 <p>Try this one, it should do exactly what you want:</p> <pre><code>let date = NSDate() let dateFormetter = NSDateFormatter() dateFormetter.dateFormat = "h:mm a" dateFormetter.timeZone = NSTimeZone(name: "UTC") dateFormetter.locale = NSLocale(localeIdentifier: "en_GB") let timeString = dateFormetter.stringFromDate(date) // 7:34 a.m. </code></pre>