London · Month comparison

March vs May

May ranks #1 overall vs March at #6. Chelsea Flower Show, warm parks, 18°C — London at its most seductive before summer prices arrive.

London March — a red telephone box surrounded by cherry blossom trees in early spring

March

#6 of 12 months

Strong option

Spring stirs — daffodils in Hyde Park, daylight returning, and prices still well below peak.

  • ↑Daffodils blanket Hyde Park and St James's Park by mid-March — London's first real colour after winter
  • ↑Four hours of sunshine daily marks a genuine psychological shift; outdoor walks become viable again
London May — sunlight filtering through tall trees in Hyde Park on a warm spring afternoon

May

#1 of 12 months

Best match

Chelsea Flower Show, warm parks, 18°C — London at its most seductive before summer prices arrive.

  • ↑Chelsea Flower Show (third week of May): world-famous garden event with real local excitement around it
  • ↑Royal Parks in full green: Londoners picnic in Hyde Park, Regent's Park, and Hampstead Heath in earnest
FactorMarchMay
Weather score
5
8
Value score
8
6
Crowd score
8
6
Events score
5
8
Atmosphere
6
8
Avg high temp12°C18°C
Monthly rain42mm49mm
Daily sunshine4hrs6.4hrs

March trade-offs

  • ↓Easter can fall in March (check the year) — triggering a sudden crowd and price spike
  • ↓Still cool and changeable; a warm day in mid-March can be followed by a cold snap within 48 hours
  • ↓Major spring events (Chelsea Flower Show, Trooping the Colour) are still months away

May trade-offs

  • ↓Prices climbing toward summer — a week at a 3-star central hotel costs noticeably more than March
  • ↓Chelsea Flower Show week sees south-west London traffic disruption and accommodation pressure
  • ↓Half-term (late May bank holiday) briefly crowding family attractions across the city
See all 12 months for London →March in detail →May in detail →
Scores compare months within London. Climate data: Open Meteo ERA5 30-year normals (1991–2020). Methodology →