The London Forex trading session is open from 3:00 AM to 12:00 PM Eastern Time (ET) from January 1 to March 8, 2025. During the daylight saving period—from the second Sunday of March (March 9) to the first Sunday of November (November 1)—the London Forex session shifts to 4:00 AM to 1:00 PM ET. Standard hours resume on November 2 and continue through the end of the year.
Here are the equivalent local times for the London session in the following time zones:
| Location | Local Time For London Session |
|---|---|
| United Kingdom | Standard: 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) Daylight Saving Time: 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM GMT |
| Berlin/Paris | Standard: 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM Central European Time (CET) Daylight Saving Time: 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM CET |
| India | 1:30 PM to 10:30 PM Indian Standard Time (IST) |
| South Africa | 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM South Africa Standard Time (SAST) |
| Tokyo | 5:00 PM to 2:00 AM Japan Standard Time (JST) |
| Toronto | Standard: 3:00 AM to 12:00 PM Eastern Time (ET) Daylight Saving Time: 4:00 AM to 1:00 PM ET |
| Sydney | Standard: 7:00 PM to 4:00 AM Australian Eastern Time (AET) Daylight Saving Time: 8:00 PM to 5:00 AM AET |
| New York | Standard: 3:00 AM to 12:00 PM Eastern Time (ET) Daylight Saving Time: 4:00 AM to 1:00 PM ET |
| Singapore | 4:00 PM to 1:00 AM Singapore Standard Time (SGT) |
| Hongkong | 4:00 PM to 1:00 AM Hong Kong Time (HKT) |
What are the best currency pairs to trade during the London Forex session?
The London Forex Trading session typically offers some of the most liquid and volatile currency pairs you can trade. Among these, here are five of the best currency pairs to trade during the London session:
- Euro/US Dollar (EUR/USD) – The EUR/USD is the most traded currency pair, not just during the London session but across the entire forex market. It offers exceptionally high liquidity and low spreads, particularly during the overlap of the London and New York sessions (i.e., from 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM ET).
- British Pound/US Dollar (GBP/USD) – Being the home currency of the London session, the GBP/USD is among the most volatile pairs during the session. The pair often experiences significant price swings during key UK and US economic announcements. Hence, this presents ample trading opportunities, especially for traders with a high-risk appetite.
- Euro/British Pound (EUR/GBP) – The EUR/GBP is also one of the most liquid currency pairs during the London session. The pair essentially reflects the ongoing economic dynamics and market sentiment between the UK and the greater Eurozone.
- British Pound/Japanese Yen (GBP/JPY) – Among the most traded pairs during the London session, the GBP/JPY pair enjoys high liquidity levels, especially during the overlap between the London and Tokyo sessions from 3:00 AM to 4:00 AM ET.
- Euro/Swiss Franc (EUR/CHF) – While being highly liquid, the EUR/CHF has relatively lower volatility levels. This stability stems from the Swiss Franc’s status as a “safe-haven currency,” making it an excellent choice for risk-averse traders or those just starting out in forex trading.
How important is the London Session for the global Forex market?
The London session is widely considered as the most important Forex trading session, even when compared to other major sessions, such as New York. In fact, London is the biggest Forex session and accounts for roughly a third of the entire global forex trading volume.
This sheer amount of volume results in some of the tightest spreads and highest liquid pairs (e.g., EUR/USD). Second, the London session overlaps with the other two major timezones—the Tokyo session from 3:00 AM to 4:00 AM and the New York NYSE session from 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM—creating a trading environment where many traders globally can find a time slot to trade.
Finally, the London session swiftly accommodates the economic data from both the UK and the greater Eurozone, both major economic players.
London vs. New York vs. Tokyo Sessions: Which offers the most trading opportunities?
Although London is arguably the most significant forex session of the three, that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s the best session for you. This is because when evaluating these three major forex sessions, it’s important to assess various factors to identify which offers the best trading opportunities based on your specific trading use case. The following are five key factors to consider:
| Category | London Session | New York Session | Tokyo Session |
|---|---|---|---|
| Operating Hours (Consider your availability to trade by time of day) | Standard: 3:00 AM to 12:00 PM ET Daylight Savings: 4:00 AM to 1:00 PM | Standard: 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM ET Daylight Savings: 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM | Standard: 7:00 PM to 4:00 AM ET Daylight Savings: 8:00 PM to 5:00 AM |
| Liquidity/Volatility (Consider your need for liquidity and volatility tolerance) | With the highest liquidity and volatility levels | With high liquidity and volatility levels | With relatively moderate liquidity and volatility levels |
| Major Currencies Traded (Consider your preferred currencies) | US Dollar, Euro, British Pound, Japanese Yen, and Swiss Franc | US Dollar, Euro, British Pound, Japanese Yen, and Canadian Dollar | Japanese Yen, Australian Dollar, New Zealand Dollar, and US Dollar |
| Economic Data Consider the major economies you want to follow and prioritize) | Major economic announcements from the UK and the Eurozone | Major economic announcements from the US and Canada | Major economic announcements from Japan, Australia, New Zealand |
| Risk Level (Consider your risk tolerance) | Relatively high; more ideal for experienced and advanced traders | Relatively high; more ideal for experienced and advanced traders | Relatively moderate; more ideal for beginners |
Frequently Asked Questions on London Forex Session
When does the London Forex session overlap with other sessions?
The London session overlaps with the Tokyo session from 3:00 AM to 4:00 AM ET, and with the New York session from 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM ET. These overlaps create periods of heightened volatility, especially for pairs like GBP/JPY and EUR/USD.
Is the London Forex session suitable for beginners?
The London session is ideal for beginners due to its high liquidity and tight spreads, which reduce trading costs. However, its higher volatility may require careful risk management, making it a good learning ground for developing trading strategies.
Which currency pairs are best to trade during the London session?
During the London session, pairs like EUR/USD, GBP/USD, and EUR/GBP offer high liquidity and frequent trading opportunities. GBP/JPY is also popular for its volatility, especially during the Tokyo-London overlap, while EUR/CHF is a safer choice if you want to avoid high risks.
