London in Late November

Christmas stuff appears in late August in stores and the Christmas lights on the retail streets are switched on mid/late November. Shop windows have their Christmas displays 4/6 weeks before the big day.

The weather is unpredictable these days. Some years I haven't had my winter wool coat out until December and it has been dry, but the last two years have been mild and wet, hence the flooding that certain parts suffered.

Personally, I think that any time of year is a reasonable time to visit the UK.

It's unlikely to rain for a week straight. But it might rain for a couple of hours out of each day that you're there. What I usually do is wear a waterproof jacket as my regular outdoor coat, so if it starts to rain, I can just put the hood up and keep on going.

Be aware that daylight hours in late November are quite short, with sunrises around 7:30 and sunsets around 4:00. If you have any plans that require daylight, schedule them accordingly.

Last year, London's Covent Garden shopping area opened the season with a Christmas tree lighting and holiday concert on Nov. 12 under a very light sprinkle of rain.

I love London in November. Spent nearly the entire month there last year. The majority of it in London.

Recall one day of heavy rain, heavy enough for me to utter aloud, "maybe I should have packed the travel umbrella." However the torrents ceased by mid day and exploration continued. Also recall the Lords Mayor parade on the 4th that I was there to photograph was inundated with showers but went off without a hitch. This was a day after the horrific Paris Bombings. I expected to see stringent police activity during the parade. Saw little and had to be reminded by a local that London is always on alert since the days of the IRA but that doesn't mean they live in fear. Quite the opposite.

There were a couple other days of light sprinkles but nothing curtailed my enjoyment of the city. Did Experience a down pour during one of the days i was visiting Durham but that made it the perfect day to explore the stunning Cathedral.

All in all last November wasn't terribly cold either. Dressed comfortably in layers. Waterproof parka with lightweight Polartec beneath. Carried gloves but rarely wore them.

Christmas lights along Oxford and Regents streets and up and down side streets were lovely. Most pubs had Christmas trees. Selfridges and Liberty were in its full blown Christmas glory. Amazing stores!

The Winter Wonderland in Hyde Park was up and running. Its free and although I didn't think I'd like it, meandered about it around sunset one day and enjoyed watching the arcade and amusement rides light up. The food/beer hall was huge! There was also a haunted house with an exterior that looked like the result of a Game of Thrones battle scene and I remember thinking " Really? For Christmas?!!"

With the exception of one group of 20 school children and 10 other visitors (yes I counted them) I had Hampton Court to myself. Honestly, spent over three hours there. VERY enjoyable day out.

So yes its a good time to visit London. One of my favorite months to go and I've been doing such for a number of years. Feel free to PM for more London in November thoughts.

Enjoy your visit.

My husband and I were in London in mid November last year. I second the comments above. The weather was quite variable but we altered our itinerary based on the weather. The day in Greenwich was perfectly sunny and cool. The day at Hampton Court Palace was rainy but we were indoors for most of the time. Same for the day at the British Museum, rainy but no worries as we were under cover. The waterproof parka was the right outer garment to bring as we got snow one evening. I'm a big Lands End fan but there are lots of good waterproof garments out there. I recommend that item as an investment. The big challenge was the early night fall. Daylight is very short at that time of year compared to home (South Carolina). There were lots of Christmas decorations up including a Christmas Market at the Tate Modern. Wishing you a fun and safe trip!