Question 1

How many hours of daylight does London get today?

Accepted Answer

London currently gets approximately 15 hours and 55 minutes of daylight today. This varies throughout the year — days are longest around the summer solstice (June in the Northern Hemisphere, December in the Southern Hemisphere) and shortest around the winter solstice. At 51.5° latitude, London sees moderate variation, with summer days noticeably longer than winter days. Our calculations use the SunCalc astronomical library for accuracy within 1–2 minutes.

Question 2

What time does the sun rise in London?

Accepted Answer

Sunrise times in London change throughout the year based on the Earth's axial tilt and the city's position at 51.5° latitude. Use the table above to see today's exact sunrise time, as well as dawn (civil twilight) and other twilight phases. The earliest sunrise typically occurs around the summer solstice, while the latest sunrise happens near the winter solstice. The difference between earliest and latest sunrise can be over two hours. All sunrise calculations are based on NOAA solar position algorithms via the SunCalc library.

Question 3

What time does the sun set in London?

Accepted Answer

Sunset times in London vary by season due to the Earth's orbital mechanics and the city's latitude of 51.5°. Check the table above for today's exact sunset time, including dusk and twilight phases. The latest sunset typically occurs a few days after the summer solstice, while the earliest sunset happens a few days before the winter solstice. At mid-latitudes, you can expect sunset to vary by 2–3 hours across the seasons.

Question 4

How does day length change throughout the year in London?

Accepted Answer

London at 51.5° latitude experiences moderate seasonal day length variation. Summer days are noticeably longer than winter days, with daylight typically ranging from about 8 to 16 hours depending on the time of year. The rate of change is fastest around the equinoxes (March and September), when day length changes by several minutes each day. Around the solstices, the rate of change slows as day length approaches its maximum or minimum. This makes spring and autumn the seasons with the most noticeable daily changes in sunrise and sunset times.

Question 5

What is civil twilight in London?

Accepted Answer

Civil twilight in London is the period when the sun is between 0° and 6° below the horizon. During civil twilight, there is enough natural light for most outdoor activities without artificial lighting. It occurs just before sunrise (dawn) and just after sunset (dusk). At mid-latitudes, civil twilight typically lasts about 25–35 minutes. The exact duration for London is shown in the twilight data table above.

Question 6

What are the different twilight phases?

Accepted Answer

There are three twilight phases, each defined by the sun's angle below the horizon. Civil twilight (0°–6°) is the brightest phase, with enough light for outdoor activities without artificial lighting. Nautical twilight (6°–12°) is dimmer but still allows sailors to see the horizon for celestial navigation. Astronomical twilight (12°–18°) is nearly dark, with only the faintest glow on the horizon, and most stars become visible. Below 18° is considered full astronomical night. The duration of each phase varies by latitude and season — our data table above shows all twilight phases for London.

Question 7

When is the longest day in London?

Accepted Answer

The longest day in London occurs around the summer solstice. For London in the Northern Hemisphere, the longest day is around June 20–21. On this date, London experiences its earliest sunrise and near-latest sunset of the year. At 51.5° latitude, the longest day is typically 14–16 hours of daylight. The shortest day (winter solstice) occurs approximately six months later.

Question 8

Does daylight saving time affect sunrise and sunset times in London?

Accepted Answer

Yes, when London transitions to daylight saving time, clock-based sunrise and sunset times shift by one hour. However, the actual amount of daylight doesn't change — DST simply moves an hour of daylight from the morning to the evening. This means sunrise appears one hour "later" on the clock during DST, and sunset appears one hour "later" as well. The transition typically causes a noticeable jump in the sunrise/sunset table around the spring and fall changeover dates. Check our DST change calendar for exact transition dates in London.

Astronomical Dawn	1:31:41 AM
Nautical Dawn	3:27:07 AM
Civil Dawn	4:27:35 AM
Sunrise	5:10:38 AM
Golden Hour End	6:01:32 AM
Solar Noon	1:08:03 PM
Golden Hour Start	8:14:35 PM
Sunset	9:05:29 PM
Civil Dusk	9:48:32 PM
Nautical Dusk	10:49:00 PM
Astronomical Dusk	12:44:26 AM
Day Length	15h 55m

Moonrise	3:19:49 PM
Moonset	11:54:09 PM
Moon Phase	🌓 First Quarter
Illumination	60%

Date	Sunrise	Sunset	Day Length	Moonrise	Moonset	Phase
Jul 1, Wed	4:48 AM	9:22 PM	16h 34m	10:38 PM	5:43 AM	🌕
Jul 2, Thu	4:49 AM	9:21 PM	16h 33m	10:56 PM	6:58 AM	🌖
Jul 3, Fri	4:50 AM	9:21 PM	16h 32m	11:12 PM	8:14 AM	🌖
Jul 4, Sat	4:50 AM	9:21 PM	16h 30m	11:25 PM	9:31 AM	🌖
Jul 5, Sun	4:51 AM	9:20 PM	16h 29m	11:38 PM	10:49 AM	🌖
Jul 6, Mon	4:52 AM	9:20 PM	16h 28m	11:50 PM	12:07 PM	🌗
Jul 7, Tue	4:53 AM	9:19 PM	16h 26m	12:03 AM	1:28 PM	🌗
Jul 8, Wed	4:54 AM	9:18 PM	16h 25m	12:20 AM	2:54 PM	🌗
Jul 9, Thu	4:55 AM	9:18 PM	16h 23m	12:43 AM	4:22 PM	🌘
Jul 10, Fri	4:56 AM	9:17 PM	16h 21m	—	5:52 PM	🌘
Jul 11, Sat	4:57 AM	9:16 PM	16h 20m	1:13 AM	7:16 PM	🌘
Jul 12, Sun	4:58 AM	9:16 PM	16h 18m	1:58 AM	8:26 PM	🌘
Jul 13, Mon	4:59 AM	9:15 PM	16h 16m	3:03 AM	9:17 PM	🌑
Jul 14, Tue	5:00 AM	9:14 PM	16h 14m	4:25 AM	9:53 PM	🌑
Jul 15, Wed	5:01 AM	9:13 PM	16h 12m	5:53 AM	10:16 PM	🌑
Jul 16, Thu	5:02 AM	9:12 PM	16h 9m	7:23 AM	10:33 PM	🌒
Jul 17, Fri	5:04 AM	9:11 PM	16h 7m	8:49 AM	10:48 PM	🌒
Jul 18, Sat	5:05 AM	9:10 PM	16h 5m	10:11 AM	11:00 PM	🌒
Jul 19, Sun	5:06 AM	9:09 PM	16h 2m	11:30 AM	11:10 PM	🌒
Jul 20, Mon	5:07 AM	9:07 PM	16h 0m	12:47 PM	11:22 PM	🌓
Jul 21, Tue	5:09 AM	9:06 PM	15h 57m	2:03 PM	11:36 PM	🌓
Jul 22, Wed	5:10 AM	9:05 PM	15h 55m	3:19 PM	11:54 PM	🌓
Jul 23, Thu	5:12 AM	9:04 PM	15h 52m	4:34 PM	12:16 AM	🌓
Jul 24, Fri	5:13 AM	9:02 PM	15h 49m	5:43 PM	12:47 AM	🌔
Jul 25, Sat	5:14 AM	9:01 PM	15h 47m	6:45 PM	—	🌔
Jul 26, Sun	5:16 AM	9:00 PM	15h 44m	7:35 PM	1:29 AM	🌔
Jul 27, Mon	5:17 AM	8:58 PM	15h 41m	8:13 PM	2:24 AM	🌔
Jul 28, Tue	5:19 AM	8:57 PM	15h 38m	8:41 PM	3:29 AM	🌕
Jul 29, Wed	5:20 AM	8:55 PM	15h 35m	9:01 PM	4:42 AM	🌕
Jul 30, Thu	5:22 AM	8:54 PM	15h 32m	9:18 PM	5:58 AM	🌕
Jul 31, Fri	5:23 AM	8:52 PM	15h 29m	9:32 PM	7:14 AM	🌕

Sunrise & Sunset in London, United Kingdom

Sun Times

Moon

Monthly Summary — July 2026

Twilight Phases in London

Holidays in United Kingdom

Explore London

Frequently Asked Questions about Sunrise & Sunset in London

Sunrise & Sunset in Other Cities