Best time to visit · Northern EuropeOriginal Research
When to go to United Kingdom
Late spring to early autumn (May–September) offers the longest days and warmest weather. London is vibrant year-round but expect rain in any season.
Best: May–SeptemberPeak: June–August
Month-by-month
Jan
Okay
2°–8°C · 55mm rain
Crowds low · Prices low
Crowds low · Prices low
Feb
Okay
2°–8°C · 40mm rain
Crowds low · Prices low
Crowds low · Prices low
Mar
Good
3°–11°C · 40mm rain
Crowds low · Prices low
Crowds low · Prices low
Apr
Good
5°–14°C · 45mm rain
Crowds medium · Prices medium
Crowds medium · Prices medium
May
Great
8°–17°C · 50mm rain
Crowds medium · Prices medium
Crowds medium · Prices medium
Chelsea Flower Show
Jun
Great
11°–20°C · 45mm rain
Crowds high · Prices high
Crowds high · Prices high
Longest days; Glastonbury
Jul
Great
14°–23°C · 45mm rain
Crowds high · Prices high
Crowds high · Prices high
Wimbledon
Aug
Good
13°–22°C · 50mm rain
Crowds high · Prices high
Crowds high · Prices high
Edinburgh Festival Fringe
Sep
Great
11°–19°C · 50mm rain
Crowds medium · Prices medium
Crowds medium · Prices medium
Oct
Good
8°–15°C · 70mm rain
Crowds low · Prices low
Crowds low · Prices low
Nov
Okay
5°–10°C · 60mm rain
Crowds low · Prices low
Crowds low · Prices low
Bonfire Night (Nov 5)
Dec
Good
3°–8°C · 55mm rain
Crowds medium · Prices medium
Crowds medium · Prices medium
Christmas markets; pantomimes
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Festivals worth timing your trip around
Jun
Glastonbury Festival
The world’s most famous music and performing arts festival in Somerset.
Aug
Edinburgh Festival Fringe
The world’s largest arts festival with thousands of shows across Edinburgh.
Aug
Notting Hill Carnival
Europe’s biggest street party celebrating Caribbean culture in London.
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Common questions about United Kingdom
- When is the best time to visit United Kingdom?
- May–September. Late spring to early autumn (May–September) offers the longest days and warmest weather. London is vibrant year-round but expect rain in any season.
- When is the cheapest time to visit United Kingdom?
- Prices bottom out in Jan, Feb, Mar, Oct, Nov — typically 20-40% below peak-season rates on hotels and flights.
- What months should I avoid in United Kingdom?
- There's no single "avoid" month — every season in United Kingdom has something to offer.
- When is peak tourist season in United Kingdom?
- June–August
See also the full United Kingdom climate deep-dive with temperature heatmap and daily-rainfall breakdown.
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— How we report this guide
What you read here, and where it came from.
- Climate data — temperature, rainfall, and humidity numbers cite WMO 30-year normals plus the most recent decade where available, cross-checked with the destination's national meteorological service.
- Crowd & price calls — sourced from our editors' on-the-ground reporting in United Kingdom plus published hotel ADR and visitor-arrival data. We tell you which months bottom out, not which ones marketing departments push.
- Festivals & seasonal flags — verified against the official tourism authority and re-checked at every review. Where dates shift year-over-year (lunar calendars, religious festivals), we flag it explicitly.
- Updates — this guide is reviewed by destination.com editors at least once a year and any time conditions on the ground change materially. Send corrections and we'll log them publicly.
✓ Last verified May 2, 2026