Sunrise in London Today - Sunrise Time Today

Sunrise, sunset, golden hour and daylight hours for London, United Kingdom

London sits at 51.51°N, giving it a strong seasonal swing in daylight. Around the June solstice the city sees close to 16h 39m of daylight, with sunrise around 4:43 AM and sunset around 9:22 PM; around the December solstice that drops to about 7h 50m, with sunrise around 8:04 AM and sunset by mid-afternoon. Use the calculator below for sunrise, sunset, solar noon, and golden hour on any date of the year.

51.51°N, 0.13°W Time zone: GMT/BST (UTC+0/+1) Longest day: ~16h 39m (Jun 21) Shortest day: ~7h 50m (Dec 21)

☀ Best Places to Watch Sunrise & Sunset in London

London doesn't split neatly along a coastline or a lakeshore, so the best viewing spots follow a different logic: the city's elevated park hills — Primrose Hill, Parliament Hill, Greenwich Park — are three of London's designated strategic views, giving wide, protected panoramas over the skyline that work well for both sunrise and sunset, while the Thames itself, running roughly east to west through the centre, gives classic bridge and riverside views, with the walk downstream toward Westminster a strong direction for a sunset over the water at the right time of year. London observes Greenwich Mean Time (GMT/UTC) in winter and British Summer Time (BST, UTC+1) in summer, and at this latitude its earliest sunset and latest sunrise land only a couple of weeks either side of the December solstice rather than being pulled off by daylight saving — the earliest sunset falls around December 12, and the latest sunrise around December 30.

Primrose Hill Sunrise

One of London's designated strategic views, with a clear sightline over the skyline toward the City and Canary Wharf — the Shard and BT Tower are both easy to pick out from the summit. The park is open 24 hours on weekdays, with a temporary closure from 10pm to 6am on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday nights during the warmer months — worth checking if you're chasing a weekend sunrise, since that 6am reopening can land after sunrise at the height of summer. Nearest transit: Chalk Farm or Swiss Cottage Underground stations, both within walking distance.

Parliament Hill, Hampstead Heath Sunrise

Another of the city's designated strategic views, with a sweeping panorama that takes in St Paul's, the Shard, and the Gherkin. Hampstead Heath has extensive unrestricted public access and is generally suitable for very early starts, though temporary closures or restrictions can apply, so it's worth checking current notices before heading out. Nearest transit: Hampstead Heath Overground or Gospel Oak station, both within walking distance.

Greenwich Park & the Royal Observatory Sunrise

The view from beside the General Wolfe statue, next to the Royal Observatory, takes in the Thames, Canary Wharf, and the City skyline beyond. Pedestrian gates here open at 6am, so Greenwich Park isn't suitable for the earliest summer sunrises, when the sun rises before 5am — it works well for sunrise the rest of the year. Nearest transit: Cutty Sark DLR or Greenwich rail station.

Waterloo Bridge Sunset

Widely considered one of the best vantage points in the city, offering broad views along the Thames toward Westminster and the London Eye, with the western sky providing strong sunset compositions at the right time of year. It's a public road bridge with a pedestrian footway on both sides, open around the clock. Nearest transit: Waterloo or Embankment Underground stations.

Millennium Bridge & St Paul's Sunset

This pedestrian-only footbridge links Bankside with St Paul's Cathedral, framing the dome against the evening sky and changing sunset light — a favourite for classic St Paul's shots. Open to pedestrians 24 hours a day. Nearest transit: St Paul's or Blackfriars Underground stations on the north bank, or London Bridge and Southwark to the south.

Sky Garden Sunset

London's highest free public garden, 155 metres up in the "Walkie Talkie" at 20 Fenchurch Street, with floor-to-ceiling views over the Shard, Tower Bridge, and the City. Entry is free but requires a timed ticket booked in advance. Popular sunset slots can be in high demand, so booking early — or reserving a table at one of the bars or restaurants instead, which includes entry — is recommended. Nearest transit: Monument Underground station.

◉ Best Times for Sun Photography

☀️ Longest day — around the June solstice (~Jun 20–21), with the earliest sunrise landing around mid-June and the latest sunset not until late June

❄️ Shortest day — around the December solstice (~Dec 21), but the earliest sunset actually falls around December 12, and the latest sunrise not until around December 30

🕰️ Golden hour — the period shortly after sunrise and before sunset when the sun is low and the light is softer and warmer; blue hour follows sunset or precedes sunrise

☁️ Year-round — London's cloud cover is frequent enough that a clear sunrise or sunset isn't guaranteed even with a promising forecast, so it's worth checking again close to the time

📷 Quick Photography Tips

🎯Bridges can be busy with foot traffic even early or late, so a compact tripod is more practical than a full-size one at spots like Waterloo or Millennium Bridge

📷Shoot RAW and bracket exposures — the sun is far brighter than the river or skyline around it, so blending frames in post gives cleaner results than a single exposure

🏙️A longer lens compresses the sun against the skyline from Primrose Hill or Parliament Hill; a wide-angle suits the river and bridge shots from Waterloo or Millennium Bridge

⏱️Arrive 30–45 minutes early if you want time to choose a composition and set up your equipment

🕶️Never look at the sun directly through a viewfinder or unfiltered lens — use live view/screen framing when the disc is above the horizon

🪟At Sky Garden, shoot through the glass rather than trying to open a window, and hold the lens flush against it to cut down on reflections — tripods may not be permitted inside, so check current visitor rules before bringing one

🕐 Timezone

London operates on GMT (UTC+0) in winter and BST (UTC+1) during British Summer Time, which runs from the last Sunday in March to the last Sunday in October — worth double-checking against whichever sunrise/sunset table you're using so the offset matches.

🌐 Other Locations

For sunrise and sunset times in any other city worldwide, visit our sunrise/sunset calculator on the home page.

✓ Your London Sunrise & Sunset Checklist

Before You Go

Check today's exact sunrise/sunset times above, and confirm whether you're on GMT or BST for the date you're planning
Check current opening notices before visiting Primrose Hill — it's open 24 hours on weekdays, but temporary overnight closures apply on summer weekends. Greenwich Park's pedestrian gates open at 6am; Hampstead Heath has extensive unrestricted access, making it the most flexible option for a very early start
For Sky Garden, book your free ticket as early as possible, since popular sunset slots fill quickly — or book a restaurant or bar table instead, which includes entry
Check current park and bridge notices before heading out, since access and opening times can change for events or maintenance

What to Bring

Layers and something waterproof — London's weather is changeable, and clear skies can turn overcast without much warning
A longer lens for skyline-compression shots from Primrose Hill or Parliament Hill; a wide-angle for the river and bridge views
An Oyster card or contactless card ready for the Tube, Overground, and buses
The identification requested in your booking confirmation, if you're visiting Sky Garden

On the Morning or Night

Arrive 30–45 minutes before sunrise or sunset to give yourself time to find a position and set up
Shoot RAW and bracket exposures to hold detail in both the sun and the skyline or river below
At Primrose Hill and Parliament Hill, the summit gets crowded on clear evenings — arrive early if you want an unobstructed spot
At Sky Garden, allow enough time for your booked admission window, and check the current ticket conditions when booking