London · SpringMonth summary
London weather in May
✅ Good
🌡️ Temperature min / max
9°C – 18°C
🌧 Rainy days
35% of days
☀️ Sunshine
12.0h per day on average
🌊 🌊 Season
Spring
⭐ ⭐ Weather score
7.2/10
📅 📅 Best month
August (7.9/10)
Quick decision
Should you visit London in May?
✅ Good
✅ Yes if: you want to explore the city on foot without suffering from heat.
❌ No if: you're looking for a beach destination — water and air are still cool.
Our take: London in May: 18°C and 12.0h of sunshine. Decent, but not the peak.
By trip type
London in May by trip type
- 🏙️ 🏙️ City break / culture : ✅ Good
- 🚶 🚶 Outdoor activities : ⚠️ Possible
- 🏖️ Beach / swimming : ❌ Not recommended
- 💰 💰 Budget : 💸 Peak season
Local context
What to expect in May
🎯 Cultural sites less crowded than peak season — more enjoyable visits Spring marks the start of the good season in London. Temperatures rise (18°C) and tourists have not yet arrived en masse. Expect rain on 35% of days — a light raincoat in the bag is recommended. Not the best window, but acceptable if dates are constrained. August (7.9/10) is significantly better if possible.
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Annual table
Month-by-month comparison
| Month | Min °C | Max °C | Rain % | Precip mm | Sun h/d | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🌦️ January | 2°C | 8°C | 39% | 2.0 | 4.1h | 3.7/10 |
| 🌦️ February | 3°C | 10°C | 40% | 1.9 | 5.2h | 4.1/10 |
| 🌦️ March | 4°C | 11°C | 42% | 1.8 | 6.6h | 4.3/10 |
| ⛅ April | 5°C | 14°C | 32% | 1.3 | 10.6h | 7.0/10 |
| 🌤️ May | 9°C | 18°C | 35% | 1.8 | 12.0h | 7.2/10 |
| 🌤️ June | 12°C | 21°C | 35% | 2.1 | 12.6h | 7.7/10 |
| 🌤️ July | 14°C | 22°C | 34% | 1.9 | 11.9h | 7.8/10 |
| 🌤️ August | 14°C | 22°C | 28% | 1.6 | 11.2h | 7.9/10 |
| 🌤️ September | 12°C | 19°C | 37% | 2.1 | 9.3h | 7.1/10 |
| ⛅ October | 9°C | 16°C | 39% | 2.5 | 6.9h | 6.0/10 |
| 🌦️ November | 5°C | 11°C | 40% | 2.3 | 4.9h | 4.1/10 |
| 🌦️ December | 4°C | 9°C | 37% | 2.2 | 2.8h | 3.6/10 |
Ideal
Fair
Challenging climate
◀ Current month · Source Open-Meteo · 10 years
📊 Data source
Data based on 10 years of ERA5 records via Open-Meteo, with ECMWF seasonal adjustment. In May, London averages 18°C, 35% rainy days and 12.0h of sunshine per day. Overall weather score: 7.2/10.
See methodology →
Comparison
May vs August (best month)
The best month is August (score 7.9/10). Difference:
- 🌡️ Max temperature : +4°C
- 🌧 Rainy days : -7%
- ☀️ Sunshine : -0.8h/day
FAQ
FAQ — London in May
Is May a good time to visit London?
May is an acceptable time for London (score 7.2/10). Conditions are decent but not optimal — consider August (7.9/10) if possible.
What to do in London in May?
With 18°C max and 12.0h of sunshine, focus on cultural sites, museums and local gastronomy.
Accommodation
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