London’s a melting pot of cultures and its weather shows a variety of personalities too - often changing on a daily, even hourly, basis!

Having said that, extremes are relatively rare. Sitting in a sheltered bowl at the mouth of the River Thames, London avoids much of the wettest and coldest weather that often batters areas further north and west across the UK.

Summer days are typically warm and dry, with temperatures sitting comfortably in the low 20s Celsius. Occasional heatwaves from the Mediterranean can add another 10 degrees to the warmth, however. So, if you’re sightseeing from June to September, we’d advise always taking hydration and sun-protection with you. Nights can stay steamy too.

But such heat rarely lasts that long. Atlantic air routinely brings fresher, showery days, and waterproofs will never be redundant for all that long!

Autumn sees a haphazard slide in temperatures, together with cloudier, breezier spells, although some days still reach the low 20s Celsius well into October.

By November, though, the shorter days bring a chillier feel to the capital. Indeed as the year ends, some days can be particularly gloomy and damp.

Winter in London rarely gets all that cold. Temperatures usually remain several degrees above freezing. And while some suburbs see regular frost, freezing temperatures in the middle of town are not that common, thanks to the ‘Urban Heat Island Effect’. An exception to this can be when easterlies put London in the firing line from much harsher cold and snow. Though relatively rare, these events can briefly bring London to a standstill!

Not for long. Sunshine and showers are more typical than ice and snow and, by April, warmth is returning to the capital’s streets. It’s a great time to visit before the crowds of summer arrive.