Sunset Time in Salisbury Today
Salisbury, UK
Forecast updated:
Cloud on the horizon does not move the astronomical sunset time — it can hide the sun a few minutes early, but it often produces the most dramatic colors.
Conditions can shift — arrive 30 minutes early for the best experience.
Pair with golden hour or moon visibility for complete planning.
Forecast accuracy is highest within the next 1–3 days.
Sunset & Daylight Patterns Specific to Salisbury
Salisbury sits at 51.1° N in the temperate zone. It is autumn there now, and the sun currently spends 10.8 hours above the horizon each day.
Sunsets are latest in June around the summer solstice and earliest in December. Near the solstices, the sunset time barely shifts day to day; near the equinoxes (March, September), it moves up to 2 minutes per day. Salisbury runs from 7.9 to 16.6 hours of daylight across the year, a 8.7-hour swing. Today's 10.8 hours set how much room you have to move plans around.
Golden hour in Salisbury lasts about 66 minutes today, with civil twilight adding a further 33 minutes of usable blue-hour light after sunset.
The most photogenic sunset conditions in Salisbury come in July, May, June, when the atmosphere is clearest and high-pressure systems push cloud layers away from the western horizon. Salisbury Plain creates a rain shadow that gives the city about 760mm of annual rainfall — drier than London — yet the open chalk plateau itself is one of the windiest spots in southern England.
Civil twilight at Salisbury's latitude lasts approximately 33 minutes after the sun drops below the horizon — this is the "blue hour" window of soft, diffused light that photographers prize above all others. At 51.1°, this window offers a comfortable photography window without the frantic pace of equatorial twilight.
City-specific facts for Salisbury
- •Latitude: 51.1° N — longest days in June, shortest in December
- •Summer daylight: ~16.6h | Winter daylight: ~7.9h — a 8.7-hour annual swing
- •Civil twilight (blue hour) duration: ~33 minutes post-sunset
- •Prime sunset colour months: July, May, June
- •Hemisphere: northern — sunset moves northward in summer, altering composition angles significantly
- •Local season right now: autumn (northern hemisphere)
- •Daylight today: 10.8 h — annual range 7.9–16.6 h
- •Solar regime today: normal sunrise/sunset cycle
Sun & Moon Times in Salisbury
Sunset timing in Salisbury is driven by latitude and season. We apply atmospheric refraction corrections for accuracy within one minute. Golden hour begins roughly 60 minutes before sunset — the most valuable window for photography, outdoor dining, and evening walks.
Sunset in Salisbury shifts by several minutes each week. Summer evenings are longest, winter sunsets arrive earliest. Cloud cover near the horizon does not change the sunset time itself, though it can hide the sun a few minutes early and often produces the most dramatic color displays.
For the best sunset experience, arrive at your viewing spot 30 minutes before the listed time. Conditions can shift — check again on the day itself.
Sunrise & Sunset Guide for Salisbury in October
Salisbury sits in the rain shadow of Salisbury Plain, giving it noticeably drier weather than nearby coast or Cotswolds. Mist often forms over the River Avon at sunrise and dawn. Stonehenge, on the open plain, is significantly windier and colder than the city itself.
October brings shorter days and earlier sunsets to Salisbury, with temperatures around 2-8°C. While the days are shorter, they can produce some of the most dramatic sunset displays of the year. Cloud cover, common during this period, creates dynamic skies that scatter sunlight into vivid purples, pinks, and deep oranges that clear-sky months rarely match.
☀️ Daylight & Day Length
Shorter days in October mean you need to plan outdoor activities more carefully around available daylight. Sunrise comes later and sunset arrives earlier, concentrating your outdoor window. However, the lower sun angle means golden hour light lasts longer relative to the day length, and shadows are more dramatic — a hidden advantage for photographers and anyone who appreciates beautiful light.
📋 Planning Around Sunset
With limited daylight during October, start outdoor activities early to maximize your time. Plan indoor alternatives (museums, cafés, galleries) for afternoons when light fades. Evening events will happen after dark — bring warm layers and embrace Salisbury's atmospheric nighttime charm. Sunset-watching is still rewarding, but dress warmly and check the cloud forecast.
Photography at Sunrise & Sunset
Overcast skies in Salisbury during October create soft, even lighting all day — perfect for portraits and street photography without harsh shadows. For sunset shots, watch for breaks in the western sky; when the sun drops below the cloud layer, it illuminates clouds from beneath, creating vivid, unpredictable colors. Wet streets and reflections add a unique dimension to evening shots.
Seasonal Sun Patterns in Salisbury
☀️ Longest Days
July, May, June — these months bring the latest sunsets and longest daylight hours in Salisbury. Expect extended evenings perfect for outdoor dining, sunset walks, and golden hour photography. The warmest temperatures (17-22°C) coincide with the longest days.
🌙 Shortest Days
October, November, December — earlier sunsets and shorter daylight hours define this period in Salisbury. Temperatures drop to around 2-8°C. Plan outdoor activities around midday when the sun is highest. The dramatic low-angle light creates stunning photography opportunities despite the shorter window.
📍 Local Weather Insight
Salisbury Plain creates a rain shadow that gives the city about 760mm of annual rainfall — drier than London — yet the open chalk plateau itself is one of the windiest spots in southern England.
Local Tips for Salisbury
Stonehenge sunrise visits in winter often beat dawn fog that lingers in the valley
June solstice is peak crowd time — visit dawn for atmosphere without midday heat
The Cathedral spire catches lightning more often than any building in Wiltshire
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Photography forecast and sun angles
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When Sunset Viewing Is Not Worth It in Salisbury
- •Fully overcast skies — thick cloud cover blocks the sun entirely, producing a flat grey horizon with no color variation.
- •Heavy rain or thunderstorms — unsafe conditions and zero visibility of the sun. Check the rain forecast for Salisbury.
- •Dense smog or haze — obscures the horizon line and reduces color saturation, making sunset appear washed out.
- •West-blocked viewpoints — buildings, mountains, or trees blocking the western horizon will cut off sunset 10–30 minutes early.
What Determines Sunset Time?
Sunset time in Salisbury is determined by the city's latitude, longitude, and the time of year. During summer, the Earth's axial tilt causes the sun to take a longer path across the sky, resulting in later sunsets. In winter, the opposite occurs — shorter days mean earlier sunsets. Near the equinoxes (March and September), sunset times change most rapidly, shifting by 2–3 minutes per day. At Salisbury's latitude, the difference between the earliest and latest sunset can be several hours across the year. Our daily calculations use precise astronomical data to give you the exact sunset time accurate to the minute.
Did you know? Sunset in Salisbury shifts by up to 3 minutes per day near the equinoxes — timing matters more than you think.
Planning to watch the sunset in Salisbury?
Local Astronomy Profile · Salisbury
High temperate latitude (51.1°) — 8.7 h day-length swing dominates the calendar.
- Longest day
- 16 h 20 min
- Shortest day
- 7 h 40 min
- Sunset shifts by
- 1.4 min/day on average
- Civil twilight extends
- roughly 25–35 min after sunset
Latest possible sunset of the year (June solstice).
Earliest possible sunset of the year (December solstice).
Average daily sunset drift between the two solstices — peaks near the equinoxes.
Civil twilight is the usable shooting window after the sun is gone.
Frequently Asked Questions
What time is sunset in Salisbury today?
Today's sunset time for Salisbury is shown above and updates daily. Sunset times shift throughout the year based on Salisbury's latitude and the Earth's axial tilt. Summer sunsets are later, winter sunsets are earlier.
When is golden hour in Salisbury?
Golden hour in Salisbury begins approximately 1 hour before sunset and ends at sunset. The exact timing is displayed above. Morning golden hour starts at sunrise and lasts about 1 hour.
How long is the day in Salisbury?
Day length in Salisbury varies by season. Today's exact day length is shown above. At mid-latitudes, this ranges from about 8 hours in winter to 16+ hours in summer.
Is the moon visible tonight in Salisbury?
Moon visibility depends on the current phase and cloud cover. Tonight's moon phase and illumination percentage for Salisbury are shown above. A higher illumination percentage means a brighter, more visible moon.
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