How’s the weather in London in May? And is May a good time to visit the UK’s capital city? It’s springtime in London but will you need to pack raincoats, woolly jumpers or summer linens? Here’s a local’s guide to everything you need to know about May London weather plus events and seasonal things to do.
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May is springtime in London and we Londoners love the warm days (at last!), the freshly blooming flowers and the general buzz around the upcoming summer months. May is also shoulder season which means it’s a great time for visitors to avoid the peak crowds and peak prices of mid-summer. With warmer temperatures than April and long days for exploring, May has lots to offer visitors and locals alike.
I’ve lived in London all my adult life so I’ve enjoyed a lot of springtimes here and all sorts of weather in May in London! One thing’s for sure, the sun is never guaranteed, but May is a wonderful month to explore and appreciate the UK capital. Here’s all you need to know.
What is May London weather really like?
May is the month when the English springtime blossoms into warmer days. It isn’t as hot as June weather can potentially be, and you might still notice hints of coolness in the air, especially in the evening. But May is a lovely month all round. I’ve definitely put away winter clothes by May and I’m wearing lightweight jackets, cotton trousers and summer dresses. You’ll still need to pack jumpers though – and an umbrella!
All my photos in this post were taken in London in May over the last few years.
May London weather facts
May is one of the sunnier months of the year in London, with more rays as a rule than April. Average daily sunshine is around 6 hours. This month is the beginning of the trend of mild weather that stretches across the warm season in the United Kingdom.
May London weather can be cloudy. I know, sorry, it just can. On the plus side you’re much less likely to run into the extremes of heat that have begun to occur during the summer season of June, July and August.
A moderate amount of rain is quite common in May. In fact May can be rainier, though milder, than April. London sees an average rainfall of about 50mm of rain spread across 15 days in May. Although you’re more likely to experience it as showers than as solid days of rain.
May Temperature in London
The average temperature in London in May is 14°C (57°F) with an average high temperature of 17°C and average low of 9°C. The nights are generally warmer than in April, averaging 12°C (55°F).
But this isn’t the full story. The daytime temperatures in London in May will often reach the mid-teens in centigrade and even occasionally the 20s C (60s f). So you can look forward to some warm days. Take a look at this chart to see how the temperature varied through the month in May 2023 in London.
May London weather is comfortably mild. Bear in mind that the evenings and early mornings can feel cooler, and it’s a good idea to keep a light jacket handy for when temperatures dip following sunset.
London weather in May 2023
In May 2023 we had a high of 22°C on 28 May and a low of 4°C at night on 3 May. Statistics for May London weather in 2023 show that we had 14 sunny days, 10 cloudy days and 7 days with some rain.
London weather all year round
To get some context on temperatures in London in May versus the rest of the year here are some facts about London’s climate. As the Met Office points out: “The UK is well known for the variability of its weather”….
- The coldest month in London is January with the mean minimum temperature around 3°C.
- The warmest month in London is July with mean daily maximum temperatures of 23.5°C (74.3°F).
- The wettest month in London tends to be November, whilst March and April are some of the driest.
- Heatwaves can happen during July or August and usually last for several days.
- But September saw the hottest day of the year in London in 2023 with a high of 33.2°C (91.8°F) on 9 Sept.
- The coldest day of the year in London in 2023 was 23 January: temperatures dropped to -7°C(24.8°F) in the early hours of the morning, but rose to 5°C (41°F) during the day.
Hours of daylight in London in May
Expect close to 16 hours of daylight in London in May. At the beginning of May the sun rises at 5.31 and sets at 20.24. By the month’s end sunrise is very early morning at 4.49 and it doesn’t set until 21.07. Only in June do you have longer hours of daylight in London. The longest day of the year is at the summer solstice which is 20 or 21 June.
Is May a Good Time to Visit London?
Yes! May is one of my favourite months of the year in London. The longer days are one of the biggest perks, giving you more time to spend outdoors. This is the month when Londoners begin to gather in the evening at rooftop bars or terraces by the river. May in London offers milder weather and sparser crowds compared to the warmest months in the peak tourist season from June to August. And whilst April London weather can occasionally be brisk, May offers warmth and good weather without the extremes of heat that may flare up in June.
Pros and Cons of Visiting London in May
| Pros | Cons |
| Pleasant weather that’s teetering on the brink of summer without extreme high temperatures | There’s always the chance of rain in May though coupled with milder temperatures |
| Fewer crowds in London than peak season despite the half term and bank holiday buzz. | Public holidays and UK schools’ half term can make popular spots busier than usual |
| Flights and accommodation can be easier on your pocket than in Easter or high season | Prices could spike over UK half term break and public holidays |
| Longer days mean more daylight hours to spend outdoors | There’s no down side to extra hours of daylight! |
May public holidays in London
We have two public holidays (traditionally called bank holidays) in the United Kingdom in May. They both fall on Mondays. Early May bank holiday is 6 May in 2024. Whilst at the end of the month Spring bank holiday is on 27 May 2024.
Londoners tend to get out and enjoy their city on bank holidays. Banks are closed (hence the name) and so are schools and most businesses including doctors’ surgeries, although hospitals are open. Shops and restaurants tend to stay open on bank holidays these days, although shopping hours may be reduced. Transport services are often affected too.
Most London attractions and theatres stay open for the Spring bank holidays, but check in advance for opening times and booking requirements.
Things to Do in London in May
May is a wonderful time to explore the city, visit attractions without the summer queues and make the most of time outdoors. The warmer weather makes outdoor activities more pleasant whilst longer days are a good opportunity to head further afield.
The month of May also sees the kick off of London’s traditional ‘season’, a whirl of social events during the summer months. Once the preserve of aristocrats, many of these sporting or cultural events have become much-loved institutions. And these days they are ticketed events that anyone can attend.
Enjoy the spring flowers in London in May
London begins to bloom in April and is in full throttle by May. Officially it’s the month when elegant lilac wisterias come into flower on the facades of central London mansions and in city parks. Although occasionally they flower instead at the end of April. Whenever they do it sparks ‘wisteria hysteria’ in social media channels!
Wisteria or not, May is a magical time of year for a walk in a park. As well as formal bedding displays like the tulips outside Buckingham Palace, you’ll find wilder swathes of bluebells, kaleidoscopic groves of rhododendrons and azaleas, lilacs and even some roses.
All the royal parks in central London are worth a visit. Hyde Park sprawls between Westminster and Kensington, pretty little St James’s Park nestles beside Whitehall and Regent’s Park is on the doorstep if you’re sightseeing north of Oxford street.
Kew Gardens With the spring in full swing, the Royal Botanic Gardens, beside the Thames at Kew, is a lovely place for an outing. See carpets of bluebells, a dell of rhododendrons and all the year- round wonders in the Victorian glasshouses.
Walk around London
May is often perfect weather for walking. This is the way to really get to know London’s streets and to spot little gems that you miss altogether when you whizz from stop to stop by tube. Since the pandemic London has enthusiastically embraced the concept of pavement cafes. So you can while away an hour or two with a coffee in a characterful corner of central London and watch street life unfold.
History buffs can discover London’s historical places. And a walking tour or food tour will give you insider info from a local expert.
Take a river boat or open top bus tour
A dinner cruise along the Thames is a lovely way to see the sights as dusk falls on the river. Or you can simply catch one of the regular river boats to get from A to B across London as an alternative to the tube.
In Little Venice you can hop on a tour boat for a trip along the canal to Camden Lock. Or be your own skipper and rent an electric Go Boat (with heated seats and blankets) for a tour of the waterway.
On a sunny day you can see the sights from the top deck of a London sightseeing bus. Or book yourself a Hop On, Hop Off ticket on a 1960s icon, a Routemaster double decker. A Heritage bus tour on route T15 takes in sights from Trafalgar Square to Tower Hill.
Find a pub by the river
Once the sun comes out sitting beside the water at a pub to enjoy a pint or a Pimms, is one of the quintessential London experiences. Great places to try include riverside pubs like The Dove or the Blue Anchor at Hammersmith or the Mayflower at Rotherhithe.
Join the audience for an outdoor performance
Catching an open air theatre performance is a classic London activity in the warmer months. The added peril of not knowing when it might rain never seems to dampen Londoners’ enthusiasm. The iconic Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre seats over 1000 and is a much-loved venue for opera and Shakespeare. Or try Opera Holland Park in west London.
Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre is another famously open-air venue, and a unique opportunity to see plays as they were originally experienced by their 16th and 17th-century fans.
Glyndebourne in East Sussex is a 500 year old country house and the venue for the world-famous Glyndebourne opera festival. Opera lovers dress up and picnic on the lawns: it’s a very ‘English’ event. Only an hour from London by train to Lewes.
Or an outdoor antiques market
If your heart beats faster on an early morning antiquing foray then Sunbury antiques market at Kempton Park racecourse is waiting. One of the largest antiques fairs in the UK, with more than 700 traders and stock from all over Europe, it’s a complete treasure trove. It’s open to the public from 8 am on two Tuesdays a month. There’s free parking or catch a train from Waterloo station – it takes 45 mins. Get there early and know that cash is preferred. If you love antiques you’re going to enjoy this!
Enjoy fewer crowds at popular attractions
As part of London’s shoulder season, May is a great time to make the most of the top tourist attractions and London’s free museums. The city is by no means empty in May but you’ll be bypassing the peak crowds of the summer months. If you do have a wet day in May then London’s top attractions offer plenty of indoor entertainment.
Take a day trip into the English countryside
May is also a great time of year to do some sightseeing outside the city, especially during the UK school term time. Popular good value tours can whisk you to Stonehenge, Bath or the Cotswolds.
Or pick a fine day and head south for magnificent views of the iconic Seven Sisters white cliffs. This day-long tour takes you to some of the most spectacular views in Sussex, including the Devil’s Dyke and the neolithic chalk figure on a hillside, the Long Man of Wilmington. It includes a lunch stop at a farm shop and a walk along the stunning chalk cliffs on England’s south coast. Check out the excellent reviews and book London: South Downs White Cliffs Day Trip here.
Take the train to an English city
Benefit from the longer days by starting early and hopping on a train to explore one of the pretty and historic nearby cities to London. Easy journeys from London by train include: Windsor, Bath, Cambridge and even York.
May Events in London
From fragrant flower shows to football finals, pageantry to puppets, London in May offers a variety of events. Here’s some of the most important London events in May.
- Chelsea Flower Show: Step into a dream of perfect blooms and show-stopping designer gardens. This top drawer event, held by the Royal Horticultural Society, showcases the very best of the gardening world. It’s a London summer season fixture whether you’re there for the champagne or some new secateurs. Tickets sell out quickly, so book early. 21-25 May 2024
- Chelsea in Bloom: You don’t need to go to the flower show to see the streets of Chelsea transformed by imaginative floral artworks. To celebrate the RHS event, shops and restaurants put on their own show that adds an extra dimension of wit and joy to a shopping trip.
- Belgravia in Bloom: Not to be outdone by Chelsea, next-door neighbour Belgravia joins in the fun with its own floral art extravaganza. 20 – 27 May 2024.
- FA Cup Final: Thousands of football fans gather at Wembley Stadium for one of the most historic fixtures in the national football calendar. Saturday 25 May 2024
- Canal festival in Little Venice The Inland Waterways Association’s Canalway Cavalcade has craft and food stalls, real ale, live music and an illuminated boat parade. Early May bank holiday weekend 4 – 6 May 2024
- May Fayre and Puppet Festival in Covent Garden Folk music, maypole dancing and traditional Punch and Judy puppets. Pepy’s wrote about Punch and Judy shows in Covent Garden in 1662! 12 May, 2024
- Kensington Dollshouse Festival Everything dolls house and miniature, a showcase for craftsmen and collectors. Kensington Town Hall, May 17-18 2024
Check event websites for dates and ticketing information.
What to Wear in London in May
The problem with May London weather is that it doesn’t always match up to the fun things you want to do. In an ideal world it you’d float around Chelsea Flower show in a summer dress and pretty sandals. But year by year Chelsea weather can fluctuate from the not quite warm enough – or dry enough – to the outright sizzling.
As you near your departure date, check the weather forecast at BBC Weather . This will give you an idea of the temperatures that are likely during your stay. Then pack with versatility in mind. Here are some suggestions based on my own experience of typical weather in May.
What to Pack for London in May
- Coats and jackets: You won’t need a winter coat but you do require some rain gear, just in case, plus a warm jacket for cooler days. If you get caught out and are cold, pop into Uniqlo for an ultra light down jacket or gilet that you can pack into a tube.
- Tops: Bring tee shirts and tops plus some relatively warm clothes as evenings can be chillier. Lightweight jumpers and cardigans are useful to add layers.
- Trousers etc: Jeans, trousers or longer dresses should be fine in May. A dress and jacket works well if you’re planning a dressy occasion.
- Shoes: Whatever the time of year you need some good walking shoes in London. Choose cushioned loafers or smart trainers that combine style and comfort and can tackle showers of rain as well as cobbled streets.
- Accessories: Sunglasses are a must-pack and a soft wrap or scarf can add an extra layer of warmth and/or style to your outfit.
- An umbrella: There’s a chance of rain in London at any time of year! Choose a lightweight folding umbrella that you can carry in a bag or coat pocket.
What to read next
Guide to central London: neighbourhoods and things to do
Please note that all visitor information here is for guidance only. Please check the relevant websites for the most up to date information eg. accommodation details, tickets, entrance requirements, opening times etc.
About the author Nancy Roberts is a former women’s magazine editor and writer. She lives in London and is mum to two 20-something boys. In Map&Family she shares info and inspiration for curious travellers: singles and couples as well as families travelling with teens and young adults.
All photos are all rights reserved. Please do not reproduce these photos without prior written permission
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