Why do the long, dark nights last forever in winter, while summer days go by in the blink of an eye? It’s one of life’s great mysteries, but let’s not complain too much. You see, since March, Birmingham has been blessed by after 7pm sunsets—and the days have been rapidly getting brighter, longer and warmer.
Just in time for the late May bank holiday (May 26) and with some actual nice weather in Birmingham, we’re taking another leap forward this week. Birmingham welcomes its first 9PM sunset of the year on Saturday, May 17. The sun will set at 21:00 (having risen at 05:08). That’s 15 hours, 52 minutes and 8 seconds of daylight. What a treat!
We’re now hurtling towards the longest day of the year on June 21 (aka summer solstice), when the Northern Hemisphere is most tilted towards the Sun. It will rise at 04:53 and set at 21:31, and Birmingham will experience 16 hours, 49 minutes and 37 seconds of daylight. The days will only be getting shorter from then on.
Don’t worry yourself too much yet, because there’s still time to enjoy all that weather. Birmingham’s last 9PM sunset of the year won’t occur until July 31 (at 21:00). After that, its last 8PM sunset is August 29, and the last 7PM sunset is September 24. Of course, this is all heading to the shortest day of the year (less than 8 hours long) on December 21.
So make the most of these late sunsets in Birmingham while you can. They open up this city to a plethora of evening activities—including outdoor swimming, alfresco dining and canalside chilling—that we often take for granted. Even if it’s as simple as a few drinks in your local beer garden, embrace the 9PM sunset.