The best ‘Golden Hour’ locations

What is Golden Hour?   

‘Golden Hour’ refers to the sublime time shortly before sunset, and just after sunrise, when the sun sits low on the horizon – typically 6-12 degrees above it. The sun’s rays therefore diffuse more gently, creating a golden radiance. This picturesque period typically lasts between 30 minutes to an hour, depending on time of year and location.  

This lighting is flattering for portraits, but also drenches landscapes in almost ethereal gold and red hues with long shadows. In fact, many cinematographers call Golden Hour “magic hour” for its dynamic impact on scenery.

The science behind our Golden Hour rankings

Our methodology

We analysed thousands of Instagram posts from the UK with hashtags like #goldenhour and #britishsunset. Then, used a clever colour-dropping tool to check how closely they matched the ultimate shade of gold: Pantone’s ‘Sunset Gold’ (an uplifting paint hue if you’re into interior design!).

More scientifically still, an astronomical model saw us suss out sunset duration on the Summer Solstice specifically – the longest day of the year for maximum Golden Hour. It’s most captivating in the evening, hence this focus. We paired it with air pollution levels, as both factors vary by region. 

What time is Golden Hour in England?  

In England specifically, Golden Hour appropriately occurs roughly an hour after sunrise and an hour before sunset – but this varies for two reasons: 

Seasonal differences: England’s northern latitude (around 50-55°N) significantly impacts Golden Hour timings. The days are longer summer – from 5am until after 9pm – so, in June for example, Golden Hour is 8:20pm. Contrastingly, over winter, where we often wake up in and have dinner to darkness, it happens at roughly 7.30-8.30am then 3:30-4:30pm  

North and south differences: These are relatively modest compared to seasonal variations, but they do exist: 

Southern England – say Cornwall – enjoys Golden Hour slightly earlier in the morning and later in the evening compared to the North 

Northern England (like Yorkshire or near the Scottish border) is the opposite, seeing it later in the morning and earlier that evening 

The difference is typically around 10-30 minutes between the far north and south England

What is the best Golden Hour light? 

Golden Hour’s best light is characterised by its warm, soft and diffused quality that permeates with peace. For portrait photographers, it’s most flattering for a subject’s face as it creates a healthy, natural glow. Landscape-wise, the dramatic depth is impossible to recreate at any other time.  

To master light, there are four final factors to consider: 

Evening provides warmer, extra saturated colours and is more predictable than morning 

Weather – Clear skies allow that golden light to shine through unobstructed. Clouds can diffuse sunlight, softening shadows and creating a muted, paste-like glow. Subtle mist or haze can add a dreamy atmosphere by scattering the rays, while dense fog or pollution dulls the intensity and reduces visibility 

Backlit photos are a smart way to maximise Golden Hour. The low sun creates stunning silhouettes of trees and rock formations. Angle your camera lens to capture this side lighting for a more three-dimensional effect  

Blend with blue light – The western sky glows warm while the eastern sky takes longer to transition, creating a red-gold-blue gradient that makes for better photographic compositions 

What are the health benefits of beautiful scenery?  

Golden Hour across the UK’s coastal, countryside and urban landscapes offers far more than visual stimulation. It can enhance your physical, mental and social wellbeing. Over to Audley’s Health and Wellness Director, Emma Robinson:  

“Walking outdoors over Golden Hour could aid cardiovascular health and improve overall fitness levels. The natural light could also help regulate circadian rhythms, working wonders on sleep quality and – over winter – mood if you, or a loved one, live with Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). We’re innately social creatures, so don’t underestimate how happy a sunny stroll with a partner or good friend could make you feel. If you’re (appropriately) in your ‘golden years’, you’ll certainly live up to the ‘Generation Joy’ accolade! You’ll realise you’re not short of conversation when marvelling at your surroundings.  

“Golden Hour is kinder to eye health, too. I advise against looking into the sun, but the way it softly filters your environment means there’s no need to strain your vision. However, in winter particularly, be mindful that it goes dark sooner so time your return journey right.”  

“Indeed, a popular report highlights that residents in prettier scenes experienced better health across city / town, suburban and rural areas – regardless of socioeconomic situation.   

“There isn’t a one-size-fits-all when it comes to a picturesque place. A 2019 study revealed that overall people are happier in more scenic locations. It didn’t associate ‘natural environments’ with ‘scenic appeal’ so venture out to find one that suits your taste and needs.” 

Where is the most scenic place in the UK? 

So, our index has established Golden Hour burns a little brighter and beautifully the further North you travel. But what makes the UK so special is that, in very little time, we can travel to a city or coastline that looks and feels delightfully different. A popular array from our index is:  

Experience Golden Hour with Audley Villages 

Our comprehensive analysis of Golden Hour locations across the UK’s diverse landscapes confirms there’s countless scenes to photograph and feel your best in.   

We’re proud to offer retirement villages across the UK in many regions that glow the greatest – brought to life by the fabulous photos of Golden Hour produced by our talented homeowners and team members!  

Image credit: Retirement village Audley Willicombe Park by Personal Care Assistant Natasha Griffiths 

METHOLODY  

Audley Villages scraped 9,268 Instagram posts using the hashtags #goldenhour, #britishsunset, #uksunset and #uksunsets. Only posts that were geotagged with a UK location were retained, yielding 6,018 images from 3,695 unique posts. Images were analysed based on how closely their colour tones matched Pantone’s ‘Sunset Gold’. Sunset duration (in seconds) for each UK county on the Summer Solstice was calculated using an astronomical model with assumptions including flat horizon and observer at sea level. Air pollution / atmospheric clarity was assessed by measuring particulate matter using the OpenWeatherMap API. Values were averaged from readings within a 20km radius of the geographic centre of each UK county. A weighted scoring model was applied to combine colour match, sunset duration and particulate pollution into a single index score. Counties with fewer than 5 images or 4 unique posts were then excluded.  

All information correct as of May 2025.