besides peak tourist season, when is the best time to visit the uk?

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Ill-Opportunity8918@reddit

September to early November. But November can be a bit dodgy. I went to get coast mid November and it was cold but I enjoyed it.

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AppearanceDizzy7006@reddit

Late September when the schools have gone back

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Laxly@reddit

I was going to say May/June, before the schools break up and you get spring activities (e.g. fairs, festivals etc) with nice weather and before the hyper tourism levels start

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SpudFire@reddit

I'd agree with that, just avoid early may bank holiday and witsen week at the end of the month. Weekdays are fairly quiet, decent weather and events happening every weekend all over the country.

September can vary quite a bit, sometimes it can be amazing, especially at the beginning of the month but after all the schools have gone back. Other years it can be rubbish and feel like summer hit a hard stop at August bank holiday.

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CrossCityLine@reddit

This is the best time to go anywhere. We usually go on holiday abroad in the second week of September explicitly for this reason alone.

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yesterdaysomelette22@reddit

Autumn

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geoffs3310@reddit

When you say visit the UK do you mean go to London or actually visit the UK?

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Kittygrizzle1@reddit

Don’t go the week of the last Monday in May. It’s half term and everywhere will be rammed. May is generally lively, but afford that last Monday week.

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Hampshire-UK@reddit

Some great advice here. Definitely May (not the last week), June, September (not the first week) and early October. November can be beautiful when the leaves go brown and fall but it will be cold.

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Plot_3@reddit

Or is beautiful in Suffolk right now. I always think spring and early autumn are the best times to visit where we live right now.

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Kotetsu999@reddit

Just bring your wellies.

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Upbeat_Branch_4231@reddit

And an umbrella. "Just in case".

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LowParticular2253@reddit

Spring is the best season in my opinion. The weather is less rainy. There are flowers everywhere and the trees just turned fully green.

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rocketshipkiwi@reddit

Any time from May (spring) to September (autumn) is nice. Just look at the prices, if they have spiked then that’s the time to avoid.

Don’t go in mid winter, the days are very short and dark.

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TSC-99@reddit

I’d say September. After schools have gone back.

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aBlastFromTheArse@reddit

We're having a glorious spring at the moment. Very warm and sunny, light until 8.30pm. bluebells out, birds singing, baby ducks being born. Beautiful

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CharieRarie@reddit

What do you want to do when you are here? Visiting cities, vs countryside, vs beach it’s going to be a very different answer :)

Our seasons are unpredictable though, you could book in December and get a glorious week of crispy blue skied cold, or book in August and get a warm soggy rain.

I would have some ideas in your head for inside/outside activities.

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starwarsisawsome933@reddit (OP)

Probably mostly historical stuff, like a castles or some museums, potentially even rent a narrow boat for an afternoon and go down a canal

You know, tourist stuff

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Lonely-Job484@reddit

In that case I'd say avoid UK school holidays and probably aim for either March-May or September-October

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Remote-Pool7787@reddit

It depends where you’re going. If it’s London I’d always avoid going June-September. Not because it’s busy, but because it can be unbearably hot for a sight seeing trip. Plus if you’re used to air con, 90% of London hotel rooms don’t have it. However for any of the UK’s costal areas, June into the beginning of July is the best time to go. Often the best weather, but before schools finish for summer (mid July in England and wales, mid June in Scotland, beginning of July in Northern Ireland)

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Cool_Doubt2152@reddit

June and September. Generally the weather is still good (more so June which tends to be relatively dry and warm overall), no half terms in either month so kids are at school, and popular holiday destinations like Cornwall etc will have plenty open and happening but less rammed than July and August

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Silvestris1@reddit

you want to come mid peak season! but more seriously i tend to aim for the start or the end week or two of off seasons. Spent a few days in Edinburgh last year just as winter season started and sure some stuff wasn't open as much but it was a far better experience than the previous time i visited

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BroadwayBean@reddit

Personally I really like November or late October. It's cool, crisp, and the Christmas decorations are starting to go up so it can be quite pretty. I don't mind the dark or the rainy days, but I also stay in cities and don't do any hiking or camping so ymmv depending on what kind of things you want to do in the UK.

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gilestowler@reddit

Yeah I like autumn. I live abroad now but usually go back for a visit in late October. If you get unlucky and the weather is bad, then you can go and sit in a pub. But walking around on crisp autumn days is such a good vibe.

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BroadwayBean@reddit

Same situation here - living abroad but try to make it back as often as I can, almost always in late Oct to late Nov. I'm usually there for 2-3 weeks at a time and have never had more than a couple of really rainy, stay indoors-type days per trip, and if I get one of those days there are plenty of indoor museums to explore.

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gilestowler@reddit

The only issue I have is that it would be nice to go a bit later when the Greggs Festive Bake is available, but I really can't plan my holidays around Greggs.

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Puzzled-Job9556@reddit

Outside of the school holidays. Otherwise there is no point.

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EUskeptik@reddit

I would strongly recommend May/June and the last three weeks of September because they avoid school children’s summer break but still have warm weather. In fact the weather during these months tends to be a little more settled than in July and August.

Prices of flights and hotels will tend to be lower than in peak season. The roads and railways will tend to be less busy.

-@@-

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LordSolstice@reddit

Winter - Largely shit. Cold, dark, wet, windy. But you can get the occasional sunny day which is really nice with the frost etc. But largely poop tier.

Spring - Again, largely shit. Slightly better weather, but still poop tier. Lots of rain, it's cold, it's windy. There's some flowers though.

Summer - The only decent UK season. Warm, never gets that hot though Maybe you can get a week where you hit 30+, if you're lucky. But at least you can enjoy outside within limited windows.

Autumn - Back to poop tier weather, but there's some orange leaves.

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IsOkay_No@reddit

UK summer will trick you into thinking that there’s nowhere better to be. Long hot days and cool nights with no clouds. Then autumn will creep in and it only gets worse from then on

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kittykat7931@reddit

September/October - generally still guaranteed some nice weather as the seasons change.

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Working-Fun8823@reddit

April -May or August -October

The weather isn't ice cold and you get decent amount of Sunlight too (unless it rains).

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thistlewold@reddit

I prefer travelling around the UK in late spring (mid-April to May) or mid-autumn (late September to the third week of October). Compared to summer, temperatures and humidity are more comfortable, there are fewer bugs, and it's easier to avoid school holidays and associated crowds/price hikes. Plus you get all the lovely spring flowers or autumn leaves to look at as you go along. And most visitable places (museums, National Trust properties etc.,) have full opening hours within those timeframes.

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Temporary_Heron6944@reddit

I had a nice time in late November. Weather was warm enough to eat and drink outside in SoHo, and cool/damp enough that I was happy to be indoors exploring museums instead of walking outside seeing the sights. I think it really depends on what you’re looking to do. I enjoyed a visit in May before peak season when I wanted to do more exploring on foot and to see many of the beautiful parks.

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bio4m@reddit

Depends on what you want to do. Summer months are obviously super busy.

September and October are quieter. Or you could just come in January when the weather's awful (great if you just want to visit museums)

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