Sleep guide · Autumn
On Sunday 25 October 2026 at 2am, the clocks go back an hour and British Summer Time ends. It is the one night of the year the calendar hands you more sleep. The weeks after it are a different story.
According to Royal Museums Greenwich, the change happens at 2am so it disturbs as little of daily life as possible, and the country returns to Greenwich Mean Time. Lighter mornings arrive for a while, but the evenings close in quickly, and many of us feel the shift for a week or more: waking too early, flagging by mid-afternoon, struggling to settle at night.
Here is how we approach it: a few small adjustments to your routine, and one ritual we recommend to everyone, which is changing your bed for the season.
In short
- The clocks go back on Sunday 25 October 2026 at 2am.
- Shift your bedtime by 15 minutes a night in the days before, rather than all at once.
- Morning daylight and dimmer evenings help your body clock settle faster.
- Use the extra hour to dress your bed for the colder, darker months.
Why one hour can feel like more
Your body clock runs on light. When the clocks change, daylight arrives an hour earlier by the clock and darkness falls an hour sooner, so your usual bedtime and wake time suddenly sit at a different point in the light cycle. Most people adjust within a few days. Early risers, parents of young children and anyone already short on sleep tend to notice it most.
The aim is not to fight the change but to ease into it.
Five ways to ease into the change
Move your bedtime gradually
From around Wednesday 21 October, go to bed 15 minutes later each night. By Sunday you will already be close to the new time, and the change will feel like nothing at all.
Get outside in the morning
Natural light early in the day is the strongest signal your body clock receives. A short walk, coffee by the window or the school run on foot all count.
Dim the evening
As evenings darken, swap bright overhead lights for lamps after dinner, and put the phone down well before bed. Your bedroom should feel like the quietest room in the house.
Keep waking at the same time
A steady wake-up time, weekends included, does more for your sleep than any lie-in. Resist the urge to use the extra hour every morning that week.
Keep the bedroom cool and calm
Cooler air helps most of us fall asleep. Our guide to the ideal room temperature for sleeping goes into more detail.
An extra hour, and a fresh start for your bed.
Use the extra hour to dress your bed for winter
We like to think of the clocks going back as the moment to change wardrobes, for your bed as much as for yourself. Summer bedding is light and airy. October onwards calls for warmth, texture and colour that feels inviting under lamplight.
Swap in something warmer to the touch
Bella Brushed Cotton is made from 100% brushed cotton flannelette. The fibres are brushed to raise a soft surface that feels warm the moment you get into bed, which is exactly what you want on a cold November night.
Bring back the flat sheet
A flat sheet between you and the duvet adds a light extra layer you can fold back on milder nights, and it keeps your duvet cover fresher for longer.
Choose colours for darker evenings
Deeper, warmer tones come into their own under lamplight. Sage, charcoal and terracotta from the Ackly Bamboo collection make a bed feel enveloping without feeling heavy. Pair a deeper fitted sheet with crisp white pillowcases if you want to keep things light.
Wash your summer bedding before you put it away, make sure it is completely dry, and store it folded inside one of its own pillowcases. Everything stays together and fresh until spring.
For a fuller checklist, read how to get your bed ready for autumn.
Sheet Story
Dress your bed for the darker months
Soft brushed cotton for cold nights, or our bamboo and long-staple cotton sateen in autumn colours. Every piece is OEKO-TEX certified.
Shop Bella Brushed Cotton →Questions we are often asked
When do the clocks go back in 2026?
In the UK, the clocks go back one hour at 2am on Sunday 25 October 2026, when British Summer Time ends and we return to Greenwich Mean Time.
Do I get an extra hour of sleep when the clocks go back?
Yes. At 2am the clocks return to 1am, so the night is an hour longer. Your body clock may still wake you at your usual time, which is why easing in gradually helps.
How long does it take to adjust?
Most people settle within a few days. Shifting your bedtime gradually beforehand, and getting morning daylight afterwards, usually makes it quicker.
When should I switch to winter bedding?
Late October is a natural moment in the UK. Swap to brushed cotton or add a flat sheet as soon as the nights start to feel cold, rather than waiting for the first frost.
Every bed tells a Sheet Story
