What does London December weather feel like?
Winter (December - February)
Winters in London are characterised by cold and often rainy weather. The average high between December and February is 48°F (9°C) and the average low is 41°F (5°C).
London features a temperate oceanic climate (Cfb). This gives the city cool winters, warm summers with precipitation fairly evenly distributed all year round. London has a very rich history of meteorological observations, with precipitation records beginning as early as January 1697 at Kew Gardens.
The average high temperature in London in December is 8ºC. Does it rain in London in December? Yes, it rains for up to 17 days in London in December.
The average high is 9 degrees Celsius, or 48 degrees Fahrenheit. Temperatures can hover near freezing, though, and in some years London gets snow in January. That said, it can also be milder than expected and even reach into the double digits Celsius, or low 50's Fahrenheit.
December in London is also an incredibly popular place to be during the holidays, so expect the streets to be crowded with both English and international tourists. And no matter when you travel, you should pack an umbrella: London is notorious for experiencing misty days and showers year-round.
London is a busy year-round destination. When visiting London in December keep in mind that hotel prices and airfares are higher than in other months. As this is peak travel time to the city, visitors flood the most popular attractions, and stores get filled with shoppers, so make sure to plan your days out.
Winters in London are generally cold and often rainy. But don't fret! There is plenty to do in London when the weather is not cooperating! The average daily high temperature between December and February is about 48°F (9°C) and the average daily low is 41°F (5°C).
DOES IT SNOW IN LONDON IN DECEMBER? Some snow is reported here in December, but only on about 2-3 days.
Spring (March, April and May) is a time for sudden rain showers, blossoming trees and flowering plants. Summer (June, July and August) is the UK's warmest season, with long sunny days, occasional thunderstorms and, in some years, heatwaves. Autumn (September, October and November) can be mild and dry or wet and windy.
London skies in December are typically overcast. This time of the year typically sees just eight hours of daylight and only three hours of actual sunlight per day. There are generally around nine rainy days, but snow is rare.
How do people dress in London in December?
- 1. . Waterproof Jacket. ...
- Woollen Dresses. Wool will always remain one of the trusted fabrics during winter. ...
- Winter Boots. London is a beautiful city. ...
- Gloves or Mittens. Like your feet, your hands need warmth too. ...
- Winter Caps. ...
- Jeans. ...
- Turtleneck Sweaters. ...
- Leather Pants.
London, in the south-east of the UK, is a region characterised by a warm and dry climate in the summer and a cold and dry climate in the winter. Cumbria, in the mountainous north-west of England, has generally cooler temperatures and more rainfall throughout the year.
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).
The reason it feels colder in the UK just under freezing is that there is still water vapour in the air at that temperature. However, in Canada at minus 30 degrees, the air is dry. Circularity Boss explained, that there's “no humidity whatsoever so there's nothing to settle on your face to cool you down”.
In the North Atlantic, the mid-latitude westerlies veer south on the western side of the basin and then swerve north on the eastern side. This waviness brings relatively balmy air up from the south to warm Europe during the winter.
Christmas is a truly enchanting time to visit the city. There's a certain magic that can be felt throughout December. The lights are brighter, smiles are larger, and London attractions look even more beautiful than usual. Read our guide for a full run-down of recommended activities.
Festivities and what to expect in London over the Christmas period. London is always fun at any time of year but at Christmas, she has extra magic. The darkness of the late afternoons helps make the lights and decorations all the more spectacular as you munch on your roasted chestnuts and sip a mulled wine.
London is worth visiting during Christmas for its festive atmosphere, colorful lights, great shopping, and fun events and entertainment. There's a lot to experience in the UK capital during the Yuletide season, and in this post I want to highlight some of the best things to do in London at Christmas.
Christmas in London has a certain kind of timeless appeal. Throughout the holiday season, trees stand silhouetted in the windows of Georgian townhouses; the pubs are cozy and packed, no matter the time of day; and fireplaces flicker within the city's grand hotels and bustling restaurants.
December is renowned for being one of the busiest months in London. The capital city attracts visitors from all over the country and all over the world during the festive season.
Is London fun in the winter?
London dazzles year-round, so consider visiting in winter, when airfares and hotel rates are generally cheaper, and tourist crowds are at a minimum. Despite the season's drearier weather and shorter days, London's museums, theaters, and pubs always offer a warm, cozy welcome.
The coldest month is usually January when temperatures can sink to around 33 F (1 C). Snow is pretty rare in London but if it does fall it's typically in January or February.
Winter in London is so much nicer when you're prepared for it. Good planing is the most important thing and will increase tremendously your enjoyment of the winter season. The things you need to remember to put in your suitcase are: gloves, warm shoes, thick socks, a winter jacket, a cap, a scarf and an umbrella.
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.
Average winter temperatures are between 32°F and 44°F (0°C and 7°C), although these vary from north to south. Of the capitals, London and Cardiff hold the warmest high and low averages of 48°F (9°C) and 41°F (5°C), while Edinburgh has the coldest high and low temperatures of 45°F (7°C) and 34°F (1°C).
We can accurately forecast if snow is likely on any given Christmas Day up to five days beforehand. Since 1960, around half of the years have seen at least 5% of the network record snow falling on Christmas Day. This means we can probably expect more than half of all Christmas Days to be a 'white Christmas'.
Most years, London is very cold in winter but not cold enough to see snow. If you're lucky, there might be a light dusting of snow, which was seen for a day over Christmas 2022, but normally it doesn't settle and it is only a few centimeters.
The coldest month of the year in the UK is January, and December sees the least sunshine. Hours of daylight are very short in Britain during the winter, with London seeing no more than 8 hours of daylight at the end of December – but it's okay because the streets are brightened up with thousands of Christmas lights!
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.
The best weather in London normally falls between the months of June and September. These months tend to be drier and have warmer temperatures. October usually starts off quite mild, but cools off over the course of the month.
Is December a wet month UK?
Rainfall
Most catchments received above average rainfall during December. The wettest hydrological area was the Dover Chalk in southeast England which received 167% of December's LTA rainfall. The driest area was the middle Severn in central England with 67% of LTA rainfall for December.
| Month | Sunrise | Hours of daylight |
|---|---|---|
| September | 06:33 am | 12:45 h |
| October | 07:22 am | 10:48 h |
| November | 07:16 am | 8:57 h |
| December | 07:57 am | 7:56 h |
The average sliding 31-day rainfall during December in London is essentially constant, remaining about 2.0 inches throughout, and rarely exceeding 3.5 inches or falling below 0.6 inches.
Most people wear tennis shoes in London or any fashionable boots. You may also love to bring something with elevation to prevent wet conditions. Choose calf-height and ankle boots for the winter. When there is heavy rain, rubber bootie will work well especially if you're exploring the city on foot.
Top style tips for the United Kingdom
Black is always a popular color, and smart casual clothes will help you fit right in. In the UK jeans are worn by everyone – young and old alike – and unless you are visiting more upscale restaurants they are perfectly acceptable to wear everywhere.
- Warm, layered clothes. The most important thing to pack for your tour to the UK in winter is warm clothes. ...
- Warm accessories. Don't forget your gloves, scarves, thermal socks and woolly beanies! ...
- Shoes. ...
- Versatile clothing. ...
- Swimwear. ...
- Shoes. ...
- Insect repellent. ...
- Layered clothing.
It's hot in the UK's cities, with some sweatier than others – two thirds of Glaswegians (65.8%), Mancunians (59.3%) and Bristolians (57%) are all showing the wettest numbers on record. A quarter of survey respondents live in London – with well over half of them (54.9%) dripping their way through their own body heat.
Peak Season (June-August)
The weather is warmest in summer and it is hands down the best climate to visit London. This is also when the city hosts numerous events and you can feel the vibrant buzz of the city during these months.
London has some very humid months, with other comfortably humid months. The least humid month is April (58.1% relative humidity), and the most humid month is November (78.7%).
AVERAGE DECEMBER TEMPERATURES
As we near Christmas, daytime highs tend to be mostly 6-7 C (mid-40's F) and early morning lows around 3-4 C (upper 30's F). A few mornings will see temperatures dipping down to around -1 to -2 C (30 F). The coldest temperature recorded in London in December was -12 C (10 F).
Does it usually snow in London at Christmas?
We can accurately forecast if snow is likely on any given Christmas Day up to five days beforehand. Since 1960, around half of the years have seen at least 5% of the network record snow falling on Christmas Day. This means we can probably expect more than half of all Christmas Days to be a 'white Christmas'.
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).
Christmas Day is the quietest day of the year in London, take the opportunity to walk in the parks and see the Christmas windows and lights. There's something special about being in London at Christmas time but Christmas day itself in the city is a unique experience.
In the UK (or Great Britain and Northern Ireland), families often celebrate Christmas together, so they can watch each other open their presents! Most families have a Christmas Tree (or maybe even two!) in their house for Christmas. The decorating of the tree is usually a family occasion, with everyone helping.
Cold air from the Arctic has been pushed over the UK. This has been caused by a high-pressure weather system over Greenland and Iceland moving eastwards towards another high-pressure system over Russia. The result is a cold air mass in between being squeezed southwards and over the UK.
Peak Season (June-August)
The weather is warmest in summer and it is hands down the best climate to visit London. This is also when the city hosts numerous events and you can feel the vibrant buzz of the city during these months.
Since 1960, London has experienced six white Christmases, according to the definition of a snowflake given above: in 1964, 1968, 1970, 1976, 1996, and 1999.
The most recent time this happened was in 2021, with 2020 and 2017 also being classed white Christmases. However, the capital hasn't seen a white Christmas for over 20 years. Applying the snowflake definition above, London has technically had six white Christmases since 1960: 1964, 1968, 1970, 1976, 1996 and 1999.
Meanwhile in the UK, 2021 was the last white Christmas with 6% of stations recording snow falling, but less than 1% of stations reported any snow lying on the ground. The last widespread white Christmas in the UK was also in 2010.
