‘Spring Forward Fall Back’: Don’t forget to put your clocks forward this weekend
If you’re in the Canary Islands or travelling from the UK this weekend, don’t forget, the clocks go forward this weekend. At 1:00am on Sunday morning (29th March), the time moves to 2:00am, marking the start of summer time. You’ll lose an hour’s sleep, but gain longer, lighter evenings.
Same time as the UK… despite being in Spain
It often catches visitors out, but although the Canary Islands are part of Spain, they share the same time zone as the UK, meaning there’s no time difference between the UK and the Canaries, even though mainland Spain is one hour ahead.
To add to the confusion, when you land on the islands, your mobile phone may briefly switch to Spanish network time (which is typically set to mainland Spain), showing a time one hour ahead. In reality, local time in the Canaries remains aligned with the UK.
Clocks change together
The key thing to remember is that both Spain and the UK change their clocks on exactly the same dates, always the last Sunday in March and the last Sunday in October.
So, while mainland Spain stays one hour ahead, the Canary Islands move forward at the same moment as the UK, keeping both on the same time all year round.
Why the time change can affect you
Losing an hour might not sound like much, but it can have a noticeable impact on your body.
The shift disrupts your internal body clock (circadian rhythm), which can lead to:
- Fatigue and difficulty concentrating
- Changes in mood
- Poor sleep quality
Your daily routine, such as work schedules, doesn’t adjust, meaning your body effectively feels like it’s getting up earlier than usual.
This effect is similar to mild jet lag, and it tends to affect children and older adults more strongly, as they are more sensitive to hormonal changes.
When do the clocks go back?
The clocks will go back again in the early hours of Sunday 25th October, when the Canary Islands, the UK, and the rest of the EU return to winter time.
However, there has been an ongoing debate within the European Union about scrapping seasonal clock changes altogether.
While proposals have been discussed in recent years, no final decision has been implemented as yet, so for now, the twice-yearly time change remains in place.
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