Winter
Dec → Feb8 to 10°
nights 2 to 4°
- 12 rainy days · 65 mm
- 4.3 h of sun
When is the best time to visit United Kingdom?
- Jan8°not recommended
- Feb10°not recommended
- Mar11°not recommended
- Apr14°fair
- May18°recommended
- Jun21°recommended
- Jul22°recommended
- Aug23°recommended
- Sep20°recommended
- Oct16°fair
- Nov11°not recommended
- Dec9°not recommended
RecommendedFairNot recommended· afternoon temperature
The weather in United Kingdom, month by month
The table of records, month by month
| Month | High | Low | Sunshine | Rainfall | Rainy days | Best |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 8° | 2° | 4.3 h | 64 mm | 11 d | |
| February | 10° | 4° | 5.2 h | 65 mm | 13 d | |
| March | 11° | 4° | 6.5 h | 61 mm | 14 d | |
| April | 14° | 5° | 9.5 h | 41 mm | 9 d | |
| May | 18° | 8° | 10.6 h | 58 mm | 11 d | ✓ |
| June | 21° | 12° | 11.2 h | 61 mm | 11 d | ✓ |
| July | 22° | 14° | 11.2 h | 65 mm | 11 d | ✓ |
| August | 23° | 14° | 10 h | 49 mm | 8 d | ✓ |
| September | 20° | 12° | 8.4 h | 70 mm | 11 d | ✓ |
| October | 16° | 9° | 6.3 h | 107 mm | 16 d | |
| November | 11° | 6° | 4.4 h | 71 mm | 11 d | |
| December | 9° | 4° | 3.3 h | 67 mm | 12 d |
The four seasons in United Kingdom, in figures
What the 2015-2024 records (London) show, season by season, to compare at a glance instead of reading twelve rows of a table.
Spring
Mar → May11 to 18°
nights 4 to 8°
- 11 rainy days · 53 mm
- 8.9 h of sun
Summer
Jun → Aug21 to 23°
nights 12 to 14°
- 10 rainy days · 58 mm
- 10.8 h of sun
Autumn
Sep → Nov11 to 20°
nights 6 to 12°
- 13 rainy days · 83 mm
- 6.4 h of sun
Book early for May to September
The timing is right, so it is right for everyone: in these months the best places to stay and the small-group tours go first. Here is where to start.
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Daylight in United Kingdom, month by month
The time between sunrise and sunset, from shortest to longest. Not to be confused with the sunshine hours in the table above, which count clear skies. In June there are 16h36 of daylight, in December 7h51, a difference of 8h45.
8h19Jan
9h53Feb
11h42Mar
13h47Apr
15h35May
16h36Jun
16h11Jul
14h35Aug
12h33Sep
10h33Oct
8h46Nov
7h51Dec
Calculated for the latitude of the reference point "London" (51.51°). Values on the 15th of each month, local solar time.
What to do in United Kingdom, month by month
EventsWimbledonJune to JulyEdinburgh Festival FringeAugustNotting Hill CarnivalAugustBonfire NightNovemberDetails ↓
favourablewith compromisesunfavourable
- Hiking: April, August
- Towns & culture: January, April, May, June, July, August, September, November, December
- Long days: May, June, July, August
Grid derived from the records (temperature, rainfall), not from an opinion.
What's on in United Kingdom, month by month?
What comes back every year, and when. These events fill the hotels and push prices up: something to aim for or to avoid, depending on what you want.
- June to JulyWimbledon big crowds
The tournament runs for two weeks spanning late June and early July, with its queue camped outside the courts in south-west London.
- AugustEdinburgh Festival Fringe big crowds
Throughout August, Edinburgh fills with makeshift stages: theatre, comedy and dance in cellars, churches and back rooms.
- AugustNotting Hill Carnival big crowds
On the last weekend of August, Caribbean sound systems and the costumed parade take over west London for two days.
- NovemberBonfire Night
In early November, bonfires and fireworks are lit all over the country, with well-attended processions in Lewes, in Sussex.
Travelling off-peak
When to visit United Kingdom, region by region
A country's best time is an average, and it hides big differences. Here is what the records say for each area, month by month: ✓ for a recommended month, ~ for a fair one, a dot for a month to avoid. Hover over a cell for the temperature.
| Area | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🇬🇧 London | · | · | · | ~ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ~ | · | · |
| 🏴 Scotland | · | · | · | ~ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ~ | · | · |
| 🇬🇧 Edinburgh | · | · | · | ~ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ~ | · | · |
| 🇬🇧 Cornwall | · | · | · | ~ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ~ | ✓ | ~ | · | · |
Month by month, in detail
January
Not recommended8°2° at night
- 64 mm · 11 d
- 4.3 h
Low season, lower prices
February
Not recommended10°4° at night
- 65 mm · 13 d
- 5.2 h
Low season, lower prices
March
Not recommended11°4° at night
- 61 mm · 14 d
- 6.5 h
Low season, lower prices
April
Fair14°5° at night
- 41 mm · 9 d
- 9.5 h
Low season, lower prices
May
Recommended18°8° at night
- 58 mm · 11 d
- 10.6 h
Busy, without the crush
June
Recommended21°12° at night
- 61 mm · 11 d
- 11.2 h
High season, book early
July
Recommended22°14° at night
- 65 mm · 11 d
- 11.2 h
High season, book early
August
Recommended23°14° at night
- 49 mm · 8 d
- 10 h
High season, book early
September
Recommended20°12° at night
- 70 mm · 11 d
- 8.4 h
Busy, without the crush
October
Fair16°9° at night
- 107 mm · 16 d
- 6.3 h
Low season, lower prices
November
Not recommended11°6° at night
- 71 mm · 11 d
- 4.4 h
Low season, lower prices
December
Not recommended9°4° at night
- 67 mm · 12 d
- 3.3 h
Quiet, then the holidays
Read the twelve months in detail
January. Cool: 8 °C at best, 2 °C at night. Expect 11 days of rain in the month (64 mm). Sunshine gets scarcer (4.3 h a day). Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
February. Cool: 10 °C at best, 4 °C at night. Expect 13 days of rain in the month (65 mm). Sunshine gets scarcer (5.2 h a day). Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
March. Cool: 11 °C at best, 4 °C at night. A very wet month, 61 mm of rain over 14 days. Expect 6.5 h of sunshine a day. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
April. Cool: 14 °C at best, 5 °C at night. Expect 9 days of rain in the month (41 mm). Plenty of sunshine: 9.5 h a day on average. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
May. Mild, 18 °C in the afternoon and 8 °C early in the morning. Expect 11 days of rain in the month (58 mm). Plenty of sunshine: 10.6 h a day on average. Busy season, without the crush.
June. Mild, 21 °C in the afternoon and 12 °C early in the morning. Expect 11 days of rain in the month (61 mm). Plenty of sunshine: 11.2 h a day on average. High season: book early.
July. Mild, 22 °C in the afternoon and 14 °C early in the morning. Expect 11 days of rain in the month (65 mm). Plenty of sunshine: 11.2 h a day on average. High season: book early.
August. Mild, 23 °C in the afternoon and 14 °C early in the morning. Expect 8 days of rain in the month (49 mm). Plenty of sunshine: 10 h a day on average. High season: book early.
September. Mild, 20 °C in the afternoon and 12 °C early in the morning. Expect 11 days of rain in the month (70 mm). Expect 8.4 h of sunshine a day. Busy season, without the crush.
October. Cool: 16 °C at best, 9 °C at night. Frequent rain: 107 mm over 16 days. Expect 6.3 h of sunshine a day. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
November. Cool: 11 °C at best, 6 °C at night. Expect 11 days of rain in the month (71 mm). Sunshine gets scarcer (4.4 h a day). Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
December. Cool: 9 °C at best, 4 °C at night. Expect 12 days of rain in the month (67 mm). Sunshine gets scarcer (3.3 h a day). Quiet at the start of the month, then busier as the holidays approach.
Same season, other ideas
Their best time overlaps with this one: worth comparing before you book.
Frequently asked questions
When is the best time to visit United Kingdom?
May to September: over these months, recorded highs range from 18 to 23 °C, with 10 days of rain a month on average (2015-2024 records, London).
Which month should you avoid in United Kingdom?
November: it is the wettest of the months to avoid, with 71 mm over 11 days of rain on average, according to 2015-2024 records at the reference point (London).
What is the hottest month in United Kingdom?
August, with 23 °C on average in the afternoon and 14 °C at night. 2015-2024 records (London).
What is the coldest month in United Kingdom?
January, with 8 °C at best during the day and 2 °C at night. 2015-2024 records (London).
What is the driest month in United Kingdom?
April: 41 mm over 9 days of rain, against 107 mm in October, the wettest month.
Which month has the most sunshine in United Kingdom?
June, with 11.2 h of sunshine a day on average. Note that this counts clear skies, not the length of the day.
When is the best time to hike in United Kingdom?
April, August: highs between 12 and 29 °C and no more than 9 days of rain a month according to 2015-2024 records (London), the safest windows for walking.
Plan this trip
📒 The free printable United Kingdom guide: itinerary, map, where to sleep→
🗓️ Best time to visit: all our destinations→
Compare with other destinations
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