London Stock Exchange Hours — Is the LSE Open Right Now?
The London Stock Exchange (LSE) trades 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM London time, Monday through Friday. Hours follow UK bank holidays.
Regular Trading Hours
| Session | Time (London) | Time (UTC) |
|---|---|---|
| Pre-market (if applicable) | 5:05 – 7:50 AM | 05:05 – 07:50 (winter) |
| Regular session | 08:00 – 16:30 | 08:00 – 16:30 (winter) / 07:00 – 15:30 (summer) |
| After-hours (if applicable) | 4:40 – 5:15 PM (closing auction extension) | 16:40 – 17:15 |
The LSE runs an opening auction 7:50–8:00, continuous trading 8:00–16:30, and a 5-minute closing auction 16:30–16:35.
LSE 2026 Holiday Calendar
| Date | Holiday |
|---|---|
| Thu, 1 Jan 2026 | New Year's Day |
| Fri, 3 Apr 2026 | Good Friday |
| Mon, 6 Apr 2026 | Easter Monday |
| Mon, 4 May 2026 | Early May Bank Holiday |
| Mon, 25 May 2026 | Spring Bank Holiday |
| Mon, 31 Aug 2026 | Summer Bank Holiday |
| Thu, 24 Dec 2026 | Christmas Eve (early close) |
| Fri, 25 Dec 2026 | Christmas Day |
| Mon, 28 Dec 2026 | Boxing Day (observed) |
| Thu, 31 Dec 2026 | New Year's Eve (early close) |
On these dates, the LSE is fully closed (no regular session). Some holidays may have an early close — see the exchange's official calendar for definitive timings.
About the London Stock Exchange
The London Stock Exchange (LSE), founded in 1801 and now part of LSE Group, is Europe's largest stock exchange by market capitalisation and the third-largest in the world. The flagship index is the FTSE 100, covering the 100 largest UK-listed companies including HSBC, Shell, AstraZeneca, Unilever, and BP.
London is the dominant European financial hub — the LSE's morning session overlaps with both Asian and US trading windows, making it a key venue for global price discovery.
FAQ
What time does the London Stock Exchange open?
8:00 AM London time (GMT in winter, BST in summer).
Is the LSE open on UK bank holidays?
No — it observes all UK bank holidays including Good Friday, Easter Monday, May Day, Spring Bank Holiday, Summer Bank Holiday, Christmas, and Boxing Day.
What time does the LSE close?
Continuous trading ends at 4:30 PM; the closing auction runs to 4:35 PM.