Month guide · Manchester · United Kingdom
Manchester in December
What December is really like in Manchester: weather, crowds, prices, events and what to pack.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Quick answer
December is a shoulder-season month. Expect average highs of 7°C (45°F), lows of 2°C (36°F), about 15 rainy days and roughly 7.5 hours of daylight. Festive markets and busy weekends with Christmas parties; prices rise in early December, then fall after Christmas.
Key facts
- Average high / low
- 7°C (45°F) / 2°C (36°F)
- Rainy days
- About 15
- Daylight
- About 7.5 hours
- Crowds
- Busy
- Hotel prices
- High
Weather in December
December is the coolest month in Manchester: days average 7°C (45°F) against a yearly average high of 14°C (57°F), and nights fall to about 2°C (36°F). Rain falls on roughly 15 of its 31 days. Compared with November (10°C (50°F)), December is cooler; by January highs stay near 7°C (45°F).
- Sunrise (15 December)
- About 08:19
- Sunset (15 December)
- About 15:50
- Daylight
- About 7.5 hours
Winter (December–February). Cold, damp and dark early, but Christmas markets in December and the lowest prices of the year after New Year.
Crowds and prices
On a 1–5 scale, December rates 4 for crowds (the peak is June at 4) and 4 for hotel prices (highest in June). Book accommodation early: December is one of the pricier months.
Events in December
- Christmas markets continue (until about 21 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 · City Centre
National Football Museum
Inside the sloping glass Urbis building beside Cathedral Gardens, England's national football museum covers the game's history from medieval village matches to the modern Premier League, with shirts, trophies and interactive penalty and skills challenges.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Kids
- Rainy day
- History
Religious site · City Centre
Manchester Cathedral
Look under the choir-stall seats for the carved misericords, including a rabbit cooking a hunter.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- History
- Architecture
- Rainy day
Museum · Spinningfields
People's History Museum
Britain's national museum of democracy, in a former Edwardian pumping station on the Irwell, tells the story of the fight for votes, workers' rights and protest through banners, posters and objects from the Peterloo Massacre of 1819 to modern campaigns.
- Time needed
- 1.5 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- History
- Rainy day
Market · Northern Quarter
Afflecks
Walk the surrounding streets afterwards to find the Northern Quarter's murals and record shops.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Shopping
- Free
- Rainy day
What to pack
For highs near 7°C, lows near 2°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 Manchester?
A shoulder-season month, with a notable event on the calendar. If your dates are flexible, May–September are better overall. Compare every month.
Manchester in other months
Questions travellers ask
+Is December a good time to visit Manchester?
It is a shoulder-season month. Festive markets and busy weekends with Christmas parties; prices rise in early December, then fall after Christmas.
+How warm is Manchester in December?
Average highs are around 7°C (45°F) and lows around 2°C (36°F).
+Does it rain a lot in Manchester in December?
Expect rain on about 15 days of the month, so pack for wet weather.