London Stock Exchange (LSE) Trading Hours
LSE Opens In
Market Closed
13:51:23
Opens at 2026-05-29 08:00
Current time in London: 06:08:36 PM
The London Stock Exchange (LSE) is open Monday to Friday from 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM UK time. Also searched for as the "UK stock exchange" or "UK stock market", the LSE is the primary venue for the FTSE 100 shares and sits at the heart of European trading. Use the live countdown above to see exactly when trading opens or closes today, and scroll down for the full session schedule, upcoming holidays, and cross-timezone reference times.
Regular Hours
08:00 - 16:30
Time Zone
UK
Trading Days/Wk
5
Holidays 2026
8
Trading Days 2026
253
Trading Sessions
Regular Session8:00 AM - 4:30 PM (London)
Upcoming Holidays
Mon, Aug 31, 2026Summer Bank Holiday
Fri, Dec 25, 2026Christmas Day
Mon, Dec 28, 2026Boxing Day (observed)
Fri, Jan 1, 2027New Year's Day
Fri, Mar 26, 2027Good Friday
Mon, Mar 29, 2027Easter Monday
LSE Hours in Other Time Zones
Regular session converted for today (Thu, May 28, 2026). Daylight saving is applied automatically — the values shift by one hour during DST transition weeks.
Local (UK)08:00 - 16:30
US Eastern (EDT)03:00 - 11:30
Frequently Asked Questions
What time does the London Stock Exchange open?
The LSE opens at 8:00 AM London time for regular trading. London uses GMT in winter and BST (UTC+1) in summer, so the clock time stays 8:00 AM year-round.
What time does the LSE close?
The LSE closes at 4:30 PM London time (GMT or BST depending on the season).
Is the LSE the same as the UK stock market?
Yes. The London Stock Exchange (LSE) is the UK's primary stock exchange. When people search for 'UK stock market hours' or 'UK stock exchange opening times' they almost always mean the LSE. The FTSE 100 index and most UK-listed shares trade on the LSE during the hours shown above.
Why does the LSE pause at lunchtime?
The LSE runs a short intraday auction at noon London time. During the auction the order book uncrosses to match buy and sell orders, which takes about two minutes, then continuous trading resumes until the closing auction at 16:30. There is no full lunch break — regular trading is continuous apart from this brief auction matching event.
What time does the LSE open in US Eastern time?
LSE regular hours (8:00 AM to 4:30 PM London) correspond to 3:00 AM to 11:30 AM ET for most of the year (the 5-hour London-to-NY offset is preserved because both regions observe daylight saving).
Is the LSE open today?
The LSE is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM London time except on UK bank holidays. The live status at the top of this page shows whether trading is open right now.
Is the LSE open on weekends?
No. The LSE is closed on Saturdays and Sundays.
Is the LSE open on UK bank holidays?
No. The LSE is closed on all major UK bank holidays including New Year's Day, Good Friday, Easter Monday, Early May Bank Holiday, Spring Bank Holiday, Summer Bank Holiday, Christmas Day, and Boxing Day.
Does the LSE have early-close days?
Yes. The LSE closes at 12:30 PM on Christmas Eve (24 December) and New Year's Eve (31 December). See the LSE holiday calendar for the full schedule of half-day sessions.
What are the FTSE 100 trading hours?
FTSE 100 constituent shares trade on the London Stock Exchange during standard LSE hours: 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM London time, Monday to Friday.
When is the next LSE holiday?
The next scheduled LSE holiday is Summer Bank Holiday on Mon, Aug 31, 2026 (in 95 days). The exchange will be closed for the full day.
How many LSE trading days are there in 2026?
In 2026 the LSE has approximately 253 regular trading days after subtracting weekends and 8 weekday holidays. See the full LSE holiday calendar for every scheduled closure.
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