The Spanish mainland is always 1 hour ahead of the UK, both in summer and winter. However, if you travel to Lanzarote or one of the other Canary Islands, there is no time difference — they share the same timezone as the UK. Here you’ll find everything you need to know before departure.
Time difference between Spain and the UK
Spain is one hour ahead of the UK, both in BST (March-October) and GMT (October-March). Although Lanzarote shares the same time as Spain, it follows the Western European Time zone (WET), which is the same timezone as the UK (UTC+0 in winter, UTC+1 in summer). So when it’s 12:00 noon in London, it’s 12:00 noon in Lanzarote.
The Spanish mainland (Madrid, Barcelona), on the other hand, is one hour ahead of the UK. This often confuses travellers, as Lanzarote is the only Spanish region that does not follow the time of mainland Spain.
The time difference between Spain and the UK depends on which region of Spain you’re in and the season. Let’s look at the details below.
Spanish mainland vs. UK: The Spanish mainland is one hour ahead of the UK, both in summer and winter.
Canary Islands vs. UK: In this part of Spain, the time is the same as in the UK.
Does the time difference change in summer or winter?
Spain and the UK change their clocks in summer and winter. In both cases, clocks are put forward one hour on the last Sunday in March and put back one hour on the last Sunday in October.
Because the change happens on the same date, the time difference remains the same throughout the year.
Understanding the time zones
To better understand the time difference between the two countries, it’s necessary to know the different time zones involved.
In the United Kingdom, Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) is used in winter. When summer comes, clocks are put 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 put forward one hour and Central European Summer Time (CEST) is used, which is GMT+2.
| Location | Winter timezone | Summer timezone | UTC offset | vs. Lanzarote | vs. Madrid | vs. UK | Change clocks? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 this wasn’t always the case. Geographically, mainland Spain and the UK share approximately the same longitude, which means the time should be the same. And indeed, this was the case several decades ago.
The change happened during World War II, when Spain adopted Central European Time to align with Nazi Germany. Even after the war, this timezone was maintained.
The Canary Islands: a different timezone
Although there is a time difference between the UK and mainland Spain, this does not apply to the Canary Islands. The islands share the same time as London, and it’s important to know this to avoid confusion during your trip.
Travellers to the Canary Islands may be confused, as the islands are one hour behind the rest of Spain (mainland and Balearics) but share the same time as the UK, Portugal or Ireland.
Time in Lanzarote, Teneriffa, Gran Canaria and Fuerteventura
Like the other Canary Islands (Teneriffa, Gran Canaria and Fuerteventura among others), Lanzarote uses Western European Time (WET), which is GMT in winter. In summer, clocks are put forward one hour and Western European Summer Time (WEST) is used, which is GMT+1.
Here you’ll find a complete guide to time differences.
The UK and Canary Islands change their clocks forward one hour in spring to introduce summer time (BST in the UK and WEST in the Canary Islands), maintaining the same time.
| Comparison | Result |
|---|---|
| Canary Islands vs. UK | Same timezone year-round |
| Canary Islands vs. mainland Spain | Canary Islands 1 hour behind |
| UK vs. mainland Spain | UK 1 hour behind mainland Spain |
| Lanzarote vs. Teneriffa / Gran Canaria / Fuerteventura | Same time |
| Madrid vs. all Canary Islands | Madrid 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 timezone 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 make a restaurant reservation, you won’t need to recalculate the time.
You don’t even need to adjust the time on your phone, as it will already be set correctly. And you certainly won’t need to worry about jet lag when you arrive, as you can enjoy your trip from the first moment.
When it’s 15:00 in London, it’s 16:00 in Madrid, Spain. The time difference remains the same all year round. This is something to keep in mind if you’re interested in events in Spain, such as watching LaLiga broadcasts, a video call, or missing a flight.
However, if you’re travelling from the UK to Lanzarote, you don’t need to worry about the time difference. If your flight from Gatwick departs at 07:00, you’ll land in Lanzarote at the same local time as you expected — no mental maths required.
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.
