Need to call or meet someone in the UK? Use the tool below to see the exact time difference between India and London right now, convert any time, and find the best time to call. It updates by itself when the UK changes its clocks.
India (IST) is 4 hours 30 minutes ahead of London right now.
On 25 October 2026 the clocks change in London and the gap becomes 5 hours 30 minutes. India does not change its clock.
Best time to call
Top row: India time. Bottom row: city time. Hover or tap a block to see the exact times.
| India time | City time | Good to call? |
|---|
These are general sleep tips, not medical advice. If you take medicine, have a sleep or health condition, or are thinking about melatonin or sleep aids, please ask a doctor first.
India to UK time difference at a glance
India is 4 hours 30 minutes ahead of London when London is on daylight time and 5 hours 30 minutes ahead of it when London is on standard time. India uses one time zone, IST (UTC+5:30), all year.
| City | Daylight time gap | Standard time gap |
|---|---|---|
| London | 4 hours 30 minutes | 5 hours 30 minutes |
The UK moves its clocks forward one hour on the last Sunday in March and back one hour on the last Sunday in October. Under current rules, the clocks go back on 25 October 2026 and forward on 28 March 2027. India does not change its clock, so the gap changes by one hour twice a year. The tool above always checks the date you choose.
Best time to call the UK from India
The UK is a popular choice for Indian students, workers and families, so many people need to speak to London every week. Because London is only 4.5 to 5.5 hours behind India, there is a long overlap in the Indian afternoon and evening. This makes the UK one of the easier countries to call from India.
These windows give both sides a normal daytime or evening hour, between 8 AM and about 9:30 PM. They are for a regular weekday.
- London: Start the call between 2 PM and 9 PM India time (8:30 AM to 3:30 PM in London) in January; start the call between 1 PM and 9 PM India time (8:30 AM to 4:30 PM in London) in July.
If you are the one in India, mid-afternoon to early evening usually works best. If the person in the UK works office hours, call after 1 PM in India in winter, or after 12:30 PM in summer, so it is after 8 AM in London. If the person in the UK is free only after work, call in the Indian late evening, because 9 PM in India is 3:30 PM or 4:30 PM in London.
Common mistakes with the India to UK time difference
- Using one number all year. The gap is 4 hours 30 minutes in UK summer time and 5 hours 30 minutes in winter.
- Mixing up GMT and BST. London uses GMT in winter and British Summer Time (BST) in summer. A meeting fixed at the same Indian time moves by one hour in London after the change.
- Forgetting the change week. The UK and the USA change their clocks on different dates, so for a few weeks a year your gap with each country is different from normal.
Flying from India to the UK? A short note on jet lag
Flying from India to the UK is a westward trip, and your body clock moves back by about 4 hours 30 minutes to 5 hours 30 minutes. Many people find flying west a little easier than flying east, but it is different for everyone. The Jet lag plan tab in the tool gives a step-by-step plan for the city you pick.
How this tool works
The tool uses the time zone rules built into your web browser. These come from the public IANA time zone database, which most phones and computers use. Nothing you type in the tool is saved or sent to us. Last updated: 10 October 2026. If you see a wrong result, please tell us through the Contact page.
Related: first long-haul flight tips, visa-free countries for Indians. Need another country? Try India to USA, India to Canada, India to Australia, India to UAE, India to Singapore, India to Japan. You can also see all our travel tools.
Frequently asked questions
What is the time difference between India and the UK?
India is 4 hours 30 minutes ahead of London when London is on daylight time and 5 hours 30 minutes ahead of it when London is on standard time. The gap changes by 1 hour when the clocks change.
Is India ahead of the UK?
Yes. India is ahead, so when it is evening in India it is morning or afternoon on the same day in UK.
What is 9 PM IST in London?
In London it is 3:30 PM on the same day in January and 4:30 PM in July.
Does UK have daylight saving time?
The UK moves its clocks forward one hour on the last Sunday in March and back one hour on the last Sunday in October. Under current rules, the clocks go back on 25 October 2026 and forward on 28 March 2027. India does not change its clock, so the gap changes by one hour twice a year. The tool above always checks the date you choose.
What is the best time to call the UK from India?
London: Start the call between 2 PM and 9 PM India time (8:30 AM to 3:30 PM in London) in January; start the call between 1 PM and 9 PM India time (8:30 AM to 4:30 PM in London) in July.
Does India have daylight saving time?
No. India uses India Standard Time (IST), which is UTC+5:30, all year round.
When do the UK clocks change in 2026?
Under current rules, UK clocks go back one hour on Sunday 25 October 2026 and go forward one hour on Sunday 28 March 2027. The change happens at 1 AM.