How to use the online alarm clock
Waking at 2:30 pm for a West End matinee leaves little room for drifting back under the duvet. An alarm at this time marks the moment to get dressed, check the theatre address and allow for the Tube journey. By 3:00 pm, you can be ready to leave rather than still deciding what to wear.
Because this alarm may sit behind the page you are using, keep its sound enabled and avoid silencing the browser while checking travel details. A background tab can remain active, although browser settings may sometimes restrict it. If the browser is closed or the phone falls asleep, the alarm cannot sound, so it should not be the only safeguard for reaching the performance. A separate phone alarm adds useful cover.
Heading into central London during a warm afternoon can mean moving between sunny streets, crowded platforms and strongly air-conditioned interiors. Wear a light layer that is easy to carry: it can come off outside and go back on inside the theatre. Taking a small bottle of water before setting out also avoids having to search for one while watching the clock at 2:30 pm.
Common questions
Will it still be right when the clocks change?
Yes. It reads your device's local clock, so the move between GMT and BST at the end of March and October is picked up automatically, as long as the computer's date, time and time zone are set correctly.
Can I use this on a phone?
It works in a mobile browser, but phones lock the screen and suspend background tabs far more readily than a laptop does, which can stop the alarm sounding. For anything important, a desktop or a plugged-in laptop is the steadier option.
Does the alarm still work if I close the tab?
No. Everything runs inside this page, so closing the tab — or quitting the browser altogether — ends the countdown there and then. Leaving it open in the background is all it asks, and switching to another tab makes no difference.
What happens if my laptop goes to sleep before 2:30 pm?
The tab sleeps along with it and the alarm will not sound on time, if at all. If you are relying on it, change the power settings so the machine stays awake, or keep a phone alarm running as well.
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