London · Month comparison
October vs May
May ranks #1 overall vs October at #7. Chelsea Flower Show, warm parks, 18°C — London at its most seductive before summer prices arrive.
October
#7 of 12 months
Strong option
Autumn London at a good price — October half-term aside, crowds are manageable and culture is rich.
- ↑London Film Festival (mid-October): two weeks of world cinema at the BFI and venues across the city — tickets accessible without industry accreditation
- ↑Autumn colour in Kew Gardens, Richmond Park, and the Royal Parks genuinely beautiful in mid-October
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
| Factor | October | May |
|---|---|---|
| Weather score | 5 | 8 |
| Value score | 7 | 6 |
| Crowd score | 7 | 6 |
| Events score | 6 | 8 |
| Atmosphere | 7 | 8 |
| Avg high temp | 15°C | 18°C |
| Monthly rain | 65mm | 49mm |
| Daily sunshine | 3.4hrs | 6.4hrs |
October trade-offs
- ↓October half-term (late October) briefly crowds family attractions and spikes some accommodation rates
- ↓Rainfall rising (65mm) and sunshine falling to 3.4 hours — outdoor London increasingly weather-dependent
- ↓The clocks go back in late October — sudden short days require adjusting afternoon plans
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
Scores compare months within London. Climate data: Open Meteo ERA5 30-year normals (1991–2020). Methodology →