From late October to late March, Lanzarote and the UK are perfectly in sync. You wake up, check your watch, and it’s the same hour. Simple, right? Then comes the last Sunday in March, when the UK springs forward into British Summer Time (BST).
Here’s where it gets interesting: Lanzarote does not observe Daylight Saving Time. That means from spring to autumn, the Canary Islands stay on GMT while the UK jumps an hour ahead. So if it’s 2 PM in London, it’s only 1 PM in Lanzarote—a one-hour time lag that feels like a lazy afternoon siesta.
This quirk stems from geography and history. The Canary Islands sit off the coast of West Africa, and their time zone is based on their longitude. But because they’re part of Spain, they could have followed Central European Time. Instead, they opted for a more laid-back rhythm—a decision that feels very Canarian.
Practical Tip: Sync Your Phone and Your Plans
If you’re booking a flight or a tour, double-check the times. Airlines usually list departure and arrival in local time, but that hour difference in summer can catch you out. Pro tip: Set your phone to automatically update time zones—it’s a lifesaver.
And if you’re working remotely from Lanzarote during British summer, prepare for a one-hour window shift. Your 9 AM meeting in London is an 8 AM start on the island. Not a dealbreaker, but worth knowing when you’re ordering that morning cortado.
