Month guide · Glasgow · United Kingdom
Glasgow in December
What December is really like in Glasgow: weather, crowds, prices, events and what to pack.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Cutkiller2018, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
December is a shoulder-season month. Expect average highs of 7°C (45°F), lows of 1°C (34°F), about 15 rainy days and roughly 7 hours of daylight. Short days and cold rain, offset by festive markets, pantomimes and lively pubs before Hogmanay.
Key facts
- Average high / low
- 7°C (45°F) / 1°C (34°F)
- Rainy days
- About 15
- Daylight
- About 7 hours
- Crowds
- Moderate
- Hotel prices
- Average
Weather in December
December is the coolest month in Glasgow: days average 7°C (45°F) against a yearly average high of 13°C (55°F), and nights fall to about 1°C (34°F). Rain falls on roughly 15 of its 31 days. Compared with November (9°C (48°F)), December is cooler; by January highs stay near 7°C (45°F).
- Sunrise (15 December)
- About 08:42
- Sunset (15 December)
- About 15:43
- Daylight
- About 7 hours
Winter (December–February). Cold, wet and very short days, but Christmas markets, Hogmanay, Celtic Connections and some of the year's lowest room rates.
Crowds and prices
On a 1–5 scale, December rates 3 for crowds (the peak is June at 4) and 3 for hotel prices (highest in June). Prices sit in the middle of the year's range.
Events in December
- Christmas markets continue (usually until late December)
- Hogmanay — New Year's Eve celebrations (31 December)
Dates move from year to year. Check the organiser’s site before booking travel around an event.
What to do in December
With cold days, plan around indoor sights and keep outdoor time flexible.
Museum · Partick
Riverside Museum
Zaha Hadid's zigzag-roofed building on the Clyde houses Glasgow's transport museum: trams, locomotives, a wall of vintage cars and a recreated cobbled street of old shops.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Kids
- Rainy day
- Architecture
- History
Museum · Pollok Country Park
Burrell Collection
Take the train to Pollokshaws West and walk through Pollok Country Park, stopping to see the Highland cattle on the way.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Art
- Rainy day
- History
Museum · West End
University of Glasgow and the Hunterian
The university's Gothic Revival main building on Gilmorehill has vaulted cloisters and a landmark tower.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- History
- Architecture
- Art
- Rainy day
Gallery · City Centre
Gallery of Modern Art
Photograph the cone-topped Duke of Wellington statue, then explore the café-lined lanes around Royal Exchange Square.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Art
- Rainy day
- Iconic
What to pack
For highs near 7°C, lows near 1°C and 15 wet days: a warm coat, hat, gloves and thermal layers; shoes with good grip for icy pavements; a compact umbrella and waterproof shoes — rain is frequent; comfortable walking shoes.
Is December a good time to visit Glasgow?
A shoulder-season month, with 2 notable events on the calendar. If your dates are flexible, May–September are better overall. Compare every month.
Glasgow in other months
Questions travellers ask
+Is December a good time to visit Glasgow?
It is a shoulder-season month. Short days and cold rain, offset by festive markets, pantomimes and lively pubs before Hogmanay.
+How warm is Glasgow in December?
Average highs are around 7°C (45°F) and lows around 1°C (34°F).
+Does it rain a lot in Glasgow in December?
Expect rain on about 15 days of the month, so pack for wet weather.