Weather

When to travel to London: weather and the seasons

Sunny Brighton beach

English – and London – weather is legendary for its unpredictability (we say nothing here about the Welsh or Scottish climates). Until 2003 it was a safe prediction that you would not suffer from the heat, but then there was a century-high heatwave. London weather tends to be milder than further north in the country, but even so don’t expect Mediterranean temperatures…

However, the main problem with hot weather (anything over 20 C) is that the British are totally unprepared for it. Hotel rooms etc are rarely air-conditioned and in my experience the art of designing rooms with a flow-through of air, even with all the windows open, seems to have escaped British architects.

Beautiful Springtime, Magnificent Autumn

Having said that, springtime in the UK can be quite beautiful, and autumn magnificent. They can also be cold, wet and dreary. You pays your money and you takes your choice.

Most people take their holidays in Britain during the summer months in the hope of finding some sun. These people are called optimists (no, just joking).

Classic British summer scene

Actually, the weather in the UK does seem to have improved during the last few summers, but you must still expect some days of rain and/or overcast conditions during your London stay. The summer in 2009 was quite wet. Note that it can get quite cool in the UK during spring and autumn, especially in the evening.

The average monthly daytime temperature in July rarely exceeds 22 C, and that can easily fall to the lower teens C in October. April temperatures are cooler. Note that evening temperatures may drop sharply.

Autumn in the UK

Here are some useful links to the UK’s Met Office , which provides the latest UK and international weather forecast (and also global weather services for business and the public). They also put out all official UK weather warnings:

UK Weather Forecast Today and Outlook:
Current and future UK weather with detailed forecasts for the regions of England, Wales and Scotland.
UK Climate and Weather Statistics:
These webpages are a great source of information for those interested in the climate of the UK. Check out the likely weather when you’ll be visiting.