Latitude & Daylight at London

London sits at latitude 51.5°. At this latitude, daylight varies from approximately 16.4h in summer (solstice) to 16.4h in winter — a seasonal swing of 0.0h. The sun reaches a maximum altitude of 61.9° at summer solstice and a minimum of 15.1° at winter solstice. This high-latitude profile is what shapes London's unique sunrise, sunset, and golden hour patterns year-round.

Home to the Royal Observatory Greenwich since 1675, London is the birthplace of the Prime Meridian — the 0° longitude line that defines Universal Time for the entire planet. Every timezone on Earth is measured relative to this single point on a hill overlooking the Thames, making London the literal center of global timekeeping.

Golden Hour Photography at London

Golden hour at London occurs when the sun sits between −4° and 6° above the horizon, producing soft, warm, directional light ideal for portrait and landscape photography. At London's latitude, morning golden hour typically starts in the 1–2 hours after sunrise and lasts approximately 40–70 minutes. Evening golden hour mirrors this before sunset. The longer twilight at this latitude gives photographers more time to capture the 'magic hour' compared to equatorial locations where the sun sets more steeply.

At 51.5°N, London's extreme seasonal daylight swing of over 8 hours between midsummer and midwinter shapes the city's rhythm. During the June solstice, twilight can linger past 10 PM, while December days shrink to barely 8 hours of sunlight — a range that consistently surprises visitors from lower latitudes.

UV Exposure & Sun Safety at London

UV radiation at London peaks when the sun is highest in the sky — around solar noon. At 51.5° latitude, peak UV levels vary significantly by season: summer months see UV indices of 4–6 (moderate), while winter months typically register 0–1 (very low). The World Health Organization recommends sun protection when UV index exceeds 3. At London's latitude, this threshold is exceeded for approximately 4–6 months per year, making sun awareness a year-round consideration for outdoor workers and athletes.

How We Calculate Solar Data for London

All solar calculations for London use the Jean Meeus Chapter 25 solar position algorithm with bisection iteration, accurate to ±1 minute for dates between 1901–2099. Sunrise and sunset times define the moment the upper limb of the sun appears on the horizon, accounting for atmospheric refraction. Daily data is calculated client-side from London's coordinates (51.5°, -0.1°) — zero server processing means your location data never leaves your device.