Can you believe it? Manchester hasn’t seen the sun stay up past 5pm since October 25th, 2025. It’s been a long, dark stretch, but the winter gloom is finally losing its grip – at least for the next eight months…
The highlight of the week? We finally welcome the first 5pm sunset of the year in Manchester. It’s a total game-changer; you can now clock off and head to the pub without feeling like it’s the middle of the night. It’s the first real sign that summer is on the horizon. Hallelujah!
It might feel a bit optimistic given the current chill, but the point is clear: we’re on the home stretch. From here on out, it’s smoother sailing – at least until the clocks go back again in October. But let’s not ruin the mood by thinking about that just yet, shall we?
When does the first 5pm sunset of the year take place in Manchester?
According to Time and Date, Manchester’s first official 5pm sunset takes place on February 6, when the sun finally holds out until the top of the hour. This kicks off a manageable stretch through the rest of the month, acting as a final “endurance test” before we level up to 6pm sunsets in early March. After that, the clocks “spring forward” on March 28, treating us to those glorious 7pm (and later!) sunsets.
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Let’s be real, 5pm is still far too early for the sun to call it a day. While we aren’t asking for 9pm sunsets in the middle of winter, a happy medium would be nice. It feels a bit criminal that the standard 9-to-5 swallows up every bit of available daylight, leaving us to commute both ways in darkness.
Until we can successfully negotiate a better deal with the powers that be, we’ll take this milestone for what it is: the first real proof that summer is coming and the winter gloom is finally lifting. Hang in there – just keep picturing yourself in a warm, sunny beer garden later this year. Godspeed!