If you missed visiting the United Kingdom and celebrating the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, the best time to visit the UK depends on your preferences. The finest seasons to visit the United Kingdom are spring and fall. The countryside explodes into bloom with a riot of wildflowers in April and May; if you skip the Easter school vacations, you’ll find many of the nicest sites quiet and the rates fair. September and October are still moderate, but if you don’t mind cold weather, December is unbeatable. The British do Christmas and New Year’s like no one else—the festive spirit is contagious. This article will help you make the most of each season.
Popular Festivals and Events
Music festivals and other events take place every year, but some of the biggest draw a massive international audience. The Glastonbury and The Isle of Wight are extremely popular summer music festivals. The Edinburgh Festival Fringe is a massive Arts Festival that occupies Edinburgh for the entire month of August. Accommodations for these are reserved a year in advance.
The United Kingdom’s Weather
The weather in the United Kingdom is mild all year. Except in the mountains, snow is uncommon. Even in Scotland, winter temperatures rarely fall below freezing; however, rain, humidity, and wind can make temperatures of 35 to 40 degrees Fahrenheit appear significantly colder during the winter months. Older, attractive lodgings are frequently drafty and frigid for American tastes. Pack layers of clothing, which were invented for the British climate.
Summers in recent years have been hotter, with highs in the 90s and even 100s. June, July, and August temperatures typically range from the mid-60s to the mid-70s. Scotland is up to ten degrees Fahrenheit cooler than London.
The United Kingdom’s High Season
In the United Kingdom, defining the “off-season” is easier than defining the peak season. The weather is typically at its worst from mid-January to March, thus costs are at their lowest. Many attractions are closed for annual repair. Otherwise, the peak season lasts from mid-March to early January. The busiest times are around school vacations; if crowds worry you, avoid visiting during Easter and the months of July and August. However, costs do not vary significantly for the majority of the year.
January
This is the genuine off-season after the Christmas and New Year’s celebrations have died down. Prices are falling, and the weather is dreadful. On the plus side, several institutions hold special exhibitions during this sluggish season.
Check out the following events:
Hogmanay: The Scottish New Year festivities begin the month with torchlight parades, pyrotechnics, and multi-day indoor and outdoor concerts.
Up Helly Aa: One of Scotland’s many January Fire Festivals concludes the month with a wild Viking fire festival in Lerwick, Shetland.
February
Find a cozy spot to wrap up with your significant other beside a fireplace and forget about the bad weather. Temperatures range from the mid-30s and the 40s Fahrenheit on average. The rainiest months are finally behind us, but sunny days are still uncommon. February is the best time of year for a romantic hotel stay.
Check out the following events:
The Jorvik Viking Festival honors York’s Norse past with reenactments, parades, artisan workshops, and fireworks.
Guinness Six Nations Rugby: The annual rugby competition involving England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland, Italy, and France begins in February with games in Cardiff, London, and Edinburgh.
March
The first hints of spring lift everyone’s spirits. Crocuses are blossoming, daffodils are appearing, and urban magnolias are flowering. Temperatures range between the low 40s and 50 degrees Fahrenheit.
Check out the following events:
St. Patrick’s Day is as big in the UK as it is in other large cities in the Irish diaspora. Festivals and parades can be found in London, Manchester, Birmingham, and Edinburgh.
April
In the United Kingdom, the weather in April is unpredictable. While the average temperature is in the mid-50s, temperatures can dip into the 40s in windy showers, making it feel much cooler.
Check out the following events:
The Grand National: Aintree in Liverpool hosts England’s most famous steeplechase race. Even people who never gamble will often place a tiny bet on a horse for this event.
Shakespeare’s birthday is commemorated in Stratford-upon-Avon on April 23.
May
Poets may claim that April is the cruelest month, but we believe May takes the prize. The month is a teaser, with long spells of “unseasonably” warm, bright weather followed by a chilly, damp June. But don’t worry, now is the ideal time of year to observe English bluebells carpeting forest floors.
Check out the following events:
The arts festival season kicks off with two big arts festivals in Brighton and a sophisticated jazz festival in Cheltenham.
Chelsea Flower Exhibition: This is a garden and social calendar mainstay, and the country’s show gardens are at their finest.
June
Most weather forecasts will tell you that June is warm and pleasant, with temperatures averaging in the high 60s. However, temperatures can fall into the low 40s, leaving both locals and tourists wondering what happened to summer. Because June has the longest days of the year, much of the UK may expect 20 hours of daylight.
Check out the following events:
Royal Ascot is a fantastic social and sports occasion, with ladies wearing magnificent headgear and gentlemen wearing top hats and morning suits cheering on their favorite nags.
The Isle of Wight Festival is a large camping and music festival in England. The presence of some famous names in music will increase the demand for tickets.
Glastonbury is one of the world’s most renowned music festivals.
Wimbledon: The grand slam lawn tennis competition, which takes place two weeks after the end of June.
July
Summer has finally arrived. Expect consistent mild weather and plenty of dry sunshine. Temperatures will vary between the mid-70s to the mid-80s.
Check out the following events:
The Henley Royal Regatta: While rowing crews from all over the world participate, this is also an excellent opportunity to observe English high society in action.
The music festival season is in full swing, with a slew of excellent events taking place across the country.
August
August has a slightly colder temperature than July. The mornings and evenings are cold, with daytime temperatures in the 70s. You know that it will be hot when you don’t need a sweater or a light jacket in the morning. The month is sunny and dry.
Check out the following events:
The Edinburgh Fringe: For most of August, the world’s largest open-access multi-arts event takes up most of Edinburgh.
Cowes Week: During the world’s largest regatta, up to 1,000 sailboats swarm the harbors of the Isle of Wight to compete in up to 40 races every day.
Bristol International Balloon Fiesta: If you can secure a location, see this fantastic event from Brunel’s Clifton Suspension Bridge over the Avon Gorge.
September
September is pleasant and autumnal. Daytime temperatures range between 50 and 65 degrees Fahrenheit, with cooler evenings.
Check out the following events:
It’s harvest season, so inquire at local tourist information offices about food and drink festivals, or look for local beer festivals on the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) website.
The Jane Austen Festival: This ten-day Regency-costumed event takes place in Bath.
October
It’s a little colder and wetter, particularly in the west of Scotland and west Wales. Temperatures range from 44 to 57 degrees Fahrenheit on average.
Check out the following events:
There are numerous food and beer festivals in the Forest of Dean, Hertford, Broadstairs in Kent, and Melton Mobray. Visit Nottingham for the Robin Hood Beer Festival or Lincolnshire for the sausage festival.
November
The persistent gray skies and days that are so short that residents turn on their lights by 3 p.m. mark November as one of the coldest and rainiest months.
Check out the following events:
The pantomime season begins: This traditional British type of family entertainment runs through December—and, in some regions, into February.
On November 5th the people of the UK celebrate Guy Fawkes with fireworks displays and massive public bonfires.
December
The U.K. has less than eight hours of sunshine every day, and Scotland has even less. This is a particularly bleak month. All the more reason to enjoy the glitzy big deal that is the British holiday season. Every city in the United Kingdom has stunning Christmas lights, spectacular store displays, and large Christmas markets.
Check out the following events:
Discover the top Christmas markets in the United Kingdom.
Visit an English Cathedral for a carol concert.
ANSWERS TO COMMON QUESTIONS
When should you go to the United Kingdom?
The finest seasons to visit the United Kingdom are spring and fall. The countryside bursts with wildflower blossoms in April and May, the weather is moderate and transport costs are cheap in September and October.
When is the best time to travel to the United Kingdom?
Travel to the United Kingdom is cheapest from November 1 to December 12 and from December 25 to March 14. During certain times, airlines frequently offer ridiculously low fares.
How much money should you save for a trip to London?
Previous visitors spent an average of $201 US dollars per day on vacation in London, which included meals, local transportation, and admission to attractions.
Make sure you choose the best time(s) of year that you want to visit the United Kingdom and participate in the country’s many events and locations, including visiting well-known cities. Check out the visiting popular cities in the UK in articles 1, 2, 3, and 4.