Exact date it will start getting lighter in the evenings still over a month away

05 January 2023 , 16:01

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The evenings will start getting lighter soon (Image: Getty Images)

The days have started to get ever-so-slightly longer, but you'll still have to wait a while longer for the sun to set after 5pm.

With many people officially taking down their Christmas lights today, the darkness will no doubt become more noticeable.

For many, the January blues are well and truly here – with dark days and evenings.

Hauling yourself out of bed can be really hard, with the excitement of the festive period well and truly behind you. But don't worry, brighter days are ahead.

The darkest period of winter is behind us – and it will soon start to get noticeably lighter. Here is everything you need to know, including the exact dates you should mark in your diary.

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When does it start getting lighter in the UK?

In just a month we will get one extra hour of daylight (Getty Images/iStockphoto)

You may not have noticed it yet, but as of the winter solstice, which took place on Wednesday December 21, it's been getting gradually lighter each day.

Even so, sunrise is still happening after many people wake up, and the sun sets before many finish work.

But it's soon going to get noticeably lighter. Currently, the UK is experiencing around eight hours of daylight.

On February 7, the sun will set in London at 5pm for the first time this year, and eight days after that there will be more than 10 hours of daylight.

You'll have to wait until March until the sun sets after 6pm in the UK – but exactly when this happens will depend on where you live.

For example, if you live in Manchester the sun will set at 6.01pm on March 9, but if you live in London you'll have to wait until March 13.

Daylight hours will get longer every day until the summer solstice, or the longest day of the year, which takes place on June 21 in the Northern Hemisphere.

When do the clocks go forward in 2023?

When the clocks go forward, it will mean we enter British Summer Time, which also helps with the daylight hours.

This is set to happen on Sunday, March 26 at 1am. At this time the evenings will become lighter, and we can expect the sun to rise at 6.50am in London.

For a brief period, the mornings will seem darker.

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