Does your walk home end after sunset? An approximate sunset table for six cities and a Highway Code Rule 3 check

When the clocks go back, a walk that ended in daylight in October ends in the dark in November. This sheet puts numbers on that for six cities, then asks one question: is your walk home still in daylight, in poor light, or in the dark? Rule 3 of the Highway Code says what to wear for each. The times are our own calculation, so they come with a margin. xzvzx and Calm Eden are under common ownership.

Sunset and civil dusk, 9 November and 21 December

Sunset is when the top edge of the sun reaches the horizon. Civil dusk is when the sun’s centre is 6 degrees below it, after which the sky is dark enough that lights are normally needed. All times are local standard time, which applies in all six cities on both dates.

Is your walk in daylight, poor light or the dark?

The second table applies the first to three finishing times. Daylight means before sunset, poor light means between sunset and civil dusk, and dark means after civil dusk.

Two things stand out. On 9 November a 17:00 finish is already in poor light in the four North American cities and in the dark in London and Edinburgh, and by 17:30 all six are dark, Toronto only just. On 21 December, 17:00 is dark in four of the six cities, with only New York and Toronto still in poor light. That change takes a matter of weeks.

What Rule 3 says

Rule 3 of the Highway Code for pedestrians, on gov.uk, carries the heading Help other road users to see you. It says to wear or carry something light-coloured, bright or fluorescent in poor daylight conditions. When it is dark, it says to use reflective materials, giving armbands, sashes, waistcoats, jackets and footwear as examples. It adds that reflective materials can be seen by drivers using headlights up to three times as far away as non-reflective materials. The code is road guidance for Great Britain. Other countries have their own rules, though the physics is the same.

What to wear, by finishing time (our reading)

• Finish before sunset: nothing special. A bright coat is still a good idea in poor weather.
• Finish between sunset and civil dusk: poor light. Rule 3 asks for something light-coloured, bright or fluorescent.
• Finish after civil dusk: dark. Rule 3 asks for reflective materials, on the body: jacket, armband, footwear.
• Cloud makes it darker. The table assumes a clear sky, so a rainy evening will feel dark sooner than the times suggest.

Where an umbrella fits

Rule 3 lists clothing and does not mention umbrellas. Reflective strips on the canopy are a useful extra, as Calm Eden explains in its guide to reflective umbrellas and night visibility, but they do not replace a reflective item you wear. On a busy pavement after dark, lifting your canopy for other walkers matters too, as Calm Eden’s umbrella etiquette guide explains. For the wider decision on rain gear after dark, see our bike commute rain gear sheet and the umbrella or rain jacket comparison.

Where the Haven Umbrella fits

Calm Eden’s Haven Umbrella has reflective strips. It is a compact for one adult: 30 carbon fibre ribs, an opening of about 105 cm, a fold to 40 cm / 15.75 in, about 390 g, and one press to open and close. It is storm-proof, has an SPF 50+ canopy and a lifetime warranty, and comes in 8 colours (White, Beige, Baby Blue, Pink, Lavender, Green, Gray and Black). Shipping is free worldwide in 4 to 7 days with no import duties, and the 30 Day Money Back Guarantee accepts opened or used umbrellas, with free returns. Every order includes a Haven Cover and the Wellness Journal (digital); Buy 2 Get 1 Free adds the UV Charm and the Rain Poncho, and Buy 3 Get 2 Free also adds the Haven SPF 50+ Silk Square Scarf.

Sources: GOV.UK, The Highway Code, rules for pedestrians (rule 3), read on 6 November 2026. Sunset and dusk times are our own calculation for the dates shown.