Today, Thursday, October 29, 2026, golden hour in the United Kingdom runs from 06:48 to 07:37 in the morning (49 min) and from 15:50 to 16:39 in the evening (49 min), in local time (based on London). Blue hour follows, from 17:00 to 17:27.
Golden hour and blue hour today
It's night now
Today's timeline
| Event | Time | Sun elevation |
|---|---|---|
| Morning blue hour begins | 06:00 | −8° |
| Morning blue hour ends | 06:27 | −4° |
| Sunrise: morning golden hour begins | 06:48 | −0.8° |
| Morning golden hour ends | 07:37 | +6° |
| Solar noon | 11:44 | highest of the day |
| Evening golden hour begins | 15:50 | +6° |
| Sunset: evening golden hour ends | 16:39 | −0.8° |
| Evening blue hour begins | 17:00 | −4° |
| Evening blue hour ends | 17:27 | −8° |
Next 7 days
| Date | Golden morning | Golden evening | Blue morning | Blue evening | Golden (evening) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thu, Oct 29 | 06:48 – 07:37 | 15:50 – 16:39 | 06:00 – 06:27 | 17:00 – 17:27 | 49 min |
| Fri, Oct 30 | 06:50 – 07:39 | 15:48 – 16:37 | 06:02 – 06:28 | 16:58 – 17:25 | 49 min |
| Sat, Oct 31 | 06:52 – 07:41 | 15:46 – 16:35 | 06:03 – 06:30 | 16:56 – 17:23 | 49 min |
| Sun, Nov 1 | 06:53 – 07:43 | 15:43 – 16:33 | 06:05 – 06:32 | 16:55 – 17:21 | 50 min |
| Mon, Nov 2 | 06:55 – 07:45 | 15:41 – 16:31 | 06:07 – 06:33 | 16:53 – 17:20 | 50 min |
| Tue, Nov 3 | 06:57 – 07:47 | 15:39 – 16:29 | 06:08 – 06:35 | 16:51 – 17:18 | 50 min |
| Wed, Nov 4 | 06:59 – 07:49 | 15:37 – 16:28 | 06:10 – 06:37 | 16:50 – 17:17 | 50 min |
How long golden hour lasts in the United Kingdom through the year
At 51.51° N, 0.13° W, the evening golden hour is longest in December (61 minutes around the 15th) and shortest in March (44 minutes). Today the Sun climbs from the horizon to 6° in 49 minutes, which is about 8.4° of elevation per hour; on the equator at an equinox that rate is close to 15° per hour. The farther the rate falls below 15°, the longer the soft light lasts.
| Month | Sunrise | Golden morning | Golden evening | Sunset |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 07:59 | 57 min | 57 min | 16:20 |
| February | 07:14 | 48 min | 48 min | 17:15 |
| March | 06:14 | 44 min | 44 min | 18:05 |
| April | 06:05 | 45 min | 45 min | 19:57 |
| May | 05:08 | 50 min | 50 min | 20:45 |
| June | 04:42 | 54 min | 54 min | 21:19 |
| July | 05:00 | 52 min | 52 min | 21:11 |
| August | 05:45 | 47 min | 46 min | 20:23 |
| September | 06:35 | 44 min | 44 min | 19:15 |
| October | 07:24 | 46 min | 46 min | 18:07 |
| November | 07:18 | 54 min | 54 min | 16:11 |
| December | 07:59 | 61 min | 61 min | 15:51 |
Making the most of golden hour in the United Kingdom today
- Evening: be in position by 15:25, 25 minutes before the window opens at 15:50. Sunset is at 16:39, and blue hour keeps going until 17:27.
- Morning: the light is cooler and the air usually cleaner. The window opens at sunrise (06:48) and lasts until 07:37.
- Avoid solar noon (11:44), when the Sun is highest, shadows are short and contrast is harsh.
- Shoot with the Sun behind or beside the subject for a glow, and expose for the highlights. More tips are on the golden hour guide.
Time zone and coordinates
All times are calculated astronomically for London (51.51° N, 0.13° W) and shown in the local time zone (Europe/London, UTC+0). Golden hour is defined here as the period from sunrise until the Sun is 6° above the horizon and from 6° until sunset, and blue hour as the Sun between 4° and 8° below the horizon. Other cities in the United Kingdom differ by about 4 minutes per degree of longitude and by their latitude. In countries that span several time zones, the clock time also depends on the zone. Values are accurate to within about a minute and do not account for mountains, buildings or clouds.
See also
- Sunrise and sunset in the United Kingdom
- Current time in the United Kingdom
- Golden hour in every state and country
- Moon phase today · Longest day of the year · Shortest day of the year
Other places
Coordinates used: 51.51° N, 0.13° W