diff --git a/backend/src/db.js b/backend/src/db.js
index 9853a4b..da15b2b 100644
--- a/backend/src/db.js
+++ b/backend/src/db.js
@@ -23,6 +23,11 @@ export async function initDb() {
       UNIQUE (mqtt_topic, channel)
     );
 
+    -- Per-light schedule pause: schedules skip a paused light. paused_until NULL
+    -- means "until someone resumes it".
+    ALTER TABLE light_devices ADD COLUMN IF NOT EXISTS schedules_paused BOOLEAN NOT NULL DEFAULT FALSE;
+    ALTER TABLE light_devices ADD COLUMN IF NOT EXISTS paused_until TIMESTAMPTZ;
+
     CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS light_groups (
       id         SERIAL PRIMARY KEY,
       name       TEXT NOT NULL UNIQUE,
@@ -72,7 +77,7 @@ export async function initDb() {
     );
   `)
 
-  for (const [key, value] of [['latitude', ''], ['longitude', ''], ['timezone', 'Europe/London']]) {
+  for (const [key, value] of [['latitude', ''], ['longitude', ''], ['timezone', 'Europe/London'], ['schedules_enabled', 'true']]) {
     await pool.query(`INSERT INTO app_settings (key, value) VALUES ($1, $2) ON CONFLICT (key) DO NOTHING`, [key, value])
   }
 }
diff --git a/backend/src/lib/engine.js b/backend/src/lib/engine.js
index 4279057..c0e307a 100644
--- a/backend/src/lib/engine.js
+++ b/backend/src/lib/engine.js
@@ -9,19 +9,40 @@ import { pool, getSettings } from '../db.js'
 import { getDevice, isConnected, setOnlineHandler } from './mqtt.js'
 import { setPower, setPowerMany, resolveTargetDevices } from './control.js'
 import { pruneEvents } from './events.js'
-import { localParts, ymd, triggerTime, dayOffset } from './time.js'
+import { localParts, ymd, triggerTime, dayOffset, zonedToUtc } from './time.js'
 
 const TICK_MS = 20 * 1000
 const FIRE_GRACE_MS = 15 * 60 * 1000   // older misses are left to reconcile
 const LOOKBACK_DAYS = 7
 
+export const schedulesOn = settings => settings.schedules_enabled !== 'false'
+
+const NOT_PAUSED = `NOT (schedules_paused AND (paused_until IS NULL OR paused_until > NOW()))`
+
+// Of these devices, the ones whose schedules aren't currently paused.
+async function unpaused(ids) {
+  if (!ids.length) return []
+  const { rows } = await pool.query(`SELECT id FROM light_devices WHERE id = ANY($1) AND ${NOT_PAUSED}`, [ids])
+  return rows.map(r => r.id)
+}
+
+// Timed pauses that have run out: clear them and let the light catch up with
+// whatever its schedules say now (still subject to the manual-override rule).
+async function expirePauses() {
+  const { rows } = await pool.query(
+    `UPDATE light_devices SET schedules_paused = FALSE, paused_until = NULL
+      WHERE schedules_paused AND paused_until IS NOT NULL AND paused_until <= NOW() RETURNING id`
+  )
+  if (rows.length) reconcile(rows.map(r => r.id)).catch(() => {})
+}
+
 async function fire(s, trigger) {
   const claimed = await pool.query(
     `UPDATE light_schedules SET last_fired_on = $1 WHERE id = $2 AND last_fired_on IS DISTINCT FROM $1 RETURNING id`,
     [s._today, s.id]
   )
   if (!claimed.rowCount) return
-  const ids = await resolveTargetDevices(s.target_type, s.target_id)
+  const ids = await unpaused(await resolveTargetDevices(s.target_type, s.target_id))
   console.log(`[engine] firing "${s.name}" (${s.action}) on ${ids.length} device(s), trigger ${trigger.toISOString()}`)
   const failed = await setPowerMany(ids, s.action, 'schedule', s.name)
   if (failed.length) console.warn(`[engine] "${s.name}": ${failed.length} command(s) failed:`, failed.map(f => f.error).join('; '))
@@ -30,6 +51,8 @@ async function fire(s, trigger) {
 export async function tick() {
   if (!isConnected()) return
   const settings = await getSettings()
+  await expirePauses()
+  if (!schedulesOn(settings)) return
   const tz = settings.timezone || 'Europe/London'
   const now = new Date()
   const today = localParts(now, tz)
@@ -78,12 +101,14 @@ async function schedulesFor(deviceId) {
 export async function reconcile(deviceIds = null) {
   if (!isConnected()) return { applied: 0 }
   const settings = await getSettings()
+  if (!schedulesOn(settings)) return { applied: 0 }
   const now = new Date()
   let ids = deviceIds
   if (!ids) {
     const { rows } = await pool.query('SELECT id FROM light_devices WHERE active = TRUE')
     ids = rows.map(r => r.id)
   }
+  ids = await unpaused(ids)
   let applied = 0
   for (const id of ids) {
     const device = getDevice(id)
@@ -121,3 +146,61 @@ export function nextRun(s, settings, now = new Date()) {
   }
   return null
 }
+
+// What the schedules alone would do to every light across one site-local day,
+// as on/off/unscheduled segments. Planned behaviour only — it ignores manual
+// changes and pauses (the caller flags paused lights).
+export async function previewDay(day, settings) {
+  const tz = settings.timezone || 'Europe/London'
+  const start = zonedToUtc(day.y, day.m, day.d, 0, 0, tz)
+  const next = dayOffset(day, 1, tz)
+  const end = zonedToUtc(next.y, next.m, next.d, 0, 0, tz)
+  const weekday = dayOffset(day, 0, tz).weekday
+
+  const { rows: devices } = await pool.query(
+    `SELECT id, name, location, active,
+            (schedules_paused AND (paused_until IS NULL OR paused_until > NOW())) AS paused
+       FROM light_devices WHERE active = TRUE ORDER BY location NULLS LAST, name`
+  )
+  const { rows: schedules } = await pool.query('SELECT * FROM light_schedules WHERE enabled = TRUE')
+  const { rows: members } = await pool.query('SELECT group_id, device_id FROM light_group_members')
+
+  const groupsOf = new Map()
+  for (const m of members) {
+    if (!groupsOf.has(m.device_id)) groupsOf.set(m.device_id, new Set())
+    groupsOf.get(m.device_id).add(m.group_id)
+  }
+
+  return devices.map(d => {
+    const mine = schedules.filter(s =>
+      (s.target_type === 'device' && s.target_id === d.id) ||
+      (s.target_type === 'group' && groupsOf.get(d.id)?.has(s.target_id)))
+
+    const carried = latestTrigger(mine, settings, new Date(start.getTime() - 1))
+    const events = []
+    for (const s of mine) {
+      if (!s.days.includes(weekday)) continue
+      const t = triggerTime(s, day, settings)
+      if (t && t >= start && t < end) events.push({ at: t, action: s.action, schedule: s.name })
+    }
+    events.sort((a, b) => a.at - b.at)
+
+    const segments = []
+    let cursor = start
+    let state = carried?.action ?? null
+    let by = carried?.name ?? null
+    for (const ev of events) {
+      if (ev.at > cursor) segments.push({ from: cursor, to: ev.at, state, schedule: by })
+      cursor = ev.at; state = ev.action; by = ev.schedule
+    }
+    segments.push({ from: cursor, to: end, state, schedule: by })
+
+    const onMinutes = Math.round(segments.filter(x => x.state === 'on').reduce((n, x) => n + (x.to - x.from), 0) / 60000)
+    return {
+      id: d.id, name: d.name, location: d.location, paused: d.paused,
+      scheduled: mine.length > 0, on_minutes: onMinutes,
+      events: events.map(e => ({ at: e.at, action: e.action, schedule: e.schedule })),
+      segments: segments.filter(x => x.to > x.from),
+    }
+  }).map(d => ({ ...d, day_start: start, day_end: end }))
+}
diff --git a/backend/src/routes/devices.js b/backend/src/routes/devices.js
index e9be23f..dc37c81 100644
--- a/backend/src/routes/devices.js
+++ b/backend/src/routes/devices.js
@@ -2,14 +2,16 @@ import { requireAuth, requireCap } from '../auth.js'
 import { pool, getSettings } from '../db.js'
 import { refreshDevices, listDiscovered, isConnected } from '../lib/mqtt.js'
 import { setPower, setPowerMany, resolveTargetDevices } from '../lib/control.js'
-import { reconcile } from '../lib/engine.js'
+import { reconcile, previewDay, schedulesOn } from '../lib/engine.js'
 import { localParts, sunTimes } from '../lib/time.js'
 
 const TOPIC_RE = /^[A-Za-z0-9_.-]+$/
 
 async function loadState() {
   const { rows: devices } = await pool.query(
-    `SELECT id, name, location, mqtt_topic, channel, active, state, online, state_at FROM light_devices ORDER BY location NULLS LAST, name`
+    `SELECT id, name, location, mqtt_topic, channel, active, state, online, state_at,
+            (schedules_paused AND (paused_until IS NULL OR paused_until > NOW())) AS schedules_paused, paused_until
+       FROM light_devices ORDER BY location NULLS LAST, name`
   )
   const { rows: groups } = await pool.query(
     `SELECT g.id, g.name, COALESCE(array_agg(m.device_id) FILTER (WHERE m.device_id IS NOT NULL), '{}') AS device_ids
@@ -25,7 +27,7 @@ export async function deviceRoutes(app) {
     const settings = await getSettings()
     const tz = settings.timezone || 'Europe/London'
     const sun = sunTimes(localParts(new Date(), tz), settings)
-    return { ...(await loadState()), mqtt_connected: isConnected(), sun, timezone: tz }
+    return { ...(await loadState()), mqtt_connected: isConnected(), sun, timezone: tz, schedules_enabled: schedulesOn(settings) }
   })
 
   // ── manual control ──
@@ -49,6 +51,25 @@ export async function deviceRoutes(app) {
     return { ok: failed.length === 0, failed }
   })
 
+  // Pause (hours = N, or omitted for "until resumed") or resume (paused: false) a
+  // single light's schedules. Uses the control cap — it's an operational
+  // override, not schedule editing.
+  app.post('/api/devices/:id/schedule-hold', { preHandler: requireCap('control') }, async (req, reply) => {
+    const { paused, hours } = req.body || {}
+    if (typeof paused !== 'boolean') return reply.status(400).send({ error: 'paused must be true or false' })
+    const h = hours == null ? null : Number(hours)
+    if (h !== null && !(h > 0 && h <= 24 * 30)) return reply.status(400).send({ error: 'hours must be between 0 and 720' })
+    const { rowCount } = await pool.query(
+      `UPDATE light_devices SET schedules_paused = $1,
+         paused_until = CASE WHEN $1 AND $2::numeric IS NOT NULL THEN NOW() + ($2::numeric * INTERVAL '1 hour') ELSE NULL END
+       WHERE id = $3`,
+      [paused, paused ? h : null, req.params.id]
+    )
+    if (!rowCount) return reply.status(404).send({ error: 'Not found' })
+    if (!paused && isConnected()) await reconcile([Number(req.params.id)])
+    return { ok: true }
+  })
+
   app.post('/api/reconcile', { preHandler: requireCap('control') }, async (req, reply) => {
     if (!isConnected()) return reply.status(503).send({ error: 'MQTT broker not connected' })
     return reconcile()
@@ -143,6 +164,23 @@ export async function deviceRoutes(app) {
     return { ok: true }
   })
 
+  // ── timeline preview: what the schedules plan for one day ──
+  app.get('/api/preview', { preHandler: requireCap('view') }, async (req, reply) => {
+    const settings = await getSettings()
+    const tz = settings.timezone || 'Europe/London'
+    const m = /^(\d{4})-(\d{2})-(\d{2})$/.exec(req.query.date || '')
+    const day = m ? { y: +m[1], m: +m[2], d: +m[3] } : localParts(new Date(), tz)
+    if (m && (day.m < 1 || day.m > 12 || day.d < 1 || day.d > 31)) return reply.status(400).send({ error: 'Invalid date' })
+    const devices = await previewDay(day, settings)
+    return {
+      date: `${day.y}-${String(day.m).padStart(2, '0')}-${String(day.d).padStart(2, '0')}`,
+      timezone: tz,
+      schedules_enabled: schedulesOn(settings),
+      sun: sunTimes(day, settings),
+      devices,
+    }
+  })
+
   // ── activity log ──
   app.get('/api/events', { preHandler: requireCap('view') }, async (req) => {
     const limit = Math.min(Number(req.query.limit) || 100, 500)
diff --git a/backend/src/routes/settings.js b/backend/src/routes/settings.js
index becfa07..540db25 100644
--- a/backend/src/routes/settings.js
+++ b/backend/src/routes/settings.js
@@ -4,8 +4,9 @@ import { isConnected } from '../lib/mqtt.js'
 import { validTimezone } from '../lib/time.js'
 
 // Standard app_settings pattern (see conventions doc). Latitude/longitude drive
-// the sunrise/sunset triggers; timezone decides what "18:00" and "Mon-Fri" mean.
-const ALLOWED_KEYS = new Set(['latitude', 'longitude', 'timezone'])
+// the sunrise/sunset triggers; timezone decides what "18:00" and "Mon-Fri" mean;
+// schedules_enabled is the global kill switch for all automation.
+const ALLOWED_KEYS = new Set(['latitude', 'longitude', 'timezone', 'schedules_enabled'])
 
 export async function settingsRoutes(app) {
   app.addHook('preHandler', requireAuth)
@@ -23,6 +24,7 @@ export async function settingsRoutes(app) {
       const v = String(value ?? '').trim()
       if (key === 'latitude' && v && !(Math.abs(parseFloat(v)) <= 90)) return reply.status(400).send({ error: 'Latitude must be between -90 and 90' })
       if (key === 'longitude' && v && !(Math.abs(parseFloat(v)) <= 180)) return reply.status(400).send({ error: 'Longitude must be between -180 and 180' })
+      if (key === 'schedules_enabled' && v !== 'true' && v !== 'false') return reply.status(400).send({ error: 'schedules_enabled must be true or false' })
       if (key === 'timezone' && !validTimezone(v)) return reply.status(400).send({ error: `Unknown timezone "${v}"` })
       await pool.query(
         `INSERT INTO app_settings (key, value, updated_at) VALUES ($1, $2, NOW())
diff --git a/frontend/src/App.tsx b/frontend/src/App.tsx
index b9102c2..3dd9b47 100644
--- a/frontend/src/App.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/App.tsx
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ import IosInstallHint from './components/IosInstallHint'
 import Layout from './components/Layout'
 import Dashboard from './pages/Dashboard'
 import Schedules from './pages/Schedules'
+import Timeline from './pages/Timeline'
 import Devices from './pages/Devices'
 import Log from './pages/Log'
 import Settings from './pages/Settings'
@@ -27,6 +28,7 @@ export default function App() {
               <Route path="/" element={<Home />} />
               <Route path="/dashboard" element={<Dashboard />} />
               <Route path="/schedules" element={<Schedules />} />
+              <Route path="/timeline" element={<Timeline />} />
               <Route path="/devices" element={<Devices />} />
               <Route path="/log" element={<Log />} />
               <Route path="/settings" element={<Settings />} />
diff --git a/frontend/src/api.ts b/frontend/src/api.ts
index 7faf6c3..3014fee 100644
--- a/frontend/src/api.ts
+++ b/frontend/src/api.ts
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 import type {
-  StateResponse, LightDevice, LightGroup, Schedule, ScheduleInput, DiscoveredDevice, LightEvent, AppSetting, PowerState,
+  StateResponse, LightDevice, LightGroup, Schedule, ScheduleInput, DiscoveredDevice, LightEvent, AppSetting, PowerState, PreviewResponse,
 } from './types'
 
 const BASE = '/lights/api'
@@ -27,6 +27,9 @@ const json = (method: string, body: unknown): RequestInit => ({ method, body: JS
 export const fetchState = (): Promise<StateResponse> => request('/state')
 export const setDevicePower = (id: number, state: PowerState) => request(`/devices/${id}/power`, json('POST', { state }))
 export const setGroupPower = (id: number, state: PowerState) => request(`/groups/${id}/power`, json('POST', { state }))
+export const holdSchedules = (id: number, paused: boolean, hours?: number) =>
+  request(`/devices/${id}/schedule-hold`, json('POST', { paused, hours }))
+export const fetchPreview = (date?: string): Promise<PreviewResponse> => request(`/preview${date ? `?date=${date}` : ''}`)
 export const reapplySchedules = (): Promise<{ applied: number }> => request('/reconcile', { method: 'POST' })
 
 // Devices
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/Layout.tsx b/frontend/src/components/Layout.tsx
index 03041e3..94bfa21 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/Layout.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/components/Layout.tsx
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 import { useState, useEffect } from 'react'
 import { NavLink, useLocation } from 'react-router-dom'
-import { Lightbulb, LayoutGrid, CalendarClock, Cpu, History, Settings, Menu, LogOut } from 'lucide-react'
+import { Lightbulb, LayoutGrid, CalendarClock, ChartGantt, Cpu, History, Settings, Menu, LogOut } from 'lucide-react'
 import { useAuth } from './AuthGate'
 import { can } from '../types'
 
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ const ICON_PROPS = { size: 16, strokeWidth: 1.75 }
 const NAV = [
   { to: '/dashboard', label: 'Control',   icon: LayoutGrid,    cap: 'view' },
   { to: '/schedules', label: 'Schedules', icon: CalendarClock, cap: 'view' },
+  { to: '/timeline',  label: 'Timeline',  icon: ChartGantt,    cap: 'view' },
   { to: '/devices',   label: 'Devices',   icon: Cpu,           cap: 'manage_devices' },
   { to: '/log',       label: 'Activity',  icon: History,       cap: 'view' },
   { to: '/settings',  label: 'Settings',  icon: Settings,      cap: 'settings' },
diff --git a/frontend/src/index.css b/frontend/src/index.css
index 4fd03f0..daf000d 100644
--- a/frontend/src/index.css
+++ b/frontend/src/index.css
@@ -368,3 +368,30 @@ table.data tr.clickable { cursor: pointer; }
 .check-list { display: flex; flex-direction: column; gap: 6px; max-height: 240px; overflow-y: auto; padding: 4px 0; }
 .sun-strip { display: flex; gap: 16px; align-items: center; font-size: 13px; color: var(--text-mid); flex-wrap: wrap; }
 .sun-strip span { display: inline-flex; align-items: center; gap: 5px; }
+.tile-select {
+  font-size: 11.5px; padding: 3px 6px; border: 1px solid var(--card-border); border-radius: 8px;
+  background: var(--card-bg); color: var(--text-mid); font-family: inherit; width: 100%;
+}
+
+/* Timeline */
+.tl { background: var(--card-bg); border: 1px solid var(--card-border); border-radius: var(--radius); box-shadow: var(--shadow-sm); overflow-x: auto; }
+.tl-inner { min-width: 640px; }
+.tl-row { display: grid; grid-template-columns: 150px 1fr 64px; align-items: center; gap: 10px; padding: 5px 12px; border-bottom: 1px solid var(--card-border); }
+.tl-row:last-child { border-bottom: none; }
+.tl-head { color: var(--text-mid); font-size: 11px; position: sticky; top: 0; background: var(--card-bg); }
+.tl-loc { background: var(--body-bg); font-size: 11px; font-weight: 700; text-transform: uppercase; letter-spacing: .04em; color: var(--text-mid); padding: 4px 12px; }
+.tl-name { font-size: 13px; overflow: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap; display: flex; align-items: center; gap: 5px; }
+.tl-total { font-size: 11.5px; color: var(--text-mid); text-align: right; }
+.tl-track { position: relative; height: 22px; border-radius: 6px; overflow: hidden; background: var(--body-bg); }
+.tl-seg { position: absolute; top: 0; bottom: 0; }
+.tl-seg.on { background: var(--gold); }
+.tl-seg.off { background: var(--card-border); }
+.tl-seg.none { background: repeating-linear-gradient(45deg, var(--body-bg), var(--body-bg) 4px, var(--card-border) 4px, var(--card-border) 5px); }
+.tl-row.paused .tl-track { opacity: .45; }
+.tl-ticks { position: relative; height: 16px; }
+.tl-ticks span { position: absolute; transform: translateX(-50%); font-size: 10.5px; }
+.tl-marker { position: absolute; top: 0; bottom: 0; width: 0; border-left: 1px dashed var(--text-mid); pointer-events: none; z-index: 2; }
+.tl-marker.now { border-left: 2px solid var(--danger); }
+.tl-legend { display: flex; gap: 14px; flex-wrap: wrap; font-size: 12px; color: var(--text-mid); margin-top: 10px; align-items: center; }
+.tl-legend i { display: inline-block; width: 14px; height: 10px; border-radius: 3px; margin-right: 5px; vertical-align: -1px; }
+@media (max-width: 768px) { .tl-row { grid-template-columns: 96px 1fr 52px; gap: 6px; } }
diff --git a/frontend/src/pages/Dashboard.tsx b/frontend/src/pages/Dashboard.tsx
index 3fc94e0..a57aa41 100644
--- a/frontend/src/pages/Dashboard.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/pages/Dashboard.tsx
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 import { useEffect, useRef, useState } from 'react'
-import { Sunrise, Sunset, WifiOff, RefreshCw, Lightbulb, LightbulbOff } from 'lucide-react'
+import { Sunrise, Sunset, WifiOff, RefreshCw, Lightbulb, LightbulbOff, PauseCircle } from 'lucide-react'
 import { useAuth } from '../components/AuthGate'
-import { fetchState, setDevicePower, setGroupPower, reapplySchedules } from '../api'
+import { fetchState, setDevicePower, setGroupPower, reapplySchedules, holdSchedules } from '../api'
 import type { StateResponse, LightDevice, PowerState } from '../types'
 import { can } from '../types'
 
@@ -73,6 +73,25 @@ export default function Dashboard() {
         <div className="tile-meta">
           {offline ? <><WifiOff size={11} strokeWidth={1.75} /> Offline</> : d.state === null ? 'State unknown' : on ? 'On' : 'Off'}
         </div>
+        {d.schedules_paused ? (
+          <div className="tile-meta" style={{ display: 'flex', alignItems: 'center', gap: 6, flexWrap: 'wrap' }}>
+            <PauseCircle size={13} strokeWidth={1.75} />
+            <span>Schedule paused{d.paused_until ? ` until ${fmtTime(d.paused_until, data!.timezone)}` : ''}</span>
+            {canControl && <button className="btn btn-sm" onClick={() => act(`h${d.id}`, () => holdSchedules(d.id, false))}>Resume</button>}
+          </div>
+        ) : canControl && data!.schedules_enabled && (
+          <select className="tile-select" value="" aria-label={`Pause schedule for ${d.name}`}
+            onChange={e => {
+              const v = e.target.value
+              if (v) act(`h${d.id}`, () => holdSchedules(d.id, true, v === 'forever' ? undefined : Number(v)))
+            }}>
+            <option value="">Schedule: auto</option>
+            <option value="1">Pause 1 hour</option>
+            <option value="4">Pause 4 hours</option>
+            <option value="24">Pause 24 hours</option>
+            <option value="forever">Pause until resumed</option>
+          </select>
+        )}
       </div>
     )
   }
@@ -100,6 +119,7 @@ export default function Dashboard() {
       {error && <div className="error-banner">{error}</div>}
       {msg && <div className="ok-banner">{msg}</div>}
       {!data.mqtt_connected && <div className="warn-banner">The lighting controller can't reach the MQTT broker — switches below may be out of date and commands will fail.</div>}
+      {!data.schedules_enabled && <div className="warn-banner">Schedules are switched off globally — lights only change when switched by hand. Turn them back on in Settings.</div>}
       {!data.sun && <div className="warn-banner">No site location set, so sunrise/sunset schedules won't run. Add latitude/longitude in Settings.</div>}
 
       {data.groups.length > 0 && (
diff --git a/frontend/src/pages/Schedules.tsx b/frontend/src/pages/Schedules.tsx
index 2f96060..4e880c9 100644
--- a/frontend/src/pages/Schedules.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/pages/Schedules.tsx
@@ -99,6 +99,7 @@ export default function Schedules() {
         {canEdit && <button className="btn btn-primary" onClick={openNew}><Plus size={14} strokeWidth={1.75} /> New schedule</button>}
       </div>
       {error && <div className="error-banner">{error}</div>}
+      {state && !state.schedules_enabled && <div className="warn-banner">Schedules are switched off globally (Settings) — none of these will run.</div>}
       {state && !state.sun && schedules.some(s => s.trigger_type !== 'fixed') && (
         <div className="warn-banner">Sunrise/sunset schedules won't run until a site location is set in Settings.</div>
       )}
diff --git a/frontend/src/pages/Settings.tsx b/frontend/src/pages/Settings.tsx
index b0494db..2e16a6b 100644
--- a/frontend/src/pages/Settings.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/pages/Settings.tsx
@@ -65,6 +65,18 @@ export default function Settings() {
         </div>
       </div>
 
+      <div className="card" style={{ marginBottom: 16 }}>
+        <label className="field-check">
+          <input type="checkbox" checked={values.schedules_enabled !== 'false'}
+            onChange={e => setValues({ ...values, schedules_enabled: e.target.checked ? 'true' : 'false' })} />
+          <span><strong>Schedules enabled</strong></span>
+        </label>
+        <div className="field-hint">
+          Master switch for all automation. When off, nothing runs on a schedule and lights only change when switched by hand.
+          Turning it back on doesn't undo anything — use "Re-apply schedules" on the control screen to bring lights back in line.
+        </div>
+      </div>
+
       {Object.entries(SETTING_LABELS).map(([key, meta]) => (
         <div className="field" key={key}>
           <label>{meta.label}</label>
diff --git a/frontend/src/pages/Timeline.tsx b/frontend/src/pages/Timeline.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..5b66751
--- /dev/null
+++ b/frontend/src/pages/Timeline.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,131 @@
+import { useEffect, useState } from 'react'
+import { ChevronLeft, ChevronRight, Sunrise, Sunset, PauseCircle } from 'lucide-react'
+import { fetchPreview } from '../api'
+import type { PreviewResponse, PreviewDevice, PreviewSegment } from '../types'
+
+const TICKS = [0, 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21, 24]
+
+function hhmm(iso: string | null, tz: string) {
+  if (!iso) return '—'
+  return new Date(iso).toLocaleTimeString('en-GB', { hour: '2-digit', minute: '2-digit', timeZone: tz })
+}
+
+function duration(mins: number) {
+  const h = Math.floor(mins / 60), m = mins % 60
+  return h ? (m ? `${h}h ${m}m` : `${h}h`) : `${m}m`
+}
+
+function shiftDate(date: string, days: number) {
+  const d = new Date(`${date}T12:00:00Z`)
+  d.setUTCDate(d.getUTCDate() + days)
+  return d.toISOString().slice(0, 10)
+}
+
+export default function Timeline() {
+  const [date, setDate] = useState<string | undefined>(undefined)
+  const [data, setData] = useState<PreviewResponse | null>(null)
+  const [error, setError] = useState('')
+  const [now, setNow] = useState(() => Date.now())
+
+  useEffect(() => {
+    setError('')
+    fetchPreview(date).then(setData).catch(e => setError(e instanceof Error ? e.message : 'Failed to load'))
+  }, [date])
+  useEffect(() => {
+    const t = window.setInterval(() => setNow(Date.now()), 30000)
+    return () => window.clearInterval(t)
+  }, [])
+
+  if (!data) return <div className="page">{error ? <div className="error-banner">{error}</div> : <p className="muted">Loading…</p>}</div>
+
+  const tz = data.timezone
+  const first = data.devices[0]
+  // Position within the actual day, so a 23- or 25-hour DST day still fills the track.
+  const dayStart = first ? new Date(first.day_start).getTime() : 0
+  const dayEnd = first ? new Date(first.day_end).getTime() : 1
+  const pct = (iso: string | number) => Math.min(100, Math.max(0, ((new Date(iso).getTime() - dayStart) / (dayEnd - dayStart)) * 100))
+  const nowPct = now >= dayStart && now < dayEnd ? pct(now) : null
+  const sunMarks = [data.sun?.sunrise, data.sun?.sunset].filter((x): x is string => !!x)
+  const locations = [...new Set(data.devices.map(d => d.location || 'Other'))]
+
+  const segTitle = (s: PreviewSegment) =>
+    s.state ? `${s.state === 'on' ? 'On' : 'Off'} ${hhmm(s.from, tz)}–${hhmm(s.to, tz)} · ${s.schedule}` : `Not scheduled ${hhmm(s.from, tz)}–${hhmm(s.to, tz)}`
+
+  function Track({ d }: { d: PreviewDevice }) {
+    return (
+      <div className="tl-track">
+        {d.segments.map((s, i) => (
+          <div key={i} className={`tl-seg ${s.state ?? 'none'}`} title={segTitle(s)}
+            style={{ left: `${pct(s.from)}%`, width: `${pct(s.to) - pct(s.from)}%` }} />
+        ))}
+      </div>
+    )
+  }
+
+  const Overlay = () => (
+    <div style={{ position: 'absolute', inset: 0, pointerEvents: 'none' }}>
+      {sunMarks.map(m => <div key={m} className="tl-marker" style={{ left: `${pct(m)}%` }} />)}
+      {nowPct !== null && <div className="tl-marker now" style={{ left: `${nowPct}%` }} />}
+    </div>
+  )
+
+  return (
+    <div className="page">
+      <div className="page-header">
+        <h1>Timeline</h1>
+        <div style={{ display: 'flex', alignItems: 'center', gap: 6 }}>
+          <button className="btn btn-sm" onClick={() => setDate(shiftDate(data.date, -1))} aria-label="Previous day"><ChevronLeft size={14} strokeWidth={1.75} /></button>
+          <input type="date" value={data.date} onChange={e => e.target.value && setDate(e.target.value)}
+            style={{ padding: '4px 8px', border: '1px solid var(--card-border)', borderRadius: 8, background: 'var(--card-bg)', color: 'var(--text-dark)', fontFamily: 'inherit' }} />
+          <button className="btn btn-sm" onClick={() => setDate(shiftDate(data.date, 1))} aria-label="Next day"><ChevronRight size={14} strokeWidth={1.75} /></button>
+          <button className="btn btn-sm" onClick={() => setDate(undefined)}>Today</button>
+        </div>
+        <div className="sun-strip">
+          <span><Sunrise size={15} strokeWidth={1.75} /> {hhmm(data.sun?.sunrise ?? null, tz)}</span>
+          <span><Sunset size={15} strokeWidth={1.75} /> {hhmm(data.sun?.sunset ?? null, tz)}</span>
+        </div>
+      </div>
+
+      {error && <div className="error-banner">{error}</div>}
+      {!data.schedules_enabled && <div className="warn-banner">Schedules are switched off globally (Settings) — this shows what they would do, not what is happening.</div>}
+      {!data.sun && <div className="warn-banner">No site location set, so sunrise/sunset schedules aren't shown. Add latitude/longitude in Settings.</div>}
+
+      {data.devices.length === 0 ? <div className="empty-state">No lights set up yet.</div> : (
+        <div className="tl">
+          <div className="tl-inner">
+            <div className="tl-row tl-head">
+              <span />
+              <div className="tl-ticks">
+                {TICKS.map(h => <span key={h} style={{ left: `${(h / 24) * 100}%` }}>{String(h % 24).padStart(2, '0')}</span>)}
+              </div>
+              <span className="tl-total">On for</span>
+            </div>
+            {locations.map(loc => (
+              <div key={loc}>
+                <div className="tl-loc">{loc}</div>
+                {data.devices.filter(d => (d.location || 'Other') === loc).map(d => (
+                  <div key={d.id} className={`tl-row${d.paused ? ' paused' : ''}`}>
+                    <span className="tl-name" title={d.name}>
+                      {d.paused && <PauseCircle size={13} strokeWidth={1.75} />}{d.name}
+                    </span>
+                    <div style={{ position: 'relative' }}><Track d={d} /><Overlay /></div>
+                    <span className="tl-total">{d.scheduled ? duration(d.on_minutes) : '—'}</span>
+                  </div>
+                ))}
+              </div>
+            ))}
+          </div>
+        </div>
+      )}
+
+      <div className="tl-legend">
+        <span><i style={{ background: 'var(--gold)' }} />On</span>
+        <span><i style={{ background: 'var(--card-border)' }} />Off</span>
+        <span><i style={{ background: 'repeating-linear-gradient(45deg, var(--body-bg), var(--body-bg) 2px, var(--card-border) 2px, var(--card-border) 3px)' }} />Not scheduled</span>
+        <span>Dashed lines: sunrise / sunset{nowPct !== null ? ' · red: now' : ''}</span>
+        <span><PauseCircle size={12} strokeWidth={1.75} style={{ verticalAlign: -2 }} /> schedule paused (shown faded)</span>
+      </div>
+      <p className="field-hint">Planned by the schedules only — manual and wall-switch changes aren't reflected. Hover a bar for the schedule behind it.</p>
+    </div>
+  )
+}
diff --git a/frontend/src/types.ts b/frontend/src/types.ts
index 5a75a82..9346b92 100644
--- a/frontend/src/types.ts
+++ b/frontend/src/types.ts
@@ -11,6 +11,8 @@ export interface LightDevice {
   state: PowerState | null
   online: boolean | null
   state_at: string | null
+  schedules_paused: boolean
+  paused_until: string | null
 }
 
 export interface LightGroup {
@@ -30,6 +32,7 @@ export interface StateResponse {
   mqtt_connected: boolean
   sun: SunTimes | null
   timezone: string
+  schedules_enabled: boolean
 }
 
 export interface Schedule {
@@ -94,3 +97,31 @@ export interface User {
 export function can(user: User, cap: string): boolean {
   return user.is_admin || user.caps.includes(cap)
 }
+
+export interface PreviewSegment {
+  from: string
+  to: string
+  state: PowerState | null   // null = nothing schedules this light
+  schedule: string | null
+}
+
+export interface PreviewDevice {
+  id: number
+  name: string
+  location: string | null
+  paused: boolean
+  scheduled: boolean
+  on_minutes: number
+  events: { at: string; action: PowerState; schedule: string }[]
+  segments: PreviewSegment[]
+  day_start: string
+  day_end: string
+}
+
+export interface PreviewResponse {
+  date: string
+  timezone: string
+  schedules_enabled: boolean
+  sun: SunTimes | null
+  devices: PreviewDevice[]
+}