An extra hour in bed

Q. In the UK, what does the last Sunday in October have in common with the last Sunday in March?

A. These are the times the clocks change.

Countries have different change dates, but in the UK clocks always go back on the last Sunday of October and forward on the last Sunday of March.

Yes, the clocks go back this coming Sunday and we get an extra hour in bed. Yeh!

Why the clock changes?

The main purpose of the clock change is to make better use of daylight.

The clocks change during the summer months to move an hour of daylight from the morning to the evening.

In the winter one of the advantages of changing the clocks is many people and businesses save energy and money by the morning’s need for more lighting.

Some also argue that making the switch to give extra morning daylight in winter and evening light in summer can help reduce traffic accidents and save energy.

Many people have different opinions about whether the clocks should change or not. Critics of the twice-yearly clock changes say it can cause long-term health problems, especially among young children and elderly people.

When do the clocks change?

The clocks will go back one hour at 2am on Sunday, October 27. From 2am Sunday night Britain will be back on Greenwich Mean Time (GMT), rather than British Summer Time (BST).

To remember which way the clock changes, there’s an easy phrase to help us remember.

The phrase reads “spring forward, fall back.”

This means the clocks go forwards in the spring and back in the fall (autumn).

However, most mobile phones will automatically change the clock, so you don’t have to amend the time yourself.

Enjoy your extra hour in bed.