Life can feel pretty dire when you’re forced to watch the sun rise and set from inside an office building.
Perpetually gloomy, grim, and pitch black, finding the energy to do quite literally anything in the UK’s winter is a mammoth task.
How can I be expected to drag myself to a social gathering or exercise class when I’m having to use the torch on my phone to navigate my way home?
But, on a brighter note our evenings are about to get that bit less depressing. According to experts, the first sunset after 5pm in London will take place on February 8 – just 30 days away.
Time and Date have predicted that following that monumental day, it will then take a further five weeks for the sun to set after 6pm, sunset times creeping back by nearly two minutes a day.
Then, on March 26, we will have finally reached the shift into British Summer Time (BST), meaning the sun should hopefully be setting around 7pm.
And while it’s definitely safe to say that Brits enjoy a pint all year round, the second it hits mid-March expect the pavements to be full to the brim with office workers, many of whom will likely be celebrating too intensely due to the fact that they can finally see the sun after work once more.
Days have slowly been getting longer since the winter solstice on December 21, the shortest day in the Northern Hemisphere.
During the winter months, the sun’s position is lower and its time in the sky is shorter. The winter solstice occurs when the North Pole is tilted farthest away from the sun.
What to do with your brighter evenings
So, with sunnier nights ahead of us – what should we be getting up to?
Having been stuck indoors for months on end, as things start to get lighter after work, why not take a peak at some of London’s most unique and special outdoor spaces.
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Hidden between the perpetually teeming Soho and Covent Garden, you’ll find Phoenix Garden – a small community space full of brightly coloured flowers and greenery.
Managed privately by volunteers this fun little space is the perfect place to spend a minute or two unwinding after a long day – and it’s centrally located so you’re only a stones throw away from wherever the rest of your night might take you.
Or you could check out one of the most scenic spots in the city – The Pergola in Hampstead Heath.
Overlooking the West Heath, visitors can walk around the Hill Garden, a beautiful, manicured oasis which was the private garden of a now demolished manor house.
Fans of prestige will be excited to know that in the 2025 London in Bloom Awards, the Pergola and Hill Garden received Gold Awards.
And with our evenings no longer taken up by emotional support water bottles and reruns of the ‘Real Housewives of Beverly Hills’, there are also a number of exciting dining and drinking spots in the city worth checking out.
It might still be chilly, but with the sun out an outdoor beverage is a necessity.
To try and catch a glimpse of the sun setting before you make your next stop, we’d recommend heading to a pub in the city that offers riverside views of the Westward sun.
Think The Mayflower Pub in Rotherhithe, the Cutty Sark in Greenwich, The Ship in Wandsworth, or The Culpeper in Spitalfields.
And why not finish the night with some ultimate comfort food. Metro’s in-house experts recommend ACRE, a ‘hidden gem’ restaurant found in Notting Hill.
A neighbourhood restaurant that’s perfect for date night, readers are encouraged, nay urged, to try the ACRE Burger that the restaurant is famous for – a cloud-like bun, high-quality meat and chilli jam.
However, be aware it is up to the chef’s discretion if they serve the feast on any given night.
February 8 couldn’t come any sooner.
For more food glorious food, make sure you check out The Slice, Metro’s exclusive guide to what’s on in London, with trusted reviews and sneak previews.
