Summer will officially end this month, marked by the changing of the clocks. The shorter days and cooler temperatures are a clear sign that autumn is in full swing.
The clocks will be turned back at the end of the month, marking the official transition into the winter months. This twice-yearly clock adjustment is designed to make the most of daylight during the shifting seasons.
In the UK, we move our clocks forward one hour at 1am on the last Sunday in March, and back one hour at 2am on the last Sunday in October.
This upcoming change will see us switch from British Summertime (BST) to Greenwich Mean Time (GMT). Find out all you need to know about the clocks going back below, as reported by My London.
When do the clocks go back this year?
The clocks will be wound back one hour at 2am on Sunday, October 27. The good news? it means an extra hour in bed. All internet-connected devices like phones, laptops, and smartwatches should adjust automatically.
However don’t forget to manually change your alarm clocks, analogue wall clocks, and even oven clocks so you’re not caught out. People often also forget to change the time in their car dashboards.
What time will sunset be?
The turning back of the clocks will give us an extra hour of sunlight in the morning, but it also means that sunset will come earlier. On Saturday, October 26, sunset is marked to come around 5.44pm.
Just a day later on Sunday, October 27, this will change to 4.42pm. On the other hand, sunrise on Saturday, October 26 will be at 7.44am, but then it will revert back to 6.46am on Sunday, October 27 after we switch to GMT.
What is the purpose of daylight saving time?
BST, also known as Daylight Saving Time, was created to help us optimise our sunlight hours throughout the year. It was established following a campaign by British builder William Willett and the Summer Time Act of 1916.
Mr Willett outlined his idea in his 1907 pamphlet titled The Waste of Daylight, where he proposed that days should be lengthened in the summer so he could play more golf. After much lobbying, Mr Willett’s idea was implemented in the UK a year after his death.
Soon after, Germany and Austria also adopted Daylight Saving Time. Now, most countries in mainland Europe also adjust their clocks in summer and winter.
The new method of observing time was believed to maximise natural sunlight and save energy, which was vital during World War I when coal was in short supply. The logic was that it was pointless to waste electricity when there was still daylight to be used.
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