I might be travelling to London this autumn. I'm flexible about dates - September, October, or even very early November. Any preferences, concerns, etc? I don't mind the weather being chilly, but I loathe being too hot!Sun preferable, but some rain is OK. Are there any school or public holidays I need to worry about?
Thanks!
Just be aware that the days are short -- it gets dark early the later in autumn you go. You can see weather patterns from past years on the Weather Underground website.
No public holidays – school half term second or third week in October.
Clocks go back 29 October so days become shorter.
Best weather in September – good weather practically guaranteed in first half of the month (you can quote me on that).
Given my career I usually travel in November.
Rain has been infrequent, temps aren't too cold, love that in some places crowds can be nearly non existent ( in 2015 late November virtually had Hampton Court to myself), airfares can be lower, can see the Lord Mayor's Parade, observe Poppy Day, lovely fall colors.
All good.
This September my friend and I are going to England. This is my 18th trip there and it seems most of them have been in the Autumn. Nearly always good weather.
We went in the last week of last September and the weather was really nice most of the time. It misted on us a bit when we took a trip to the coast for a hike but it still was not too bad. That was the only rain we saw. It wasn't sunny but I wasn't expecting sunshine. It was never too hot or too cold. Late September was nice too because the lines at attractions weren't long and since the time hadn't changed yet the days still were.
I advise any of my friends that want to go to London to do it around late September or early October and avoid costly/crowded spring and summer.
It's not uncommon to get good weather into November. UK weather is more often than not, not great. We are unique in the world in being under the convergence of four different weather systems... Three of those four being unfavourable. Living here, we are used to it, and personally, i like the weathers variable nature. But if you only have a week here, rainy days can be a downer. But it is what it is :o)
Thanks for the advice. Looks like late September or 1st week of October is the time for me!
I have been in London the last two Octobers and on both trips had lovely weather. That's not to say there wasn't a day or two of scattered rain with a bit of a chill, but overall 80% of both of my stays had fine weather.
I was in London last October and it was absolutely glorious. Of course as Mike points out that was just by chance, but it can happen!
After the awful heat last year in early Sept (perhaps Sept 13 or so?) my new rule is not to travel the 1st 2 weeks of Sept to UK. I don't tolerate heat and while it cooled off at night enough to sleep I had to cut back on some of my activities in the afternoon. I have been to London many times so it was not a problem to sit in a park under a shade tree and read and people watch but it would have impacted me if I was a first time visitor.
End of Sept/early Oct sounds perfect to me!
you can't predict weather accurately 5 months in advance so don't get your hopes too high.
