Time in Edinburgh, United Kingdom
Tuesday, November 3, 2026
When Edinburgh changes its clocks
Edinburgh is one of the places that still shifts its clocks twice a year
Edinburgh keeps Greenwich Mean Time at UTC+00:00 for most of the year, and moves to British Summer Time at UTC+01:00 during its summer. The shift is 1 hour.
Next change
28 March 2027 — clocks move forward by 1 hour, from UTC+00:00 to UTC+01:00.
Upcoming transition dates
- 29 March 2026 — forward to UTC+01:00
- 25 October 2026 — back to UTC+00:00
- 28 March 2027 — forward to UTC+01:00
- 31 October 2027 — back to UTC+00:00
- 26 March 2028 — forward to UTC+01:00
- 29 October 2028 — back to UTC+00:00
When the gap to Edinburgh changes
Dates in the next year where the difference shifts, by counterpart city
The difference between two cities is not a constant. It changes whenever either side moves its clocks — and because regions switch on different dates, there are short windows each year when the usual gap is wrong. These are the dates that matter for Edinburgh:
New York (United States)
- From 14 March 2027: Edinburgh is 4 hours ahead of New York
- From 28 March 2027: Edinburgh is 5 hours ahead of New York
- From 31 October 2027: Edinburgh is 4 hours ahead of New York
Dubai (United Arab Emirates)
- From 28 March 2027: Edinburgh is 3 hours behind Dubai
- From 31 October 2027: Edinburgh is 4 hours behind Dubai
Singapore (Singapore)
- From 28 March 2027: Edinburgh is 7 hours behind Singapore
- From 31 October 2027: Edinburgh is 8 hours behind Singapore
Daylight and the sun over Edinburgh
Edinburgh sits at 55.95°, -3.20°
Longest day
17h 36m of daylight
Shortest day
6h 57m of daylight
Yearly swing
10h 39m between them
That is a swing of 10h 39m between midsummer and midwinter — a large seasonal difference. In practice it means an afternoon call with Edinburgh lands in broad daylight in June and well after dark in December, even though the clock time has not moved.
Clock time versus solar time
Edinburgh's clock is unusually well matched to the sun: local noon falls within 13 minutes of the moment the sun is actually overhead. Most cities sit further out, because time zones follow borders rather than longitude.
During summer time that gap widens to 1 hour 13 minutes ahead of the sun, which is the whole point of the exercise — shifting daylight into the evening.
How Edinburgh's clock got here
Read from the IANA Time Zone Database, the same rules Linux, macOS and Android use
Edinburgh last changed its standard offset 55 years ago, in 31 October 1971, when it moved from UTC+1 to UTC+0 — an hour in a single step.
Every recorded change since 1900
- 27 October 1968UTC+0UTC+1
- 31 October 1971UTC+1UTC+0
When the clocks change here
Clocks go forward on the last Sunday in March, a rule the tzdb has applied since 1981.
It changed once:
- 1981from first Sunday in April to last Sunday in March
Daylight saving began here in 31 October 1971, under a rule set the tzdb calls "GB-Eire". That was 55 years ago.
Before any of this, Edinburgh kept local mean time — solar noon by definition — at UTC-0:01, until 1 December 1847. Standard time zones were an attempt to replace that with something people could agree on, and the Edinburgh clock still carries the residue of that original figure.
Every date above is a record in the IANA Time Zone Database, not an estimate. The database is maintained by volunteers who track official announcements; if a government changes its rules, these figures change with it.
Quick Time Comparisons
See how Edinburgh time compares to other major cities right now
Time Zone Offset from Edinburgh
Best Times to Contact Edinburgh
Optimal calling and meeting hours
Business Hours
Typically 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM local time
Best for professional calls, meetings, and business inquiries
Personal Calls
Evenings 7:00 PM - 10:00 PM local time
Ideal for catching up with family and friends
Pro Tip: Use the meeting coordinator tool above to find overlapping working hours between your location and Edinburgh. This makes scheduling international meetings much easier!
Cultural Business Context
Edinburgh, United Kingdom • 12:06 local time
Great Time!
Good time for business communication
Quick Stats
Business Hours Timeline
Best Times to Contact
Times to Avoid
Business hours: 09:00 - 17:30 | Weekend: Sunday, Saturday | Lunch: 12:30 - 13:30
🌍 Cultural awareness enhances business relationships and prevents scheduling conflicts across global teams
Places related to Edinburgh
Cities that share a clock, a country, or an offset
On exactly the same clock as Edinburgh
These share the Europe/London zone, so they keep the same time as Edinburgh and change their clocks on the same dates.
Same offset (UTC+00:00), different part of the world
These sit in other countries but keep the same standard offset as Edinburgh (Greenwich Mean Time). They will not necessarily change clocks on the same dates, so the match can be seasonal rather than permanent.
Meeting Time Coordinator
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Common Questions About Edinburgh Time
Frequently asked questions
What time zone is Edinburgh in?
Edinburgh operates in the Europe/London time zone, known as Greenwich Mean Time, currently UTC+00:00 (UTC+01:00 during summer time). This clock applies that offset directly from the IANA time zone database.
Does Edinburgh observe daylight saving time?
Yes. Edinburgh shifts its clocks by 1 hour, between UTC+00:00 and UTC+01:00. The next change is on 28 March 2027.
What's the time difference between Edinburgh and my location?
The time comparison tool above shows the current time difference. You can also use our meeting coordinator to find the best times for calls across different time zones.
How accurate is this Edinburgh clock?
Our clock synchronizes with your device's time and applies the official Europe/London time zone offset. It updates every second and automatically handles daylight saving time, ensuring accuracy within a second.
Can I use this for scheduling meetings in Edinburgh?
Yes! This tool is perfect for scheduling. Use the meeting coordinator above to compare multiple time zones and find optimal meeting times that work for everyone in Edinburgh and other locations.
Time Zone Facts About Edinburgh
Interesting information about Edinburgh's time
IANA identifier
Europe/London
Standard time name
Greenwich Mean Time
Standard offset
UTC+00:00
Daylight saving
Observed — clocks shift 1 hour to UTC+01:00
Region
Europe