# Why London Prayer Times Differ — Unified Timetable | UKPT

> Why London prayer times differ from generic apps. London mosques follow the London Unified Prayer Timetable (Hizbul Ulama / Central Moon Sighting…

*Source: https://prayer-times.co.uk/london-prayer-times-explained · Independent, free UK prayer times.*

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London · prayer times explained

# Why London prayer times are different

Quick Answer

London mosques follow the London Unified Prayer Timetable — not generic MWL calculations. At London's latitude, Fajr and Isha from observation tables can differ from apps by minutes to over an hour. UK Prayer Times uses this timetable as the default for London and the M25 area.

Last updated 11 August 2026

London mosques don't use generic astronomical times. They follow the **London Unified Prayer Timetable** — and at London's latitude that can differ from a calculation app by anywhere from a few minutes to over an hour.

## The short answer

For much of the British summer the sun never sinks 18° below the horizon over London, so the astronomical definition of Fajr (daybreak) and Isha (nightfall) used by most apps simply does not occur. To give a consistent, usable timetable, London's mosques agreed a single **unified timetable** whose Fajr and Isha come from direct observation by the Hizbul Ulama moonsighting committee — not from a fixed angle.

Side by side

## London today — Tuesday, 11th August 2026

Why these times

## London follows the London Unified timetable

Mosques across London and the M25 — including East London Mosque and London Central Mosque — use the **London Unified Prayer Timetable**, not generic astronomical times. Here is how today's times (Tuesday, 11th August 2026) compare with the Muslim World League (MWL) method, which can be 10–60 minutes out at London's latitude in summer.

| Prayer | London Unified | Astronomical (MWL) | Difference |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Fajr | 03:59 | 04:21 | 22 min earlier |
| Sunrise | 05:37 | 05:40 | 3 min earlier |
| Dhuhr | 13:11 | 13:06 | 5 min later |
| Asr | 17:08 | 17:08 | same |
| Maghrib | 20:34 | 20:31 | 3 min later |
| Isha | 21:40 | 21:49 | 9 min earlier |

**London Unified** is the default here because it is what local mosques follow. The astronomical column is shown for comparison only. [Why do London prayer times differ?](/london-prayer-times-explained)

How it works

## The London Unified method

-   **Adopted in 2011** by Hizbul Ulama UK & the Central Moon Sighting Committee of Great Britain.
-   **Fajr & Isha** — from the Hizbul Ulama observation tables, not a fixed astronomical angle.
-   **Sun-based prayers** — sunrise, Dhuhr, Asr and Maghrib from precise sun positions for central London, with small published adjustments: sunrise -3 min, Dhuhr +5 min (Zawal avoidance), Maghrib +3 min.
-   **Asr** — published as Mithl 1 (standard) and Mithl 2 (Hanafi, later).
-   **Scope** — designed for London and the area inside the M25; mosques there pray by the same table.

Timetable data: London Unified Prayer Timetable (LUPT), via [londonsalahtimes.com](https://www.londonsalahtimes.com); cross-checked against the East London Mosque published timetable.

## Frequently asked questions

Why are London prayer times different from my app?

Most apps calculate Fajr and Isha from a fixed astronomical angle (e.g. 18°). At London’s latitude the sun does not reach 18° below the horizon for much of the summer, so those methods either fail or produce times no London mosque uses. London mosques instead follow the London Unified Prayer Timetable, whose Fajr and Isha come from the Hizbul Ulama moonsighting committee’s observations.

What is the London Unified Prayer Timetable?

It is a single agreed timetable for London, adopted in 2011 by Hizbul Ulama UK together with the Central Moon Sighting Committee of Great Britain, so that mosques across the capital pray at the same times. East London Mosque, London Central Mosque (Regent’s Park) and most mosques inside the M25 follow it.

Which mosques use the London Unified timetable?

East London Mosque, London Central Mosque and the large majority of mosques within the M25 use it. That is why we make it the default for London and the surrounding M25 area on this site.

How are the times worked out?

Sunrise, Dhuhr, Asr and Maghrib are derived from precise sun positions for central London, with small published adjustments — sunrise −3 minutes, Dhuhr +5 minutes (to avoid the disliked time at exact midday), and Maghrib +3 minutes. Fajr and Isha are taken from the Hizbul Ulama observation tables, not a fixed angle. Asr is published in two forms: the standard (Mithl 1) and the Hanafi (Mithl 2).

Is the Muslim World League method wrong?

No — it is a valid astronomical method used widely across the UK and the world. It is simply not what London mosques follow. We show the MWL times alongside the London Unified times so you can compare, but the London Unified column is the one your local London mosque will be praying by.

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