In the UK, it starts to feel like it’s getting dark earlier from around late August into September , with a big jump after the clocks go back on the last Sunday in October each year.

Key points in the year

  • Late August – September: You first really notice evenings drawing in; sunset shifts from around after 8–9pm in peak summer down towards 7pm and earlier.
  • October: Through the month, each week feels noticeably darker earlier in the evening as we head towards winter.
  • Last Sunday in October (clock change): The UK moves from British Summer Time back to GMT, and sunset instantly appears about one hour earlier on the clock, so it can be dark soon after 4–5pm depending on where you are.
  • Around winter solstice (mid–late December): This is the shortest day of the year , with very limited daylight and the earliest sunsets.

Why it happens

  • The Earth’s tilt means the northern hemisphere tilts away from the Sun in autumn and winter, so the Sun appears lower and sets earlier.
  • The clock change in late October doesn’t change the actual sunrise/sunset time in nature, but shifts the clock so evenings suddenly feel much darker earlier.

Quick practical rule of thumb

  • Expect noticeably earlier darkness from September ,
  • Expect “wow, it’s already dark!” vibes after the last Sunday in October ,
  • And expect the earliest, darkest evenings in December around the winter solstice.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.