Question 1

How many hours of daylight does London get today?

Accepted Answer

London currently gets approximately 10 hours and 22 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	5:43:54 AM
Nautical Dawn	6:22:30 AM
Civil Dawn	7:01:17 AM
Sunrise	7:35:22 AM
Golden Hour End	8:22:24 AM
Solar Noon	12:46:19 PM
Golden Hour Start	5:10:14 PM
Sunset	5:57:16 PM
Civil Dusk	6:31:20 PM
Nautical Dusk	7:10:07 PM
Astronomical Dusk	7:48:44 PM
Day Length	10h 22m

Moonrise	4:04:13 PM
Moonset	1:41:28 AM
Moon Phase	🌔 Waxing Gibbous
Illumination	76%

Date	Sunrise	Sunset	Day Length	Moonrise	Moonset	Phase
Oct 1, Thu	7:01 AM	6:41 PM	11h 39m	8:24 PM	1:31 PM	🌖
Oct 2, Fri	7:03 AM	6:38 PM	11h 35m	9:24 PM	2:45 PM	🌗
Oct 3, Sat	7:05 AM	6:36 PM	11h 31m	10:42 PM	3:40 PM	🌗
Oct 4, Sun	7:06 AM	6:34 PM	11h 28m	12:10 AM	4:18 PM	🌗
Oct 5, Mon	7:08 AM	6:32 PM	11h 24m	—	4:45 PM	🌘
Oct 6, Tue	7:10 AM	6:29 PM	11h 20m	1:41 AM	5:04 PM	🌘
Oct 7, Wed	7:11 AM	6:27 PM	11h 16m	3:08 AM	5:18 PM	🌘
Oct 8, Thu	7:13 AM	6:25 PM	11h 12m	4:32 AM	5:31 PM	🌘
Oct 9, Fri	7:14 AM	6:23 PM	11h 8m	5:52 AM	5:44 PM	🌑
Oct 10, Sat	7:16 AM	6:20 PM	11h 4m	7:11 AM	5:56 PM	🌑
Oct 11, Sun	7:18 AM	6:18 PM	11h 0m	8:29 AM	6:10 PM	🌑
Oct 12, Mon	7:20 AM	6:16 PM	10h 56m	9:46 AM	6:26 PM	🌒
Oct 13, Tue	7:21 AM	6:14 PM	10h 53m	11:01 AM	6:50 PM	🌒
Oct 14, Wed	7:23 AM	6:12 PM	10h 49m	12:12 PM	7:20 PM	🌒
Oct 15, Thu	7:25 AM	6:09 PM	10h 45m	1:15 PM	8:03 PM	🌒
Oct 16, Fri	7:26 AM	6:07 PM	10h 41m	2:06 PM	8:57 PM	🌒
Oct 17, Sat	7:28 AM	6:05 PM	10h 37m	2:45 PM	10:02 PM	🌓
Oct 18, Sun	7:30 AM	6:03 PM	10h 33m	3:13 PM	11:12 PM	🌓
Oct 19, Mon	7:31 AM	6:01 PM	10h 29m	3:35 PM	12:26 AM	🌓
Oct 20, Tue	7:33 AM	5:59 PM	10h 26m	3:51 PM	—	🌓
Oct 21, Wed	7:35 AM	5:57 PM	10h 22m	4:04 PM	1:41 AM	🌔
Oct 22, Thu	7:37 AM	5:55 PM	10h 18m	4:16 PM	2:56 AM	🌔
Oct 23, Fri	7:38 AM	5:53 PM	10h 14m	4:29 PM	4:12 AM	🌔
Oct 24, Sat	7:40 AM	5:51 PM	10h 11m	4:42 PM	5:29 AM	🌔
Oct 25, Sun	6:42 AM	4:49 PM	10h 7m	3:56 PM	5:50 AM	🌕
Oct 26, Mon	6:44 AM	4:47 PM	10h 3m	4:15 PM	7:14 AM	🌕
Oct 27, Tue	6:45 AM	4:45 PM	9h 59m	4:40 PM	8:42 AM	🌕
Oct 28, Wed	6:47 AM	4:43 PM	9h 56m	5:16 PM	10:09 AM	🌖
Oct 29, Thu	6:49 AM	4:41 PM	9h 52m	6:09 PM	11:27 AM	🌖
Oct 30, Fri	6:51 AM	4:39 PM	9h 48m	7:20 PM	12:30 PM	🌖
Oct 31, Sat	6:52 AM	4:37 PM	9h 45m	8:46 PM	1:15 PM	🌗

Sunrise & Sunset in London, United Kingdom

Sun Times

Moon

Monthly Summary — October 2026

Twilight Phases in London

Holidays in United Kingdom

Explore London

Frequently Asked Questions about Sunrise & Sunset in London

Sunrise & Sunset in Other Cities