Shabbat Times in London

London sits far enough north that Shabbat times swing dramatically through the year, from candle lighting before 3:35 PM in midwinter to after 9 PM in early summer. The calculator below is preset to London, showing this week’s candle-lighting time, sunset, Havdalah, and Torah portion, with UK time and daylight saving handled automatically.

Candle Lighting in London

London’s Jewish community follows the standard 18-minute candle-lighting custom before astronomical sunset. Because of the city’s high latitude, sunset in late June falls close to 9:21 PM, while in late December it arrives before 3:55 PM. No other major English-speaking Jewish community sees a wider seasonal swing.

The UK observes British Summer Time from late March to late October, and the calculator applies the correct clock offset every week of the year.

Havdalah in London

Havdalah follows nightfall, calculated by default at the 8.5-degree standard. In the weeks around the summer solstice, nightfall comes very late in London, and communities that follow the 42, 50, or 72-minute customs can select their preference in the settings.

Shabbat Times for Nearby Communities

Nearby options include Paris, Manchester, and Zurich. For any city worldwide, use the main Shabbat candle-lighting times tool.

Planning Around Shabbat in London

Midwinter Fridays in London are the tightest in the Jewish world outside Scandinavia, with candle lighting soon after 3:30 PM and many commuters leaving work early. Summer Shabbatot, by contrast, begin after 9 PM and end close to midnight. For anniversaries and Hebrew dates, see the Hebrew date converter, and for memorial observances, the Yahrzeit calculator.

Frequently Asked Questions

What time is candle lighting in London this Friday?

Use the calculator on this page for this week’s exact times. In late December, candle lighting in London is near 3:34 PM, and in late June it is near 9:02 PM.

Why does London have the earliest winter lighting on this site?

London sits at about 51.5 degrees north, giving it very short winter days, and Greenwich Mean Time places the city right at the start of its time zone. Together these push midwinter sunset close to 3:50 PM.

When does the United Kingdom switch its clocks?

The UK moves to British Summer Time in late March and back to Greenwich Mean Time in late October. The calculator handles both transitions automatically.