For those feeling the strain of the long, dark evenings, a turning point has finally arrived. Today, 21 December 2025, is the Winter Solstice, the shortest day of the year across the Northern Hemisphere.
The Moment the Sun Stands Still
At precisely 15:03 GMT, the sun will be positioned directly over the Tropic of Capricorn, creating the illusion of it pausing in the sky. This celestial event gives the solstice its name, derived from the Latin words 'sol' (sun) and 'sistere' (to stand still).
"It refers to the point where the Sun's apparent movement north or south pauses before reversing direction," explained Dr Shyam Balaji, an astrophysics expert at King’s College London. This phenomenon occurs due to the Earth's axial tilt of about 23.5 degrees relative to its orbit around the sun.
How Much Daylight Do We Get Today?
On average, the UK will see just 7.5 hours of daylight today, a stark contrast to the over 16 hours enjoyed on the summer solstice. However, the exact duration varies significantly depending on your location.
Residents of London will experience 7 hours, 49 minutes and 42 seconds of sunshine. Further south in Truro, Cornwall, the day lasts slightly longer at 8 hours, 1 minute and 55 seconds. In contrast, those in John O'Groats on Scotland's north-eastern tip will have a mere 6 hours, 16 minutes and 54 seconds of daylight.
"During the December solstice, the Northern Hemisphere is tilted the farthest away from the Sun, resulting in the shortest day and longest night of the year for that hemisphere," Dr Balaji added.
The Official Start of Winter and Brighter Days Ahead
Today also marks the first day of astronomical winter, which is based on the Earth's position relative to the sun. This season will run from 21 December 2025 until 20 March 2026.
It's important to distinguish this from the meteorological winter, which for simplicity's sake always begins on 1 December and ends on 28 February (or the 29th in a leap year).
The crucial takeaway is that from today, the daylight hours will begin to increase once more. "The amount of daylight is at its minimum, and the night is at its longest," said Dr Balaji. "After the December solstice, the days start to get longer in the Northern Hemisphere." So while the coldest temperatures may still be to come, the journey back towards lighter evenings starts now.
