Monthly hours of sunlight in the UK 2015-2024

The total monthly hours of sunlight in the UK follows a similar pattern each year. May typically has the highest monthly hours of sunshine, and peaked in 2020 at nearly 267 hours. Unsurprisingly, it is the end of each year when sunlight hours are lowest.

Little sunshine throughout the day

The average annual number of daily sun hours has seen little change since the turn of the century, with the lowest average number being recorded in 2012 at 4 hours and the highest average being 4.9 in 2003 and 2022. Instruments such as the Campbell-Stokes sunshine recorder are used to measure sunshine duration. However, more modern equipment is now being used as the Campbell-Stokes recorder overestimates sunshine duration.

England gets the most sunshine

Although sunshine isn't the most common sight throughout the United Kingdom, on average England receives the most monthly hours. In recent years, the longest monthly duration of sunlight was recorded in May 2020, at an average of 267 hours. In comparison, Scotland received just 215 hours of sunshine in the same month.