Worst Time to Visit London: Decide With These Pros and Cons

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning if you decide to make a purchase through my links we may earn a commission at no additional cost to you. Read about our affiliate policies here.
We are reviewing the three Cs of travel to determine the worst time to visit London: Clouds, Crowds, and Cost. Save your money and skip those travel headaches by staying away from the worst time to visit London. Plus, we share our experience of living in London for six years.
The worst time to visit London is July due to the highest cost, largest crowds, and hottest weather. January is the least popular time to visit London due to the cold and wet weather. Consider skipping London during these months.
We enjoy visiting London in May and June. The long days and numerous events in London make The Great British Summer a wonderful time to visit.
Come July though, the chance of heat waves with no air conditioning in hotel rooms and long queues at attractions can make one realize July is the worst time to visit Lonon.
January is the hangover from a raucous December of holiday parties. Londoners embrace dry January (a valiant effort at least) as they brave the cold and wet streets of London.
Read on for details on the worst time to visit London for your vacation. Don’t miss our FREE London Travel Guide with more details on visiting this spectacular city.

Worst Time to Visit London: The Data
To determine the worst time to visit London without inserting our bias, we dove into the data from reputable sources. Use the charts, tables, and analysis below to determine the worst time to visit London per your criteria.
- Perhaps you fear the risk of an August heat wave with no air conditioning in London. August would be your worst time to visit London.
- Or, you want to avoid a dark, cold, wet visit to London. Then, December and January would be the worst times to visit London for you.
- If cost is your biggest factor for booking a trip to London, then avoid June and July as those are the most expensive times to visit.
Let’s go into the details on clouds, crowds, and costs to determine the worst time to visit London for you.
Clouds: Worst Weather in London
The worst time to visit London in regards to the weather is December. December is the darkest, coldest, and wettest month in London. Hence, the holiday period is so lively in London to compensate for the rough weather outside.
If you wish to avoid the heat and sun in London, skip visiting in July. Heat waves (extreme temperatures) occur more often in August and are becoming more frequent.
MetOffice.gov.uk climate report provides the following weather conditions by month to help us break down the worst time to visit London based on your climate preferences.
The temperature in southern England is subject to European weather influences due to the proximity to the continent. That proximity is a good thing compared to the rest of England which bears the brunt of Atlantic depressions.
January is the coldest month with mean temperatures of 37oF (3oC) in London. Extreme minimum temperatures usually occur in December and January.
July is the warmest month, with mean daily maximum temperatures in London of 74oF (23.5°C). Heat waves are the most common in July and August in London, resulting in the mean daily maximum temperatures for the year.

Sunny days mean the most to me when I travel. In general, December is the dullest month and June is the sunniest month in London. This is a combination of the length of the day and cloudy skies.
When the sun comes out in London, you will find Londoners flocking to the many parks in the city. You will find out why Hyde Park is Worth Visiting when the weather is nice.

When it comes to dodging the rain on a trip to London, it is hard to say when London will be the driest. Rainfall in southern England is well-distributed throughout the year. But in London, you may find more showers during the summer.
Dodge the rain by running into a free London museum! We share the 12 Best London Museums here.
On average, you can expect 35 to 40 wet days between December and February in London compared to 25 wet days between June and August.
Snowy days in London are rare. We only had a few when we lived in London. When they do happen, they are magical!
On average, London gets 2 to 4 days per month of snow laying on the ground after 9 AM from December to February.
Combining the temperature, sunshine, rainfall, and snow data it is clear that December is the worst time to visit London in regards to the weather.

Rain or shine, don’t head our for London until you’ve double checked you have everything on our packing list!
Crowds: Busiest Time to Visit London
Europe is a popular destination for summer travel. Many international flights land at London’s Heathrow Airport (LHR), hence it is one of the busiest airports in the world. As London is the starting point for summer vacations, June through August is a busy time in London.
If you wish to avoid the worst time to travel to London in regards to crowds, avoid June through August in London. July has historically been the busiest month for travel to London. These peak visitor months mean large lines at attractions, busy public transport, and higher prices as demand surges. Let’s jump into the data for more information.
Visitors start increasing in number starting in May, peak in July or August and stay relatively high during the fall and into the holidays.
Related article: Should You Rent a Car in London?
For example, the second quarter of 2023 saw 5.3 million visitors to London, 54% of all visitors to the United Kingdom. With a population of 9 million Londoners, that is a large increase in the city’s daily census.
The crowded travel periods from VisitBritain.org are July through September. As the table below shows, most international visitors plan their trips in the third quarter.

Another indicator of the worst time to visit London in regards to crowds is hotel occupancy. June and July are consistently the highest months for hotel occupancy per data from visitbritain.org. The graph below shows hotel occupancy for England which trends the same for Greater London. In London, rates were 86% in June and July in 2023.

School holidays in Europe are another thing to consider when determining the worst time to visit London. August is the peak summer holiday period for Europe and other countries as well, adding to the reason summer is busy in London.
School holiday schedules can also cause spikes in London travel with half-term breaks in October, February, and March.

Cost: Most Expensive Time to Visit London
The biggest costs when visiting London are airfare and lodging. Both of these costs are subject to supply and demand pressures. The algorithms that set prices for the major airlines and hotel chains respond to the surge in visitors who start to book departures in May.
The crowds of visitors to London will cause an increase in the cost of your London vacation. In regards to cost, the worst time to visit London is July, with June being a close second.
Let’s look a little further into the worst time to visit London regarding costs.
Flights to London from America’s East Coast start to increase in May and stay high through October. July is the most expensive month to fly to London with the best-priced flights averaging around $575. June is the second most expensive at about $500. Flight data is from skyscanner.com.
Hotel room rates vary considerably based on the quality of the hotel, location, and time of the year. In this cost analysis, we looked at historical data from VisitBritain.org hotel occupancy reports.
The average daily rate for Greater London hotel rooms was the following in 2023 till October (available data):
- January: £150, 65% occupancy
- February: £165, 73% occupancy
- March: £175, 77% occupancy
- April: £187, 80% occupancy
- May: £205, 80% occupancy
- June: £230, 86% occupancy
- July: £230, 86% occupancy
- August: £185, 81% occupancy
- September: £131, 83% occupancy
- October: £126, 80% occupancy
These rates reflect the change in prices with demand. As it is the average daily rate, be prepared to spend more for the hotel you want, in the location you need.
Price estimates below are from hotels.com in Greater London for a 4-star hotel.
- September: £200
- October: £225
- November: £245
- December: £200
The increase in visitors to London in June and July causes an increase in hotel prices. No surprise.
As you don’t need a rental car in London and restaurants and tour prices don’t fluctuate during the year, you can save some money by avoiding the worst time to visit London regarding trip costs.
Prices for hotels and flights are subject to special events in London like festivals. Most events are held in the summer which compounds the amount of people visiting the capital.
For ways to save money during the worst time to visit London or anytime during the year, here are some tips that we gleaned from our research:
- Book hotel rooms during the week when hotel occupancy is lower
- Book further than 6 months out to avoid the booking season of popular countries
- Look for last-minute deals if you have the flexibility to book. Past performance doesn’t predict future bookings. A hotel may be desperate to fill empty rooms during busy season months.

The Opposite of the Worst Time to Visit London
The best time to visit London is the shoulder seasons of early summer and early fall. We enjoy visiting London in May and September. These are not the worst times to visit London as the weather is pleasant, one can find good prices on flights and hotels, and the summer rush isn’t there.
We also enjoy December. While London doesn’t have Christmas Markets that are as cute as Germany or Austria, the holiday cheer is rampant and the decorations are wonderful around the city.
While December is cold and dark with the short days, the holidays make London a lively and joyous place to visit. The pubs are packed with raucous Londeners but the holiday decorations and vibe of the town are electric.
Here are some tips on visiting London outside of the worst time to visit London:
- The first quarter of the year has the fewest visitors to London by far.
- While July is hot, June is a little cooler and not as busy. Long summer days also make for a fun time to visit as you have more daylight to explore London.
- The cheapest months to visit London are the following:
- January and February have the cheapest flights from the east coast of America to London Heathrow
- Hotels are the cheapest in the first quarter of the year.
Final Thoughts on the Worst Time to Visit London
We hope this analysis of the worst time to visit London helps you plan your trip to London. We love London during all times of the year but when planning a vacation and sightseeing trip to London, one should set themselves up for success.
Target a month where you won’t be waiting in long queues and the days will be long so you have more time to explore the city.
Now that you know when to visit London, figure out what to do in the city. Download our free London One-Day Itinerary. This is the itinerary we would use to get our friends and family out of our flat.
Print the one-page itinerary, and enjoy a perfect day in Central London.

Free Download!
CHEAT SHEETS: LONDON, PARIS, LISBON, & ROME
Use one or use them all! Sign up & we’ll send you our cheat sheets for all 4 cities.
Get a jumpstart on your planning with an overview of each city: when to go, where to stay, can’t miss activities, and how to get around.


