My home country’s capital is a city for all seasons, but picking that sweet spot – where you can enjoy good weather and still beat the crowds – is a tricky art to master. I’ve been visiting London my whole life, and still, it’s a challenge to say exactly when the city is at its best.
That’s because the UK’s capital is always buzzing with events, festivals, and great attractions, no matter the time of year. Personally, my pick for the best time to visit London will always be the summer, when the days are long, pub-goers spill out of the beer gardens and onto the streets, and Hyde Park is packed with picnickers enjoying glasses of bubbly in the sun.
Winter is always a winner, too, especially when the ice rinks have opened and the mulled wine is flowing at Winter Wonderland. There are long bank holiday weekends in May, Wimbledon takes over the city in July, and whenever you’re caught in a rain shower, there’s always a free museum to shelter you.
London truly is a city you can visit all year round, and each season has a distinct vibe that you’re going to love. From the golden hues of autumn to the cherry blossoms of April, here are the best times to visit London!
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When is the Best Time to Visit London?
In the same way that London is truly an international city, it’s also a city for all weathers. But just as the world comes to London, it can often seem that the world’s weather comes too!
London’s weather is unpredictable. This is England, so you always need to be prepared for a rain shower, but you might not be expecting the thunderstorms that can hit the capital after a summer heatwave.
Temperatures can reach whopping highs of 30°C (86°F) in May, June, or July, while in winter, the dark, short days are worsened by lows of 2°C (36°F) in January and February.
Ultimately, deciding when to visit London will depend on your budget, your tolerance for the weather, and whether you’d prefer to spend your time inside or outside.
Festivities – December
If you’re wondering when to visit London for a truly magical time, you’ll love how the cold winter months are readily brightened by Christmas light shows and festive decorations across the capital in December. Sure, December is a cold one – with lows of 3°C (37°F) – but it’s a jubilant time to visit London!
Head to Kew Gardens for magnificent illuminations and a few mugs of mulled wine. St. Paul’s Cathedral hosts carol singers throughout the season, and the Natural History Museum is home to a popular outdoor ice skating rink throughout December.
And let’s not forget about London’s Christmas markets. Wooden market stalls line the Southbank, excellent markets are found at Covent Garden and Leicester Square, and of course, Winter Wonderland – the mammoth, German-style Christmas market and funfair – takes over Hyde Park for much of the festive season.
Be a Tourist – March
March is when the winter weather starts to loosen up. You’re yet to hit peak season, and so March could be the best time to visit London to avoid crowds.
March is the perfect time to simply be a tourist. Skip the queues at famous sights like Westminster Abbey and St. Paul’s Cathedral, enjoy a walking tour of London without pushing your way through crowds, and find yourself in the front ranks as the Changing of the Guard Ceremony troops its way along The Mall to Buckingham Palace.
Of course, make sure you’ve packed a raincoat and are prepared for turns in the weather when you visit in March. I’d recommend having a list of rainy-day activities in store, with a few museums – like The British Museum or the Science Museum – that you can pop into when needed.
Cherry Blossoms and Spring Colors – April
Cherry blossoms? In London? That’s right – Japan isn’t the only destination that blossoms in spring, and London’s many public parks are home to colorful cherry blossoms in April. Shake off the winter blues with a trip to Kew Gardens, Greenwich Park, Regent’s Park, or St. James’ Park, where cherry blossoms bring London’s outdoors back to life.
Temperatures are steadily rising in April, and it’s a good time to visit London to explore the spring colors in Royal Parks like Richmond before embracing the Easter celebrations that typically fall at some point in the month.
Royal Parks and Flower Shows – May
But the best time to go to London is May, when you’ll beat the Easter and summer crowds while enjoying high temperatures – the hottest May temperature recorded is 32°C (90°F). May is when London’s heat waves typically begin, and Londoners hope that the hottest days fall on the May Bank Holidays (when everyone gets an extra-long weekend), of which there are two in the month.
This is my favorite time of the year to visit London’s Royal Parks. Take an early morning walk through Richmond Park and you’ll spot deer running through the meadows. On sunny days, Hyde Park is overrun with picnickers, so why not grab a blanket, a hamper of sandwiches, and a bottle of prosecco and join them?
May is flower season, too. The RHS Chelsea Flower Show – which is often attended by the royal family – takes place towards the end of the month, while Columbia Road Flower Market is resplendent with summer colors every Sunday morning.
Rooftop Bars and Alfresco Dining – June
The city is getting busier and busier as the weather starts to peak in June, but with long sunny days, it’s one of the best times to visit London. Temperatures can reach average highs of 21°C (70°F) – and often break the 30°C (86°F) mark during a heatwave – which is why it’s rooftop bar season in the capital!
Londoners love a good drink, but nothing beats a drink in the sunshine. If you can throw in an excellent view, too, then you’re onto a winner. Rooftop bars have sprung up across the city in recent years catering to this demand, and some of my favorites include The Aviary, The Queen of Hoxton, and Dalston Roofpark.
If you can’t score a table at a rooftop bar – they’re always in high demand – then a pub with a beer garden (try the People’s Park Tavern in Hackney) or a spot of alfresco dining at a restaurant (the West End is always a classic dining area) will do just fine!
Wimbledon – July
The Pimms – a summer cocktail beloved by the English – is free-flowing in July as the city celebrates the twin pillars of sunshine and tennis.
If you’re a sports fan, then July is easily the best time to visit London, because Wimbledon is in full swing. One of the world’s greatest tennis tournaments consumes the city, and you can head down to the courts to try and score tickets.
If you’re not picky about which players to see or which courts you’ll be watching, it’s fairly easy to pick up spare tickets, even on the day. Things are a little trickier for the fabled Centre Court, but you can always grab a jug of Pimms, stock up on strawberries and cream, and join the crowds in front of the big screens at Henman Hill.
Fall Colors – October
The UK’s capital city is entirely overlooked in the fall, which is why October is the best time to visit London to avoid crowds. As the weather starts to worsen, embrace the city’s free museums (of which there are many!), including world-famous institutions like The British Museum, the Natural History Museum, and the Imperial War Museum.
October is also a good time to visit London for those glorious fall colors. You’ll see the foliage dropping all along the city’s streets and avenues, but head to outdoor destinations like Richmond Park, Hampstead Heath, or Regent’s Park for the best fall experiences in London.
The Worst Times to Visit London
London really is a four-season city, but some times of the year, you’ll want to think twice about visiting:
January/February
January and February are typically some of the coldest months of the year, and after the Christmas and New Year festivities, London tends to quieten down until the spring.
The weather can be downright awful at times, which is why I don’t recommend visiting at this time of year. However, it’s an excellent chance to avoid the crowds, while in February, Chinatown hosts the best Lunar New Year celebrations in the UK!
Easter School Holidays
If there’s one time of the year I can’t abide in London, it’s the Easter School Holidays. The capital is always packed with people, and if you can avoid this time of the year, I’d highly recommend it (the weather is never particularly good either, given the Easter Holidays are usually around March or April!).
Summer School Holidays
Likewise, the Summer School Holidays – which fall from late July to the start of September – are best avoided if you don’t like crowds. This is the peak summer season, and while the weather is at its best, accommodation and flights are expensive and the streets are always packed.
Again, it’s difficult to write August off completely, as the great weather turns London into a seriously happening place. There are festivals, long bank holiday weekends, and, of course, the iconic Notting Hill Carnival, among many more events.
