Four in the afternoon is the hour when the British winter day effectively ends. Sunset in London in mid-December is just before four, and in Glasgow it has already gone; by contrast, in June there are another five and a half hours of daylight left. No other hour changes character so completely across the year.
Practically, it is the end of the school day for secondary pupils, the start of after-school clubs and homework, and the point at which many public counters, post office branches and council offices begin closing. It is also the classic time for tea in the older sense of the word — a cup and something to eat before dinner.
A countdown to 4 pm is usually tied to a collection, a closing time, or the end of a shift. It resets each day and always reflects the next occurrence of the hour.
Common questions
Is it dark at 4 pm in the UK?
In December, yes — the sun sets just before four in London and earlier still in Scotland. In June there are hours of daylight left.
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