London, United Kingdom Climate & Monthly Averages
The climate of London
London has an oceanic climate. Average highs run from 46°F (8°C) in January to 73°F (23°C) in July, and the city records roughly 135 days of measurable precipitation a year.
Climate quick facts
- Hottest month: July - highs near 73°F (23°C)
- Coldest month: January - highs near 46°F (8°C)
- Decade extremes (2015-2024): 100°F (38°C) high · 13°F (-10°C) low
- Wettest month: October (12 rainy days) · Sunniest: June (11.2 h sun/day)
- Climate type: oceanic
- Annual swing: 14°C between the average warmest and coolest month · day to night: 7°C
- Snow: about 2 days a year
- Average humidity: 79%
Temperatures through the year
At its warmest, in July, London runs to 73°F (23°C) in the afternoon and back to 57°F (14°C) by dawn. January is the coolest month, with highs of 46°F (8°C) and lows near 35°F (2°C). Four of the twelve months pair mild highs with fewer than twelve wet days; the longest unbroken run is June through September.
Rain, sun and snow
Precipitation concentrates in October - 3.0 inches (77 mm) on 12 days - and thins out by April. Snowfall is rare but not unheard of. Across the gridded 2015-2024 daily record, the highest daily maximum for this location was 100°F (38°C) and the lowest daily minimum 13°F (-10°C).
How London compares
- The city sees 7.6 hours of sunshine on an average day - duller than all but 9% of the 3496 cities we track.
- 29% of the year's precipitation falls in its wettest three months - more evenly spread than all but 9% of the 3496 cities we track.
Ranked against every city in our dataset, each measured on the same ten-year window.
Monthly climate table
| Month | High | Low | Rain days | Precipitation | Sunshine | Daylight | Wet-day chance | Humidity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 46° | 35° | 12 | 2.4 in | 4.3 h/day | 8.3 h | 38% | 86% |
| February | 49° | 37° | 11 | 2.1 in | 5.2 h/day | 9.9 h | 40% | 82% |
| March | 52° | 39° | 13 | 2.3 in | 6.5 h/day | 11.7 h | 42% | 79% |
| April | 57° | 41° | 10 | 1.6 in | 9.5 h/day | 13.8 h | 32% | 74% |
| May | 63° | 47° | 11 | 2.3 in | 10.6 h/day | 15.6 h | 36% | 74% |
| June | 69° | 53° | 11 | 2.4 in | 11.2 h/day | 16.6 h | 36% | 72% |
| July | 73° | 57° | 11 | 2.4 in | 11.2 h/day | 16.2 h | 35% | 71% |
| August | 72° | 57° | 10 | 2.2 in | 10.0 h/day | 14.6 h | 31% | 74% |
| September | 67° | 53° | 11 | 2.5 in | 8.4 h/day | 12.6 h | 37% | 77% |
| October | 60° | 48° | 12 | 3.0 in | 6.3 h/day | 10.5 h | 38% | 83% |
| November | 52° | 42° | 11 | 2.6 in | 4.4 h/day | 8.8 h | 38% | 86% |
| December | 49° | 40° | 12 | 2.6 in | 3.3 h/day | 7.9 h | 39% | 88% |
London month by month
Average high and low for each month, with the bar showing where it sits in London's year (left is the coldest night, right is the warmest afternoon).
January
- Rain
- 12 days
- Sunshine
- 4.3 h
- Daylight
- 8.3 h
February
- Rain
- 11 days
- Sunshine
- 5.2 h
- Daylight
- 9.9 h
March
- Rain
- 13 days
- Sunshine
- 6.5 h
- Daylight
- 11.7 h
April
- Rain
- 10 days
- Sunshine
- 9.5 h
- Daylight
- 13.8 h
May
- Rain
- 11 days
- Sunshine
- 10.6 h
- Daylight
- 15.6 h
June
- Rain
- 11 days
- Sunshine
- 11.2 h
- Daylight
- 16.6 h
July
- Rain
- 11 days
- Sunshine
- 11.2 h
- Daylight
- 16.2 h
August
- Rain
- 10 days
- Sunshine
- 10.0 h
- Daylight
- 14.6 h
September
- Rain
- 11 days
- Sunshine
- 8.4 h
- Daylight
- 12.6 h
October
- Rain
- 12 days
- Sunshine
- 6.3 h
- Daylight
- 10.5 h
November
- Rain
- 11 days
- Sunshine
- 4.4 h
- Daylight
- 8.8 h
December
- Rain
- 12 days
- Sunshine
- 3.3 h
- Daylight
- 7.9 h
Warmer places to go, by month: January · February · March · April · May · June · July · August · September · October · November · December
Seasons in London
Spring (March through May)
Through spring, London is mild: 57°F (14°C) by day, 42°F (6°C) after dark, and rain falls on around 34 of the 90 days.
Summer (June through August)
Summer brings comfortable warmth here - highs near 71°F (22°C), nights near 56°F (13°C), and rain falls on around 31 of the 90 days. Daylight is generous - around 10.8 hours of sun a day.
Fall (September through November)
Fall in London stays on the cool side of mild, with daytime highs averaging 60°F (15°C) and nights around 47°F (9°C); rain falls on around 34 of the 90 days.
Winter (December through February)
Through winter, London is chilly: 48°F (9°C) by day, 37°F (3°C) after dark, and rain falls on around 35 of the 90 days.
Climate questions, answered
How hot does London get in summer?
How warm is London on average?
How much sun does London get?
How many rainy days does London get in a year?
Best time to visit London
The best time to visit London is generally May to October, when warm days, manageable rainfall and plenty of daylight line up. Daytime temperatures in that window sit near 67°F (20°C), with rain on about 11 days a month. For the same question asked the other way round, see where else is warm in May.
Pack for London with a warm jacket and layers for the cooler season and a compact umbrella or rain shell. July nights average 57°F (14°C), so evenings rarely match the afternoons.
London temperature records (2015-2024)
Derived from ERA5 reanalysis data, 2015–2024. Official station records may differ. Need the precipitation in other units? The mm-to-inches rainfall converter handles it.