Best time to visit London: month-by-month weather (2026)
The highest-scoring months in London are May, Jun, Jul and Aug.
Best months
May, Jun, Jul and Aug
Peak season
May, Jun, Jul and Aug
Off season
Jan, Feb and Dec
Monthly Temperatures (°C)
Monthly Rainfall (mm)
Month-by-Month Guide
Temperature, rainfall and sunshine are measured. The visit score below is derived from those three (design spec §5.3)estimate.
Jan
Temp: 1.9°C – 7.6°C
Rain: 70mm
Sunshine: 4.3h/day
Visit score: 3.1/10
Feb
Temp: 3.8°C – 9.8°C
Rain: 57mm
Sunshine: 4.1h/day
Visit score: 3.1/10
Mar
Temp: 4.7°C – 11.7°C
Rain: 64mm
Sunshine: 6.6h/day
Visit score: 5.2/10
Apr
Temp: 6.3°C – 14.8°C
Rain: 54mm
Sunshine: 9.3h/day
Visit score: 5.6/10
May
BestTemp: 9.5°C – 18.5°C
Rain: 46mm
Sunshine: 10.5h/day
Visit score: 7.6/10
Jun
BestTemp: 12.5°C – 22.6°C
Rain: 35mm
Sunshine: 12.9h/day
Visit score: 8.5/10
Jul
BestTemp: 14.3°C – 22.5°C
Rain: 84mm
Sunshine: 11h/day
Visit score: 8.2/10
Aug
BestTemp: 14°C – 22.8°C
Rain: 39mm
Sunshine: 10.3h/day
Visit score: 10/10
Sep
Temp: 12.4°C – 20.3°C
Rain: 96mm
Sunshine: 8.8h/day
Visit score: 6.7/10
Oct
Temp: 9.6°C – 15.9°C
Rain: 79mm
Sunshine: 6h/day
Visit score: 5/10
Nov
Temp: 5.9°C – 11°C
Rain: 76mm
Sunshine: 4.3h/day
Visit score: 4.6/10
Dec
Temp: 5.6°C – 9.7°C
Rain: 63mm
Sunshine: 3h/day
Visit score: 2.8/10
When to go, and when not to
May, June, July, and August stand out as the best months to visit, carrying the highest visit scores of the year. Daytime highs during this stretch range from about 18.5C in May to 22.8C in August, paired with the year's longest sunshine hours, peaking at 12.9 hours a day in June.
This same stretch is also the peak season, so travelers should expect it to be the busiest and most expensive time to visit. July brings notably heavier rain at 84mm, and September, just after the peak window, sees the year's highest rainfall at 96mm, so travelers aiming for drier conditions may want to lean toward the earlier peak months of May or June.
Season Guide
Spring
March – May
Mild temperatures and blooming gardens. A great time for sightseeing with fewer crowds than summer.
Packing tips
- · Light layers
- · Rain jacket
- · Comfortable walking shoes
Summer
June – August
Warmest months with the longest days. Peak tourist season in most destinations.
Packing tips
- · Sunscreen
- · Hat
- · Light clothing
- · Refillable water bottle
Autumn
September – November
Cooling temperatures and autumn foliage. Shoulder season with good deals on accommodations.
Packing tips
- · Medium layers
- · Sweater
- · Waterproof jacket
Winter
December – February
Coldest months with shorter days. Holiday markets and winter activities in many cities.
Packing tips
- · Warm coat
- · Scarf and gloves
- · Thermal layers
- · Waterproof boots
Keep reading
Sources
- GeoNames city database — CC BY 4.0, fetched September 14, 2026
- Open-Meteo climate archive — CC BY 4.0, fetched September 21, 2026
AI-written interpretation reviewed against the data above — claude-sonnet-5, generated September 21, 2026. Every number on this page comes from a dataset named here; the formulas are public.