Blame the Earth’s tilt. Our planet leans at a 23.4-degree angle. On the solstice, the North Pole points right at the sun. The UK gets a front-row seat to the longest show.
Imagine the sun doing a lazy sun-lounger stretch across the sky. For us, it’s up for nearly 17 hours in London. In Edinburgh, you get over 17.5 hours. Fancy, right?
The UK’s extreme daylight zones
Head to the Shetland Islands, and it’s almost 24-hour daylight. Seriously, you can read a book at midnight. The sun barely dips below the horizon—like a sheep that refuses to go to bed.
In contrast, if you’re in Plymouth, it’s a “short” 16.5 hours. Still long, but only by British standards. We’re a tiny island, yet the difference is dramatic.
