UV Hour

UV index in London right now

6.1 UV Index
High UV

The next daylight peak in London is forecast at UV 6.1 around 14:00 — the high band. Type II skin would have about 27 min at that level. No level is risk-free — this is when to come in, not how long you may stay.

Tomorrow in London

peak UV 6.1 at 14:00 · type II has about 27 min of unprotected sun before the first redness at the peak · protection recommended (WHO) 12:13–16:27

6.1 peak UV
High UV
  • 14:00 Peak UV hour tomorrow
  • 27 min Est. first redness at peak, type II
  • 12:13–16:27 Protection recommended (UV 3+, WHO)
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 05:00 08:00 11:00 14:00 17:00 20:00 21:00 6.1 protection recommended (WHO) — UV 3
Protection recommended (UV 3+, WHO) UV index
Estimated minutes of unprotected sun before the first redness in London, by skin type. An estimate, not a safety limit — skin damage builds up before any redness shows. The sun has already set where you are, so these are tomorrow’s figures.
Skin typeAt peak UV 6.1
I22 min
II27 min
III33 min
IV44 min
V55 min
VI66 min

The sun in London

London sits at 51°N, far enough north that people stop taking the sun seriously — which is exactly the local problem. The population skews to the fairest skin types, the parks fill at the first warm lunchtime, and a clear June day in a deckchair delivers redness on type I and II skin faster than most Londoners expect.

The window that matters is short and sharp: from May to August, midday UV on a clear day reaches levels where fair skin reddens within the hour. The classic trap is the overcast reflex — assuming the famous grey sky means protection. Cloud cuts UV far less than it cuts brightness and heat, which is why the sunburn after a grey barbecue afternoon is a London classic.

Time to first redness at tomorrow’s peak (UV 6.1), by skin type

Estimated minutes of unprotected sun before the first redness, at UV 6.1. An estimate, not a safe allowance — skin damage builds up before any redness shows. Below 20 minutes is in red.
Skin type Before first redness
I — Always burns, never tans. 22 min
II — Burns easily, tans minimally. 27 min
III — Burns moderately, tans gradually. 33 min
IV — Burns rarely, tans easily. 44 min
V — Burns very rarely, tans very easily. 55 min
VI — Almost never burns, always tans. 66 min

Every figure is 0.667 × MED ÷ UV, the standard erythemal formula, with the Fitzpatrick minimal erythemal doses. See the full method and its sources.

London — the questions people actually ask

What is the UV index in London right now?

This page reads the MET Norway forecast for London and refreshes every 15 minutes. The chart above shows the next daylight hours hour by hour; the answer changes through the day, which is why it is measured rather than written down.

When do you need sun protection in London tomorrow?

The WHO recommends sun protection from UV 3 upward, for every skin type. On the current forecast, London is at or above UV 3 from 12:13–16:27 local time tomorrow. Outside that span the index is lower — the dose still accumulates, just more slowly.

Can you tan in London tomorrow?

The forecast peak is about UV 6.1 at 14:00, above the roughly UV 2 threshold where melanin production starts — so the skin will respond. That response is damage: there is no risk-free tan at any level. What this page gives you is the other number — about 27 min before first redness for type II at the peak — as a point to stay well under, not a target.

Why does the sun in London feel weaker than it is?

The window that matters is short and sharp: from May to August, midday UV on a clear day reaches levels where fair skin reddens within the hour. The classic trap is the overcast reflex — assuming the famous grey sky means protection. Cloud cuts UV far less than it cuts brightness and heat, which is why the sunburn after a grey barbecue afternoon is a London classic. Heat and UV are different quantities: the index depends on sun angle, ozone, altitude and cloud — not on temperature, and not on wind.

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