That short window just after sunrise and before sunset, known as golden hour, brings softer light, longer shadows and more balanced tones, making it one of the most rewarding times to shoot.

To help you make the most of it and mark the return of longer sunlight hours, we’ve ranked the best golden hour photography spots across the UK. We’ve also included practical tips from Lizzie James, Product Specialist at Jessops, to help you get the most out of golden hour, from setting up your camera to working with the changing light.

Contents

What is golden hour photography?

When is the golden hour?

The best UK locations for golden hour photography

Golden hour photography tips

To determine the rankings, a seedlist of the UK’s most popular beauty spots, from National Trust Sites to beaches, was compiled, and each location was assessed using three key factors. These included the average length of golden hour and the total day length during Spring (sourced from Map Tools), and Instagram hashtag volume, which was used as an indicator of how often each spot is photographed and shared.

Each location was then given an overall score based on an equal weighting across all three factors. Final scores were converted into a mark out of 10, with those scoring closest to 10 ranking highest overall. Locations were then ordered from highest to lowest score to create the final top eight.

Golden hour isn’t the same everywhere, and in some locations it can last noticeably longer. This mostly comes down to geography, time of year and how the sun moves across the sky.

• Latitude - One of the biggest factors is latitude. In places further north, like the UK, the sun travels across the sky at a lower angle, especially in spring and summer. This means it takes longer to rise and set, stretching out those softer lighting conditions and giving you a longer golden hour to shoot in. Even within the UK, this becomes more noticeable the further north you go, with places like Scotland often enjoying slightly longer golden hours than the south of England.

• Season - The time of year also plays a part. Around the summer months, days are longer, and the sun’s path is more gradual, so golden hour can last much longer than it would in winter, when the sun rises and sets more quickly.

• Landscape - Open areas like coastlines, lakes or wide countryside tend to give you uninterrupted light for longer, while cities or mountainous areas can block the sun earlier, shortening the effect as it drops behind buildings or hills.

All of this means that where and when you shoot can have a big impact on how much time you actually get. If you’re planning a golden hour session, it’s worth checking sunrise and sunset times in advance, and thinking about how the surrounding landscape might affect the light.

As the light shifts, shadows stretch across the hillside while the rock itself takes on a warm glow, making it an ideal setting for dramatic landscape shots.  On mistier mornings or evenings, that light can diffuse through the haze, adding a softer, more atmospheric feel to the scene.

It’s also one of the UK’s most popular photography spots, with over 106K Instagram hashtags, and that popularity is easy to understand. Between the unique natural formations and sweeping views, it’s a location that delivers both visually and practically for photographers looking to capture something memorable.

1. Plan ahead and arrive early

Lizzie says: “Golden hour doesn’t last as long as you think, so it’s always worth getting there early. Give yourself time to look around, figure out your composition and get your camera ready.”

“It’s a good time to get your camera settings, like aperture and shutter speed, sorted. Take a few test shots so that once the light starts to shift, you can focus on shooting rather than fiddling with settings.”

2. Position for backlighting or silhouettes

“Golden hour is perfect for backlighting, so don’t always shoot with the sun behind you,” Lizzie recommends. “Try turning your subject towards the light instead, so the sun sits behind them. That’s how you get that soft glow around people, buildings or landscapes, and it can make your images feel a lot more atmospheric.”

“Just keep in mind it can be a bit tricky. Shooting into the sun can sometimes cause lens flare or make your subject look too dark, so you might need to adjust your exposure slightly or change your angle to get the balance right.”

3. Use a wide aperture for portraits

Lizzie says: “Aperture can really change how your photos look. For portraits during golden hour, it’s a good idea to use a wide aperture, which just means using a lower f-number, like f/1.8 or f/2.8.”

“What that does is blur the background, so your subject stands out more clearly. During golden hour, this works especially well because any light in the background, like the sun or reflections, turns into a soft blur rather than a distraction.”

“If you’re using aperture priority mode, you can simply dial in a lower f-number and let the camera handle the rest.”

“The main thing to watch is focus. Because you’re letting in more light, only a small part of the image will be sharp, so always make sure you focus on the eyes to keep the shot looking clean.”

4. Shoot in RAW and adjust white balance

Lizzie explains: “Golden hour light changes quickly, so what looks right in one moment can feel completely different a few minutes later. That’s why shooting in RAW is really useful, especially if you’re still getting used to your settings.”

“RAW files hold more detail than JPEGs, which means you’ve got more flexibility when you come to edit. If your photo looks a bit too cool or too orange, you can easily adjust the white balance afterwards without losing quality.”

“During golden hour, colours can shift quite a lot as the sun drops, so having that control makes a big difference. It means you’re not stuck with whatever your camera decided at the time, and you can fine-tune the look to match what you actually saw.”

5. Prepare for low light

Lizzie says: “Golden hour doesn’t last long before the light starts to drop, so it’s important to be ready for lower light conditions as you’re shooting. As the sun dips, your camera will need more light to keep your images properly exposed.”

“For beginners, the easiest adjustment is usually ISO. This camera setting controls how sensitive your camera is to light — a lower ISO, like ISO 100 or 200, means less sensitivity (good for bright conditions), while a higher ISO, like 6400, makes your image brighter in darker situations.”

“If your shot starts looking too dark, try raising your ISO gradually rather than changing everything at once. You can also lower your shutter speed to let in more light, but if you go too slow while shooting handheld, your photo can start to blur.”

“As a rough guide, if you’re photographing people or anything moving, you’ll want a faster shutter speed, like 1/250th of a second or quicker, to keep things sharp. If you’re shooting a landscape and nothing’s moving much, you can get away with a slower shutter speed, such as 1/60th. “A tripod really helps here. It keeps the camera steady in lower light, so you can use slower shutter speeds without adding camera shake.”

From coastal views to mountain landscapes and city skylines, shooting during golden hour offers some of the most flattering conditions to work with. The softer light gives you the chance to experiment and capture scenes in a completely different way.

Having the right kit can make all the difference, especially as the light changes quickly. Whether it’s a camera that performs well in lower light, a lens suited to wide landscapes, or a tripod to keep things sharp as the sun dips, Jessops has you covered. And if you’re unsure what works best, our experts are always on hand to offer straightforward, practical advice.

Read our blog for more inspiration, tips and guidance, contact our friendly experts online or pop in-store to chat with the team.