London Weather - The Weather in London

London is situated in the South of England. It is a globally recognised leading city and one that attracts many visitors each year. Visitors come to London for a number of reasons. Many are drawn by the long history of London, which goes back to Roman times, and to visit the landmarks that reflect the development of city. Others are attracted by the night life and theatres. Others come for business reasons, with London being a leading financial centre.

One of the factors that visitors often discuss is London's climate as it is often portrayed as unpredictable. Indeed the full range of weather conditions can be experienced over a year in London.

London has a climate that reflects that of the bulk of the United Kingdom. It tends to be slightly warmer and dryer than the north of England and Scotland. Average daily high temperatures generally range between 8 degrees Celsius in the winter and 22 degrees Celsius in the summer. Rainfall is generally light but there can be spells where there is regular wet weather when rainfall can be heavy.

Winters in London can be cold although there will be few occasions when freezing temperatures are recorded during day time. Generally snow will be encountered two or three times during the winter months from December to March. It is not normal, however, for snow to lie on the streets of London. When snow does lie, however, the city will seem to be much quieter as workers stay at home rather than try and commute from the London suburbs.

The spring months of April and May bring mixed weather. Nights tend to be cold. There is a chance of rainfall at any time. However there are often pleasant temperatures during the daytime with sunshine evident.

The months of June, July and August are the main summer months in London. Temperatures can be warm and sometimes exceed 30 degrees Celsius, although the average will be lower than this, around 22 degrees Celsius. There is always the chance of rain and thunder storms if high temperatures have been in place for a few days. London has a great number of parks and open spaces which makes it more bearable during hot summer periods.

The autumn months of September, October and November bring colder weather with more chance of rainfall. It is during these months that the nights draw in and it becomes noticeably chillier during the evenings. There have been a number of instances recently of strong winds during these months, some of which have caused damage to properties, particularly on the outskirts of London.

These are the general characteristics of the climate of London. However, there can be some unpredictability about the climate in London and visitors will often be wise to prepare for a change in the weather as they plan their day in the city.