British Summer Time Begins: History, Facts & Insights

This is an in-depth look at all the must-know facts about British Summer Time Begins (2024) 🗓️ that no one tells you about. British Summer Time Begins is celebrated on March 26th.

Among the information you’ll find below: the history of British Summer Time Begins, activities to do on and how to observe this holiday, as well as fun facts you should know about British Summer Time Begins.

📅 What day is British Summer Time Begins 2024?

In 2024, British Summer Time Begins is on Sunday, March 26th. It is the 4th Sunday in March; in 2024, it is Tuesday. There are until the next observance. You also can learn all the cool details and facts about March 26, 2023, that you might not be aware of.

The phrase “Spring forward, fall back” reminds us to adjust our clocks during British Summer Time (BST). This occurs on the last Sunday of March when we move our clocks one hour ahead, and again on the last Sunday of October when we revert to Greenwich Mean Time. It’s interesting to note that the idea for BST was proposed in the early 1900s by a person in Britain who was frustrated with wasting daylight during summer mornings. By implementing this change, we ensure there is more daylight during evenings and less in the mornings.

📜 British Summer Time Begins History

George Hudson, a New Zealand scientist who studied insects, was the one who first proposed the idea of daylight saving time. Back in 1895, he suggested changing the clocks by two hours to have more daylight in the evenings for his bug hunting activities after work.

Around 12 years later, William Willet took the concept of daylight saving time seriously and presented a formal proposal to the British parliament. In his booklet called “The Waste of Daylight,” Willet argued that advancing the clocks by 80 minutes would provide more daylight hours for people to enjoy, improve their health, and reduce the country’s lighting expenses. This idea gained support from influential figures such as Theodore Roosevelt and Arthur Conan Doyle. Unfortunately, the British government rejected the proposal, but Willet continued to advocate for it until his death in 1915.

It was during World War I that the Germans, in their search for energy-saving methods, remembered Willet’s idea of advancing the clocks to maximize daylight during working hours. Germany embraced the concept, and a few weeks later, Britain followed suit.

✅ British Summer Time Begins Facts

🔖 It takes five hours
The process of replacing the large hands on all four clocks of Big Ben requires a time investment of five hours.

🔖 Starts at 9 P.M., ends at 2 A.M.

🔖 A team of five people do it
A team of five experts has been assigned the responsibility to replace the clock on this watch that is 154 years old.

👍 Why Is British Summer Time Begins Important

An additional hour of evening sunshine saves the NHS £200 million in accident-related expenses each year.

The extra hour of daylight improves the amount of time available for exercise and boosts the likelihood of individuals attending evening athletic activities. Children gain more from longer nights, where they may be active for up to 20% longer, according to researchers.

Because crimes are more likely to be committed in the evening than in the morning, the crime rate has decreased by 3%.

🙂 How To Observe British Summer Time Begins

⚡ Summer events

⚡ Change your clock
By now, it should be clear that if you reside in a region that practices Daylight Saving Time, you need to adjust your clocks ahead by one hour at 1 a.m. on Sunday, March 28th.

⚡ Attend the British Summer Time festival
Celebrate the approach of summer by attending traditional British events such as the Royal Ascot and Wimbledon, both of which are noted for their opulent dress rules. Scones, tea, and strawberries are in full swing and being enjoyed around the country.

📅 When is British Summer Time Begins?

Explore all 🔗 March holidays, including 🔗 Cultural and other 🔗 Civic holidays.

We will continue to update this page with new information and fun facts about British Summer Time Begins. So be sure to check back soon.