London weather by month & the best time to visit
United Kingdom · major city break · oceanic / maritime climate
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The best time to visit London is June — its sunniest month (Sunshine Score 78/100), with July and August close behind. London averages about 1,604 hours of sunshine a year. Daytime highs around 20°C / 68°F and roughly 55 mm of rain in June.
When is the best time to visit London?
For sunshine, the best time to visit London is June, then July and August. The dullest month is January (0/100, 61 mm of rain). The full month-by-month picture is in the table below.
How sunny is London?
London isn't a sunny place by world standards: about 1,604 hours of sunshine a year. 78 Sunshine Score points separate June (78) from January (0), so the month you pick matters. It ranks #7 of 48 destinations in United Kingdom for annual sunshine, above the national median of 1,345 hours. The year's 681 mm of rain spreads fairly evenly across the months, with no pronounced dry season.
Sunshine Score by month
| Month | Score | Day high | Night low | Rain | UV | Sea |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 0 | 7° / 45°F | 3° / 37°F | 61 mm | 0 | 9° / 48°F |
| February | 0 | 8° / 46°F | 2° / 36°F | 51 mm | 1 | 8° / 46°F |
| March | 13 | 10° / 50°F | 3° / 37°F | 48 mm | 2 | 8° / 46°F |
| April | 34 | 13° / 55°F | 5° / 41°F | 38 mm | 3 | 9° / 48°F |
| May | 52 | 16° / 61°F | 9° / 48°F | 51 mm | 4 | 13° / 55°F |
| June | 78 | 20° / 68°F | 12° / 54°F | 55 mm | 5 | 17° / 63°F |
| July | 77 | 22° / 72°F | 14° / 57°F | 58 mm | 5 | 18° / 64°F |
| August | 76 | 22° / 72°F | 14° / 57°F | 63 mm | 4 | 19° / 66°F |
| September | 73 | 19° / 66°F | 12° / 54°F | 44 mm | 3 | 19° / 66°F |
| October | 44 | 15° / 59°F | 9° / 48°F | 72 mm | 2 | 16° / 61°F |
| November | 19 | 11° / 52°F | 6° / 43°F | 71 mm | 1 | 13° / 55°F |
| December | 0 | 8° / 46°F | 4° / 39°F | 69 mm | 0 | 10° / 50°F |
Sea temperature in London by month
The sea off London is warmest in August at around 19°C / 66°F, and coolest in February at 8°C / 46°F. It never reaches comfortable swimming temperatures (21°C+). Month-by-month sea-surface temperatures are in the Sea column of the table above.
London: questions and answers
What kind of destination is London?
London is a major city break in United Kingdom with a oceanic / maritime climate — the sea reaches 19°C at its warmest.
How many hours of sunshine does London get a year?
London gets about 1,604 hours of sunshine a year, at its best around June.
When is the best time to visit London?
The sunniest time to visit London is June, when the Sunshine Score peaks at 78/100 (with July and August close behind). Expect daytime highs around 20°C / 68°F.
What is the least sunny month in London?
January is the least sunny month in London, scoring 0/100 with about 61 mm of rain.
What is the sea temperature in London?
The sea in London ranges from about 8°C (February) to 19°C (August). Month-by-month sea temperatures are on this page.
How strong is the sun in London?
The typical midday UV index in London peaks around 5 (moderate) in June, easing to about 0 (low) in January. Month-by-month midday UV values are in the UV column of the table on this page.
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