BackSeeking a secluded Christmas break, a sunny seaside town or a scenic hike in an autumnal paradise?
Here is our quintessential guide to the best time to visit the UK, offering all you need to know to secure everything you need during your spell-binding tour with Wayfairer.
Discussing the best time to visit a destination is always tricky, especially when the location does not suffer from natural disasters, monsoon seasons or extreme heat. The United Kingdom, between its chilly winters and warm, blue-skied summers, mostly brings conditions to complement a luxury tour, whether it be a family walking holiday or a high-paced city tour.
However, there are some things to consider if you have a particular taste for travel!
Deciding when to book a UK holiday
Whilst the generally pleasant weather of the United Kingdom makes things a little easier when deciding your schedule, it is also a place where the four seasons can cross over a little. For example, the summer seasons can experience a small amount of rainfall, and the winter season sometimes sees zero snowfall.
It goes without saying that if you are seeking the delightful seaside towns which dot around the UK coasts, you should plan accordingly and differently to those who seek the warm-hued landscapes of the Lake District. And, of course, the best time to visit Scotland may vary from the best time to visit England, depending on where you wish to stay, any festivals you wish to catch and other aspects like the peak seasons.
Get in contact with one of our Travel Specialists to discuss the best time to visit the UK in more detail:
Your Seasonal Guide
Visiting the UK in Spring! (March-June)
Spring in most of the UK captures the time when the countryside comes to life. Farm animals bear offspring and woodland flourishes with bright-coloured flowers like daffodils, the national flower of Wales. Spring is the shoulder season in the UK, bringing fewer crowds than in summer, whilst temperatures are generally mild, with June bringing much warmer, brighter days. Although, do be wary of rainfall in early spring, coining the famous term “April showers”.
Spring is the best time to visit England to enjoy its countryside – you can meet little lambs in farm parks and admire vivid bluebells and cherry blossoms across its estates, orchards and woodlands. Discover a similar experience in Wales, as its historic castles become encased by green and its best national parks offer postcard-perfect scenery to complement a breezy hike.
This is also the best time to visit Scotland to indulge in its winding hiking trails across its highlands and islands, like the Isle of Skye, as a similar bounty of wildlife and fauna brighten up post-winter. Visiting Northern Ireland in spring is a great chance to get outside, as its emerald hillsides awaken in a brighter spectrum of colour – fresh breezes and beautiful landscapes make spring a great time to indulge in the great UK hiking opportunities around the Glens of Antrim.
Windsor Castle becomes embellished by cherry blossoms and plush, green lawns during Spring in England
Visiting the UK in Summer! (June-August)
The summer is renowned as the best time to visit the UK for a multitude of reasons, making it the peak season for tourists around the most popular attractions and cities. Beginning on the “summer solstice” in late June, the longest day of the year, summer tends to bring clear skies, beautiful sunsets and temperatures ranging anywhere from 15 to 30 degrees Celsius.
Summer is the best time to visit the UK if you seek its scenic beaches, from the sailboat havens of Devon and Cornwall to the surfer’s paradise of Freshwater West in Pembrokeshire (the filming location for Dobby’s death in the Harry Potter franchise!). Seek a unique Game of Thrones tour in Northern Ireland, around Ballintoy Harbour Beach, as you will recognise the gorgeous scene as the setting for “Lordsport”. The best beaches in UK are packed with diverse character, ranging from rocky to sandy and busy to secluded, but expect plenty of fish and chips!
For those who wish to explore the best UK cities, whether that be the capital cities or lesser-known spots like York and Stratford-upon-Avon, you should expect more crowds during summer. Local kids will have broken up for the summer holidays and families will be revelling in the rain-free weather!
Rhossili Bay in Swansea, Wales, offers phenomenal scenery, perfect for a coastal family holiday during summer
Visiting the UK in autumn! (September-November)
As the summer turns into autumn in the UK, temperatures begin to drop and the green, plush scenery which drapes across the best national parks slowly transition into warmer hues. Visiting the UK in autumn brings equally beautiful scenery, just with cooler temperatures and a higher chance of precipitation. You should expect temperatures between 6 and 15 degrees Celsius throughout most of the UK.
Autumn is the best time to visit Scotland for those who seek its more rustic landscapes, bringing unique outdoor adventure opportunities. The famous North Coast 500 route, beginning in Inverness, offers majestic sights during this time of year. If you are heading to the Scottish Highlands in autumn, expect colder temperatures than the rest of the UK.
Visiting England, Wales and Northern Ireland in autumn also offers a beautiful experience paired with fewer crowds and colder weather. Tollymore Forest Park in Northern Ireland is an especially gorgeous places to visit during this time, as its dense woodlands are draped in a spectrum of oranges and reds. The best castles in the UK are encased by plush, orange-leafed trees whilst the sprawling lakes of Cumbria are similarly enveloped by warm-hued beauty.
The Scottish Highlands become draped in deep, warm hues during Autumn, bringing unmatched, cosy stays and incredible hikes
Visiting the UK in winter! (December-March)
Visiting the UK in winter brings much less settled weather conditions than the rest of the year, ranging between crisp snow and blue skies and the slightly less appealing heavy rainfall and grey skies. Whilst winters in the UK are unpredictable, you should not expect any extreme.
Winter is the best time to visit the UK to join in on festivities, as all the best cities and towns come to life with lights and festive markets during December – tuck into traditional food like mince pies and mulled wine! The best UK cities to visit in December would be London, Edinburgh, Cardiff, Belfast, Glasgow, Bath and York.
If you seek a cosier, quieter Christmas stay in the UK, head to a secluded cottage in the Cotswolds or the Lake District, or admire the quieter season of coastal spots like Dorset. The frost-covered fields of the UK countryside are a beautiful sight, making the need for layers seem like a miniscule matter!
Belfast becomes lit up during December evenings, bringing a joyous atmosphere to its busy streets
And there you have it, out detailed guide to the best time to visit UK.
When will you go?
