Bristol vs Exeter: which is sunnier?
🇬🇧 United Kingdom vs 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · 87 km apart · long-term climate normals (NASA POWER, 2001–2020)
Exeter is the sunnier overall: about 1,796 hours of sunshine a year to Bristol's 1,565. Month by month it's balanced: each has the higher Sunshine Score in 4 months, with 4 within 2 points.
Scores are the 0–100 Sunshine Score — sunshine, daytime warmth and dryness in one number, per month.
At a glance
| Bristol | Exeter | |
|---|---|---|
| Sunshine hours / year | 1,565 | 1,796 |
| Sunniest month | July (75/100) | July (71/100) |
| Nov–Feb average score | 3/100 | 10/100 |
| Jun–Aug average score | 73/100 | 66/100 |
| Rain / year | 812 mm | 980 mm |
| Warmest sea | 21°C / 70°F | 18°C / 64°F |
| Peak midday UV | 5 (moderate) | 5 (moderate) |
Bristol vs Exeter month by month
| Month | Sunshine Score | Day high °C | Rain mm | Sea °C | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bristol | Exeter | Bristol | Exeter | Bristol | Exeter | Bristol | Exeter | |
| January | 0 | 6 | 6° | 9° | 76 | 105 | 6° | 10° |
| February | 0 | 0 | 7° | 8° | 60 | 81 | 7° | 10° |
| March | 6 | 6 | 9° | 9° | 60 | 77 | 9° | 10° |
| April | 26 | 26 | 12° | 12° | 50 | 59 | 11° | 11° |
| May | 51 | 39 | 16° | 14° | 60 | 60 | 15° | 15° |
| June | 70 | 58 | 19° | 17° | 62 | 62 | 18° | 16° |
| July | 75 | 71 | 21° | 19° | 69 | 64 | 20° | 16° |
| August | 74 | 69 | 20° | 19° | 72 | 78 | 21° | 17° |
| September | 65 | 66 | 18° | 18° | 50 | 56 | 17° | 18° |
| October | 36 | 40 | 14° | 15° | 83 | 110 | 13° | 16° |
| November | 12 | 23 | 10° | 12° | 86 | 114 | 11° | 14° |
| December | 0 | 11 | 7° | 10° | 84 | 114 | 8° | 12° |
The sunnier month by month: Jan Exeter · Feb even · Mar even · Apr even · May Bristol · Jun Bristol · Jul Bristol · Aug Bristol · Sep even · Oct Exeter · Nov Exeter · Dec Exeter.
When to pick which
- November–February: Exeter (average score 10/100 vs 3). Exeter is the warmer, around 10°C daytime highs vs 8°C. See the winter sun ranking.
- March–May: Bristol (average score 28/100 vs 24). Daytime highs are similar (12°C vs 12°C).
- June–August: Bristol (average score 73/100 vs 66). Bristol is the warmer, around 20°C daytime highs vs 18°C.
- September–October: too close to call — Bristol averages 51/100, Exeter 53/100. Daytime highs are similar (16°C vs 17°C).
Sea temperature
Bristol's sea gets warmer: 21°C / 70°F at its peak vs 18°C. Swimmable water (21°C+): Bristol about 1 month a year, Exeter never. Month-by-month sea temperatures are in the table above.
Full month-by-month guides: Bristol weather by month · Exeter weather by month · Best time to visit United Kingdom.
More comparisons: Bristol vs Cardiff · Bristol vs Bournemouth · Bristol vs Southampton · Exeter vs Cardiff · Exeter vs Bournemouth · Exeter vs Newquay · all head-to-heads