London Sunrise and Sunset Times: Daylight Hours by Month

On the shortest day in London, sunrise is at 08:03 and sunset is at 15:53 — just 7 hours and 50 minutes of daylight. On the longest day, you get 16 hours and 39 minutes. Here is every sunrise and sunset time you need, month by month, and why the clock makes them seem later than you think.

How daylight hours swing across the UK year

London sits at 51.5° north. That latitude guarantees a 9-hour gulf between the June and December daylight totals. The UK stretches from Cornwall to Shetland, so the further north you go, the more extreme the swing. Even within England, the difference is sharp.

The UK’s westernmost point (Belleek, County Fermanagh) and easternmost point (Lowestoft, Suffolk) have a solar time difference of about 32 minutes, yet they share the same clock. That is why the sun can feel “late” to rise in the west and “early” to set in the east.

Shortest day: December solstice in London

The winter solstice in 2026 falls on 21 December.

Sunrise: 08:03
Sunset: 15:53
Daylight: 7 hours 50 minutes

The sun barely climbs above the horizon. For comparison, Edinburgh gets about an hour less daylight on the same date. Reduced winter daylight is linked to Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), a type of depression that follows the seasonal light pattern. Some workplaces provide light boxes during the darker months.

Longest day: June solstice in London

The summer solstice in 2026 falls on 21 June.

Sunrise: 04:42
Sunset: 21:21
Daylight: 16 hours 39 minutes

That is more than twice the daylight of December. Scotland experiences even lighter summer evenings, and much darker winter mornings, than southern England.

How BST shifts sunrise and sunset on the clock

British Summer Time (BST) moves the clock forward by one hour from the last Sunday in March to the last Sunday in October.

In 2026: - BST starts: Sunday 29 March (clocks go forward at 01:00 to 02:00) - BST ends: Sunday 25 October (clocks go back at 02:00 to 01:00)

The shift pushes both sunrise and sunset one hour later on the clock. Lighter evenings, later sunrises. In winter, GMT (UTC+0) keeps the sun rising at a reasonable hour: 08:03 instead of 09:03.

If you are adjusting to the change, see how the clock change affects sleep.

Regional variation: Scotland vs southern England daylight

Scotland sits at roughly 56-60° north. In summer, the far north gets nearly 19 hours of daylight, with twilight lasting most of the night.

Southern England (London, Brighton, Cornwall) gets about 8 hours in winter and 16.5 hours in summer. The difference matters for outdoor events, school runs, and commute safety. Farmers and outdoor workers in Scotland often oppose permanent BST because of dark winter mornings. Livestock routines are tied to solar time, not clock time.

London sunrise and sunset table by month

All times are local to London (GMT in winter, BST in summer). Use this table to plan photography shoots, outdoor events, or just your morning alarm.

Date	Event	Sunrise	Sunset	Daylight
20 March	March equinox	06:05	18:11	12 h 06 min
21 June	June solstice	04:42	21:21	16 h 39 min
22 September	September equinox	06:44	19:01	12 h 17 min
21 December	December solstice	08:03	15:53	7 h 50 min

For today’s exact times, check the current time in London.

Frequently asked questions

When is the earliest sunrise in London?

The earliest sunrise comes a few days before the June solstice. The exact date shifts slightly each year.

When is the latest sunset in London?

The latest sunset falls a few days after the June solstice. After that, sunset times begin moving earlier, even though daylight is still long.

Why does the September equinox have more than 12 hours of daylight?

The equinox is defined by the sun crossing the celestial equator. Sunrise and sunset times are calculated from the upper edge of the sun, not its centre, and atmospheric refraction adds a few extra minutes. That is why the equinox day shows 12 hours 17 minutes rather than exactly 12.

Does Scotland have the same sunrise and sunset times as London?

No. Scotland is further north, so it has shorter winter days and longer summer days. The clock is the same, but the sun behaves differently. See does Scotland have a different time zone to England.

How much daylight does London lose between June and December?

London loses 8 hours 49 minutes of daylight, from 16 h 39 min in June to 7 h 50 min in December. That is roughly 1 minute per day on average, though the rate speeds up around the equinoxes.

What time is sunrise in London in January?

January days are short but already lengthening. By mid-January, daylight is about 30 minutes longer than at the December solstice. The sun stays low in the sky, but the trend is toward spring.