When do the clocks go back? What you need to know about daylight savings

When do the clocks go back? What you need to know about daylight savings
Sarra Gray

By Sarra Gray


Published: 27/10/2023

- 10:51

Updated: 27/10/2023

- 12:46

Daylight savings falls this weekend which means it is time to change the clocks

The clocks are set to go back this weekend which marks the end of British Summer Time.

This means there will be brighter mornings and darker evenings.


When do the clocks go back?

Clocks go back in the UK on Sunday, 29 October.

They will go back one hour at 2am on Sunday and most phones will do this automatically.

The date changes every year, but it always falls on the last Sunday of October.

Britons will see lighter mornings but the sun will start to set earlier.

Why do the clocks go back?

Daylight savings was first introduced in the UK more than 100 years ago.

It was done to ensure people could get the most out of the daylight.

When the clocks go back in October, Britons can enjoy an extra hour in bed.

In the spring, the clocks go forward and Britons lose an hour of sleep.

The clocks go forward to conserve energy by giving people more sun in the evening.

While many will appreciate the extra hour in bed, experts have warned it could be bad for the body clock.

This comes as experts gave a warning of the disruptive health problems that can be brought on by darker nights.

Dark and cold weather can impact sleep and make conditions such as Seasonal Affective Disorder more likely.

Many will look to turn on the heating as winter approaches. Health experts warned of the potential health problems that can be brought on by central heating.

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