Longest and shortest day in London
In London, United Kingdom, the longest day of 2026 is around the June solstice on Sunday, 21 June 2026, with 16h 38m of daylight, and the shortest is around the December solstice on Monday, 21 December 2026, with 7h 50m.
| Turning point | Date | Sunrise | Sunset | Day length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox | Friday, 20 March 2026 | 06:03 | 18:13 | 12h 10m |
| June solstice | Sunday, 21 June 2026 | 04:43 | 21:21 | 16h 38m |
| September equinox | Tuesday, 22 September 2026 | 06:46 | 18:59 | 12h 13m |
| December solstice | Monday, 21 December 2026 | 08:03 | 15:53 | 7h 50m |
| Month | Sunrise | Sunset | Day length |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 07:59 | 16:20 | 8h 21m |
| February | 07:14 | 17:15 | 10h 0m |
| March | 06:15 | 18:04 | 11h 49m |
| April | 06:05 | 19:56 | 13h 51m |
| May | 05:09 | 20:45 | 15h 36m |
| June | 04:42 | 21:19 | 16h 37m |
| July | 05:00 | 21:11 | 16h 11m |
| August | 05:45 | 20:23 | 14h 37m |
| September | 06:35 | 19:15 | 12h 40m |
| October | 07:24 | 18:07 | 10h 43m |
| November | 07:18 | 16:11 | 8h 53m |
| December | 07:59 | 15:51 | 7h 52m |
Why the day gets longer and shorter in London
Earth's axis is tilted about 23.4 degrees, so as the planet orbits the Sun, London leans toward the Sun for part of the year and away for the rest. When it leans toward the Sun the days lengthen and the Sun climbs higher; half a year later the opposite happens. The size of the swing depends on how far London sits from the equator: the further away, the bigger the difference between the longest and shortest day.
Frequently asked questions about day length in London
When is the longest day in London?
The longest day in London falls around the June solstice, on Sunday, 21 June 2026 in 2026, with about 16h 38m of daylight, sunrise at 04:43 and sunset at 21:21.
When is the shortest day in London?
The shortest day in London falls around the December solstice, on Monday, 21 December 2026 in 2026, with about 7h 50m of daylight, sunrise at 08:03 and sunset at 15:53.
How much does day length change through the year in London?
Between the longest and shortest day, London gains and loses about 8h 48m of daylight. The change is fastest around the March and September equinoxes and slowest near the solstices.
Every figure is computed from London's coordinates with SunCalc, not looked up from a table.