Solar Noon Explained: Why the Sun Peaks at Different Times Across the UK
At 12:00 on the clock, the sun is rarely at its highest point. The difference depends mainly on how far east or west you are.
What solar noon is
Solar noon is the moment the sun is at its highest in the sky. Clocks use one time for the whole country, so places west of the Greenwich meridian have solar noon later than 12:00 GMT and places east of it have it earlier.
The Earth turns 15 degrees every hour, or one degree every four minutes. A place one degree west of Greenwich has solar noon four minutes after 12:00 GMT.
Examples across the UK
London, almost on the meridian: solar noon within a minute of 12:00 GMT.
Norwich, about 1.3 degrees east: around five minutes before 12:00 GMT.
Manchester, about 2.2 degrees west: around nine minutes after 12:00 GMT.
Belfast, about 5.9 degrees west: around 24 minutes after 12:00 GMT.
Penzance, about 5.5 degrees west: around 22 minutes after 12:00 GMT.
In summer
During British Summer Time solar noon is an hour later by the clock, at around 13:00. A small adjustment called the equation of time, which varies through the year, moves the exact moment by up to about 16 minutes either way.
Frequently asked questions
Is the sun highest at 12:00 in the UK?
Not exactly. In winter solar noon is close to 12:00 in London and later further west. In summer it is around 13:00 because of British Summer Time.
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.