Top 5 Best & Worst Times to Visit London: Ranked

What’s it like to visit London during each month of the year?

What’s the worst time to visit London? What’s the best time to visit London?

As a local I have my share of opinions, so let’s rank every month in London by weather, temperature, crowds, and cost.

london in spring image VS london in fall image with text overlaid "what's the best and worst time to visit london?"

Top 5 Best Times to Visit London

Every month in London is explored below in detail, but if you want a TL;DR, here you go. These are the 5 best times to visit London, in the opinion of a Londoner.

March
April
May
September
October

Worst Time to Visit London: Top 5

And here are the 5 worst times to visit London, in my opinion as a local:

July
August
January
February
November

Each Month in London: Temperature, Weather, Crowds, & Price

Let’s look at the pros and cons of each month in London.

1. London in January

image of snowy london in january with text overlaid: "temperature: cold, weather: rainy, crowds: low, prices: low"

The winter months are the worst time to visit England. London in January is usually dark, damp, and fairly empty (London always has plenty of tourists, but January is a low season compared to, say, August).

Average Temps: 48F (9C) High- 41F (5C) Low
Weather: Dark, grey, and rainy, with a few random sunny days
Crowds: Low, except for January 1st & 2nd (the 2nd is a bank holiday)
Prices: You can score some good hotel deals in January as tourism is in a post-Christmas slump.

Is January a Good Time to Visit London?

Yes and no. It’s great if you like less crowds and lower prices, but not great if you want to do a lot of exploration and will constantly be dealing with rain, wind, & cloudy skies.

2. London in February

image of london in february over tower bridge with text overlaid: "temperatures: cold, weather: wet and rainy, crowds: low, price: low"

February in London is generally chilly (for London; it rarely snows or gets unbearably cold here), and a bit dark and rainy. Crowds are generally low and you can enjoy lower prices for accommodation.

Average Temps: 48F (9C) High- 41F (5C) Low.
Weather: Dark, grey, and rainy, with a few random sunny days.
Crowds: Low, except for half-term holidays which will have a price surge.
Prices: You can score some good hotel deals in February as long as you avoid half term week.

Is February a Good Time to Visit London?

As long as you avoid half term week, February is a good time to visit London. If you can put up with the dreary weather, you’ll enjoy less crowds for sure.

3. London in March

london in march: image of the london eye in spring with text overlaid: "temperatures: mild, weather: some sun, some rain, crowds: low-medium, prices: medium"

March can be one of London’s loveliest months!

Average Temps: 54F (12C) High- 43F (6C) Low.
Weather: The start of spring is unpredictable; it can be lovely and sunny, or wet and dreary.
Crowds: Medium. As the weather gets a bit more tolerable the crowds will pick up.
Prices: You can score some decent hotel deals in March as long as you avoid Easter Break for UK school children (sometimes begins end of March).

Is March a Good Time to Visit London?

Yes – March is one of my favorite times to visit London. You can enjoy some beautiful sunny spring days but without the crowds of summer.

4. London in April

london in april: image of big ben and westminster in spring with text and graphics overlaid: "temperatures: mild, weather: some rain some sun, crowds: medium, prices: medium"

April can be an absolutely perfect month to visit London.

Average Temps: 59F (15C) High- 45F (7C) Low.
Weather: April can have some absolutely stand-out weather with sunny skies and occasional rain showers.
Crowds: Medium. As the weather gets a bit more tolerable the crowds will pick up, and beware of the Easter Break holidays which are bonkers.
Prices: Prices are creeping up in April, especially during the Easter Break holidays for UK children. If you go during a different week, prices can be good.

Is April a Good Time to Visit London?

Yes! If I could pick any month to play on repeat in London, it would be April. It can be sunny but not hot, a bit wet but not saturated, and all the lovely flowers and greenery are at peak perfection.

5. London in May

london in may: image of wharf in london during spring with text and graphics overlaid: "temperatures: mild getting warmer, weather: sunny with a few showers, crowds: medium, prices: creeping upwards."

May is absolutely stunning in London. You can have some beautifully warm days with bits of rain here and there, but London’s landscape is absolutely gorgeous in May no matter the weather.

Average Temps: 64F (18C) High- 50F (10C) Low.
Weather: May can have some absolutely stand-out weather with sunny skies with some warmer days that are lovely and temperate.
Crowds: Medium. May is the unofficial beginning of the summer season
Prices: Prices are creeping up in May. If you can avoid the Early May Bank Holiday, Spring Bank Holiday, and half-term holidays, you’ll have a more enjoyable visit.

Is May a Good Time to Visit London?

Yes! May is perfect, as long as you avoid the crowds and price surges of the bank holiday weekends and half term holidays.

6. London in June

london in june: image of Kew Gardens in summer with text and graphics overlaid: "temperature: mild and warmer, weather: sunny, crowds: high, prices: high"

June can be lovely in London, but it’s the start of the summer tourist season so it can get crowded and have higher costs.

Average Temps: 70F (21C) High- 55F (13C) Low. (warmer in recent summers)
Weather: June is lovely and temperate in London, though in recent years has had some very hot days.
Crowds: High. June is the beginning of the summer high season.
Prices: Prices are creeping up in June to reach the July & August peak. Avoid the last week in June when UK children are usually out for the summer.

Is June a Good Time to Visit London?

Yes and no. It can start getting crowded as children across the world get out of school for the summer holidays.

7. London in July

london in july: image of a crowded hot london street with text and graphics overlaid: "temperatures: hot, weather, sunny, crowds: high, prices: high"

July can be absolutely miserable in London without AirCon. It’s crowded, it’s expensive, it’s hot.

Average Temps: 73F (23C) High- 59F (15C) Low. (warmer in recent summers)
Weather: July starts getting hot in London, which means everything is hot: the underground, the buses, your hotel…
Crowds: High. July is the summer high season.
Prices: High. July & August are usually the two most expensive months in London for accommodation. And that price tag doesn’t include air conditioning.

Is July a Good Time to Visit London?

If you can deal with heat everywhere, and crowds everywhere, and no air conditioning…it can be.

8. London in August

a parched hyde park with text overlaid: "London in August: temperatures: hot, weather: hot, crowds: high, prices: max"

If you thought July was too warm in London houses built to retain heat, wait til you meet August.

Average Temps: 75F (24C) High- 60F (16C) Low (warmer in recent summers)
Weather: August is peak Europe-is-too-hot miserableness.
Crowds: High. August is the summer high season.
Prices: High. July & August are usually the two most expensive months in London for accommodation. And that price tag doesn’t include air conditioning.

Is August a Good Time to Visit London?

If you can live without air conditioning, riding a 100F (37C) underground line with 200 of your closest sweaty neighbors, and nights that don’t even cool down anymore…sure!

9. London in September

london in september: image of joggers on Regent's Canal in late summer with text and graphics overlaid: "weather: hot to mild, crowds, high but getting lower, prices: high but getting lower"

Phew! We survived summer and made it to September. Has London cooled off or cleared out yet? Sort of.

Average Temps: 68F (20C) High- 55F (13C) Low (with random hot days at the beginning of the month).
Weather: September can be lovely – warm but not hot (except for the odd day in the first half), not much rain, and blue skies.
Crowds: High but getting lower as children go back to school.
Prices: High but getting lower as the high season comes to a close. The end of the month is often cheaper than the beginning.

Is September a Good Time to Visit London?

I think September can be perfect. You may get the hot day here or there, but generally the weather is pleasant, and the crowds and accommodation prices are going down.

10. London in October

london in october: leaves falling over big ben with text and graphics overlaid: "temperatures: mild and getting cooler, weather: some rain and some sun, crowds: medium, cost: medium"

October may be my favorite month in London. The trees changing color, the canals littered with lovely golden oak leaves, the mild and often sunny weather – it’s absolutely charming.

Average Temps: 61F (16C) High- 50F (10C) Low.
Weather: October can be lovely with some rain and some sun, but beautiful fall colors everywhere.
Crowds: Medium – avoid the half term holidays.
Prices: Mid but falling as winter approaches.

Is October a Good Time to Visit London?

Yes! Come in October. You don’t know what you’re missing.

11. London in November

london in november: fall colors surrounding the Thames riverside with text and graphics: "temp: mild but getting colder, weather: rainy and wet, crowds: low, prices: low"

We had to reach November eventually. London in November is generally dreary, rainy, and has very short daylight hours.

Average Temps: 54F (12C) High- 45F (7C) Low.
Weather: November is wet and dreary with little daylight.
Crowds: Low.
Prices: Low, except for the weekend of Nov. 5th (Guy Fawkes Day aka Bonfire Night).

Is November a Good Time to Visit London?

If you have a limited budget and don’t mind dealing with the weather, November might be the best time to visit London. It’s not crowded or overly expensive, and there are no bank holidays or school breaks during November (remember, Thanksgiving isn’t celebrated here).

The only holiday is Guy Fawkes Night (“remember, remember, the 5th of November“) which you’ll want to avoid if you can’t stand fireworks.

12. London in December

london in december: image of london at christmas with lights everywhere and text overlaid "temperature: cold, weather: dreary and wet, crowds: high at christmas, prices: high at christmas"

London in December can be magical, but expensive and crowded.

Average Temps: 48F (9C) High- 41F (5C) Low.
Weather: December is wet and dreary with little daylight.
Crowds: High during the last 2 weeks of the month, low before that.
Prices: Maximum prices during the last 2 weeks of the month.

Is December a Good Time to Visit London?

Yes and no. There’s nothing like Christmas in London, but if you’re on a budget and don’t enjoy large crowds, this isn’t the month for you.

I have a love/hate relationship with London in December. The fairy lights everywhere – the fabulous way the UK goes over the top for Christmas – all wonderful. The crowds and the dreary weather? I don’t love that part so much.

What’s the Worst Time to Visit London? Final Tips

All things considered, the best time to visit London or the worst time to visit London will depend on your unique situation.

If you only have limited times you can travel, just do the best you can. No trip to London will be perfect, but you can try your best!

Here are my final tips for finding the best time to visit London for you.

❌ Worst Time to Visit London on a Budget

December, June, July, or August.

✅ Best Time to Visit London on a Budget

January, February, March, or November.

❌Worst Time to Visit London for Weather

November, December, January & February for cold and wet weather. July & August for unbearably hot weather.

✅ Best Time to Visit London for Weather

April, May, June, September, or October.

❌Worst Time to Visit London for Crowds

December, June, July, August, bank holidays, or half-term or term breaks for UK children.

✅ Best Time to Visit London for Crowds

January, February, or November.

❌ Worst Time to Visit England Overall

Summer and Winter. The winters in England can be dreary and wet, and the summers can (especially in southern England) get very hot with little to no air conditioning.

✅ Best Time to Visit England Overall

Fall and Spring. These months can both have unpredictable weather in England, but overall you can enjoy less crowds, mild temperatures, and better prices.

More on Visiting London:

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37 Weird & Wonderful Things London is Famous For: See or Skip?

Help! Harry Potter Studio Tickets are Sold Out. What Can I Do?

Masterlist: 201+ London Instagram Captions for the Perfect Post

London Hotels for Family: 10 Great Values to Book Now

Your Ultimate Guide to a Family Trip to London on a Budget

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15 Things to You Can Only Buy in London