realistic weather for 10-day UK trip (England, Wales, Scotland) in early December?

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Bright-Gap-7107@reddit

Definitely layers. Early December can be mild. Can also get snow. The climate change between London and Edinburgh is likely to be significant too.

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Eskarina_W@reddit

Big Ben in the dark during a downpour is more iconic than a bright sunny day. City landmarks will be lit and Christmas lights will be up in most places too.

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Let's face it, Wales, Scotland and England in December. Bring footwear, coats and an array of layers, for all weather possibilities...layers will be your best friends. Make sure one coat is a lightweight waterproof and good socks. Good example for now...I left my warm living room for a smoke in the shed 15 mins ago. It was bright, sunny and crisp. Beautiful blue skies, birdsong all around. I'm now still in the shed waiting for the dark skies, cold rain and wind blowing a gale to pass so I can go back inside. Which by the looks of it will be in about 5 mins. In December you get the excitement of sleet, ice and snow. England does not do well transport wise in the snow, even when it's predicted. The country grinds to a halt. I agree with the other comment. London- overnight train - Edinburgh.

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Elephants-socks@reddit

Pack a really warm waterproof coat and a hat. There's still plenty to see but getting cold and wet isn't fun.

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foxssocks@reddit

Wear layers. Make sure some of them are waterproof and quick drying, including footwear. Scarf and gloves.

Though half of the UK seem determined to wear weather inappropriate clothing these days, instead of functional, and they live here!

I'd rather look like Paddington in his rain coat and stay dry!

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Dry_Pick_304@reddit

Similar to where you are coming from in Copenhagen.

Dark in the morning until about 7.30/8am. Dark again by 5pm. Typically cold. Likely wet. Wrap up, bring layers. Decent footwear and socks.

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notacanuckskibum@reddit

Cold meaning day time highs between 0C and 10C. Overnight lows between -5C and +5C. But always with high humidity.

Not Canadian Cold.

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herefromthere@reddit

I've had friends visit from cold continental climates where it gets down to -20c regularly (without even considering windchill) and they were cold in Northern England in December when it was three degrees above freezing and sleeting.

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tessathemurdervilles@reddit

I love Scotland in the winter- you’ve got places usually full of tourists completely by yourself. Although last time I went out to the highlands I got caught in a blizzard and a three hour drive ended up taking six.

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amanset@reddit

Copenhagen is an international hub so they may be just passing through.

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KirasStar@reddit

Sunset in Edinburgh in December is like 3:30pm, so very far days.

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reverendhunter@reddit

Scotland here, near Glasgow, bear in mind we only get 7 hours of daylight in december. its even less the further north you go.

https://www.timeanddate.com/sun/@2648259?month=12&year=2025

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scintillatingbadger@reddit

The weather varies from place to place.

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GoldiBlogs@reddit

As well as everyday winter clothes, bring waterproof trousers, a thick jacket (like a ski jacket), lightweight waterproof jacket, walking boots, woolly hat and gloves.

Rather than Cardiff, take the train from London to Chester then hire a car. Book yourself into a nice country pub hotel in Eryri (Snowdonia) and enjoy the beautiful Welsh countryside. The Conwy Valley is a temperate rainforest - lush and beautiful - near to lots of coastal walks, castles, and small mountains.

Head back to Chester to see the Roman ruins and Tudor buildings, then pop over to Liverpool for museums and music.

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Jaded_Leg_46@reddit

I wouldn't chance North Wales in December, it can be unpredictable at times and the fog will limit the view. It's easy to get lost on some of the mountain roads if you don't know the area or a first time visitor.

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GoldiBlogs@reddit

Fair point. Or stuck on a flooded road through Llanrwst!

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Jaded_Leg_46@reddit

Stuck on the side of a mountain somewhere between Llanberis and Pen Y Pass during 5 hour wait for the AA😭 It started snowing 10 minutes after we left my aunts house and that was a February.

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Chance-Bread-315@reddit

Your itinerary suggestions are great but just not doable in their time frame! They only have ten days here.

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GoldiBlogs@reddit

Depends how much of their trip they want to dedicate to that leg. I'd say it's 3-5 days worth of activity.

If they've visited the UK before, or just want something different to the Tower of London and Oxford St, then it's worth the detour.

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Status-Mousse5700@reddit

Mate it’s the UK ….

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TobsterVictorSierra@reddit

You'll likely get every type of weather except the warm ones.

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West-Kaleidoscope129@reddit

Wet, dark, cold!... I hate it and I live here lol (England).

Last year December England had less than 34hrs of sunshine for the entire month...

It's depressing!

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RegularWhiteShark@reddit

Dark, cold, wet and rainy.

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Ashgen2024@reddit

There is never any bad weather, only bad clothing.

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narnababy@reddit

It will be (likely) wet and cold with short days BUT the Christmas lights will be on, pubs and shops will be warm, so will the museums and such. If you can go via Blackpool from Cardiff to Edinburgh then you could see the illuminations there which are cool. Not much chance of snow, but it will almost definitely be cold and windy. There will be lots to do in all of those places, I would plan your trip in advance to make sure you see everything you want to :) Not the worst time to visit but depending on how you’re getting from city to city expect traffic delays on the motorways.

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holdingtea@reddit

There prob isn't any decent way of doing this trip (affordably) you can hire a car. I've done Cardiff to Glasgow a few times and it's long. Trains would be good if they weren't so expensive. You could fly from London or Bristol up to Edinburgh.

I'd recc trying to get to bath on your way frm London though. (It's nice to visit in winter)

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RevStickleback@reddit

It's unlikely you will see any snow.

Most of the time it will be cloudy, but the cloud will usually keep the temperature up. You will probably see some rain, and that rain might persist for a whole day, but there will be days where it won't rain at all, and most days will only see a bit of rain, if any at all.

For rainy days, you should still be able to find things to see indoors, British museum etc.

If the skies are clearer, it will be colder, maybe close to freezing.

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Any-Class-2673@reddit

It will most likely be raining and windy. It's a shame because a lot of the natural beauty will be hidden in fog and grey clouds.

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Foundation_Wrong@reddit

Do come to Cardiff it’s lovely and the museums are free. Castle is amazing but you have to pay.

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ResidentScum101@reddit

Rain. If you are lucky it will only be drizzle. But never ending.

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wimpires@reddit

Realistically the weather in Copenhagen and Edinburgh should be pretty similar.

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ChallengingKumquat@reddit

Wales is most likely to be rainy (0-15°). Scotland most likely to be cold (0-5°) dark, windy, and rainy. London might be ok (0-15°).

You might get lucky and have some bright, crisp days, but it could ain't or snow the whole time. No one knows. Even the weather forecast.

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Aromatic_Tourist4676@reddit

You need a puffer jacket and a waterproof. Book your train up to 12 weeks in advance on trainline to get a cheaper price. It’ll be crisp but still a great time to visit and they’ll be extra seasonal events on. You can look up ‘What’s on —city name-‘ and get an overview or book in advance.

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EitherChannel4874@reddit

Pack for cold and wet. It'll be either or both.

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luffy8519@reddit

It'll be fucking miserable. Especially in Wales.

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GoblinTatties@reddit

When I lived in Wales it was the first time I didnt get depressed in winter, because I was just south of snowdonia the vegetation and scenery was still lush, lots of pine and moss, waterfalls and atmospheric cloud hanging in the valleys. If you're in good winter gear and can come back to a nice fire it's incredible. But anywhere built up is depressing af.

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herwiththepurplehair@reddit

And Scotland. I think it's the Celtic default tbh.

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luffy8519@reddit

To be fair, the east coast of Scotland might not be terrible. The West Coast will be grim af though.

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GoblinTatties@reddit

Just make sure you wear decent waterproof hiking boots and water repellant trousers & coat if you are going to be out and about a lot. You might get lucky and have a sunny dry spell but best to be prepared, it could also rain the whole time. I'm a hiker and all weather can be enjoyable as long as you're in the right gear. Anything in your pack that could get soaked and ruined needs to be in a plastic bag, like your phone or papers. Or if you'll mostly be inside then just wear enough to keep you warm in between and take an umbrella.

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Wasps_are_bastards@reddit

Cold and raining

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eccedoge@reddit

Realistically it'll be pissing it down mate

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rhrjruk@reddit

I’m heading to UK tonight and after living there for decades I know we can expect:

Daylight 8am-4pm
Temps 7-12C ish
Rain & wind
What we Brits call “showers”, which are entirely different from rain.

The good thing about weather in Blighty is that nobody cancels outdoor activity* just put on your Barbour jacket, wellies and get out there.

except barbecue, which honestly Brits have got no business attempting anyhow

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GerFubDhuw@reddit

Lol no we don't have realistic 10 day forecasts. Days are short because it's winter expect sunset by 5pm and sunrise at 8am. It might rain, it might be windy, it might be cold (that really depends on you) then again it might be sunny, warm and calm l, also it could be all of them in one day.

I'd advise renting a car, public transport in the UK is shit and expensive when travelling between cities.

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Adventurous_Spot1183@reddit

Avoid trains. They are expensive, late and often cancelled. Domestic flights are cheaper

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Outrageous_Shirt_737@reddit

Wind, rain, possible snow. Maybe even some hail or sleet. Enjoy! 😁

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Adventurous_Spot1183@reddit

UK weather is so changeable no one can tell you. It's unlikely to be below freezing or above 15, and we have short days by that point of the year. Your itinerary is a bit full on. Do you have to go so many places?

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Miserable_Bug_5671@reddit

Very short days. Weather changes a lot so you'll likely have some bright sunny times and some miserable cold windy ones.

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GnaphaliumUliginosum@reddit

This. In the UK we have weather rather than a climate. Could be anything from warm sunshine to horizontal snow blizzards. In general, the east is drier than the west, but that's averages, any given day can be just as wet or dry anywhere. Noticeably shorter days in Edinburgh than London.

10 days is crazy short time to move about that much and travel is expensive and time consuming. Stick to London and Edinburgh, get the sleeper train to save on hotels and make most of your time. You will easily fill 5 days in each city, even after many visits I can still happily spend a whole day in either British Museum or the V&A. Travel around London for your evening meals - we have a lot of different immigrant communities in different parts of the city that offer amazing food. Vietnamese in Shoreditch is my personal favourite. Do your research and find the real places, not the tourist options.

And spend some time in Copenhagen too.

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BellisPer@reddit

You'll need a waterproof coat and shoes, and after that: layers are what you need. The weather could be anything. Snow? Maybe, probably not, but more likely in Wales and Scotland. Rain? Probably, but London doesn't get as much as the rest of the UK. Windy? Probably.

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Inevitable-Height851@reddit

Don't think you need yet another person telling it'll be cold and wet, so I'll advise on travel: if you're on a budget, use National Express coaches, they're pretty good, clean, professional, on time.

If you've got money, then rail is the nicest way to travel, but it's crazy expensive these days.

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ALittleNightMusing@reddit

You can fly from London to Edinburgh but you don't really save much time once you've factored in getting to the airport early etc.

Last time I did that route a first class train ticket was the same price as flying, so I did that instead and it was lovely. Really pretty train journey and you get treated very nicely on the train (tea and coffee, hot meal, comfy spacious seats). Well worth splashing out compared to a standard train ticket in my opinion.

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DrHydeous@reddit

In London in December you can expect ⅓ of days to have moderate or greater precipitation, an average of 2mm of precipitation per day, temperatures from 3.1 to 8.8 degrees, and an average of 1¾ hours per day of clear skies. All data from Wikipedia, which you could have looked up yourself. I'm sure you can figure out how to get similar data for other places.

You'll be fine on a city sightseeing trip, just have alternative plans for when the conditions are just too horrid for spending any time outside. All three cities have things you can do indoors.

You say you want the cheapest options, but also want to visit three widely separated cities. These are not compatible, as the cheapest option (walking) will not allow you to visit them all in the time available. You will need to balance costs against your other preferences and we can't do that for you. A cheap (but not the cheapest) way to travel from one city to another is to book train tickets in advance, for travel on particular trains. When booking in advance I find it's often worth it to upgrade to first class for long journeys. You'll have more legroom and normally get free snacks, for not much extra money. You can save money by avoiding Cardiff, as it has the fewest interesting things to see of the three and so you will have one fewer intercity journey to pay for.

Once you're in London, the cheapest way to travel around (aside from walking) is to just use your contactless payment card on buses. They are also the best way to see the city. Travel on the top deck at the front and look up. There's lots of nice architecture above street level that many people never see. The no 38 bus from Victoria to Angel is an especially good choice.

Finally, note that a great many of the larger museums and galleries are free.

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Fun_Cheesecake_7684@reddit

Weather will likely be wet, cold and almost every day will be overcast; we often don't see sun at all in December. Be prepared for snow but it doesn't usually snow until January.

Be prepared for the light. It will not be light until 8; it will go dark at 1530 in Scotland, 1600 in London. But we also have about an hour of twilight-like light either side of that, so it can be bright light only between 0900 and 1430 even when it's sunny.

However, Britain is actually built for indoors - we get this every year, and we all cope. Just wrap up warm, try to ignore the rain, and if you're doing things which require daylight, plan them in. Things like Buckingham Palace, for example, are well lit, so you can still see it after dark.

Hiking out into the countryside is another question. You will need mud boots and you should inform your hotel of your intended route. Our mountains are not high, but the changeable weather tends to kill people each year. Similarly, you cannot swim outdoors at that time of year (in the sea, in lakes) as the water is extremely cold if not icy.

You'll be fine. Enjoy your time with us!

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SnooDonuts6494@reddit

London is likely to be somewhere between 0°C and 10°C, average around 5°C. It's likely to rain on 1/3 of days. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Climate_of_London

I'm sure you can look up the other places. Cardiff isn't hugely different. Scotland, being more Northern, is more cold and wet.

In Cardiff, the Sun will rise at about 08:00 and set at about 16:00. https://www.timeanddate.com/sun/uk/cardiff?month=12&year=2025

Use the train to travel between the cities.

You don't need a transport pass within London - just use a contactless card. (IDK about Cardiff and Edin).

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THE-HOARE@reddit

Bring a warm waterproof coat/ jacket. Gloves and hat you’d be able to get here if needed. But the weather will change almost every few hours.

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Azyall@reddit

Rain, rain, more rain. Bit of mild snow to relieve the boredom if you're really lucky.

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Holiday-Poet-406@reddit

Could be crisp and dry with weak sunshine throughout or 5 degrees leaden skies with 10mm+ of rain each day or if you are unlucky hot day one and two, horizontal rain with gusting winds of 80kmh+ followed by a flurry of snow and then ice.

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Indigo-Waterfall@reddit

It will be dark and damp. Likely drizzly rain but not guaranteed. Could be stormy and windy. If you’re lucky it will be brisk (cold) and clear skies.

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Think-Committee-4394@reddit

Yes you will get weather … any further discussion is pointless … come equipped for all possible options

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terryjuicelawson@reddit

It can be rainy, but can be crisp and bright and beautiful with the added bonus of less tourists (but Christmas markets can get hectic if they are on). Snow unlikely but mornings can dip below freezing. I don't usually do anything extra than a thick coat and a hat.

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Nigelb72@reddit

Cold, wet, windy, you might get a bit of snow as well... Basically, wrap up warm, bring a big coat, hat and gloves, and a lightweight packable waterproof jacket... And some sunscreen because it could also be sunny 🤣

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LopsidedLobster2@reddit

Bring a waterproof jacket and waterproof boots. Weather can be very variable but if you’re warm and dry you can take on anything.

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Dennyisthepisslord@reddit

If going are stood in a windswept field it might not be great but in a town a quick dive into a pub always helps.

Probably be grey and dark early but with the Christmas lights it will be cosy.

If you are based in Copenhagen then it's not going to seem so alien

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flavouredicecubes@reddit

It will be rainy, cold, grey and dark...but all the streets, hotels and shops will be decorated for Christmas so that's the trade off.

I'd just make the trip all about Christmas - Christmas markets, pantomimes, light shows, etc.

Early December is more cold and damp than fresh and crisp

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timfountain4444@reddit

Short dark days, cold wet, windy with the chance of snow. Maybe some short periods of less cloud, but overall gray. One doesn’t go to the uk in December and expect anything other than what has happened every other year in December.

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Inquisitive_Scot_84@reddit

Baltic - bring a big jacket, hat, scarf, gloves, umbrella and waterproofs. Slip proof/snow shoes just in case.

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Salmonofconfidence@reddit

It'll be cold and a bit wet and get dark early.... but as long as you're dressed for it you'll be fine. Plus, you can find loads of nice pubs you can warm up in.

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MartinUK_Mendip@reddit

If you live in Copenhagen, just wear what you'd normally wear.
If you're transiting through Copenhagen from elsewhere then remember that we have a lot of rain in the UK, and we dress accordingly otherwise we'd never go outside.
Layers for warmth, rain-proof (not shower-proof) outer and water-proof footwear, along with a small umbrella (and a plastic bag to keep it when wet) should do you. A hat or hood can help.
If you want the cheapest way to travel, then coaches are the way; either
National Express https://www.nationalexpress.com or Flixbus https://www.flixbus.co.uk

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DinkyPrincess@reddit

Quite often sunny. It’ll be sold but it’s not usually awful.

I got married in early December and we had sunny photos outside.

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AlGunner@reddit

Weather in the UK in December will likely be wet, maybe expect an average of 2 or 3 hours of rain a day, but you could get very lucky and have none or it could be constant. It'll be cold and damp. Not the worst of winter but be prepared for anything.

Its also worth pointing out travel in the UK is not as pleasant as some places. It can be crowded and stressful so dont expect to arrive somewhere after a long journey fresh and ready to go out.

Its not unusual to see posts from people expecting to get a proper feel for somewhere but in a day or two you might be able to see the tourist sites but you wont get to experience them. I'd probably say youre better off doing 5 days London and 5 days Edinburgh.

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PerfectRug@reddit

Lots of rain probably, definitely cold, likely windy on some days too. The days will also be short, staying dark until later in the morning and starting to get dark from about 4pm. If you’re lucky you might get snow in the northernmost parts of the trip but that often happens later in winter.

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G30fff@reddit

Scotland - cold

Wales - almost certainly wet

England - could be anything from crisp, bright and cold, to dour, grey and mild, to pouring with rain, to freezing drizzle, to actual snow (though unlikely)

It will definitely be dark, oh so dark, especially in Scotland.

London gets the best weather and you'll be fine for sight-seeing, as long as you have a good jacket. Scotland will probably be fine but a fair bit colder. Wales, without joking, is very wet. It may rain constantly the entire time. Or it may not but it's not out of the realms of possibility.

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