This study explores the relationship between articulatory variation and speech timing, focussing on patterns of onset cluster timing in articulatorily distinct productions of /l/. Motivated by findings of variable cross-linguistic patterns of lateral cluster timing, this study compares lateral onset clusters across two closely related dialects of British English which differ in lateral darkness. Durational measures are used to determine the stable intervals and temporal movements across singleton and cluster pairs. Unexpectedly, the study finds no effects of lateral darkness on lateral onset cluster timing. Possible explanations for these results are explored.