When to go · United Kingdom

United Kingdom, month by month

The best months for United Kingdom: May, Jun, Sep.

Plan around it

Month by month

JanuaryMixedShort grey days, sales and cheap hotels; good for London museums and theatre, poor for the Highlands.London and the south-east: cool · South-west England: rainy · Northern England and Wales: rainyCrowds: Low · 3 festivals or holidays
FebruaryMixedCold and damp; a city month. Half-term week fills family sights.London and the south-east: cool · South-west England: cool · Northern England and Wales: coolCrowds: Low
MarchGoodDays lengthen quickly; daffodils and lambs. Easter may fall at the end of the month.London and the south-east: cool · South-west England: cool · Northern England and Wales: coolCrowds: Medium · 2 festivals or holidays
AprilGoodSpring gardens and parks; Easter holidays fill London sights and trains.London and the south-east: fine · South-west England: fine · Northern England and Wales: fineCrowds: Medium · 1 festival or holiday
MayGreatOne of the best months: long days, fewer midges, drier than average. Two bank-holiday weekends.London and the south-east: best weather · South-west England: best weather · Northern England and Wales: best weatherCrowds: Medium · 2 festivals or holidays
JuneGreatLongest days (18 h in Edinburgh); Highlands at their best before the school holidays.London and the south-east: best weather · South-west England: best weather · Northern England and Wales: best weatherCrowds: High · 2 festivals or holidays
JulyMixedSchool holidays start; peak prices, midges in the west, heat waves in London.London and the south-east: best weather · South-west England: best weather · Northern England and Wales: fineCrowds: High · 4 festivals or holidays
AugustMixedEdinburgh festivals month: book beds months ahead or sleep elsewhere. Coast and national parks full.London and the south-east: best weather · South-west England: best weather · Northern England and Wales: fineCrowds: High · 4 festivals or holidays
SeptemberGreatSchools back, weather often settled; the best month for walking and the Highlands.London and the south-east: best weather · South-west England: best weather · Northern England and Wales: best weatherCrowds: Medium · 2 festivals or holidays
OctoberGoodAutumn colour, fewer crowds; clocks go back in the last week and evenings darken.London and the south-east: fine · South-west England: fine · Northern England and Wales: rainyCrowds: Medium
NovemberMixedWet and dark; Christmas lights and markets open late in the month.London and the south-east: cool · South-west England: rainy · Northern England and Wales: rainyCrowds: Low · 3 festivals or holidays
DecemberMixedChristmas markets and shows; transport stops on the 25th and hotels spike around New Year.London and the south-east: cool · South-west England: rainy · Northern England and Wales: rainyCrowds: Medium · 2 festivals or holidays

Compare two months

Weather, crowds and prices for any two months in United Kingdom, side by side.

First month

Second month

Verdict
May: Great
Jun: Great
Crowds
May: Medium
Jun: High
Prices
May: Medium
Jun: High
Festivals listed
May: 2
Jun: 2

May: One of the best months: long days, fewer midges, drier than average. Two bank-holiday weekends.

June: Longest days (18 h in Edinburgh); Highlands at their best before the school holidays.

United Kingdom: figures are long-term averages from this guide, not a forecast.

Weather by region

How each climate zone rates each month.

Weather rating by region and month
Region	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
London and the south-eastLondon, Oxford, Cambridge, Kent, Brighton	Cool	Cool	Cool	OK	Best	Best	Best	Best	Best	OK	Cool	Cool
South-west EnglandBath, Bristol, Cornwall, Devon	Wet	Cool	Cool	OK	Best	Best	Best	Best	Best	OK	Wet	Wet
Northern England and WalesYork, Manchester, Lake District, Snowdonia (Eryri), Cardiff	Wet	Cool	Cool	OK	Best	Best	OK	OK	Best	Wet	Wet	Wet
ScotlandEdinburgh, Glasgow, Highlands, Skye	Storm	Cool	Cool	OK	Best	Best	OK	OK	Best	Wet	Wet	Storm