London is generally quite a nice change for those visitors coming from frigid Northern climates; chilly and damp but not snow-bound or icy. We have the powerful Gulf Stream currents to thank for this meteorological anomaly.

Recent global climate changes point towards shifts in the Gulf Stream that may have an adverse effect on London’s temperatures, but for the time being everything is holding steady.

The temperatures in London from December to February are usually above freezing but rarely go higher than about 45F or 7C.

Rainfall during the winter months can be a factor, London gets an average of 40mm to 50mm of precipitation during the winter months. Bring some rain gear with you or be prepared to purchase some if necessary.

Remember that the same rain you might just shrug off in the summer can be quite unpleasant or even dangerous in the winter; hypothermia may seem unlikely but it can actually happen quite quickly. Travellers who get soaked to the skin in cold weather and have no way to change into dry things should head for a warm place as soon as possible; a pub with a fireplace would be ideal but even a heated shop would do.

There are sometimes snow or ice storms in London, but these are generally short-lived and the average temperatures are high enough that nothing stays on the ground for very long.

Winter weather in London, England can be fun; if you are in the city during one of the rare snowstorms, you will likely see the residents playing in the snow and hard at work building snowmen while the temperatures permit.

December

Average max temperature: 7C / 45F

Average rainfall: 48mm

January

Average max temperature: 6C / 43F

Average rainfall: 54mm

February

Average max temperature: 7C / 45F

Average rainfall: 40mm

Photo courtesy: Paolo Camera

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