Knowing exactly when darkness falls today can make the difference between a pleasant evening outdoors and being caught in unexpected gloom. For the UK, sunset today is around 8:53–8:57 pm in London and between 8:55 and 9:39 pm across major cities, with northern locations generally enjoying later sunsets than southern ones.
But “getting dark” doesn’t happen the moment the sun dips below the horizon. A gradual twilight phase follows, adding anywhere from 30 to 60 minutes of fading light depending on your location and the season. This guide gives you the precise times for today, explains the twilight stages, and shows how sunset and darkness vary throughout the year.
What Time Does It Get Dark Today?
20:55 BST
21:07 BST
21:41 BST (London)
22:42 BST (London)
- Sunset time is not the same as “getting dark” – twilight adds 30–60 minutes of fading light depending on season and latitude.
- Daylight hours change dramatically in the UK: summer solstice offers ~16.5 hours of daylight, winter solstice only ~7.5 hours.
- The further north you are in the UK, the later the sunset in summer and earlier in winter – e.g., Edinburgh vs. Plymouth can differ by about 1 hour.
- Today’s sunset time can be found quickly using location-based apps, but you need the twilight duration to plan outdoor activities.
- Across the UK today, sunset times vary by roughly 47 minutes, from 20:48 in Saint Peters to 21:35 in Glasgow.
| City | Sunset Today (BST) | Civil Twilight Ends | Total Day Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| London | 20:55 | 21:41 | 15h 58m |
| Birmingham | 21:07 | – | – |
| Liverpool | 21:16 | – | – |
| Glasgow | 21:35 | – | – |
| Edinburgh | 21:31 | – | – |
| Belfast | 21:34 | – | – |
| Bristol | 21:05 | – | – |
| Leicester | 21:05 | – | – |
| Coventry | 21:05 | – | – |
Sources: Time.now UK sunset page and SunToday.org.
What Time Does It Get Dark Today in London?
In London today, the sun sets at 20:55 BST, but full darkness arrives well after that hour. The day length is 15 hours and 58 minutes, with sunrise at 04:59 am.
Twilight Breakdown for London
Civil twilight runs from sunset (20:55) until 21:41. During this period, the sky is still bright enough for most outdoor activities without artificial light. Nautical twilight follows, from 21:41 to 22:42, when only the horizon remains clearly visible. Astronomical twilight begins after 22:42, when the sky is fully dark for stargazing.
If you are heading out in London tonight, plan to have your outdoor activity complete by about 21:30 to avoid needing a torch. The light fades quickly after civil twilight ends.
For the most up-to-date London times, check the evening twilight times on SunToday.org.
What Time Does It Get Dark Today in Birmingham?
Birmingham’s sunset today is 21:07 BST, which is 12 minutes later than London’s. Although we do not have a detailed twilight breakdown for Birmingham, the general rule applies: civil twilight extends the usable daylight by roughly 40 to 50 minutes after sunset at this time of year.
Because Birmingham is slightly further north and inland, the evening light may fade a little faster than in coastal or southern locations. For the most precise times, use a location-based tool such as sunset today from Time.now, which updates daily.
When Does It Get Dark After Sunset Today? (Twilight Explained)
Many people assume that darkness falls the instant the sun sets. In reality, the atmosphere bends sunlight, keeping the sky illuminated for a while after the solar disk disappears. This period is called twilight, and it has three defined stages.
Civil Twilight
This is the brightest twilight phase. The sun is between 0° and 6° below the horizon. Outdoor activities—jogging, gardening, driving—can still be done without artificial light. In London today, civil twilight lasts from 20:55 to 21:41.
Nautical Twilight
With the sun 6° to 12° below the horizon, the horizon becomes the only clearly visible feature. This phase is relevant for sailors and photographers. For London, it runs from 21:41 to 22:42.
Astronomical Twilight
The sky is fully dark for the human eye when the sun is more than 12° below the horizon. This starts after 22:42 in London today. Stargazers and astronomers consider this the true “dark” time.
Cloud cover, fog, or heavy rain can make it appear noticeably darker before the official twilight end. Always use civil twilight as the practical marker for “it is getting dark now” rather than waiting for astronomical darkness.
Sunset apps often show only the moment of sunset. To know when it will be truly dark, you need to add the civil twilight duration. For London today, that means true evening gloom begins around 21:41, not 20:55.
How Do Sunset Times Change Throughout the Year in the UK?
Sunset times shift dramatically over the year due to Earth’s axial tilt. Using London as an example, here is the typical progression of sunset times and day length across seasons (2026 data).
- January: Earliest sunset around 16:00 GMT (mid-month). Day length about 8 hours.
- March (clock change): After moving to BST, sunset jumps to roughly 18:00 BST. Day length increases to about 12 hours.
- Late spring (April–May): Sunset advances from 20:10 on April 23 to 20:55 on May 22. Day length reaches 15h 58m by late May.
- June (near solstice): Latest sunset roughly 21:20 BST around June 6, when day length peaks at 16h 26m.
- August: By August 25, day length has shrunk to 14h 0m, with sunset around 20:00 BST.
- September: Sunset around 19:00 BST as the autumn equinox approaches, day length about 12 hours.
- December (before solstice): Earliest sunset around 15:50 GMT, with day length only 7.5 hours near the winter solstice.
For detailed daily times, refer to Sunrise‑Sunset.org – London data or timeanddate.com – London sunset times.
How Reliable Are Today’s Sunset and Darkness Times?
Established information
- Sunrise and sunset times can be calculated with astronomical precision (within seconds) for any given location and date.
- Official sources like timeanddate, SunToday, and the NOAA Solar Calculator agree within 1–2 minutes.
- Twilight phases (civil, nautical, astronomical) follow defined solar depression angles.
Information that remains unclear
- Local weather (cloud cover, fog) can make it appear dark earlier than the official twilight end.
- Personal perception of “dark enough” varies – streetlights may turn on before astronomical twilight.
- For practical planning, use civil twilight end as the reliable “gets dark” marker.
Why Does Sunset Time Vary So Much?
The UK’s position between 50°N and 60°N makes it highly sensitive to seasonal sunlight changes. Earth’s axial tilt of 23.5° means that during summer the Northern Hemisphere is tilted toward the Sun, producing long days and late sunsets. In winter the opposite occurs.
British Summer Time (BST) adds another layer. From late March to late October, clocks move forward by one hour (UTC+1), making evenings appear even longer. Without BST, the latest summer sunset in London would be around 20:20 GMT instead of 21:20 BST.
Longitude also plays a role. Eastern parts of the UK, such as Norwich, see the sun set a few minutes earlier than western areas at the same latitude, like Plymouth. The overall difference across the UK can exceed one hour between the south coast and the Scottish Highlands in midsummer.
Where Do These Sunset Times Come From?
All times in this article are drawn from established astronomical calculators and official data providers. The sources use NASA ephemeris data and NOAA algorithms to compute sunrise, sunset, and twilight moments with high accuracy.
“Calculations of sunrise and sunset in London – England – United Kingdom for May 2026.”
– timeanddate.com
“Sunrise, Sunset Times Today” with civil/nautical twilight breakdown.
– SunToday.org
“London, England Sunrise and Sunset Times” based on NASA ephemeris.
– sunrise-sunset.org
The UK Government – timezone and BST info confirms daylight saving dates, and the NOAA Solar Calculator (advanced) provides the underlying mathematical model used by most modern sunset tools.
Quickly Find Tomorrow’s Sunset or Plan Ahead
We update these times daily. Bookmark this page for instant sunset lookups. You can also check sunset today for real-time data across all UK cities, or learn how to estimate twilight duration anywhere by referring to the evening twilight times resource.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does it get dark earlier in winter than summer?
Due to the tilt of Earth’s axis. In winter, the Northern Hemisphere is tilted away from the Sun, shortening daylight hours.
Does sunset time differ between cities in the UK?
Yes. Even within England, there can be a 30‑minute difference between the south coast and the Scottish Highlands.
How long after sunset does it get completely dark?
For practical purposes, civil twilight lasts about 30–60 minutes. After that, the sky is dark enough for stargazing.
What time does the sun rise today?
While our focus is on darkness, you can find sunrise times on the same sites (timeanddate, sunrise‑sunset.org).
Do I need to use GMT or BST?
From late March to late October, the UK uses BST (UTC+1). Always check if Daylight Saving is in effect for your date.
Why does twilight last longer in summer?
In summer, the sun sets at a shallower angle, taking longer to move below the horizon. This extends all twilight phases.
Can I use your times for photography planning?
Yes, use civil twilight end for golden hour and nautical twilight end for blue hour. Times are accurate to within a few minutes.
How often are these times updated?
The times in this article are based on the current date. For tomorrow’s times, check the linked daily calculators.
Oliver Bennett is Managing Editor at ShowbizUK.co.uk, responsible for daily editorial planning, the publishing schedule, newsroom workflow, article commissioning and final editorial preparation.