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Daylight Saving Time (DST) in the United Kingdom ends on the last Sunday of October each year. On this day, commonly referred to as "the end of British Summer Time," clocks are set back one hour at 2 a.m., effectively shifting an hour of daylight from the evening to the morning.
The concept of DST was first proposed by Benjamin Franklin in 1784, but it wasn't widely adopted until World War I, when it was used to save fuel by reducing the need for artificial lighting. The UK officially started observing DST in 1916.
There are no specific traditions associated with the end of Daylight Saving Time in the UK. However, it marks a return to Greenwich Mean Time (GMT), which is considered the standard time zone for the country.
On this day, people generally enjoy an extra hour of sleep due to the time change. It's also a reminder for many to conduct seasonal safety checks such as testing smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors. Some use it as a cue to switch over to winter bedding and prepare their homes for colder weather.
While there are no public celebrations or events specifically tied to DST's end, it is often associated with a recognition that winter is approaching, and shorter daylight hours are imminent.