City of London (Greater London) weather (2024)

FAQs

What is the weather in London usually _________________ in summer? ›

Summertime in London (June to August)

During these months, it's the warmest and driest time of the year with temperatures ranging from 20°C to 23°C on average. The longest days are found during the summer when London can be light from 6am through to 9pm.

According to the Koppen Climate Classification, London has a temperate oceanic climate (Cfb). This type of climate features cool winters with frequent cloudy skies and rain showers (and on occasion snow), and mild summers. Precipitation is fairly evenly distributed all year round.

Rainfall in London

Overall rainfall is highest in November and August (64mm and 59mm respectively) and is lowest in March and April (37mm each). On wet days, why not visit one of London's top museums and art galleries or entertain the kids with one of these family outings for rainy days.

One fact of London weather that you do need to prepare for is rain, which seems to happen throughout the year. Although the average rainfall isn't actually that high (around 23 inches/58 centimeters a year), rain clouds do seem to descend on the city with great regularity—usually in the form of a drizzle.

Daily highs range from 48°F (9°C) in the winter to 73°F (23°C) in the summer, and weather conditions can fluctuate quite a bit over the course of a day.

November and August see the highest rainfall in London. The summer months of May, June, July is the best time to visit London. London is less crowded during the shoulder season which comprises of Mid-September through November, March through April.

It doesn't snow in London very often – the last major snowfall was in 2009. But there is usually at least a small snow flurry for a few days most years, generally between November and April.

The temperatures of London are much milder than those of NYC. NYC is both warmer in the summer and colder in the winter - London is just London all the time. London's temperatures average winter lowers around 40 degrees F (or 5 Celsius) and summer highs get up to around 70 degrees F (21 Celsius).

Understanding London's Climate: A Four-Season Destination

London has a temperate maritime climate, which means that it's mild and rainy throughout the year with occasional sunny days. The city has four distinct seasons: spring, summer, autumn, and winter, each with its own unique charm.

What is the best weather source in London? ›

Best for accuracy: Met Office

Founded in 1854, the Met Office is one of the oldest national weather services in the world and its app is the most popular in the UK. Its supercomputer analyses 215bn weather observations each day at a rate of 14,000tn calculations a second.

The summer weather in London tends to be warm to hot, with slightly cooler nights. On average, there are 7 or 8 days of rainfall. In summer, temperatures are hottest in July and August, and days start to shorten after the summer solstice in late June.

So what should I expect? Although UK weather is unpredictable, it is rarely extreme. In summer, the average temperature ranges from 9–18 degrees Celsius (48–64 degrees Fahrenheit). On occasion, it can reach around 30 degrees Celsius (86 degrees Fahrenheit) in a heatwave.

Modern London has the equable climate of South East England, with mild winters and temperate summers. The average daytime air temperature is 52 °F (11 °C), with 42 °F (5.5 °C) in January and 65 °F (18 °C) in July.

In the UK the clocks go forward 1 hour at 1am on the last Sunday in March, and back 1 hour at 2am on the last Sunday in October. The period when the clocks are 1 hour ahead is called British Summer Time (BST).