Rise and shine with the seven best sunrise alarm clocks, tried and tested

Our reviewer sheds some light on adding brightness to your mornings with the best dawn simulation alarms, from Lumie and Philips to Hatch

• The best sleep aids recommended by experts: from blue light-blockers to apps to help you nap

To wake each day in darkness is a plight you wouldn’t wish on your worst enemy, yet that’s what many of us do routinely throughout winter. Getting up in the dark decouples our life from our circadian rhythm (our body clock), with bodily processes such as cognition and metabolism put to work before they’re fully prepped.

Thank heavens, then, for sunrise alarm clocks. These “dawn simulation” devices glow with gradually intensifying brightness as your wake-up time approaches, kickstarting your circadian rhythm before you get out of bed. For many users, this results in a happier, healthier start to the day.

Best overall sunrise alarm clock:
Lumie Bodyclock Spark 100
£76.23 at John Lewis

Best sunrise alarm clock for late-night reading:
Philips SmartSleep
£157.99 at Philips

Best sunrise alarm clock for a gentle awakening:
Lumie Sunrise Alarm
£36.80 at Amazon

Best sunrise alarm clock for couples:
Beurer Wake-Up Light WL50
£79.99 at Amazon

Best value sunrise alarm clock:
Momcozy Sunrise Echo
£54.99 at Boots