Three days are more than sufficient time to explore London, provided the weather cooperates.
In 1884, a conference of astronomers decided on one standardized system of measuring time known as Greenwich Mean Time or GMT that is still widely used today as the foundation of all clocks worldwide.
Time zones
Meridians divide up the 24 time zones on Earth into 48 time zones. Running from the North Pole to South Pole and crossing lines of latitude, these imaginary lines connect them all. If travelling between them is important because flights will likely take longer and you will have less time available for sightseeing in your new destination.
The UK falls within Greenwich Mean Time (GMT), commonly used by European and Asian nations alike, during winter and British Summer Time (BST) respectively. GMT was established using solar time at Greenwich; other European and African/Asian nations use Coordinated Universal Time instead until 1972 when GMT became obsolete and was replaced by Coordinated Universal Time.
Great Britain was an early seafaring nation and thus created its time zone system to help seafarers navigate using the sun as their guide. Before the advent of railways, each town set their clocks according to what the sun was doing at midday; but once railways came along they needed a uniform system in place for train schedules; clocks at Royal Observatory Greenwich served as such reference point and eventually adopted throughout Europe.
Large countries typically exist across multiple time zones, while smaller nations tend to operate in just one time zone. Large nations can accommodate this option while smaller nations cannot.
One of the world’s more peculiar time zones is that of Line Islands, 14 hours ahead of London due to their location directly over Pacific Ocean center and International Date Line – this line runs at 180 degrees east or west from prime meridian, so that if crossing it travelling east you lose a day while if traveling west it gains one.
Greenwich Mean Time
Visitors to the Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) home at the Royal Observatory can stand astride the Prime Meridian line and observe how time-keeping, astronomy, global exploration and world communication are inextricably intertwined. In 1675 King Charles II granted land for Britain’s first national observatory – Christopher Wren designed its domed building which became home to John Flamsteed as Astronomer Royal. As Britain began producing more accurate maps for navigators use while railroad construction ramped up, it needed a national time system instead of local time being adopted by different towns or cities or regions – Christopher Wren designed a domed building that housed his Astronomer Royal position – his Astronomer Royal chair was made more permanent with his domed building as his domed building becoming home by then-national time system adopted throughout Britain to replace local time systems adopted locally or by each town or city/town time system adopted locally adopted locally adopted locally adopted locally adopted locally adopted local time systems adopted locally adopted locally adopted locally across Britain requiring national time standardisation across country so Britain needed one system that replaced local time adopted locally from local towns/cities adopting local time systems adopted from each town/city that replaced local time adopted locally adopted locally adopted locally across different towns/cities as such system would need replacing by national time system adopted from here onward. Christopher Wren designed domed building home for Britain’s Astronomer Royal, John Flamsteed; whils development required Britain needing replacement than adopted by each town/ city/city adopted time systems adopted for use to replace local time.
Greenwich became Longitude 0deg and thus the starting point of Universal Day. Astronomer Royal George Biddell Airy’s Airy Transit Circle telescope marked the meridian line; this remains at Greenwich Observatory to this day.
At an international conference held in 1884, it was decided to divide the world into 24 time zones; each zone being either ahead of or behind GMT by an agreed-upon number of hours. Coordinated Universal Time or UTC then became standard worldwide timekeeping after it replaced GMT as the world standard in 1972.
GMT remains popularly used in certain countries, although most now utilize UTC instead. Londoners still commonly refer to GMT when discussing time in London due to this being its source. Sometimes this term is also known as British Summer Time or BST.
The Shepherd Gate Clock at the Royal Observatory was the first clock to display GMT directly to the public. It is connected to the Shepherd Master Clock installed at the Observatory in 1852, which sent signals over telegraph wires to Edinburgh and Dublin; by 1866 signals had also reached Harvard University in Cambridge in America.
Greenwich Time Signal” for six pips signal on BBC radio stations has become known worldwide due to the clock at Greenwich and is recognised globally as a symbol of international co-operation and understanding. Its historical importance makes the clock at Greenwich an attractive tourist attraction while it stands as an international symbol.
Daylight saving time
At the end of March and at the beginning of October each year, clocks in the United Kingdom advance one hour during Daylight Saving Time; this change allows more daylight into evening hours while many believe it wastes energy and disrupts their sleep patterns. While European Union lawmakers have considered ending this practice, however, this practice will return on Saturday and Sunday night of October’s last weekend for all European clocks to return by one hour – Saturday being Saturday and Sunday being Saturday/Sunday night across Europe – when clocks will all return by one hour.
Greenwich Mean Time (GMT), commonly referred to by its initials in shorthand as GMT, is the standard time used by Britain and most other European nations, serving as the basis for all other time zones around the globe. It takes its name from Greenwich suburb where its prime meridian passes. Before 1972 GMT was used worldwide as the sole time standard; time zones were defined based on their distance from GMT until it was changed over to UTC using atomic clocks and the Earth’s rotation in 1972.
United States governments determine when Daylight Savings Time begins and ends each year, although individual states can choose their own timezones and DST start dates; some have kept current times while others have advanced them until March 1. As a result, time differences among locations in various states can become very confusing.
Russia, China, both Koreas, and India do not observe daylight saving time at all, citing it as wasteful energy use and health concerns. Furthermore, their equatorial regions enjoy consistent daylight and darkness throughout the year so do not need to change their clocks twice annually.
Most countries observe daylight savings time. England follows suit by changing to BST on the last Sunday in March and back to GMT on the final Sunday in October; this puts London 8 hours ahead of New York; however there has been a movement to do away with this practice altogether.
Summer time
Summer brings most of London’s 30 million annual visitors. At this time of year, its 3,000 parks and green spaces come alive with life while skies remain mostly clear; temperatures range from warm to hot but never oppressively so.
Summer brings some of the city’s most beloved events, like Wimbledon and The Ashes series. Additionally, this season is an excellent chance to view royal palaces that are open and free from crowds.
Autumn in London can be breathtakingly gorgeous, as streets and parks bloom with reds, oranges, and golds adorning streets and parks – not to mention food markets thriving at their best!
London weather can be unpredictably variable during the winter season. Though snowfall is rare, temperatures can still drop close to freezing – providing an opportunity to take part in London festivities such as New Year’s Day Parade and lights switch-on on Regent Street.
No matter the season, London remains an enchanting place to visit. Spring brings blooming flowers while summer brings long days and rich hues of orange, yellow and red make autumn irresistible. London offers something suitable for every taste and budget so make time to visit!