With every new season, London offers something different and offers a way to see the capital in a whole new light. It’s a vast city that changes with the seasons which makes it an exciting place to live and whilst we’d say that there isn’t necessarily a bad time to visit the capital, there is still the question of when the best time to visit is.
We’d make a case for the time between May and June as being the best time to visit London. It’s a time when Spring starts to crawl into Summer, the weather gets just that bit warmer and the days get longer and longer. Which let’s face it, is always a winner in our books!
Spring
Spring is a favourite among Londoners for numerous reasons; it signals the glorious end to the gloomy winter, the city becomes overrun by gorgeous blooms, the temperature starts to rise and the sunglasses, sundresses, and shorts come out – it’s all around pretty perfect. Those visiting the city during springtime will be blessed with lovely weather and a less crowded city as compared to the height of summer or Christmastime which makes getting around the city and doing activities becomes easier, or at the very least more enjoyable. May to June is also just before the peak tourist season giving visitors the benefit of avoiding huge crowds, shorter lines at attractions and even cheaper room rates.
Spring is a time when people start to come out of winter hibernation and start to take advantage of the outdoors in any way they can. Parks fill up at any sign of sun and considering London has its fair share of stunning green spaces and floral displays, spring would be your best shot at seeing them in their prime. After all, London has been crowned the most scenic city in the world in springtime out of over 170 destinations.
The events in London during spring are also some of the city’s best and not ones to miss. These include the RHS Chelsea Flower Show, St Patrick’s Day, Easter, the London Marathon, and the Oxford vs Cambridge boat race.
The calendar also sees spring with plenty of bank holidays, and although this may not be to the direct benefit of visitors, the city does come alive during these long weekends and puts everyone in jolly spirits which becomes infectious. The added bonus of the rising temperature and more hours of sun drastically improves the general mood of Londoners – the sun thaws some of the frostiness Londoners are known for – hence why we consider it the best time to visit London!
Summer
Summer in London is the height of simply being out. Not just parks but beer gardens, markets, al fresco dining, and rooftop bars galore come alive in the summer and create an electric buzz in the city. Temperatures reach their peak as Londoners and visitors alike take full advantage of the long sunny days.
London is chock full of activities in the summer for visitors to enjoy, from rooftop film clubs, renting boats in the city’s waterways, outdoor brunches, taking a dip in a lido, and watching street performances – there are endless choices of how to spend your time in the city.
It’s also a time when some of the most exciting events take place such as Notting Hill Carnival, London Pride, the Wimbledon tennis tournament, and heaps and heaps of music festivals to stick your teeth into. It’s London at its most vibrant.
Autumn
Another one of the best times to visit London we’d argue is autumn – and who can blame us? The capital transforms as the leaves turn from green to vivid hues of yellow, orange and red, the temperature starts to drop and there is once again a chill in the air. The weather is typically still pleasant, crisp but not too cold that more than a light jacket is needed, as the crowds of tourists start to drop and the city gears itself up for winter. A visit to the city’s many parks and green spaces should still be on the list of things to do whilst visiting London in the autumn.
The parks are a sight to behold with their newly covered leaves and the satisfying crunch of the fallen foliage as you take an autumnal stroll with a cup of hot cocoa in hand. Kew Gardens and Richmond Park are failsafes for such an occasion. It’s also no wonder that London has been named the most Instagrammable city to visit during autumn.
In terms of events, autumn signals the arrival of Halloween and the city embraces this spooky period with countless activities from pumpkin picking to spooky nights out. Black History Month in October sees London celebrating and recognising its Black history and uplifting Black communities with events going on throughout the whole month. Bonfire Night in November is huge in London and is celebrated in style with heaps of firework displays to choose from.
Winter
Twinkling lights and Christmas markets – winter in the capital can be enchanting and one of the best times to visit. The capital looks nothing short of glorious once it’s decked out with all of its festive lights and is reason enough to visit the city during winter. Of course, the highlight of this season is Christmas and if London does one thing right, it’s Christmas.
festive markets lined with mulled wine stalls and one-of-a-kind Christmas knick-knacks take over the city with Winter Wonderland being the biggest of them all, and ice skating rinks are dotted all around the city for the perfect winter outing. Even a nosey about in the Christmas shops of some of London’s most iconic department stores such as Liberty will convince any scrouge of the Christmas magic.
Celebrating the New Year in London is also a great plus if you’re in the city for it, and London certainly goes all out with its New Year’s Eve festivities. If we’re really lucky, London can sometimes be blessed with a blanket of snow during the winter which is a welcome change from the rain and grey skies that sadly come with the colder weather, so be prepared to wrap up warm!
So there you have it – our personal opinion on when the best time to visit London is. But let’s face it, it’s a great spot at any time of year. We are the second-most interesting place in the world after all…