The UK capital is captivating year-round, and as such, there’s really no bad time to visit London. There, we said it. Every season of this constantly evolving metropolis is worthy of your attention, whether its spring’s blossoming gardens, summer’s festivals, fall’s foodie scene or winter’s ice-skating rinks. We took a deep dive into what to expect from London across the year, considering weather, hotel prices and seasonal attractions, including:
- Parks and gardens
- Lidos
- Festivals
- Bus and boat tours
- Sporting events
- Christmas markets
- … and more!
First things first…
London’s many world-class museums, monuments, galleries, observation decks and other landmarks are a treat year-round. Sure, you might get a better view from the London Eye on a crisp, clear May morning than in the middle of a December downpour but, on the whole, London attractions are evergreen. They can also often be expensive. Which is where the Go City London pass comes in, enabling you to lock in sightseeing costs before your flight even touches down on British soil, with savings that grow the more attractions you visit. We’re talking the Tower of London, The View from The Shard, Westminster Abbey, St Paul’s Cathedral and Madame Tussauds to name just a few. In short: whatever the weather, do yourself a favor and bag yourself a London pass. And, now we’ve established the best way to sightsee the city, let’s take a look at the best times to visit London, and what to expect from each…
Spring in London
Spring in London
What’s the weather like in London in spring?
Spring finds London with – if you’ll indulge us – a new spring in its step, as the city shrugs off its winter coat and temperatures start to rise, from a chilly 12–13°C in March to balmier high teens and low 20s by June. It’s when tulips and bluebells bloom and the days lengthen as we officially enter British Summer Time. Bonus: the city’s famed rainfall is no greater in spring than at any other time of year. That said, savvy travelers to London carry a pocket poncho or small umbrella year round. Just in case.
Is London expensive in spring?
It’s London, so you should take it as read that you’re going to have to dig deep whatever the season. On the whole, hotels will be cheaper in spring than during the imminent peak summer season, but more expensive than the icy January and February months that immediately precede spring.
Note that London prices spike during the Easter holidays and on Bank Holiday weekends at the beginning and especially the end of May.
What seasonal attractions should I look out for in spring?
It’s all about the parks and gardens in London in spring, when London’s green spaces bounce back to life with a flamboyant flourish. Woodland bluebells and parkland daffodils erupt from the very beginning of March, with the celebrated cherry blossoms of Greenwich Park and the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew following close behind in April.
May sees the grounds of the Royal Hospital Chelsea – a nursing home for military veterans – taken over by the showboating RHS Chelsea Flower Show. The world’s most prestigious horticultural event, it’s visited by everyone who’s anyone, including London’s A-list celebs and the green-fingered British royal family. Pro-tip: the nearby Chelsea Physic Garden is open year-round.
Don’t despair if umbrellas are the order of the day: there’s always the covered Sky Garden at 20 Fenchurch Street, better known as the Walkie-Talkie building. And, if new life of the fauna rather than flora variety is more your bag, look no further than London Zoo and its spring baby boom.
Summer in London
Summer in London
What’s the weather like in London in summer?
London’s summer months give the greatest guarantee of fine weather. This is also the time of year when riverside restaurant terraces and rooftop bars really come into their own. So, if al fresco drinks, park life and soaring summer temperatures are your thang, summer could well prove the best time to visit London for you.
Historically, July and August are the hottest months of the year, with temperatures averaging a pleasant 22°C and tabloid headline writers going into overdrive should the mercury creep above 30°C. You can also expect long, balmy evenings with daylight that sticks around until 10PM. The drawback is that humidity can become a factor, and you might want to swap the Tube for an open-top hop-on hop-off bus or Thames boat cruise for getting around.
Is London expensive in summer?
In a word: yes. The weather is at its sunshine-y best and this is peak holiday season – including school holidays – so tourist attractions, parks and Tube lines are awash with sweaty families. All of which pushes hotel prices up, up, up, making saving on entry to attractions even more vital.
What seasonal attractions should I look out for in summer?
June, July and August are prime time for London’s outdoor festival scene, from Trooping the Colour to the Notting Hill Carnival. The monarch’s official birthday celebrations, Trooping the Colour takes place on Horse Guards Parade in St James’ Park. It’s the Changing of the Guard on steroids, and sees the capital at its most majestic.
Bridging the last days of June and first days of July, the leafy suburb of Wimbledon in southwest London takes center stage (or should that be Centre Court?) by playing host to the world’s most beloved tennis competition. The Wimbledon Championships sees London go tennis crazy, with public screens popping up across the capital. But there’s nothing quite like being at the All England Club, whether with a grounds pass or on one of the show courts.
Neatly wrapping up the London summer is the Notting Hill Carnival, spread across two days during the August bank holiday. This huge street party traces its history back to the West Indian population that settled the area in the 1950s and 60s, and has become a much-loved feature of the capital’s calendar.
You can also get your music fix at multiple festivals across London, including BST Hyde Park, All Points East and Lovebox, plus plenty of al fresco cinema action in the city’s parks and gardens.
Summer in London is also the best time to take a dip in London’s lidos. Many of these – including the Serpentine in Hyde Park, Brockwell Lido and Hampstead Heath are open to swimmers year-round. But, for fairly obvious reasons, these unheated pools are at their most pleasant in high summer.
Fall in London
Fall in London
What’s the weather like in London in fall?
A steady drop in temperatures – from September’s relatively balmy daytime highs of 20°C to an average of 15°C in October and 10°C in November – means a warm coat, especially in the evenings, is the order of the day. On the plus side, London’s thoroughfares adopt a mellower vibe as leaves turn red and gold and conkers begin dropping from horse chestnut trees in parks across the city.
Is London expensive in fall?
With the peak summer rush over and kids back in school, fall prices get back to normal shoulder season levels – i.e. around 20–30% below what you might expect to pay in July and August. The pleasant temperatures and more attractive hotel deals make fall a nice time to visit, with prices staying flatter than spring as there are now no more UK public holidays until Christmas.
What seasonal attractions should I look out for in fall?
London’s parks explode into color in October and November, when trees are ablaze with fiery tones of yellow, orange, red and gold. Leaf-peepers will be in their element at any number of parks and gardens around the capital, but Richmond Park, where the resident fallow deer are in rut, and St James’s Park, where blazing leaves frame Buckingham Palace, are particularly special. Regent’s Park, Hyde Park, Holland Park and our old pal Kew Gardens with its soaring Treetop Walkway, are also worthy of your attention. Pair a trip to Regent’s Park with nearby Madame Tussauds, and be sure to drop by Kensington Palace if Hyde Park’s your pick.
Fall also makes for great dining, with warming autumnal dishes starring seasonal game, gourds and fruits – venison stew, pumpkin pie and apple crumble for the win. Check out October’s London Restaurant Festival for top-tier street food, resto-hopping tours, cooking masterclasses and much more. Still hungry? Try a food tour of Soho and Covent Garden, then wash it all down on a wander round some of London’s most historic pubs.
As October draws to a close, get your spook on at any one of hundreds of Halloween events happening across London, from creepy themed cocktails in the city’s bars to Covent Garden’s pumpkin market and family-friendly fun at the Southbank Centre overlooking the Thames. And, if there’s any better time to visit London’s most (allegedly) haunted attractions – lookin’ at you Tower of London and the crypt at St Paul’s Cathedral – we’ve yet to find it.
London in winter
London in winter
What’s the weather like in London in winter?
Let’s not beat around the bush here: winter in the UK is cold. Ok sure, it’s not Alaska cold or Siberia cold, but if you ain’t well wrapped up in hat, scarf, gloves and winter boots, you’re doing it all wrong. Temperatures generally hover around 3°C, so snow is rare (though not entirely unheard of) and mugs of mulled wine from the city’s many winter markets are often all that’s needed to keep you warmed from the inside out.
Is London expensive in winter?
Outside of the Christmas period, winter is the cheapest time to visit London, although the city’s countless year-round attractions mean there’s still plenty to enthral visitors. Indeed, January and February are often the best times to check out the most popular monuments and museums, as they tend to be at their least crowded this time of year. You should also find it way less difficult to secure tables at London’s most in-demand restaurants, though your bill at The Connaught or Ritz will be no less eye-watering.
What seasonal attractions should I look out for in winter?
By December, London’s Christmas shopping season is in full, technicolor swing, and even window-shopping is something of a festive joy. Check out the displays at Oxford Street’s iconic Selfridges department store, the mighty Fortnum & Mason on Piccadilly, or the flagship Hamleys toyshop on Regent Street and you’ll see what we mean. These major shopping thoroughfares are also suitably bedecked with festive lights and ornaments; pure manna for Insta addicts.
You can go ice-skating year-round in London, but winter sees a veritable explosion in al fresco skating experiences, many of them complete with mulled wine and hot chocolate vendors with which to warm up after one too many icy tumbles. Try scenic locations at historic Somerset House on The Strand, Battersea Power Station, the Queen’s House in Greenwich, and at the annual Winter Wonderland extravaganza in Hyde Park.
Christmas markets also abound across the capital, with some of the biggest and best to be found at the Southbank Centre, on Trafalgar Square and in the aforementioned Winter Wonderland. Special shout out to Winter by the River, set against the picture-perfect backdrop of Tower Bridge. Expect sugary treats, cute tree ornaments, unique handcrafted gifts and the welcoming aroma of roasting chestnuts floating on the breeze.
Stick around for London’s world-class New Year’s Eve fireworks, a pyrotechnic spectacular that’s centered around the London Eye, with several thousand individual fireworks released to the accompaniment of stirring music and the bongs of Big Ben. Needless to say, the revelry continues through the early hours and well into the New Year.
Enjoyed this? Discover yet more reasons to visit London in October and get the lowdown on cool things to do in Covent Garden.
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