The Spanish mainland is always 1 hour ahead of the United Kingdom, in both summer and winter. However, if you’re traveling to Lanzarote or one of the Canary Islands, there’s no time difference – they share the same time zone as the United Kingdom. Here’s everything you need to know before your trip.
Time difference between Spain and the UK
Spain is 1 hour ahead of the UK during summer time (March-October) and winter time (October-March). Lanzarote, despite being part of Spain, follows Western European Time (WET), which is the same time zone as the UK (UTC+0 in winter, UTC+1 in summer). So if it’s noon in London, it’s noon in Lanzarote.
Mainland Spain (Madrid, Barcelona), on the other hand, is 1 hour ahead. This often confuses travelers because Lanzarote is the only Spanish region that doesn’t follow mainland Spanish time.
The time difference between Spain and the UK depends on the specific location in Spain and the season. Explore the details below.
Mainland Spain vs UK: Mainland Spain is one hour ahead of the UK, in both summer and winter.
Canary Islands vs UK: In this region of Spain, the time is the same as the UK.
Does the time difference change in summer or winter?
Both Spain and the UK change their clocks in summer and winter. In both cases, the clock is moved forward one hour on the last Sunday of March and back one hour on the last Sunday of October.
Since the change happens on the same date, the time difference remains the same all year round.
Understanding time zones
To better understand the time difference between the two countries, it’s necessary to know the different time zones in question.
In the UK, Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) is used in winter. When summer arrives, clocks are moved forward one hour and British Summer Time (BST) is used, which is GMT+1.
Mainland Spain uses Central European Time (CET), which is GMT+1 in winter. In summer, clocks are moved forward one hour and Central European Summer Time (CEST) is used, which is GMT+2.
| Location | Winter time zone | Summer time zone | UTC Offset | vs. Lanzarote | vs. Madrid | vs. UK | Change clock? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lanzarote | WET | WEST | UTC+0 / UTC+1 | Same time | 1 hour behind | Same time | No |
| Madrid | CET | CEST | UTC+1 / UTC+2 | 1 hour ahead | Same time | 1 hour ahead | Yes |
| UK | GMT | BST | UTC+0 / UTC+1 | Same time | 1 hour behind | Same time | No |
Why is Spain one hour ahead of the UK?
Today, there is a one-hour difference between the UK and Spain. But it hasn’t always been that way. Geographically, mainland Spain and the UK share roughly the same longitude, which means the time should be the same. And in fact, it was a few decades ago.
The change occurred during World War II, when Spain adopted CET to align with Nazi Germany. Even after the war, this time zone was retained.
The Canary Islands: a different time zone
Although there is a time difference between the UK and mainland Spain, this is not the case for the Canary Islands. The islands have the same time as London, and it’s important to know this to avoid confusion during your trip.
Travelers to the Canary Islands may be confused because the islands are one hour behind the rest of Spain (mainland and Balearic Islands), but have the same time as the UK, Portugal or Ireland.
Time in Lanzarote, Tenerife, Gran Canaria and Fuerteventura
Lanzarote uses, like the other Canary Islands (Tenerife, Gran Canaria and Fuerteventura, among others), Western European Time (WET), which is GMT in winter. In summer, clocks are moved forward one hour and they use Western European Summer Time (WEST), which is GMT+1.
Here’s a comprehensive guide to the time difference.
Both the UK and the Canary Islands change their clocks one hour in spring to adopt summer time (BST in the UK and WEST in the Canary Islands), maintaining the same time.
| Comparison | Result |
|---|---|
| Canary Islands vs UK | Same time zone all year round |
| Canary Islands vs Mainland Spain | Canary Islands are 1 hour behind |
| UK vs Mainland Spain | UK is 1 hour behind mainland Spain |
| Lanzarote vs Tenerife / Gran Canaria / Fuerteventura | Same time |
| Madrid vs all Canary Islands | Madrid is 1 hour ahead |
Why the Canary Islands share the same time as the UK
The Canary Islands are closer to the African coast than to mainland Spain. Historically, they adopted the same time zone as Portugal and the UK for business and communication reasons.
Practical tips: flights, meetings and football matches
Understanding the time on the Canary Islands will help you plan your trip better. When you book a transfer service or a restaurant table, you don’t need to recalculate the time.
You don’t even need to adjust the time on your phone, as it’s already set correctly. And you certainly won’t worry about jet lag when you arrive at your destination, as you can start enjoying your trip right away.
If it’s 3pm in London, it’s 4pm in Madrid, mainland Spain. The time difference remains the same all year round. You need to bear this in mind if you want to attend events in Spain, like watching LaLiga, if you need to make a video call or catch a flight.
However, if you travel from Gran Canaria or
Abdel Samouh is a tourism professional specialising in the Canary Islands, with a solid track record in visitor experience management on Lanzarote. His career has centred on promoting the island's landmark attractions and enhancing transfer and excursion services across this volcanic destination.
