Kent in the World
View the local time in Kent alongside key global cities, perfect for international business and travel from the UK's gateway to Europe.
The Rhythm of the Garden
Life in Kent is shaped by ancient traditions, modern commutes, and its connection to the land and sea. Explore the timers that define the county.
Motorway Status
Channel Tunnel
Orchard Season
Pub Last Orders
Heritage Sites
Coastal Tides
A Kent Time Briefing
From the official time standard to the cultural clocks that govern daily life, here is your essential guide to understanding time in Kent.
The UK's Time Standard
Kent, like all of the UK, uses Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) in winter and British Summer Time (BST) from March to October.
Live Time Offset
The current time in Kent compared to Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) is GMT+1.
The Prime Meridian
The historic Prime Meridian Line (0° longitude), which defines GMT, runs just to the west of Kent, placing the county at the very heart of world time.
The Commuter Clock
A significant portion of Kent life is synced to London's business hours, with peak travel times between 7-9 AM and 5-7 PM.
The European Connection
Being just one hour behind Central European Time (CET) makes Kent perfectly positioned for business and travel with mainland Europe.
Agricultural Time
In the countryside, the "real" time is dictated by the seasons: planting in spring, harvesting in late summer/autumn, and resting in winter.
Standard Opening Times
Most shops operate from 9 AM to 5:30 PM. Large supermarkets have longer hours, but Sunday trading times are often restricted (e.g., 10 AM - 4 PM).
A Note on Punctuality
British culture values punctuality. For business meetings, aim to be on time. For social events like a dinner party, arriving 5-10 minutes late is acceptable.