Month guide · Glasgow · United Kingdom
Glasgow in January
What January is really like in Glasgow: weather, crowds, prices, events and what to pack.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Stephencdickson, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
January is a quieter month with trade-offs. Expect average highs of 7°C (45°F), lows of 2°C (36°F), about 16 rainy days and roughly 7.6 hours of daylight. Cold, wet and dark by about 4pm, but museums are quiet and Celtic Connections fills venues with folk and roots music.
Key facts
- Average high / low
- 7°C (45°F) / 2°C (36°F)
- Rainy days
- About 16
- Daylight
- About 7.6 hours
- Crowds
- Quiet
- Hotel prices
- Low
Weather in January
January is the 10th-warmest month in Glasgow: days average 7°C (45°F) against a yearly average high of 13°C (55°F), and nights fall to about 2°C (36°F). Rain falls on roughly 16 of its 31 days. Compared with December (7°C (45°F)), January is about as warm; by February highs stay near 7°C (45°F).
- Sunrise (15 January)
- About 08:37
- Sunset (15 January)
- About 16:15
- Daylight
- About 7.6 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, January rates 2 for crowds (the peak is June at 4) and 2 for hotel prices (highest in June). That makes January one of the better-value months to book.
Events in January
- Celtic Connections — folk, roots and world music festival (usually mid-January to early February)
- Burns Night suppers (25 January)
Dates move from year to year. Check the organiser’s site before booking travel around an event.
What to do in January
With cold days, plan around indoor sights and keep outdoor time flexible.
Museum · West End
Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum
Time your visit for one of the organ recitals in the centre hall, which are usually held in the early afternoon.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Free
- Art
- Kids
- Rainy day
- History
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
What to pack
For highs near 7°C, lows near 2°C and 16 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 January a good time to visit Glasgow?
A quieter month with trade-offs, 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 January a good time to visit Glasgow?
It is a quieter month with trade-offs. Cold, wet and dark by about 4pm, but museums are quiet and Celtic Connections fills venues with folk and roots music.
+How warm is Glasgow in January?
Average highs are around 7°C (45°F) and lows around 2°C (36°F).
+Does it rain a lot in Glasgow in January?
Expect rain on about 16 days of the month, so pack for wet weather.