Time Difference Between London and China
As of 12 October 2026, China is 7 hours ahead of London. That number is not constant. Over the course of a year, because of daylight saving changes, Beijing, China ranges from 7 hours ahead to 8 hours ahead relative to London, United Kingdom. The calculator below is always up to date.
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London, United Kingdom
13:45
Mon, Oct 12, 2026
UTC+1 · Europe/London
Beijing, China
+7h
20:45
Mon, Oct 12, 2026
UTC+8 · Asia/Shanghai
China is 7 hours ahead of London.
Time zone details
| Place | Local date | Time zone | UTC offset | Summer time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| London | Monday, October 12, 2026 | Europe/London | UTC+1 | Active now |
| China | Monday, October 12, 2026 | Asia/Shanghai | UTC+8 | Not observed |
China: China uses a single official time zone across the whole country.
Hour by hour: London to China
Every hour of today in London and what it is in China. Highlighted rows fall inside China working hours (09:00–18:00).
| London | China |
|---|---|
| 00:00 | 07:00 |
| 01:00 | 08:00 |
| 02:00 | 09:00 |
| 03:00 | 10:00 |
| 04:00 | 11:00 |
| 05:00 | 12:00 |
| 06:00 | 13:00 |
| 07:00 | 14:00 |
| 08:00 | 15:00 |
| 09:00 | 16:00 |
| 10:00 | 17:00 |
| 11:00 | 18:00 |
| London | China |
|---|---|
| 12:00 | 19:00 |
| 13:00 | 20:00 |
| 14:00 | 21:00 |
| 15:00 | 22:00 |
| 16:00 | 23:00 |
| 17:00 | 00:00next day |
| 18:00 | 01:00next day |
| 19:00 | 02:00next day |
| 20:00 | 03:00next day |
| 21:00 | 04:00next day |
| 22:00 | 05:00next day |
| 23:00 | 06:00next day |
Best time to call or meet
Overlapping working hours
09:00–11:00 in London (16:00–18:00 in China)
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
08:00–14:00 in London (15:00–21:00 in China)
Both people are awake and available between 08:00 and 21:00 local time during this window.
When this difference changes
London puts its clocks back on Sunday, October 25, 2026
The local offset moves from UTC+1 to UTC. After that date, China is 8 hours ahead of London — instead of 7 hours ahead, 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.
London and China: common questions
What is the time difference between London and China?
As of 12 October 2026, China is 7 hours ahead of London. The gap is not fixed: across the year, China ranges from 7 hours ahead to 8 hours ahead relative to London, as clocks change. The calculator on this page always shows the difference for right now.
When it is 9:00 AM in London, what time is it in China?
It is 04:00 PM in Beijing, China. Use the time field in the calculator above to check any other hour.
Is China ahead of or behind London?
China is ahead of London by 7 hours at the moment. In practical terms, the working day in China starts and ends earlier in London terms.
Do London and China observe daylight saving time?
London changes its clocks twice a year; China does not. The difference therefore shifts by an hour when London switches: across the year, China ranges from 7 hours ahead to 8 hours ahead relative to London.
What is the best time to call China from London?
Working hours overlap between 09:00 and 11:00 London time, which is 16:00 to 18:00 in China. Calls inside that window reach both sides during the normal working day.
Related comparisons
Local dates shown for London, United Kingdom (UTC+1) and Beijing, China (UTC+8) were generated on Monday, October 12, 2026 UTC and refresh in your browser.