Market hours
United Kingdom Stock Market Hours
Live session status for the United Kingdom equity market, with the full trading schedule in London local time (GMT+1), auctions and breaks, and the 2026 holiday calendar.
- London
- GMT+1
- 08:00 – 16:30 local
A regular trading day
All times are London local time (GMT+1). The trading week runs Monday to Friday; Saturday and Sunday are the weekend.
Session structure
- Opening auction07:50 – 08:00
- Continuous trading08:00 – 16:30
- Closing auction16:30 – 16:35
Trading week
- MonOpen
- TueOpen
- WedOpen
- ThuOpen
- FriOpen
- SatClosed
- SunClosed
2026 holiday calendar
Full closures and shortened sessions for the United Kingdom market in 2026. Calendars can shift for local rule changes, special closures, or operational events, so treat each row as a planning reference rather than a guarantee.
| Date | Day | Holiday | Schedule |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Jan 2026 | Thu | New Year's Day | Closed |
| 3 Apr 2026 | Fri | Good Friday | Closed |
| 6 Apr 2026 | Mon | Easter Monday | Closed |
| 4 May 2026 | Mon | Early May Bank Holiday | Closed |
| 25 May 2026 | Mon | Spring Bank Holiday | Closed |
| 31 Aug 2026 | Mon | Summer Bank Holiday | Closed |
| 24 Dec 2026 | Thu | Christmas Eve early close | Early close 12:30 |
| 25 Dec 2026 | Fri | Christmas Day | Closed |
| 28 Dec 2026 | Mon | Boxing Day (observed) | Closed |
| 31 Dec 2026 | Thu | New Year's Eve early close | Early close 12:30 |
Get this via the API
This market is covered as a calendar reference. The status endpoint focuses on the regions with live data feeds; see the docs for the current list.
More markets in Europe
Frequently asked questions
What time does the United Kingdom stock market open?
Regular trading opens at 08:00 London time (GMT+1).
What time does the United Kingdom stock market close?
The regular session ends at 16:30 London time (GMT+1). On 2 scheduled days in 2026 the session closes early; the holiday calendar above lists each one.
Does the United Kingdom market have a lunch break?
No. The session runs continuously from 08:00 to 16:30 London time.
Is the United Kingdom stock market open on weekends?
No. The trading week runs Monday to Friday; Saturday and Sunday are the weekend.
How many market holidays does United Kingdom have in 2026?
The 2026 calendar lists 8 full closures and 2 shortened sessions. Calendars can shift for local rule changes or special closures, so treat the list as a planning reference.