Sunset time in London
In London the sun sets as early as 3:51 PM (December 12) and as late as 9:21 PM (June 25). Here is today’s sunset with the golden hour before it and the blue hour after it, then the sunset time for every month of 2026.
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Next 7 days in London
Sunset in London through the year
The longest day of 2026 is June 21, with 16 h 38 min between sunrise and sunset; the shortest is December 21, with 7 h 50 min. The earliest sunset around midwinter (December 12, 3:51 PM) comes 9 days before the shortest day (December 21): from then on sunsets get later even though the days are still getting shorter, because sunrise is getting later even faster. In 2026 clocks go forward on March 29 and back on October 25; sunset jumps an hour later when clocks go forward and an hour earlier when they go back.
| Date | Golden hour starts | Sunset | Dark | Day length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 15 | 3:23 PM | 4:20 PM | 4:59 PM | 8 h 21 min |
| Feb 15 | 4:27 PM | 5:15 PM | 5:50 PM | 10 h 1 min |
| Mar 15 | 5:20 PM | 6:05 PM | 6:38 PM | 11 h 50 min |
| Apr 15 | 7:12 PM | 7:57 PM | 8:32 PM | 13 h 52 min |
| May 15 | 7:56 PM | 8:45 PM | 9:27 PM | 15 h 37 min |
| Jun 15 | 8:25 PM | 9:19 PM | 10:07 PM | 16 h 37 min |
| Jul 15 | 8:19 PM | 9:11 PM | 9:55 PM | 16 h 11 min |
| Aug 15 | 7:36 PM | 8:23 PM | 9:00 PM | 14 h 37 min |
| Sep 15 | 6:31 PM | 7:15 PM | 7:48 PM | 12 h 40 min |
| Oct 15 | 5:21 PM | 6:07 PM | 6:40 PM | 10 h 43 min |
| Nov 15 | 3:17 PM | 4:11 PM | 4:48 PM | 8 h 53 min |
| Dec 15 | 2:50 PM | 3:51 PM | 4:31 PM | 7 h 52 min |
Golden hour and blue hour in London
The evening golden hour in London lasts about 44 minutes around the March and September equinoxes, 54 minutes in late June and 62 minutes in late December. The blue hour after sunset lasts about 33, 48 and 40 minutes at those same times of year. Head out about 45 minutes before sunset to catch both.
How long the evening light lasts in London, month by month
| Date | Golden hour | Film magic hour | Blue hour |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 15 | 57 min | 39 min | 15 min |
| Feb 15 | 48 min | 35 min | 13 min |
| Mar 15 | 44 min | 33 min | 13 min |
| Apr 15 | 45 min | 36 min | 14 min |
| May 15 | 50 min | 42 min | 17 min |
| Jun 15 | 54 min | 48 min | 19 min |
| Jul 15 | 52 min | 44 min | 18 min |
| Aug 15 | 46 min | 37 min | 15 min |
| Sep 15 | 44 min | 34 min | 13 min |
| Oct 15 | 46 min | 34 min | 13 min |
| Nov 15 | 54 min | 37 min | 14 min |
| Dec 15 | 61 min | 40 min | 15 min |
London lies at 51.5° N, and the further a place is from the equator the more slowly the sun sinks at sunset, so the evening golden hour here runs from 44 minutes in March to 61 minutes in December, against 27 to 30 minutes all year at the equator.
How long is golden hour in London? has the same numbers with answers to the common questions.
Where to watch the sunset in London
Primrose Hill and Parliament Hill on Hampstead Heath look over the skyline, and Waterloo Bridge has the famous view along the Thames. London’s high latitude makes evening golden hour and twilight much longer in June than in December.
How these times are calculated
Times are computed for London (51.51° N, 0.13° W) with the NOAA solar-position algorithm, for a flat horizon, in local time (Europe/London). They are usually within a minute of published tables. Hills, buildings and weather can hide the sun a few minutes earlier than shown.