As of yesterday, the United Kingdom has successfully navigated the ten darkest weeks of winter. With each passing day, daylight hours are increasing and temperatures are on the rise, signaling the approach of spring and summer. It’s important to note that in just over nine weeks, the clocks will be adjusted forward, resulting in earlier sunsets and later sunrises.
Despite the later sunrises, as the days lengthen, morning light will soon follow suit. For early risers anticipating sunrise before 5 am, projections indicate that in the most easterly point of the UK, Ness Point in Lowestoft, pre-5 am sunrises will commence around May 14. London is expected to witness its first pre-5 am sunrise around May 22, while Edinburgh and Cardiff are likely to experience this phenomenon around May 16 and June 4, respectively.
Daylight will continue to extend until the Summer Solstice on Sunday, June 21, in 2026. Following this, London will only have pre-5 am sunrises until July 13, Edinburgh until July 22, and Cardiff until June 30.
In the UK, clocks move forward by an hour on the last Sunday of March every year, marking the beginning of British Summer Time (BST). In 2026, this adjustment will occur on Sunday, March 29, at 1 am.
Royal Museums Greenwich recounts that the tradition of advancing clocks during summer, known as British Summer Time, originated from a movement in the early 20th century. Advocates argued that shifting the clocks would enable individuals in the northern hemisphere to maximize the early daylight hours during the summer season.