Kent Weather in December

Average temperatures, rainfall, sunshine and the best places to visit in Kent, the United Kingdom in December.

Thinking about venturing to Kent, the United Kingdom this December and curious about the weather conditions to expect? This page holds all the key information you seek, responding to your question:

What to Expect in Kent in December

Kent, the United Kingdom is a region in the United Kingdom. December in Kent generally has cold temperatures, with moderate precipitation. December is a winter month.

Temperatures

You can expect cold maximum daytime temperatures of around 9°C (48°F) and nighttime temperatures around 4°C (39°F) in Canterbury.

To learn more about the conditions in specific areas of Kent, the United Kingdom, check out the map below.

Precipitation

In December, precipitation varies across different areas. From moderate rainfall in Gravesend with an average of 62 mm (2.4 in) to moderate rainfall in Dover with 97 mm (3.8 in).

Average sunshine

Sunshine hours are generally lower in most areas during December. Canterbury experiences about 50 hours of sunlight. If you're looking for brighter destinations, our weather planner can suggest better options.

Explore Kent by month

Pick a month to see the average temperature, rainfall and sunshine in Kent — and find the best time to visit. (based on Canterbury)

Best Places to Visit in Kent in December

Click on a destination dot for more details. Toggle the map to compare temperatures or precipitation across Kent.

perfect weather
pleasant
tolerable
unpleasant
poor

Perfect weather is subjective. On this map perfect weather has been defined with temperatures between 20°C (68°F) and 29°C (84°F) and not too much precipitation (less than 90 mm (3.5 in) a month).

Popular Destinations in Kent

What is the weather like in December for some of the most popular destinations in Kent, the United Kingdom?

Temperature range in Kent (December)

Precipitation variation in Kent (December)

Canterbury

In December Canterbury generally has low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 9°C (48°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 4°C (39°F) and moderate monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

November
December
January
Max temperature
12°C (54°F)
9°C (48°F)
9°C (48°F)
Min temperature
7°C (45°F)
4°C (39°F)
4°C (39°F)
Monthly sun hours
70 hours
50 hours
52 hours
Monthly rainfall
73 mm (2.9 in)
73 mm (2.9 in)
65 mm (2.6 in)
Monthly rainy days
17 days
16 days
17 days
Weather conditions

Dover

In December Dover generally has low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 10°C (50°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 6°C (43°F) and moderate monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

November
December
January
Max temperature
13°C (55°F)
10°C (50°F)
9°C (48°F)
Min temperature
8°C (46°F)
6°C (43°F)
5°C (41°F)
Monthly sun hours
70 hours
50 hours
52 hours
Monthly rainfall
99 mm (3.9 in)
97 mm (3.8 in)
86 mm (3.4 in)
Monthly rainy days
17 days
16 days
17 days
Weather conditions

Folkestone

In December Folkestone generally has low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 10°C (50°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 5°C (41°F) and moderate monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

November
December
January
Max temperature
13°C (55°F)
10°C (50°F)
9°C (48°F)
Min temperature
8°C (46°F)
5°C (41°F)
5°C (41°F)
Monthly sun hours
70 hours
50 hours
52 hours
Monthly rainfall
99 mm (3.9 in)
97 mm (3.8 in)
87 mm (3.4 in)
Monthly rainy days
17 days
16 days
17 days
Weather conditions

Whitstable

In December Whitstable generally has low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 9°C (48°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 5°C (41°F) and moderate monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

November
December
January
Max temperature
12°C (54°F)
9°C (48°F)
9°C (48°F)
Min temperature
7°C (45°F)
5°C (41°F)
4°C (39°F)
Monthly sun hours
70 hours
50 hours
52 hours
Monthly rainfall
75 mm (3 in)
76 mm (3 in)
68 mm (2.7 in)
Monthly rainy days
17 days
16 days
18 days
Weather conditions

Broadstairs

In December Broadstairs generally has low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 10°C (50°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 6°C (43°F) and moderate monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

November
December
January
Max temperature
13°C (55°F)
10°C (50°F)
9°C (48°F)
Min temperature
8°C (46°F)
6°C (43°F)
5°C (41°F)
Monthly sun hours
70 hours
50 hours
52 hours
Monthly rainfall
90 mm (3.5 in)
86 mm (3.4 in)
75 mm (3 in)
Monthly rainy days
16 days
15 days
17 days
Weather conditions

Is your destination not in the list? Have a look at all destinations in Kent, in the United Kingdom.

In our records: the United Kingdom December extremes

Notable December records observed across cities in the United Kingdom in our climate database (1976 – 2026). Historic readings can vary in quality, so treat these as illustrative.

  • In our records, the coldest December daytime high in the United Kingdom was -10°C (14°F) in Glasgow on December 29, 1995.
  • From our sources, the wettest December day in the United Kingdom brought 301 mm (12 in) in Belfast on December 4, 1982.

Popular cities in December

Day & night temperatures, rainfall and average weather in Kent in December.

City Weather Day temp Night temp Rainfall
Canterbury 9°C (48°F) 4°C (39°F) 73 mm (2.9 in)
Dover 10°C (50°F) 6°C (43°F) 97 mm (3.8 in)
Folkestone 10°C (50°F) 5°C (41°F) 97 mm (3.8 in)
Whitstable 9°C (48°F) 5°C (41°F) 76 mm (3 in)
Broadstairs 10°C (50°F) 6°C (43°F) 86 mm (3.4 in)
Maidstone 9°C (48°F) 3°C (37°F) 66 mm (2.6 in)

Kent weather in December: frequently asked questions

What is the weather like in Kent, the United Kingdom in December?

In December, Kent, the United Kingdom generally has poor weather conditions. Canterbury sees daytime temperatures near 9°C (48°F), with nights cooling to roughly 4°C (39°F).

What is the average temperature in Kent, the United Kingdom in December?

In Canterbury, the average daytime high in December is 9°C (48°F), while nighttime temperatures drop to around 4°C (39°F).

Does Kent, the United Kingdom get a lot of rain in December?

Not particularly. Canterbury averages just 73 mm (2.9 in) of rain in December, making it a mostly dry month for Kent, the United Kingdom.

Is December a Good Time to Visit Kent, the United Kingdom?

Given the typically poor weather conditions in Canterbury, December may not be the ideal time to visit Kent, the United Kingdom.

Generally speaking, July, August and September provide perfect weather in Canterbury. On the other hand, the weather in January, February and December tend to be poor.

Interested in more climate information?

We have much more information about the climate in Kent.

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.

Bucket list

Need travel inspiration? Check out our bucket list articles and be inspired.