When to go
The best time to visit Britain is
summer, from June to August: it's a very cool season in Scotland, and progressively warmer as you head south; it's quite rainy everywhere, but also relatively sunny.
In the whole of Britain,
June is a good month: the days are very long, the country is in bloom, there's no shortage of rain and clouds, but they alternate with sunny spells. In the month of May too (which is very cool, and sometimes even cold, especially in the north and in Scotland), the weather is often acceptable, at least in the second half.
The mid-summer season (
July-August) is pleasantly warm in the center and south, and between one shower and another, the sun can come out. In inland areas of south-central England, there can sometimes be brief heatwaves, with highs of 30 °C (86 °F) or more.
In northern and western Scotland (see the islands and Glasgow), in July and August, there is an increase in rainfall and a decrease in sunshine: here, the sunniest month is June, which, however, is cooler than the two midsummer months.
The
sea is cold even in summer: in August, the temperature of the Atlantic Ocean reaches just 12 °C (53.5 °F) in the Shetlands, 13/14 °C (55/57 °F) in Scotland, and 17 °C (63 °F) in the English Channel and in Cornwall.
Since the climate of Great Britain is not characterized by weather extremes, there is no season to be absolutely avoided, although it must be said that from November to January, the days are very short and the sky is often gray or cloudy, moreover, in winter, from December to February, but sometimes also in November and March, there may be cold periods, with snow and frost.
What to pack
In
winter: pack warm clothes, such as a sweater, a coat, a wind jacket, and a raincoat. For Scotland and the Highlands, and for cold periods: pack gloves, a hat, and a scarf.
In
summer: pack clothes for spring and autumn, a jacket and a sweater, and a raincoat or umbrella. In the area of London, it's more likely that in some days you can wear light clothing, a T-shirt and shorts.
Back to the climate of
United Kingdom