This post is a summary of the January weather in London.
I provide you a breakdown of what to expect temperature and precipitation-wise, with tips on what to wear as well as things to do.
As a retired meteorologist, I didn't expect that I would use my previous experiences in my new job as a tour guide.
But here I am, finding myself answering more weather questions as a blogger than I ever did as a weatherman.
So, here are answers to some frequently asked questions about the weather in London in January.
HOW COLD IS LONDON IN JANUARY?
January in London is cool and wet but somewhat milder than many other northern European cities.
Daily high temperatures tend to average in the upper 8 C - 9 C (45 F) with a few of the warmer days reaching afternoon temperatures around 12 C - 13 C (mid-50s F).
Late night and early morning low temperatures will be mostly in the 3 C - 5 C (upper 30's F to near 40 F) with the coldest temperatures this month, generally near -1 C (30 F).
HOW MUCH SUN AND RAIN
About 9 days this month will be clear or at least partly sunny while the remaining days tend to be cloudy or mostly cloudy.
Daylight at the beginning of January is about 8 hours in length but increases to about 9 hours by month’s end.
You can expect at least a trace of precipitation on 18-19 days this month.
However, only about 9-10 days have precipitation amounts of at least 1mm (0.04 inches) or more while snow falls on average, on only about 2 days during January.
Wind during January averages between 5mph and about 16 mph (7 kph-25 kph) but occasionally can exceed 22 mph (36 kph).
DOES IT SNOW IN LONDON IN JANUARY?
Some snow is reported here in January, but only for about 2-to 3 days.
Read our post on when it snow in London.
WHAT TO WEAR IN JANUARY
It is best to dress in layers during the winter months in London and a winter coat is a must for the colder and windier days.
Don’t forget a good pair of walking shoes and an umbrella for the frequent wet days and you should also be prepared for the possibility of some snow.
THINGS TO DO IN JANUARY
Though the Christmas season has passed, there are still many fun things to do throughout the month of January. We list several below.
And if you are planning on visiting many of London’s top attractions, then you should consider a tourist discount pass.
These passes could save you up to 50% of retail ticket prices for tours, attractions, and restaurants.
- Go to a London concert.
- See a football game or darts tournament.
- Take a pay-what-you-like walking tour.
- Enjoy a West End theatre production like Mary Poppins.
- Experience Hogwarts in the Snow at the Warner Bros. Studio Tour.
- Celebrate 2024 with the New Year's Day Parade.
- Ice skate in Hyde Park.
- Explore the London Borough of Brent for a cultural celebration.
- Find a restaurant serving haggis for Burns Night.
- Hear London's most famous a cappella groups performing together.
- Take a chilling Jack the Ripper tour.
