London uses Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) during the winter months and switches to British Summer Time (BST), which is GMT+1, during the summer.

London observes Daylight Saving Time. The clocks go forward 1 hour to British Summer Time (BST, GMT+1) in late March and go back 1 hour to Greenwich Mean Time (GMT, UTC+0) in late October.

London is in the same time zone as Dublin during the winter (GMT) but is 1 hour behind most of Western Europe, which follows Central European Time (CET, UTC+1) or Central European Summer Time (CEST, UTC+2) during the summer.

The time difference between London and New York is typically 5 hours, with London ahead. During Daylight Saving Time, when London is on BST and New York is on Eastern Daylight Time (EDT), the difference is 4 hours.

Major industries in London:

Financial Services: Global financial hub with numerous banks, insurance companies, and investment firms; home to the London Stock Exchange.

Technology: Rapidly growing sector focused on fintech, digital startups, and software development; strong support for innovation and venture capital.

Tourism: Significant contributor to the economy with iconic attractions like the Tower of London, Buckingham Palace, and museums; a top destination for global tourists.

Media and Entertainment: Major industry centered around film, television, publishing, and digital content creation; includes the BBC and numerous production companies.

Professional Services: Strong presence of law, consulting, and accounting firms providing services to international clients; concentrated in the City and Canary Wharf.

Education: Renowned for prestigious institutions like University College London (UCL) and the London School of Economics (LSE); significant international student population.

National holidays in London:

New Year's Day: Celebrated on January 1st; marks the start of the new year.

Good Friday: Observed on the Friday before Easter; a public holiday for reflection and religious observance.

Easter Monday: Celebrated the day after Easter Sunday; extends the Easter holiday weekend.

Early May Bank Holiday: Observed on the first Monday in May; offers a spring break for workers.

Spring Bank Holiday: Celebrated on the last Monday in May; marks the start of summer.

Summer Bank Holiday: Observed on the last Monday in August; provides an end-of-summer break.

Christmas Day: Celebrated on December 25th; commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ, celebrated with family gatherings and festive meals.

Boxing Day: Celebrated on December 26th; traditionally a day for shopping, sports, and relaxation after Christmas.