The sun, month by month
Sunrise and sunset in London in December
On December 1 in London the sun rises at 07:47 and sets at 15:54; on day 31 it rises at 08:07 and sets at 16:01. Over the month the day gets 13 minutes shorter.
Where does the sun rise and set in London in December?
Mid-December in London: the sun rises in the southeast — a bearing of 128°, measured from true north — and sets in the southwest, at 232°. That is 38° south of due east at sunrise, and the same 38° south of due west at sunset. From the 1st to the last day of the month both points shift 2° south.
Approximate bearings: they can be a couple of degrees out. They are measured from true north, not the north a phone compass points to.
Day by day
All times are local to London. Dawn and dusk mark civil twilight.
| Day | Dawn | Sunrise | Sunset | Dusk | Day length |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 07:07 | 07:47 | 15:54 | 16:33 | 8 h 08 min |
| 2 | 07:08 | 07:48 | 15:54 | 16:33 | 8 h 06 min |
| 3 | 07:10 | 07:49 | 15:53 | 16:33 | 8 h 04 min |
| 4 | 07:11 | 07:50 | 15:53 | 16:32 | 8 h 03 min |
| 5 | 07:12 | 07:51 | 15:53 | 16:32 | 8 h 01 min |
| 6 | 07:13 | 07:52 | 15:52 | 16:32 | 8 h 00 min |
| 7 | 07:14 | 07:54 | 15:52 | 16:32 | 7 h 58 min |
| 8 | 07:15 | 07:55 | 15:52 | 16:32 | 7 h 57 min |
| 9 | 07:16 | 07:56 | 15:52 | 16:32 | 7 h 56 min |
| 10 | 07:17 | 07:57 | 15:52 | 16:32 | 7 h 55 min |
| 11 | 07:17 | 07:58 | 15:52 | 16:32 | 7 h 54 min |
| 12 | 07:18 | 07:58 | 15:52 | 16:32 | 7 h 53 min |
| 13 | 07:19 | 07:59 | 15:52 | 16:32 | 7 h 52 min |
| 14 | 07:20 | 08:00 | 15:52 | 16:32 | 7 h 52 min |
| 15 | 07:21 | 08:01 | 15:52 | 16:32 | 7 h 51 min |
| 16 | 07:21 | 08:02 | 15:52 | 16:32 | 7 h 51 min |
| 17 | 07:22 | 08:02 | 15:52 | 16:33 | 7 h 50 min |
| 18 | 07:23 | 08:03 | 15:53 | 16:33 | 7 h 50 min |
| 19 | 07:23 | 08:03 | 15:53 | 16:33 | 7 h 50 min |
| 20 | 07:24 | 08:04 | 15:53 | 16:34 | 7 h 49 min |
| 21 | 07:24 | 08:04 | 15:54 | 16:34 | 7 h 49 min |
| 22 | 07:25 | 08:05 | 15:54 | 16:35 | 7 h 50 min |
| 23 | 07:25 | 08:05 | 15:55 | 16:35 | 7 h 50 min |
| 24 | 07:25 | 08:06 | 15:56 | 16:36 | 7 h 50 min |
| 25 | 07:26 | 08:06 | 15:56 | 16:36 | 7 h 50 min |
| 26 | 07:26 | 08:06 | 15:57 | 16:37 | 7 h 51 min |
| 27 | 07:26 | 08:06 | 15:58 | 16:38 | 7 h 51 min |
| 28 | 07:26 | 08:06 | 15:58 | 16:39 | 7 h 52 min |
| 29 | 07:26 | 08:07 | 15:59 | 16:39 | 7 h 53 min |
| 30 | 07:26 | 08:07 | 16:00 | 16:40 | 7 h 54 min |
| 31 | 07:27 | 08:07 | 16:01 | 16:41 | 7 h 54 min |
Approximate astronomical values: they can shift a minute or two from year to year.
What about vitamin D in December?
In December the sun doesn't climb high enough in London for vitamin D synthesis: the season to mind your diet or consider supplementation.
See the London vitamin D guideCommon questions about the sun in London in December
- Where does the sun set in London in December?
- Mid-December in London: the sun sets in the southwest, a bearing of 232° measured from true north, which is 38° south of due west. It rises in the southeast, at 128°. Over the month both points shift 2° south.
- How much daylight does London lose in December?
- Over December the day gets 13 minutes shorter in London: on December 1 the sun rises at 07:47 and sets at 15:54, and on day 31 it rises at 08:07 and sets at 16:01.
- How many hours of daylight does London get in December?
- In mid-December the day lasts 7 h 51 min in London, from sunrise at 08:01 to sunset at 15:52. The table has the day length for each of the 31 days of the month.
- What time does it start to get light in London in December?
- In mid-December the sky starts to get light at 07:21 in London, when the sun is 6° below the horizon, and the sun itself does not rise until 08:01. The “Dawn” column of the table gives that time for every day of the month.
- What time does it get dark in London in December?
- It's not the same time as sunset. In mid-December in London the sun sets at 15:52, but there is still light: civil twilight does not end until 16:32, when the sun reaches 6° below the horizon and usable outdoor light runs out. The “Dusk” column of the table gives that time day by day.
- What time of day can you make vitamin D in London in December?
- At no time of day. Not even at midday on December 15 does the UV index reach 3 in London, and below that minimum the skin makes no vitamin D, however long you stay out. In December it is the season to mind your diet or consider supplementation.