Golden Hour City

Solar almanac · 2026-11-02 · United Kingdom

Golden hour in London, United Kingdom

51.5074° N
0.1278° W
Europe/London

Times shown in local time for London (Europe/London).

Golden hour & blue hour

WindowStartsEnds
Blue hour (morning)05:4006:20
Golden hour (morning)06:5507:45
Golden hour (evening)15:4116:31
Blue hour (evening)17:0717:46

Light profile · calculated

Golden hour in London through the year

Midsummer
54 min
Equinox
44 min
Midwinter
62 min

Length of the evening golden-hour window.

London lies at 51.51° N, in the upper mid-latitudes, with long, slanted evening light in summer. Its longest measured day falls on Thu 18 June 2026 with 16h 38m of daylight, and its shortest on Fri 18 December 2026 with 7h 50m — a difference of 8h 48m between the two extremes.

Evening golden hour in London runs for roughly 54 minutes at the height of summer, 44 minutes around the March equinox and 62 minutes at midwinter. The warm window is actually widest in the colder months, which makes winter evenings unusually forgiving here.

The sun sets toward 311° NW in late June and toward 232° SW in late December, a shift of about 79° in where the last light lands — worth checking before committing to a west-facing viewpoint. In London, the sky reaches full darkness between evening and morning twilight year-round.

Field notes for photographers

Where to shoot golden hour in London

London’s high latitude gives its light a markedly seasonal rhythm: brief winter windows and long summer evenings. The Thames, historic domes and modern towers offer both reflective foregrounds and layered skyline views.

  1. 01

    Primrose Hill

    Best for sunrise

    Use a longer lens to compress St Paul’s, the Shard and the central skyline from the summit path.

    Sun rises
    113° ESE
    Sun sets
    247° WSW
  2. 02

    Greenwich Park — General Wolfe Statue

    Best for both

    Use the Old Royal Naval College as a symmetrical foreground leading toward Canary Wharf.

    Sun rises
    113° ESE
    Sun sets
    247° WSW
  3. 03

    Waterloo Bridge

    Best for sunset

    Walk the downstream footway to balance St Paul’s, the river and passing boats in one frame.

    Sun rises
    113° ESE
    Sun sets
    247° WSW

Seasonal light. Summer brings very long days and lingering low-angle light, while winter compresses both golden-hour windows close to the working day.

Today’s solar record

−4 min/day

Sunrise
06:55

rises at 113° ESE

Sunset
16:31

sets at 247° WSW

Solar noon
11:44
Day length
9h 36m

Evening golden hour starts at 15:41

Add to calendar

Solar trajectory

Maximum 24°
06:5524° at 11:4416:31
East · sunriseHighest point of the sun today: 24° above the horizon. The shaded band near the horizon is golden-hour light.West · sunset

Twenty-four hours of light

06:55Sunrise11:44Solar noon16:31Sunset
NightBlue hourGolden hourDaylight

Next 7 days

DateSunriseSunsetDay length
2026-11-0206:5516:319h 36m
2026-11-0306:5716:299h 33m
2026-11-0406:5916:289h 29m
2026-11-0507:0116:269h 26m
2026-11-0607:0216:249h 22m
2026-11-0707:0416:239h 19m
2026-11-0807:0616:219h 15m

Annual light rhythm · London

7h 52m—16h 37m
JFMAMJJASOND
Longest days in June (16h 37m), shortest in December (7h 52m).

Questions

When is golden hour in London today?
Evening golden hour in London starts at 15:41 and ends at sunset, 16:31. Morning golden hour runs from sunrise, 06:55, until 07:45 local time (Europe/London).
How long does golden hour last in London?
Evening golden hour in London runs from 15:41 to 16:31, and morning golden hour from 06:55 to 07:45.
When is blue hour in London?
Morning blue hour in London begins at 05:40, before sunrise. Evening blue hour begins at 17:07, just after sunset.
What time is sunrise in London today?
Sunrise in London is at 06:55 local time (Europe/London), rising toward 113° ESE.
What time is sunset in London today?
Sunset in London is at 16:31 local time (Europe/London), setting toward 247° WSW.
How long is the day in London?
London has 9h 36m of daylight today.

Other views for London

Continue planning

Nearby photography guides