London Stock Exchange
LSE · Europe/London
Closed – Weekend
Trading Hours
| Session | Exchange Time | Your Time |
|---|---|---|
| Market Open | 08:00 | 07:00 |
| Market Close | 16:30 | 15:30 |
Major Indices
- FTSE 100
- FTSE 250
2026 Holiday Calendar
| Date | Holiday | Status | Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-01-01 | New Year's Day | Closed | — |
| 2026-04-03 | Good Friday | Closed | — |
| 2026-04-06 | Easter Monday | Closed | — |
| 2026-05-04 | Early May Bank Holiday | Closed | — |
| 2026-05-25 | Spring Bank Holiday | Closed | — |
| 2026-08-31 | Summer Bank Holiday | Closed | — |
| 2026-12-24 | Christmas Eve (Early Close) | Early Close | 08:00 - 12:30 |
| 2026-12-25 | Christmas Day | Closed | — |
| 2026-12-26 | Boxing Day | Closed | — |
| 2026-12-31 | New Year's Eve (Early Close) | Early Close | 08:00 - 12:30 |
About London Stock Exchange
The London Stock Exchange (LSE) is one of the world's oldest and most prestigious financial hubs, with roots tracing back to 17th-century London coffee houses. Located in Paternoster Square, it is the most international of all stock exchanges, serving as the primary equity market for the UK and a gateway for European capital.
The LSE is divided into the Main Market (for established giants like Shell, HSBC, and AstraZeneca) and the Alternative Investment Market (AIM) for smaller, high-growth companies. The benchmark index is the FTSE 100, colloquially known as the "Footsie."
Trading Nuances: The LSE trading day begins with a 10-minute "Opening Auction" at 7:50 AM to determine opening prices. Continuous trading runs from 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM. The day ends with a critical "Closing Auction" (4:30–4:35 PM), where a significant portion of daily volume is executed to set the official closing price for funds and indices.