The best time to visit United Kingdom

Best months by destination

United Kingdom month by month

What the seasons are like

• London: London has a mild, changeable oceanic climate: cool, damp winters that rarely freeze for long, mild springs and autumns, and warm summers with occasional hot spells above 30°C.
• Edinburgh: Edinburgh has a cool, changeable maritime climate: mild summers that rarely pass 20°C, cold but seldom freezing winters, and frequent light rain and wind all year.
• Manchester: Manchester has a mild, wet maritime climate: rain is spread evenly through the year, winters are cool and rarely freezing for long, and summers are mild rather than hot.
• Liverpool: Liverpool has a mild maritime climate tempered by the Irish Sea: cool, damp winters with little snow, mild summers and rain spread through the year.
• Bath: Bath has a mild, damp climate typical of south-west England: cool winters with little snow, mild summers that occasionally turn hot, and rain spread across the year.
• York: York has a mild, relatively dry climate for England, sheltered by the Pennines to the west: cool winters with occasional frost and snow, mild summers and modest rainfall spread through the year.
• Glasgow: Glasgow has a mild, wet oceanic climate: cool summers rarely above 20 °C, damp winters that seldom drop far below freezing, and rain spread throughout the year, with long summer evenings and short winter days.
• Belfast: Belfast has a mild, damp maritime climate with cool summers, mild winters and frequent light rain or drizzle in every season; temperatures rarely fall far below freezing or rise far above 20 °C.

Crowds and hotel prices

Relative levels from our destination research: when each place is busiest, and when rooms usually cost least.

Events worth timing a trip around

Recurring events; dates move from year to year, so confirm with the organiser.

• London, January: London New Year's Day Parade through the West End (1 January)
• London, January: Lunar New Year celebrations in Chinatown and Trafalgar Square (late January or February)
• Edinburgh, January: Burns Night suppers — haggis, whisky and poetry (25 January)
• Edinburgh, February: Six Nations rugby at Murrayfield (February–March)
• Manchester, January: Chinese New Year celebrations in Chinatown (late January or February)
• Manchester, February: Chinese New Year celebrations (if not in January)
• Liverpool, January: Chinese New Year celebrations in Chinatown (late January or February)
• Liverpool, April: Grand National horse race at Aintree (usually early to mid April)
• Bath, March: Bath Half Marathon (usually March)
• Bath, May: Bath Festival — music and literature (usually May)
• York, February: JORVIK Viking Festival (usually mid to late February)
• York, May: York Races Dante Festival (usually mid-May)

Questions travellers ask