Mainland Spain is always 1 hour ahead of the UK, both in summer and winter. However, if you’re travelling to Lanzarote or any of the Canary Islands, there is no time difference — they share the same timezone as the United Kingdom. Here’s everything you need to know before you travel.
Time difference between Spain and the UK
Spain is 1 hour ahead of the UK during both BST (March-October) and GMT (October-March). Lanzarote, despite being part of Spain, follows the Western European Time (WET) zone, which is the same time zone as the UK (UTC+0 in winter, UTC+1 in summer). So when it’s 12:00 PM in London, it’s 12:00 PM in Lanzarote.
On the other hand, mainland Spain (Madrid, Barcelona) is 1 hour ahead of both. This often confuses travellers because Lanzarote is the only Spanish region not on Spain mainland time.
The time difference between Spain and the United Kingdom depends on the specific location within Spain and the time of year. Let’s take a look at the details below.
Mainland Spain vs UK: Mainland Spain is one hour ahead of the United Kingdom, both in summer and in winter.
Canary Islands vs UK: In this part of Spain, the time is the same as in the United Kingdom.
Does the time difference change in summer or winter?
Both Spain and the United Kingdom change their clocks in summer and winter. In both cases, the clock moves forward by one hour on the last Sunday in March and one hour back 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 both countries, it’s necessary to know the different time zones involved.
In the United Kingdom, Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) is used during the winter. When summer arrives, clocks go forward by one hour, and British Summer Time (BST) is used, which is GMT+1.
Mainland Spain uses Central European Time (CET), which is GMT+1 during the winter. In summer, clocks move forward by one hour, and Central European Summer Time (CEST) is used, which is GMT+2.
| Location | Time zone in winter | Time zone in summer | UTC offset | Vs Lanzarote | Vs Madrid | Vs UK | Change watch? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| United Kingdom | 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 United Kingdom and Spain. However, this wasn’t always the case. Geographically speaking, mainland Spain and the UK share approximately the same longitude, meaning the time should be the same. And indeed, it was some decades ago.
The change occurred during the Second World War, when Spain adopted CET to align with Nazi Germany. Even after the war, this time zone was maintained.
The Canary Islands: a different timezone
Although there is a time difference between the United Kingdom and mainland Spain, this does not apply when it comes 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.
Those who travel to the Canary Islands can be confused because the islands are one hour behind the rest of Spain (mainland and Baleares) but have the same time as the UK, Portugal or Ireland.
Time in Lanzarote, Tenerife, Gran Canaria and Fuerteventura
Lanzarote, together with the other Canary Islands (Tenerife, Gran Canaria and Fuerteventura, among others), uses Western European Time (WET), which is GMT during winter. In summer, clocks move forward by one hour, and they use Western European Summer Time (WEST), which is GMT+1.
Here you have a complete time difference guide.
Both the United Kingdom and the Canary Islands put their clocks forward one hour in spring to adopt summer time (BST in the United Kingdom and WEST in the Canary Islands), keeping the same time.
| Comparison | Result |
|---|---|
| Canary Islands vs UK | Same time zone all year |
| 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 located closer to the African coast than to mainland Spain. Historically, they adopted the same time zone as Portugal and the United Kingdom for commercial and communication reasons.
Practical tips: flights, meetings and football matches
Understanding the time in the Canary Islands will help you plan your trip better. If you are booking a transfer service or making a restaurant reservation, you won’t have to recalculate the time.
You won’t even have to adjust the time on your phone, because it will already be set correctly. And you certainly won’t need to worry about jet lag when arriving at your destination, as you’ll be able to enjoy your trip right from the first moment.
When it is 3:00 pm in London, it is 4:00 pm in Madrid, mainland Spain. The time difference remains the same throughout the year. This is something to bear in mind if you are interested in any events in Spain, such as watching LaLiga, if you need to make a video call or catch a flight.
However, if you are travelling to Lanzarote from the United Kingdom, you do not need to worry about the time difference. If your flight departs Gatwick at 07:00, you land in Lanzarote at the same local time you’d expect — no mental arithmetic needed.
How to check the current time difference
Although the time difference between the UK and mainland Spain is not large, it’s wise to verify the current time to avoid any issues. Follow these recommendations to do so.
Online tools
Tools such as Timeanddate, Travelmath or 24timezones are excellent for confirming the exact time in Spain and the United Kingdom. You simply enter the locations, and you’ll obtain the precise time difference.
Most smartphones allow you to add world clocks. Add the city of London, as well as your destination in Spain, to compare the current time.
Tips for remote workers
If you are a remote worker or a digital nomad travelling between the United Kingdom and Spain, consider that a 9:00 AM standup in London = 9:00 AM in Lanzarote. No adjustment needed. But a client in Madrid calls at 10:00 AM their time, which is 09:00 AM your time in Lanzarote.
If you are staying in Lanzarote, you won’t need to adjust the time for work meetings or live events.
FAQs about the time difference between Spain and the UK
Is Spain always 1 hour ahead of the UK?
Mainland Spain is always one hour ahead of the United Kingdom. However, the Canary Islands share the same time as the UK.
Do I need to change my watch when I land in Lanzarote?
It is not necessary to change your watch when arriving in Lanzarote, as it shares the same time zone as the United Kingdom.
Are all parts of Spain in the same time zone?
No. Mainland Spain and the Balearic Islands use Central European Time (CET) during the winter and Central European Summer Time (CEST) during the summer. The Canary Islands use Western European Time (WET) during the winter and Western European Summer Time (WEST) during the summer.
Is Lanzarote in the same timezone as the UK?
Yes, Lanzarote is in the same timezone as the UK. This applies all year round, including during BST and WEST in summer, as both zones change on the same date.
Does Lanzarote change clocks?
Yes. The change happens on the last Sunday of March (forward) and the last Sunday of October (back), the same dates as the UK
Will my UK clock auto-update in Lanzarote?
There is no need to update, because Lanzarote and the UK have the same time.
What’s the time difference between Lanzarote and Madrid?
The time difference between Lanzarote and Madrid is 1 hour behind. If in Madrid is 18:00 in Lanzarote is 17:00.
Is Tenerife in the same timezone as Lanzarote?
Yes, all the Canary Islands are on the same time zone.
Does Fuerteventura have the same time as Lanzarote?
Yes, Fuerteventura has the same time as Lanzarote.
Why doesn’t Lanzarote follow Spain’s time?
Lanzarote, and the rest of the Canary Islands, have a different time zone than Spain because of historical and geographical reasons; they are west of the Spanish mainland near to África.
Sources:
- https://www.travelmath.com/time-change/from/United+Kingdom/to/Spain
- https://simify.com/blogs/travel/time-england-vs-spain
- https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Huso_horario_de_Espa%C3%B1a
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