The Longest and Shortest Day in the UK
The longest day, the summer solstice, falls on 20 or 21 June, and the shortest day, the winter solstice, around 21 December.
Longest day
London: about 16 hours 39 minutes of daylight on 21 June.
Edinburgh: about 17 hours 37 minutes of daylight on 21 June.
Belfast: about 17 hours 17 minutes of daylight on 21 June.
Shortest day
London: about 7 hours 50 minutes of daylight on 21 December.
Edinburgh: about 6 hours 58 minutes of daylight on 21 December.
Belfast: about 7 hours 15 minutes of daylight on 21 December.
Why the clocks do not match the solstices
The clocks change on the last Sunday of March and October, so the longest day is not the day with the latest sunset. By clock time, the earliest sunrise and the latest sunset fall a few days either side of the solstice because of how the Earth's orbit works.
Frequently asked questions
Why is Scotland's winter day shorter than England's?
Scotland is further north, so the sun is lower and the winter day is shorter. In summer the opposite is true.
Clock change guides
- What Is Daylight Saving Time (DST)? A Plain-English GuideWhat daylight saving time is, how it works in the UK, Europe and the US, why it exists, its history, who uses it and the argument over scrapping it.
- Why Do the Clocks Go Back in October? The Real ReasonThe clocks go back in autumn to return the UK to GMT, so winter mornings are lighter. The history, the rule, what time it happens and what changes for you.
- When Do the Clocks Go Forward Again After Going Back?When the UK clocks go forward again after the autumn change, how long the UK stays on GMT, when evenings get lighter and how to remember to reset your clocks.