The best time to visit London will depend on what you want to experience, with the cheapest hotels and experiences found in the winter after Christmas and New Year, or in the autumn. These are the off-peak tourist periods, and you will get to enjoy lower prices across the city, less footfall, and a generally less chaotic experience—but the magic of the holiday season might be worth the extra money for many travellers.
There is something to love about London year-round, and there is always plenty to do in this beautiful city. From visiting Hyde Park in the summer or winter to securing fantastic hotels for your stay any time of year, you will enjoy an eye-opening trip across London’s many districts to experience markets, night-life, arts, museums, and so much more.
Why Visit London?
London is full of history and culture, making it a must-visit city in the world for anyone with a sense of adventure. Founded in 47 AD and with a metro population of almost 15 million souls, this city has stood the test of time and survived centuries of conflict, from invasions to bombardments. Now, London is rich with diverse cultures, and is home to dozens of world-famous museums and galleries, shopping centres, markets, pubs and food, parks and grounds, royal landmarks, and more—and they are all worth visiting at least once.
However, to make the most of any trip, you should know the best time to visit London. Whether you are looking for romantic escapes, or you just want to get a cab to iconic landmarks like the London Eye or St. Paul’s Cathedral, make sure you plan an itinerary and follow a packing guide to have everything you need, and pick the perfect hotel room for your stay.
When Is the Best Time to Visit London? A Quick Overview
The best time to visit London depends on what you would like to get out of your trip, with every season offering something completely different and exciting. Spring offers cherry blossoms, picnics, and fairs, while summer boasts of hot weather that is perfect for markets and open-air theatre performances, and massive festivals like Wireless, BST Hyde Park, and All Points East.
In the autumn, you can enjoy more festivals, go to seasonal Halloween-themed events, Bonfire Night, and so much more. For the winter-lovers, London is a magical place to go to winter wonderlands and Christmas markets across the city, enjoy Christmas carols, skate on ice rinks, see NYE fireworks, and soak in pantomimes.
If you base the best time to visit London on the price of hotels and goods, then visiting in the off-peak months will be the perfect choice—we’ll look into this more in one of the sections below.
Visiting London in Spring (March to May)
When you visit London in spring, you can expect mild weather with average temperatures between 12°C to 18°C, some sunshine, and enough rain to warrant keeping an umbrella on you. During this time, the parks will be blooming with fresh and beautiful flowers, and there will be fewer crowds as long as you avoid the city during Easter.
In the spring, you should make the most of the various festivals, and time your trip right to view the cherry blossoms in various parks across the city for a relaxing visit. There will also be ample opportunities for picnics in the parks and riversides, and numerous fantastic beer gardens to enjoy a pint and some quality food as the weather warms.
Must-do activities in the spring:
- Brick Lane Jazz Festival
- Queen’s Yard Summer Party
- GALA Festival
- See the cherry blossoms at Kew Gardens, Holland Park, or Greenwich Park
- Picnics in parks across the city
- Visit beer gardens across the city
London in Summer (June to August)
Visiting London in the summer means that you will get to enjoy dozens of festivals, fairs, and parties across the city. Temperatures typically range between 19°C and 26°C, with a comfortable average of around 23°C. However, due to the humidity and materials of the city, these temperatures can feel much higher and be incredibly uncomfortable for tourists who are not used to it.
This time of year, you will have the opportunity to enjoy picnics and walks through the city parks, numerous music festivals, and plenty of beer gardens that will be enjoyed by locals and tourists alike. Just bear in mind that summer will be the busiest time of year due to school holidays, which means that tourism will be at an all-time high, leading to higher travel and accommodation costs.
Must-do activities in the summer:
- SXSW London Festival
- Lido Festival
- Wireless Festival
- BST Hyde Park Festival
- Visit The Regent’s Park and Park Square
- Visit beer gardens across the city
Autumn in London (September to November)
London is less crowded for tourists in the autumn after the summer holidays. By this point, it will still be warm and pleasant enough for travellers to enjoy highs of 20°C early on, and lows of around 10°C, ensuring that you can still enjoy spending time in beer gardens, picnics in the parks, and several festivals that stretch out into November.
With the changing of the leaves, you will also get to enjoy a variety of events across the city, with celebrations of Bonfire Night, and Halloween and other seasonal fairs and experiences for all to enjoy. Visiting London in autumn comes with the added benefit of less tourism, and therefore more affordable accommodation and overall prices to enjoy everything the city has to offer.
Must-do activities in the autumn:
- Waterworks Festival
- Margins United Festival
- Bonfire Night
- Halloween/Seasonal Events
Winter in London (December to February)
Depending on when you visit in winter, London could be a quiet city with few tourists, or bustling with people all over the world to enjoy Christmas markets and fairs, extravagant shopping trips, and restaurant experiences that will blow you away. With average temperatures of 5°C to 9°C, you can enjoy a milder winter, but still have the possibility of snowfall to complete the experience.
View the turning on of the Christmas lights, go to the winter wonderlands, or hop from one pantomime to another in the winter months across London, but be aware that prices will be higher before the New Year. Make sure to indulge in the various markets and ice rinks around the city to feel the magic, and stay for NYE fireworks before things quieten down again post-New year.
Must-do activities in the winter:
- Hyde Park Winter Wonderland
- Canary Wharf Winter Lights Festival
- Christmas Markets across the city
- Winter pantomimes across the city
- Ice skating at rinks across the city
When Are Hotel Deals Best in London?
Any off-peak season is when hotels will be the cheapest in London, as they will be in less demand. This typically means that they will be cheaper between January–March, and late autumn. Christmas can get very busy due to the Christmas markets, lights, and celebrations, and the summer holidays can be incredibly busy as children are not at school for an extended period of time.
If you are planning to visit, and want to know the best time to visit London, you need to factor this into account. Visiting in the off-peak tourist season will result in cheaper hotels, flights, and general travel, and also less footfall around the city to make it more enjoyable to experience. If you visit in the busy months, you can expect to have exorbitant prices, as prices will inflate due to demand.
Why Stay with Crown Group of Hotels Any Time of Year
Now that you know that the best time to visit London depends on what you specifically want to do and achieve. For people who want to experience a magical winter wonderland, visit in the winter, and for those who want to explore London in the heat, visit in summer.
Planning a trip to London? Book your stay with Crown Group of Hotels for comfort, convenience, and great value—whatever the season.
