Forex guide · 5 min read · Updated 8 October 2026
Forex trading sessions in UK time
When the Sydney, Tokyo, London and New York forex sessions open and close in UK time, the London and New York overlap, and how clock changes affect it.
Forex trades around the clock on weekdays, but activity comes in waves as each financial centre opens. Here are the sessions in UK time (the same whether it is GMT in winter or BST in summer, except for a few weeks noted below).
| Session | Roughly, UK time | What it’s like |
|---|---|---|
| Sydney | 22:00 to 07:00 | Quiet. Thin trading in GBP and USD. |
| Tokyo (Asia) | 00:00 to 09:00 | Steady, usually ranges on GBPUSD. Builds the overnight high and low. |
| Frankfurt | 07:00 to 08:00 | Europe wakes up. Often the first push of the day. |
| London | 08:00 to 17:00 | The busiest session. Big moves on the pound and euro. |
| New York | 13:00 to 22:00 | US data at 13:30 UK. Overlaps with London until about 17:00. |
The London and New York overlap
From 13:00 to about 17:00 UK both London and New York are open. Liquidity is high and US economic data (often at 13:30 UK) can move the dollar sharply.
When the clocks change
The UK and US don’t change their clocks on the same dates. For a few weeks in March and again in late October to early November, New York opens at 12:00 UK instead of 13:00, and US data lands at 12:30. Put both dates in your diary.
Why the Asia session matters to a London trader
The quiet hours from midnight to 06:00 UK often build a clear range on GBPUSD. Traders who bought the lows and sold the highs leave their stop orders just beyond that range. When London opens, price often runs one side of the range first, taking those stops, before the real move. That is the idea behind the Asia range strategy and why liquidity sweeps matter.
The Today page marks the Asia box live every morning and shows what London and New York do with it.
Questions people ask
What time does the London forex session open?
The London session opens at 08:00 UK time, with Frankfurt activity from about 07:00. It is usually the busiest session for GBP and EUR pairs.
What time does the New York forex session open in UK time?
New York opens at 13:00 UK time for most of the year. For a few weeks in March and late October to early November, when the US and UK clocks change on different dates, it opens at 12:00 UK.
What is the best forex session for UK traders?
The London morning (08:00 to 11:00) suits most UK traders. It is the most active time for pound pairs and fits before or around a normal working day.