Best time to visit London

May to June and September. Month by month below, with the weather, what's on and what it costs to fly there from your city.

May to June and September

Sources lean toward late spring (May and June) and early autumn (September) for mild weather and smaller crowds than peak summer.

“The best time to visit London is late spring (May–June) or early autumn (September)” jetpacglobal.com
“the best time to visit London for me is May or September, both months with relatively good weather but fewer tourists than peak season.” girlgonelondon.com
“late Spring (May to June) is the greatest time for the balance of pleasant weather, manageable crowds before the summer rush, and blooming parks.” travelthru.com

6 of the 7 travel guides we read name these months.

London month by month

Average high and low in London, and days with rain

January47°F / 37°F · 12 rainy daysChecking fares…Fewest tourists, lots of rain and little sun, with highs around 7C; flights and hotels much cheaper.January to March gives the cheapest flights and hotels of the year, and the main attractions stay open.Kew Orchid Festival
February48°F / 37°F · 10 rainy daysChecking fares…Cool and gray, a little less wet than January; Chinese New Year celebrations in Chinatown early in the month.January and February are very quiet after the holidays and the cheapest time to visit.
March53°F / 39°F · 9 rainy daysChecking fares…Nights still cold and rain frequent, though a little sun breaks through.March is hardly different from winter in London.Cheltenham festival
April59°F / 43°F · 9 rainy daysChecking fares…Still needs a warm jacket with averages near 13C, and showers are fairly common.Easter is busier; Good Friday and Easter Monday are bank holidays with limited shop and transport hours.The London Marathon, with up to 40,000 runners, is a spring event.London Marathon
Best timeMay65°F / 48°F · 8 rainy daysChecking fares…Temperatures jump, terraces open and parks are lush; one source's favourite time to visit.The Chelsea Flower Show is held, with tickets that sell out well in advance.RHS Chelsea Flower Show · FA Cup Final
Best timeJune71°F / 54°F · 8 rainy daysChecking fares…Start of high season in one source, with less rain and long days of up to 16.5 hours of daylight.Early June is a short window before school holidays, with pleasant weather and quieter attractions.Summer solstice at Stonehenge · Royal Ascot
July75°F / 58°F · 8 rainy daysChecking fares…Wimbledon in early July makes London very expensive and hotels book out fast.Heatwaves have pushed temperatures past 40C in recent years.Wilderness Festival · Wireless Festival
August74°F / 57°F · 8 rainy daysChecking fares…Peak of the school holidays; July and August are the real high season.One source puts hotel prices among the lowest in August; most others call it peak season.The Notting Hill Carnival is a summer highlight.Notting Hill Carnival · Cropredy Festival
Best timeSeptember68°F / 53°F · 8 rainy daysChecking fares…Still mild at around 18C.Autumn is best for avoiding crowds, once kids are back in school.Red deer rut
October60°F / 48°F · 11 rainy daysChecking fares…Statistically the wettest month, with rain on about 21 days.Fewer tourists than summer, so shorter queues at main attractions.BFI London Film Festival
November53°F / 42°F · 11 rainy daysChecking fares…Cooler, closer to 10C by November.London Fashion Week and Bonfire Night fireworks are autumn events.Lewes Bonfire · Winchester Christmas Market
December48°F / 38°F · 11 rainy daysChecking fares…Exceptionally busy with Christmas lights, markets and New Year's Eve fireworks.Over the Christmas holidays, most attractions are closed.Newark International Antiques & Collectors Fair

Weather: London averages from Met Office (long-term averages), as listed in its climate table on Wikipedia.

Every date to London from your city

Live fares from your airport. Watch them and we alert you when they drop.

What's on in London

Festivals and seasons through the year

Busy, quiet and what to watch for

Busiest

June to AugustWarmest weather and school holidays; the real peak is July and August.
Christmas and summerLondon sits in near-constant high season, notably at Christmas and in summer.

Quietest

January to MarchQuietest and cheapest stretch of the year.
January and FebruaryTrue off-peak after the Christmas period.

Watch for

Early JulyWimbledon pushes up prices and books out hotels.
Christmas holidaysMost attractions are closed.
EasterShops and transport may close or run limited schedules on Good Friday and Easter Monday.
WinterBuckingham Palace State Rooms are open only in the summer.

Questions people ask

Which month is warmest in London?: July, with an average high of 24C (75F); heatwaves have pushed past 40C in recent years.
Which month is cheaper to visit London?: January and February are the cheapest, with the lowest flight and hotel prices after the holidays.

Best time to visit London

May to June and September

London month by month

Every date to London from your city

What's on in London

Busy, quiet and what to watch for

Busiest

Quietest

Watch for

Questions people ask

Best time to visit other places

Best time to visit London

May to June and September

London month by month

Every date to London from your city

What's on in London

Busy, quiet and what to watch for

Busiest

Quietest

Watch for

Questions people ask

Best time to visit other places