23 March 2023 , 13:38
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Every year the clocks move twice – moving us between Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) and British Summer Time (BST). Despite the annual change, it always manages to catch us off guard, because it doesn't happen on the same date annually.
Many also get confused about which way the clocks are changing, forwards or back, at which time of year. One easy way to remember this is "spring forward, fall back," meaning we move the clocks forward in the spring, and backwards in the autumn/fall.
As we move towards the summer, we move the clocks forward so there'll be more daylight in the evenings, which means less in the morning.
The clocks spring forward (stock image) (Getty Images)Here we share everything you need to know about the 2023 clock change, including date, time and why it happens.
When do the clocks go forward?
In 2023 the clocks go forward on Sunday, March 26, marking the start of BST. The clock change always happens at 1am on the last Sunday of the month, so there is as little disruption as possible.
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That means, if you're awake at that time, you'll see the time on your phone automatically jump from 1am to 2am, which means you'll lose an hour of sleep.
Last year this fell on Sunday, March 27. The clocks will go back again on the final Sunday of October, which is October 29. This is when we gain an extra hour.
Why do the clocks go forward?
BST is also known as Daylight Savings Time, which was initially brought in to help people take advantage of the sunlight hours of the day.
American scientist Benjamin Franklin first proposed the idea in 1784. He believed that if people got up earlier in the morning, when it was lighter, it would save them having to use so many candles.
However, the idea wasn't taken seriously until 1907, when builder William Willett published a pamphlet titled The Waste of Daylight.
Willett, who is actually Coldplay Singer Chris Martin's great-great-grandfather, suggested putting the clocks forward in the spring, and back in the autumn.
William Willett is Coldplay Singer Chris Martin's great-great-grandfatherThe builder was sick of the sun going down early, often cutting his golf game short.
It took quite a bit of convincing to bring in the change, and it wasn't until after his death in 1915 it was brought in. BST was introduced in 1916 in the Summer Time Act as a way to save fuel and money.
There's an ongoing debate about whether we should still be changing the clocks. Some argue it's good for reducing energy consumption, getting people to exercise outdoor and reduces road accidents.
However, others argue that changing the clocks is now useless given the fact that many people spend time inside their well-lit homes, offices and shops, where the extra bit of daylight doesn't make much different.
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This argument completely depends on people's geographical location, their job and lifestyle.