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Best time to visit London
Month-by-month weather, crowds, prices, and festival calendar — so you know exactly when to book.
Photo by Dan Roizer on Unsplash
Best time to visit London, United Kingdom
Month-by-month breakdown of weather, crowds, prices, and seasonal highlights.
| Month | Score | Weather | Crowds | Prices | Highlights |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 2-8°C, often overcast with frequent light rain. | low | low |
⚠ Daylight hours are very short. | |
| February | 3-9°C, cold, damp, and frequently grey. | low | low |
⚠ Can still be quite chilly and wet. | |
| March | 5-12°C, increasing sunshine but still a chance of cold spells. | low | moderate |
| |
| April | 7-15°C, variable with sunny spells and showers. | moderate | moderate |
⚠ Weather can be unpredictable; pack layers. | |
| May | 10-18°C, pleasant with a good mix of sun and occasional light rain. | moderate | high |
| |
| June | 13-21°C, generally warm and often sunny. | high | high |
| |
| July | 15-23°C, warm and can be humid, with occasional thunderstorms. | peak | peak |
⚠ Peak tourist season means higher prices and crowds. | |
| August | 16-24°C, similar to July, warm with a chance of rain. | peak | peak |
⚠ Many Londoners go on holiday, but tourists are at their highest. | |
| September | 12-20°C, crisp air with a good balance of sunshine. | moderate | high |
| |
| October | 9-17°C, cooler with more frequent rain and wind. | moderate | moderate |
| |
| November | 6-12°C, cold, damp, and increasingly dark. | moderate | moderate |
⚠ Daylight is significantly reduced. | |
| December | 4-10°C, cold, often wet, with a chance of frost. | peak | peak |
⚠ Christmas week sees very high prices and crowds. |
Annual events worth timing your trip around
June
Trooping the Colour
Annual celebration of the monarch's birthday with a military parade.
July
Wimbledon Tennis Championships
The most prestigious tennis tournament in the world.
August
Notting Hill Carnival
Europe's largest street festival, celebrating Caribbean culture.
September
London Fashion Week
A biannual event showcasing international designers.
November
Bonfire Night
Commemorates the failed Gunpowder Plot with fireworks displays.
November
Christmas Markets
Various markets pop up across the city offering festive goods and food.
Insider timing tips
- •Spring (April-May) offers pleasant weather and fewer crowds than summer, but be prepared for variable conditions.
- •The 'shoulder seasons' of May and September provide a good balance of decent weather and manageable crowds before/after the peak summer rush.
- •While summer (July-August) is warmest, it's also the most expensive and crowded, especially around major events like Wimbledon and Notting Hill Carnival.
- •Late autumn (November) can be dreary and dark, but the early Christmas markets offer a festive atmosphere, albeit with higher prices than the true off-season.
- •Bank holidays in May and August can significantly increase domestic travel and accommodation costs, even if international tourist numbers aren't at their absolute peak.
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