London · United Kingdom
January
Empty museums, cheapest hotels — but barely 2 hours of daylight make this the toughest trade-off.
Strong option
#11 of 12 months
There are better months for London — see the full ranking below.
See when to go instead →Climate
High
8°C
Low
3°C
Rain
57mm
Sun
1.8hrs/day
30-year climate normals · Open Meteo ERA5
How January scores in London
Weather
Below average
Value
Outstanding
Crowds
Outstanding
Events
Below average
Atmosphere
Above average
What you gain in January
- ↑The British Museum and National Gallery at their emptiest — no timed slots, no queues, proper unhurried visits
- ↑Central London hotel rates at annual lows — 4-star hotels at prices that would be budget in August
- ↑Post-Christmas London has a quiet authenticity: locals reclaim the city and pubs feel genuinely neighbourly
What you sacrifice
- ↓Only 1.8 hours of usable sunshine daily — the city is dark before 4pm and grey most of the day
- ↓Cold (3°C overnight) and persistently damp; the famous London drizzle is at its most relentless
- ↓Hyde Park and the Royal Parks are stark and leafless — no outdoor London to speak of
How January compares to May (best month)
| Factor | January | May ★ |
|---|---|---|
| Weather | 3 | 8 |
| Value | 9 | 6 |
| Crowds | 9 | 6 |
January in other destinations
Lisbon (13.6°C)Barcelona (13.2°C)Tokyo (9.8°C)Bali (30.2°C)Santorini (13.4°C)Paris (7°C)New York (3.3°C)Marrakech (17.3°C)Amsterdam (5.6°C)Maldives (30.1°C)Rome (11.6°C)Bangkok (31.1°C)Istanbul (8.7°C)Vienna (3.2°C)Seoul (1.1°C)Dubrovnik (11.1°C)Rio de Janeiro (30.9°C)Kyoto (9.2°C)Phuket (31.5°C)Cape Town (26.1°C)Prague (2°C)Amalfi Coast (12°C)Mexico City (21°C)Medellín (28°C)Fiji (31°C)Sydney (26°C)Iceland (2°C)Tulum (28°C)Dubai (24°C)Singapore (30°C)Hoi An (24°C)
Climate data: 30-year normals (1991–2020) from Open Meteo ERA5 reanalysis. Scores compare months within London, not across destinations. Methodology →