December could be a good time to visit London, as the weather is generally fine. The average high temperature is around +8°C, and there are typically 2 sunny days in December. However, expect about 14 rainy days, and total monthly rainfall of approximately 59 mm. The weather is changeable so pack for every eventuality. Search flightsin one click on Avionero.
Good to know:
December is usually the wettest month of the year in London;
Average weather
☀️
+8°C
Avg. max. temperature
-13°C
Min.
+16°C
Max.
59 mm
Total precipitation
82%
Avg. humidity
4 m/s
Avg. wind
2 ☀️
Sunny Days
13 ⛅️
Cloudy
14 🌦
Rainy
Our opinion: London has OK weather in December.
Average temperature in London in December
Here are the expected maximum, average and minimum temperatures in London for December based on the historical data.
Last Year
Historical Data
The expected average maximum temperature in December is +10°C with a maximum of +15°C and a minimum of -2°C.
The average maximum temperature goes up 47% by the end of the month, compared with the beginning of the month, from +4°C to +12°C.
Is London warm or cold in December?
London is typically cool in December.
Maximum temperatures go down compared to the previous month from +11°C to +8°C. The minimum temperature also goes down from +6°C to +4°C.
Pack a sweater and a jacket as there will be cooler temperatures.
December is one of the coolest months in London, here is the comparison with other months:
Climate in London in December
London weather looks like this, on average, in December and the surrounding months.
November
December
January
Avg. temperature
+11°C
+8°C
+8°C
Min. temperature
-4°C
-13°C
-11°C
Max. temperature
+18°C
+16°C
+16°C
Rainfall
61 mm
59 mm
54 mm
Wind
3 m/s
4 m/s
4 m/s
Humidity
81%
82%
80%
Air pressure
1012 HPa
1014 HPa
1015 HPa
Sunny days
3
2
2
Cloudy days
12
13
12
Rainy days
15
14
14
Snowy days
0
1
2
December weather is still as ok as in November.It’s getting colder in December. From +11°C in the day, the average maximum temperature lowers to +8°C.As December arrives, the amount of rainfall goes down. On average, the rainfall volume decreases from 61 mm to 59 mm.Humidity rises from 81% to 82%.Winds are stronger in comparison to November, going up from 3 m/s to 4 m/s on average.The days becoming less sunny, going from 3 sunny days in November to 2 in December.
January brings much the same weather, it remains ok.
Wind speed in London in December based on historical data.
Last Year
Historical Data
The average wind speed is 4 m/s getting up to 8 m/s which is a medium breeze. You can feel it, especially getting out of the water.
The average wind speed in London is gradually increasing during December, going from 1 m/s to 6 m/s over the course of the month.
Rain
Amount of rainfall in mm during December in London based on historical data.
Last Year
Historical Data
Total precipitation in December is about 97 mm, with a 55% chance of rain on a typical day. The maximum amount of rainfall per day is around 15 mm, which is considered light rain.December is a pretty wet month with over 17 rainy days, so don’t forget to pack an umbrella, raincoat, and a pair of galoshes.
December is one of the rainiest months in London, here is a comparison with other months, total mm:
London wettest month is October, where a typical day has a 52% chance of precipitation and 68 mm of rainfall per day. February, on the other hand, is the driest month with a mere 41% chance of precipitation and 41 mm of rainfall per day.
Snow
Amount of snow in mm during December in London based on historical data.
Last Year
Historical Data
The total snow in December is about 1 mm, with a 0% chance of snow on a typical day.
December is one of the snowiest months in London.
Here’s how December is compared with other months in the amount of snow, total mm:
How was the weather last December in London?
This is the weather in London in December 2023:
1 December
☀️
+4°C
2 December
☁️
+1°C
3 December
🌧️
+8°C
4 December
🌧️
+7°C
5 December
🌧️
+7°C
6 December
☁️
+6°C
7 December
🌧️
+8°C
8 December
☀️
+12°C
9 December
☀️
+13°C
10 December
🌧️
+12°C
11 December
☁️
+12°C
12 December
🌧️
+12°C
13 December
☁️
+8°C
14 December
☁️
+8°C
15 December
☁️
+9°C
16 December
☁️
+11°C
17 December
☁️
+12°C
18 December
☁️
+12°C
19 December
🌧️
+13°C
20 December
☀️
+11°C
21 December
☁️
+14°C
22 December
☁️
+12°C
23 December
☁️
+12°C
24 December
☁️
+15°C
25 December
🌧️
+14°C
26 December
☁️
+11°C
27 December
🌧️
+12°C
28 December
☁️
+13°C
29 December
☁️
+12°C
30 December
🌧️
+12°C
31 December
🌧️
+12°C
In December 2023 London had 4 sunny days, 16 cloudy days, and 11 rainy days. The average maximum temperature was +10°C, with an absolute maximum of +15°C and a minimum of +1°C. The average humidity was 88%, with a maximum of 100% and a minimum of 66%. The average wind speed was 4 m/s, with a maximum of 11 m/s and a minimum of 0 m/s.
Are you planning a trip in December?
Climate Change over Years
This is how London climate have been changing during last 43 years period.
The climate in London in December has not changed much over the last 43 years.
The average temperature was the lowest in 1979 (+12°C) and the highest in 2022 (+17°C). The driest year was 1996 with only 431 mm of rainfall, and the wettest year was 2021 with 1037 mm.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions about the weather in London in December:
Is December a good time to visit London?
It’s always a good time to visit London, but the weather is changeable in December, so plan a mix of indoor and outdoor activities and exploring, and pack for every eventuality.
Can you sunbathe in London in December?
Not really, December is not the best time to sunbathe, unless you visit a local solarium.
Is London rainy in December?
London is often rainy in December. You may get a bit damp when outside, so pack an umbrella, and maybe even a raincoat.
Is it sunny in London in December?
Usually, it’s not very sunny in London in December, often it’s pretty cloudy. Pack for any eventuality; layering can help reduce the number of bulky items needed.
Other cities in United Kingdom
Check out the weather for other cities in United Kingdom.
For this page, we’ve looked at the typical weather in London, based on historical hourly weather data from January 1, 1979, to December 31, 2023.
For past dates, we show actual recorded data at the location at that time. Forecasts are based on recorded weather during that day of the year, averaged over the total years for which we have records (unless stated otherwise). The daily temperature is the highest recorded temperature in the shadow during that day.