 is 31 March and 27 October. Bonus tip: label physical clocks with a small ‘BST’ or ‘GMT’ sticky note so you spot mismatches instantly.
Final Thoughts
Don’t rely on memory—or hope your devices get it right. A single missed time switch can derail travel plans, deadlines, or family calls. RemindMeBot sends free, no-signup email reminders before both UK clock changes each year—so you’re never caught off guard again.