What Time is Dawn? Understanding the First Light of Day

Dawn, the magical transition from the darkness of night to the first light of morning, is a time of awakening and renewal. If you’re wondering, “What Time Is Dawn?” especially here in the City of London, England, you’ve come to the right place. We provide you with the precise dawn times for today, tomorrow, and the coming days, alongside a deeper understanding of what dawn truly means.

Today’s date is Sunday, February 16, 2025, and the current time zone is GMT+00:00 (Europe/London).

Dawn Time in City of London Today: 06:39 am

Dawn Time in City of London Tomorrow: 06:37 am

You can explore dawn times for the entire year of 2025 or specifically for February 2025 if you’re planning ahead. And if you’re curious about the opposite transition, you can also find out what time is dusk. For a broader view, check out the Sunrise, Sunset Times Today and Tomorrow or even plan for the future with Sunrise, Sunset Times 2025.

Unpacking Dawn: Civil Twilight Explained

When we talk about “dawn time,” we’re often referring to Civil Dawn. But what exactly is civil dawn? It’s defined as the moment when the geometric center of the Sun is 6 degrees below the horizon in the morning. This marks the beginning of morning civil twilight, a period where there is enough natural light to see and distinguish terrestrial objects. Think of it as the point where morning nautical twilight ends and morning civil twilight begins.

Morning civil twilight itself is the phase that starts when the sun is 6 degrees below the horizon and continues until sunrise. During this time, the sky begins to lighten, and while it’s not full daylight, it’s significantly brighter than the deep darkness of night.

Alt text: Map of London, UK, highlighting the location for accurate dawn time calculation.

Dawn Time Progression in City of London – February & March 2025

To give you a clearer picture of how dawn time changes, here’s a table showing the dawn and sunrise times in City of London for the remainder of February and the beginning of March 2025. Notice how the dawn time gradually gets earlier as we approach spring.