Commuters trudging home in the winter gloom can finally glimpse a literal light on the horizon. The date for London's first sunset after 5pm in 2026 has now been confirmed, signalling the slow but steady return of lighter evenings to the capital.
The Turning Point: From Darkness to Light
This winter has seen plummeting temperatures and early nightfall, with many finishing work and beginning their journey home in near-total darkness. However, the astronomical tide is turning. The sun will set after 5pm in London again on February 8, 2026, according to authoritative data from Time and Date.
This marks a significant psychological milestone following the winter solstice on December 21. That date, when the North Pole tilts farthest from the sun and it shines directly over the Tropic of Capricorn, represents the shortest day of the year. Since then, daylight has been incrementally increasing.
The shift back towards lighter evenings will gain momentum quickly after that first key date. By the following week, sunsets will be noticeably later.
Key Upcoming Sunset Times for London
The progression of sunset times in February 2026 illustrates the rapid change:
- February 7 - 5:00pm
- February 8 - 5:02pm
- February 9 - 5:04pm
- February 10 - 5:06pm
- February 11 - 5:08pm
- February 12 - 5:10pm
- February 13 - 5:11pm
Experts note that it will then take approximately five more weeks for the sun to set at 6pm in the capital. A more substantial boost to evening light will come with the shift to British Summer Time, when the clocks spring forward by one hour on March 29, 2026.
The History Behind Changing the Clocks
The practice of adjusting clocks to maximise daylight hours has a long and somewhat quirky history. The concept was first mused upon in 1784 by American polymath Benjamin Franklin. However, the first serious proposal in Britain came over a century later from builder William Willett in 1907.
Legend suggests Willett grew frustrated that his evening rounds of golf were cut short by dusk, prompting his campaign for legal change. The idea was adopted pragmatically during the First World War, with Germany implementing it first in spring 1916 to conserve vital energy resources. The UK and many other warring nations followed suit just weeks later, and the system became entrenched worldwide.
For Londoners enduring the winter commute, the countdown to brighter evenings is now firmly on. The data provides a clear timeline, offering a welcome reminder that the darkest days are receding into the past.
