Why the calendar matters
Most online day-of-the-week calculators quietly use the modern Gregorian calendar for every date. For anything in Britain before September 1752 that gives the wrong answer, because Britain was still using the Julian calendar. Shakespeare, Henry VIII and Elizabeth I all lived by Julian dates. This calculator uses the right calendar for the place you choose.
Famous days
| Event | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| Battle of Hastings | 14 October 1066 | Saturday |
| Magna Carta sealed | 15 June 1215 | Monday |
| Coronation of Elizabeth I | 15 January 1559 | Sunday |
| Great Fire of London begins | 2 September 1666 | Sunday |
| Battle of Waterloo | 18 June 1815 | Sunday |
| Armistice Day | 11 November 1918 | Monday |
| Decimal Day | 15 February 1971 | Monday |
Dates before 1752 are given as they were recorded in England at the time (Old Style). For pre-1752 dates written with two years, see the Old Style converter.
Common questions
What day of the week was 14 October 1066?
A Saturday. The Battle of Hastings was fought on Saturday 14 October 1066 (Julian calendar).
Why do other calculators give a different answer?
They usually apply the Gregorian calendar to every date. Britain used the Julian calendar until 1752, so for earlier British dates the weekday differs.
What happened between 3 and 13 September 1752?
Nothing: in Britain those dates never existed. Wednesday 2 September was followed by Thursday 14 September.