Groundsense

Every councilRanked

Hours of sunshine a year, every council ranked

The average over thirty years, 1991 to 2020, read where people live: what the climate is like rather than what last year was. Figures for 1991 to 2020, published for 361 councils in the UK. Lowest first: the order says where a council sits, not whether that is good.

Lowest: Shetland Islands, 1,155. The council in the middle: Southwark, 1,552. Highest: Folkestone and Hythe, 1,892.

Hours of sunshine a year, every council it is published for, lowest first
PlaceCouncilFigure
1Shetland IslandsScotland1,155
2Fermanagh and OmaghNorthern Ireland1,181
3Derry City and StrabaneNorthern Ireland1,188
4HighlandScotland1,204
5Orkney IslandsScotland1,211
6Causeway Coast and GlensNorthern Ireland1,213
7Na h-Eileanan SiarScotland1,221
8Argyll and ButeScotland1,254
9PendleNorth West1,271
10Mid UlsterNorthern Ireland1,272
11BurnleyNorth West1,273
12ClackmannanshireScotland1,279
13StirlingScotland1,282
14BelfastNorthern Ireland1,290
15RossendaleNorth West1,295
16 jointNorth LanarkshireScotland1,297
16 jointOldhamNorth West1,297
18InverclydeScotland1,299
19 jointEast AyrshireScotland1,302
19 jointRochdaleNorth West1,302
21 jointDumfries and GallowayScotland1,313
21 jointHyndburnNorth West1,313
23East DunbartonshireScotland1,317
24 jointBradfordYorkshire and the Humber1,319
24 jointSouth LanarkshireScotland1,319
26 jointMid and East AntrimNorthern Ireland1,320
26 jointWest DunbartonshireScotland1,320
28TamesideNorth West1,321
29 jointAntrim and NewtownabbeyNorthern Ireland1,322
29 jointArmagh City, Banbridge and CraigavonNorthern Ireland1,322
31Glasgow CityScotland1,323
32CalderdaleYorkshire and the Humber1,326
33West LothianScotland1,329
34Blackburn with DarwenNorth West1,333
35Lisburn and CastlereaghNorthern Ireland1,334
36High PeakEast Midlands1,335
37RenfrewshireScotland1,336
38 jointEast RenfrewshireScotland1,337
38 jointMidlothianScotland1,337
40Scottish BordersScotland1,341
41 jointFalkirkScotland1,342
41 jointNewry, Mourne and DownNorthern Ireland1,342
43Perth and KinrossScotland1,343
44Ribble ValleyNorth West1,348
45PowysWales1,349
46North AyrshireScotland1,351
47Merthyr TydfilWales1,352
48BuryNorth West1,354
49LeedsYorkshire and the Humber1,358
50MorayScotland1,369
51KirkleesYorkshire and the Humber1,370
52BoltonNorth West1,371
53StockportNorth West1,372
54South AyrshireScotland1,378
55ManchesterNorth West1,379
56AberdeenshireScotland1,383
57 jointChorleyNorth West1,391
57 jointGwyneddWales1,391
59Blaenau GwentWales1,394
60SalfordNorth West1,397
61 jointFifeScotland1,403
61 jointStaffordshire MoorlandsWest Midlands1,403
63PrestonNorth West1,406
64MiddlesbroughNorth East1,410
65YorkYorkshire and the Humber1,412
66 jointSouth RibbleNorth West1,413
66 jointStoke-on-TrentWest Midlands1,413
68City of EdinburghScotland1,416
69TraffordNorth West1,424
70 jointCumberlandNorth West1,425
70 jointWakefieldYorkshire and the Humber1,425
72WiganNorth West1,428
73Newcastle-under-LymeWest Midlands1,431
74 jointCannock ChaseWest Midlands1,433
74 jointEast LothianScotland1,433
76 jointNorth YorkshireYorkshire and the Humber1,434
76 jointShropshireWest Midlands1,434
78Cheshire EastNorth West1,438
79 jointStaffordWest Midlands1,439
79 jointWolverhamptonWest Midlands1,439
81 jointDenbighshireWales1,440
81 jointDerbyshire DalesEast Midlands1,440
83Stockton-on-TeesNorth East1,442
84Westmorland and FurnessNorth West1,444
85WrexhamWales1,447
86Telford and WrekinWest Midlands1,448
87WalsallWest Midlands1,451
88South StaffordshireWest Midlands1,452
89WarringtonNorth West1,454
90St. HelensNorth West1,455
91HaltonNorth West1,457
92Rhondda Cynon TafWales1,459
93 jointDundee CityScotland1,465
93 jointKnowsleyNorth West1,465
95West LancashireNorth West1,466
96Neath Port TalbotWales1,467
97Ards and North DownNorthern Ireland1,468
98 jointCaerphillyWales1,469
98 jointLeicesterEast Midlands1,469
100 jointDarlingtonNorth East1,470
100 jointRedcar and ClevelandNorth East1,470
102FlintshireWales1,471
103LiverpoolNorth West1,473
104SandwellWest Midlands1,474
105Cheshire West and ChesterNorth West1,476
106DerbyEast Midlands1,477
107Aberdeen CityScotland1,478
108AshfieldEast Midlands1,482
109 jointAmber ValleyEast Midlands1,483
109 jointEast StaffordshireWest Midlands1,483
111North West LeicestershireEast Midlands1,484
112 jointConwyWales1,485
112 jointNottinghamEast Midlands1,485
114 jointCeredigionWales1,487
114 jointOadby and WigstonEast Midlands1,487
116 jointBroxtoweEast Midlands1,490
116 jointSouth DerbyshireEast Midlands1,490
118 jointBirminghamWest Midlands1,492
118 jointBlabyEast Midlands1,492
120 jointAngusScotland1,493
120 jointLichfieldWest Midlands1,493
122MansfieldEast Midlands1,495
123BarnsleyYorkshire and the Humber1,496
124CharnwoodEast Midlands1,497
125 jointCarmarthenshireWales1,498
125 jointErewashEast Midlands1,498
127GatesheadNorth East1,499
128Newcastle upon TyneNorth East1,500
129 jointDudleyWest Midlands1,501
129 jointRedditchWest Midlands1,501
131 jointCounty DurhamNorth East1,504
131 jointDoncasterYorkshire and the Humber1,504
133West DevonSouth West1,506
134Hinckley and BosworthEast Midlands1,507
135 jointBolsoverEast Midlands1,508
135 jointGedlingEast Midlands1,508
137 jointLancasterNorth West1,509
137 jointTorfaenWales1,509
139HarboroughEast Midlands1,513
140 jointBassetlawEast Midlands1,514
140 jointChesterfieldEast Midlands1,514
140 jointSeftonNorth West1,514
140 jointSheffieldYorkshire and the Humber1,514
140 jointSolihullWest Midlands1,514
145North East DerbyshireEast Midlands1,515
146WirralNorth West1,516
147RushcliffeEast Midlands1,518
148MeltonEast Midlands1,519
149TamworthWest Midlands1,522
150 jointBromsgroveWest Midlands1,523
150 jointStratford-on-AvonWest Midlands1,523
152 jointKing's Lynn and West NorfolkEast of England1,526
152 jointNuneaton and BedworthWest Midlands1,526
152 jointRugbyWest Midlands1,526
155 jointNorth WarwickshireWest Midlands1,527
155 jointRotherhamYorkshire and the Humber1,527
157FyldeNorth West1,528
158South OxfordshireSouth East1,529
159CoventryWest Midlands1,530
160HerefordshireWest Midlands1,531
161 jointMilton KeynesSouth East1,532
161 jointNorth LincolnshireYorkshire and the Humber1,532
163CambridgeEast of England1,533
164CheltenhamSouth West1,534
165Mid DevonSouth West1,535
166BridgendWales1,536
167FenlandEast of England1,537
168West NorthamptonshireEast Midlands1,538
169 jointHartlepoolNorth East1,539
169 jointMalvern HillsWest Midlands1,539
169 jointWyreNorth West1,539
172SwanseaWales1,540
173WarwickWest Midlands1,541
174NorthumberlandNorth East1,543
175WorcesterWest Midlands1,544
176 jointNorth NorthamptonshireEast Midlands1,546
176 jointWyre ForestWest Midlands1,546
178 jointSunderlandNorth East1,548
178 jointWychavonWest Midlands1,548
180LewishamLondon1,551
181 jointSouthwarkLondon1,552
181 jointTower HamletsLondon1,552
183 jointEast CambridgeshireEast of England1,553
183 jointNorth DevonSouth West1,553
185 jointCity of LondonLondon1,554
185 jointSouth CambridgeshireEast of England1,554
187 jointNorth TynesideNorth East1,555
187 jointStroudSouth West1,555
189Newark and SherwoodEast Midlands1,559
190 jointCherwellSouth East1,560
190 jointGreenwichLondon1,560
190 jointTewkesburySouth West1,560
193NewhamLondon1,561
194LutonEast of England1,564
195 jointBrecklandEast of England1,565
195 jointCentral BedfordshireEast of England1,565
195 jointGloucesterSouth West1,565
198 jointBlackpoolNorth West1,566
198 jointCotswoldSouth West1,566
200 jointBuckinghamshireSouth East1,567
200 jointHackneyLondon1,567
200 jointLambethLondon1,567
203 jointBromleyLondon1,568
203 jointPembrokeshireWales1,568
203 jointSouth TynesideNorth East1,568
206 jointEast Riding of YorkshireYorkshire and the Humber1,569
206 jointIslingtonLondon1,569
206 jointRutlandEast Midlands1,569
206 jointWest LindseyEast Midlands1,569
210CroydonLondon1,572
211BedfordEast of England1,573
212 jointBostonEast Midlands1,574
212 jointSouth HollandEast Midlands1,574
214North HertfordshireEast of England1,577
215MonmouthshireWales1,578
216Waltham ForestLondon1,580
217West BerkshireSouth East1,581
218Kingston upon HullYorkshire and the Humber1,582
219ReadingSouth East1,583
220HaringeyLondon1,584
221 jointBarking and DagenhamLondon1,585
221 jointNorwichEast of England1,585
221 jointStevenageEast of England1,585
224 jointCamdenLondon1,586
224 jointRedbridgeLondon1,586
226 jointExeterSouth West1,589
226 jointHuntingdonshireEast of England1,589
226 jointSomersetSouth West1,589
229 jointBexleyLondon1,590
229 jointDacorumEast of England1,590
231WestminsterLondon1,593
232 jointBath and North East SomersetSouth West1,596
232 jointEnfieldLondon1,596
232 jointIsle of AngleseyWales1,596
235Vale of White HorseSouth East1,598
236NewportWales1,599
237 jointCardiffWales1,600
237 jointForest of DeanSouth West1,600
237 jointNorth East LincolnshireYorkshire and the Humber1,600
237 jointSouth KestevenEast Midlands1,600
237 jointTorridgeSouth West1,600
242SuttonLondon1,601
243UttlesfordEast of England1,603
244 jointSwindonSouth West1,604
244 jointWest SuffolkEast of England1,604
246East HertfordshireEast of England1,605
247 jointBarnetLondon1,606
247 jointBroadlandEast of England1,606
247 jointKensington and ChelseaLondon1,606
247 jointWokinghamSouth East1,606
251 jointEast LindseyEast Midlands1,609
251 jointOxfordSouth East1,609
253TandridgeSouth East1,612
254 jointPlymouthSouth West1,613
254 jointSouth GloucestershireSouth West1,613
256 jointBristolSouth West1,615
256 jointBroxbourneEast of England1,615
256 jointSouth HamsSouth West1,615
256 jointWatfordEast of England1,615
260 jointBrentLondon1,616
260 jointHarlowEast of England1,616
260 jointLincolnEast Midlands1,616
263 jointEpping ForestEast of England1,617
263 jointSouth NorfolkEast of England1,617
263 jointThree RiversEast of England1,617
263 jointWandsworthLondon1,617
267 jointMertonLondon1,618
267 jointSt AlbansEast of England1,618
269 jointPeterboroughEast of England1,620
269 jointWelwyn HatfieldEast of England1,620
271 jointEpsom and EwellSouth East1,621
271 jointHarrowLondon1,621
271 jointHertsmereEast of England1,621
271 jointWiltshireSouth West1,621
275GuildfordSouth East1,622
276West OxfordshireSouth East1,624
277HaveringLondon1,625
278Reigate and BansteadSouth East1,627
279 jointRushmoorSouth East1,628
279 jointWinchesterSouth East1,628
281 jointBracknell ForestSouth East1,629
281 jointNorth KestevenEast Midlands1,629
283 jointMole ValleySouth East1,630
283 jointSevenoaksSouth East1,630
285Test ValleySouth East1,631
286Surrey HeathSouth East1,632
287 jointEast DevonSouth West1,633
287 jointWokingSouth East1,633
289 jointBasingstoke and DeaneSouth East1,635
289 jointDartfordSouth East1,635
289 jointHammersmith and FulhamLondon1,635
289 jointWindsor and MaidenheadSouth East1,635
293East HampshireSouth East1,637
294WaverleySouth East1,638
295 jointCornwallSouth West1,646
295 jointEalingLondon1,646
297 jointNorth SomersetSouth West1,651
297 jointTeignbridgeSouth West1,651
299 jointHartSouth East1,652
299 jointNorth NorfolkEast of England1,652
301HavantSouth East1,653
302HillingdonLondon1,654
303SloughSouth East1,655
304BrentwoodEast of England1,657
305 jointBraintreeEast of England1,658
305 jointKingston upon ThamesLondon1,658
307 jointCrawleySouth East1,659
307 jointElmbridgeSouth East1,659
309EastleighSouth East1,665
310Mid SussexSouth East1,669
311RunnymedeSouth East1,670
312HounslowLondon1,672
313 jointChelmsfordEast of England1,674
313 jointTunbridge WellsSouth East1,674
315 jointRichmond upon ThamesLondon1,675
315 jointTonbridge and MallingSouth East1,675
317SouthamptonSouth East1,677
318ThurrockEast of England1,678
319Vale of GlamorganWales1,683
320GraveshamSouth East1,684
321SpelthorneSouth East1,685
322East SuffolkEast of England1,686
323BaberghEast of England1,689
324 jointBasildonEast of England1,693
324 jointMid SuffolkEast of England1,693
326HorshamSouth East1,694
327MaidstoneSouth East1,696
328FarehamSouth East1,697
329 jointIpswichEast of England1,701
329 jointPortsmouthSouth East1,701
331 jointColchesterEast of England1,703
331 jointGreat YarmouthEast of England1,703
331 jointMedwaySouth East1,703
334DorsetSouth West1,713
335WealdenSouth East1,722
336GosportSouth East1,726
337 jointAshfordSouth East1,728
337 jointTorbaySouth West1,728
339 jointCastle PointEast of England1,738
339 jointMaldonEast of England1,738
339 jointRochfordEast of England1,738
342Brighton and HoveSouth East1,745
343ChichesterSouth East1,751
344New ForestSouth East1,756
345 jointLewesSouth East1,761
345 jointSwaleSouth East1,761
347Southend-on-SeaEast of England1,766
348TendringEast of England1,768
349Bournemouth, Christchurch and PooleSouth West1,797
350Isles of ScillySouth West1,801
351AdurSouth East1,802
352CanterburySouth East1,806
353RotherSouth East1,813
354WorthingSouth East1,840
355EastbourneSouth East1,847
356ArunSouth East1,857
357ThanetSouth East1,858
358HastingsSouth East1,864
359Isle of WightSouth East1,872
360DoverSouth East1,877
361Folkestone and HytheSouth East1,892

Met Office, gridded climate observations, sunshine hours a year averaged over 1991 to 2020, 5km grid, through the CEDA archive, read at every census area · 1991 to 2020 · fetched 22 October 2026 · How this is measured

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