Month guide · Glasgow · United Kingdom
Glasgow in May
What May is really like in Glasgow: weather, crowds, prices, events and what to pack.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Quick answer
May is one of the best months to visit Glasgow. Expect average highs of 15°C (59°F), lows of 6°C (43°F), about 11 rainy days and roughly 16.3 hours of daylight. Mild, light evenings and comparatively dry weather make May a good month for walking and the Highlands.
Key facts
- Average high / low
- 15°C (59°F) / 6°C (43°F)
- Rainy days
- About 11
- Daylight
- About 16.3 hours
- Crowds
- Moderate
- Hotel prices
- Average
Weather in May
May is the 5th-warmest month in Glasgow: days average 15°C (59°F) against a yearly average high of 13°C (55°F), and nights fall to about 6°C (43°F). Rain falls on roughly 11 of its 31 days. Compared with April (12°C (54°F)), May is warmer; by June highs climb to around 18°C (64°F).
- Sunrise (15 May)
- About 05:04
- Sunset (15 May)
- About 21:22
- Daylight
- About 16.3 hours
Spring (March–May). Lengthening days, blossom in the parks and often the driest weather of the year, with moderate prices outside Easter.
Crowds and prices
On a 1–5 scale, May 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 May
May has no major recurring festival in Glasgow, which usually means easier bookings.
What to do in May
With frequent rain, plan around indoor sights and keep outdoor time flexible.
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
Garden · West End
Glasgow Botanic Gardens
At the top of Byres Road, the Botanic Gardens are free to enter and centre on the Kibble Palace, a curved Victorian iron-and-glass house filled with tree ferns and marble statues.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Nature
- Kids
- Outdoors
- Rainy day
What to pack
For highs near 15°C, lows near 6°C and 11 wet days: layers, a warm sweater and a jacket for cool evenings; a packable rain jacket for showers; comfortable walking shoes.
Is May a good time to visit Glasgow?
One of the best months to visit Glasgow. The other best months are June–September. Compare every month.
Glasgow in other months
Questions travellers ask
+Is May a good time to visit Glasgow?
It is one of the best months to visit Glasgow. Mild, light evenings and comparatively dry weather make May a good month for walking and the Highlands.
+How warm is Glasgow in May?
Average highs are around 15°C (59°F) and lows around 6°C (43°F).
+Does it rain a lot in Glasgow in May?
Expect rain on about 11 days of the month.