DARKER evenings are set to return from tomorrow (October 25) as Brits prepare for the clocks to go back.

However, some UK cities are gloomier than others, with one location averaging just two hours of sunshine a day in winter.

Illustration of a map of the UK showing the gloomiest towns with their respective scores: Cumbernauld 83.5, Rochdale 82.7, Oldham 75.1, Huddersfield 73.0, Swansea 60.8, Plymouth 60.4, and Taunton 59.6.
The UK’s gloomiest cities have officially been revealed amid the clocks going back on Sunday
High-angle view of Derry in Northern Ireland, featuring hills in the background and a bridge on the right.
Derry/Londonderry has officially been ranked as the UK’s gloomiest location in autumn and winter Credit: Alamy

All 197 of the UK’s towns and cities have been given a gloom score out of 100, compiled by premium appliance brand AEG .

The company has examined data on rainfall, sunshine and humidity between September and February to find out where has the bleakest weather conditions during autumn and winter.

Derry/Londonderry has received the unwanted crown of being the UK’s , receiving a gloom score of 86.8 with over 102 rainy days every autumn and winter.

Residents in the Northern Irish city receive just 366.5 hours of sunshine a day, working out at just two hours a day during autumn and winter.

A view of Rochdale town centre in Greater Manchester, showing a paved street with modern and historic buildings under a partly cloudy sky.
Rochdale comes third with a gloom score of 82.7 Credit: Alamy
Paisley covered in snow and ice during the Beast from the East.
A snowy Paisley in Scotland, pictured here, comes sixth Credit: Alamy

Following closely behind is the Scottish town of Cumbernauld, located in between Edinburgh and Glasgow, which received a of 83.5.

Over 99 days of the year in Cumbernauld are filled with , amounting to 774.5mm, with only 397 hours of sunshine during the winter.

Historic market town Rochdale in Greater Manchester ranks third most gloomy, with Burnley closely behind then East Kilbride in Scotland.

All of these locations endure a minimum of 95 days between September and February, as well as minimal sunshine.

UK's gloomiest locations in autumn and winter

  1. Derry/Londonderry, Northern Ireland
  2. Cumbernauld, Scotland
  3. Rochdale, England
  4. Burnley, England
  5. East Kilbride, Scotland
  6. Paisley, Scotland
  7. Halifax, England
  8. Lisburn, Northern Ireland
  9. Oldham, England
  10. Blackburn, England
  11. Bury, England
  12. Huddersfield, England,
  13. Glasgow, Scotland
  14. Newtownabbey, Northern Ireland
  15. Hamilton, Scotland
  16. Craigavon, Northern Ireland
  17. Bolton, England
  18. Stoke-on-Trent, England
  19. Bridgend, Wales
  20. Bradford, England
  21. Belfast, Northern Ireland
  22. Castlereagh, Northern Ireland & Preston, England
  23. Macclesfield, England
  24. Lancaster, England
  25. Newcastle-under-Lyme
  26. Swansea, Wales
  27. Blackpool, England
  28. Plymouth, England
  29. Taunton, England & Cardiff, Wales
  30. Wigan, England

Weather isn’t much brighter in Paisley in Scotland, Halifax in West Yorkshire or Lisburn in eastern Northern Ireland – which all experience at least 15 days more rain on average alongside high humidity.

Oldham and Blackburn in the of England round off the gloomy top 10, receiving Gloom Scores of 74 and 75 respectively.

On the other end of the spectrum, the coastal city of Southend-on-Sea is officially the most ungloomy location in the UK, followed by Clacton-on-Sea and Margate – receiving scores between 20 and 25.

Despite having 70 rainy days throughout winter, Weymouth’s 518 hours of sunshine between September and February help it rank fourth in the UK.