Weather in December in The United Kingdom
Planning a journey to the United Kingdom this December and curious over the weather conditions to await? Your essential details are found on this page, answering your query:
What is the weather like in the United Kingdom in December?
December in the United Kingdom generally has temperatures that range from cold to mild, with precipitation levels ranging from moderate to heavy. It's the height of winter.
Temperatures
Based on our climate data spanning from 1990-2020, the average maximum temperature is cold in Inverey at 5°C to mild in Hugh Town at 13°C. Nighttime temperatures generally drop to 9°C in Hugh Town and -1°C in Inverey.For a closer look at conditions across the United Kingdom, refer to the map below.
Precipitation
In December, precipitation varies across different areas. From moderate rainfall in Peterborough with an average of 56 mm to heavy rainfall in Cullipool with 279 mm.Average sunshine
Most cities witness limited sunny days, expect roughly 54 hours of sunlight in London. This low amount of sunlight is perfect for those who lean towards dimmer, cloudier weather rather than intense sunny days.For more details on the yearly climate, visit our the United Kingdom climate page.
Where to go in the United Kingdom in December
perfect weather
pleasant
tolerable
unpleasant
poor
Select a Month of Interest
Check the conditions for any month of the year.
For a detailed overview over the year and the best time to visit the United Kingdom, check out our United Kingdom's climate page.
Popular destinations
What is the weather like in December for the 5 most popular destinations in the United Kingdom?
London
In December London generally has low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 9°C, minimum nighttime temperatures around 3°C and moderate monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.
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Edinburgh
In December Edinburgh generally has low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 8°C, minimum nighttime temperatures around 2°C and moderate monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.
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Blackpool
In December Blackpool generally has low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 9°C, minimum nighttime temperatures around 5°C and high monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.
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York
In December York generally has low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 8°C, minimum nighttime temperatures around 2°C and moderate monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.
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Torquay
In December Torquay generally has low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 11°C, minimum nighttime temperatures around 6°C and moderate monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are unpleasant that month.
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Is your destination not in the list? Have a look at other destinations in the United Kingdom.
Is December the best time to visit the United Kingdom?
In our opinion, December may not be the ideal time to visit the United Kingdom due to the typically poor weather in London.
Generally speaking, the best visiting conditions can be found in June, July, August and September offering mostly perfect weather in London. In contrast, January, February and December tend to have poor weather conditions.
Interested in more climate information?
We have much more information about the climate in the United Kingdom.
Weather and climate has detailed information for every country in the world. Are you going to the United Kingdom? Get detailed historical weather averages for many cities in the United Kingdom.
Not sure yet where to go? We now have a tool which recommends destinations that suit your ideal travel conditions. Find out where to go with our weather planner.