Time Difference Between China and United Kingdom
As of 31 August 2026, United Kingdom is 7 hours behind China. That number is not constant. Over the course of a year, because of daylight saving changes, London, United Kingdom ranges from 8 hours behind to 7 hours behind relative to Beijing, China. The calculator below is always up to date.
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Beijing, China
06:34
Tue, Sep 1, 2026
UTC+8 · Asia/Shanghai
London, United Kingdom
-7h23:34
Mon, Aug 31, 2026
UTC+1 · Europe/London
United Kingdom is 7 hours behind China.
When it is 06:34 in China, it is already the previous day in United Kingdom.
Time zone details
| Place | Local date | Time zone | UTC offset | Summer time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| China | Tuesday, September 1, 2026 | Asia/Shanghai | UTC+8 | Not observed |
| United Kingdom | Monday, August 31, 2026 | Europe/London | UTC+1 | Active now |
China: China uses a single official time zone across the whole country.
Hour by hour: China to United Kingdom
Every hour of today in China and what it is in United Kingdom. Highlighted rows fall inside United Kingdom working hours (09:00–18:00).
| China | United Kingdom |
|---|---|
| 00:00 | 17:00prev day |
| 01:00 | 18:00prev day |
| 02:00 | 19:00prev day |
| 03:00 | 20:00prev day |
| 04:00 | 21:00prev day |
| 05:00 | 22:00prev day |
| 06:00 | 23:00prev day |
| 07:00 | 00:00 |
| 08:00 | 01:00 |
| 09:00 | 02:00 |
| 10:00 | 03:00 |
| 11:00 | 04:00 |
| China | United Kingdom |
|---|---|
| 12:00 | 05:00 |
| 13:00 | 06:00 |
| 14:00 | 07:00 |
| 15:00 | 08:00 |
| 16:00 | 09:00 |
| 17:00 | 10:00 |
| 18:00 | 11:00 |
| 19:00 | 12:00 |
| 20:00 | 13:00 |
| 21:00 | 14:00 |
| 22:00 | 15:00 |
| 23:00 | 16:00 |
Best time to call or meet
Overlapping working hours
16:00–18:00 in China (09:00–11:00 in United Kingdom)
Both places are inside 09:00–18:00 for 2 hours a day. Anything in this window works without asking anyone to stay late.
Reasonable calling hours
15:00–21:00 in China (08:00–14:00 in United Kingdom)
Both people are awake and available between 08:00 and 21:00 local time during this window.
When this difference changes
United Kingdom puts its clocks back on Sunday, October 25, 2026
The local offset moves from UTC+1 to UTC. After that date, United Kingdom is 8 hours behind China — instead of 7 hours behind, as it is today.
Planning something with more than two places?
Adding a third city usually kills the obvious answer. The Meeting Time Finder takes up to five cities at once and shows only the hours that work for everybody.
China and United Kingdom: common questions
What is the time difference between China and United Kingdom?
As of 31 August 2026, United Kingdom is 7 hours behind China. The gap is not fixed: across the year, United Kingdom ranges from 8 hours behind to 7 hours behind relative to China, as clocks change. The calculator on this page always shows the difference for right now.
When it is 9:00 AM in China, what time is it in United Kingdom?
It is 02:00 AM in London, United Kingdom. Use the time field in the calculator above to check any other hour.
Is United Kingdom ahead of or behind China?
United Kingdom is behind China by 7 hours at the moment. In practical terms, the working day in United Kingdom starts and ends later in China terms.
Do China and United Kingdom observe daylight saving time?
United Kingdom changes its clocks twice a year; China does not. The difference therefore shifts by an hour when United Kingdom switches: across the year, United Kingdom ranges from 8 hours behind to 7 hours behind relative to China.
What is the best time to call United Kingdom from China?
Working hours overlap between 16:00 and 18:00 China time, which is 09:00 to 11:00 in United Kingdom. Calls inside that window reach both sides during the normal working day.
Related comparisons
Local dates shown for Beijing, China (UTC+8) and London, United Kingdom (UTC+1) were generated on Monday, August 31, 2026 UTC and refresh in your browser.