# UK Dopers: London weather at Christmas? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 23, 2004, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-dopers-london-weather-at-christmas/265769 "2004-09-23T22:27:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Algernon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a183cd/32.png) [@Algernon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Algernon)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2004, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-dopers-london-weather-at-christmas/265769/1 "2004-09-23T22:27:18Z")
Mrs. Algernon and I are considering a trip to London over the Christmas holiday. What is the weather typically like at that time of the year? (temperature, snowfall, etc.) Do the main tourist attractions remain open? ---
**Author:** ![NewHeart\_Male](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/bc8723/32.png) [@NewHeart\_Male](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NewHeart_Male)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2004, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-dopers-london-weather-at-christmas/265769/2 "2004-09-23T22:34:06Z")
I’m sure for the last five years there has been no snowfall during the December(/January) Christmas period. However I heard there was massive snowfall in February 2003 (in some parts - particularly in Northern U.K.) there was like 3-6 inches of snow on the ground). As far as I can tell, it hardly ever snows during Christmas in London (freak years notwithstanding). ---
**Author:** ![GorillaMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@GorillaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GorillaMan)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2004, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-dopers-london-weather-at-christmas/265769/3 "2004-09-23T22:41:06Z")
Yep, snow is highly unusual. And it’s unlikely to be below freezing at daytime. It’s possible that it’ll be miserable and raining, more likely clear and crisp. As for attractions and everything else - you bet! It’s one of their busiest times of year. It’d make a good holiday 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Mk\_VII](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Mk\_VII](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mk_VII)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2004, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-dopers-london-weather-at-christmas/265769/4 "2004-09-23T22:51:41Z")
a good fall of snow in the South-East in late December is a rare event. We don’t usually get it until mid January or early February, and even then it only lasts a day or two. ---
**Author:** ![betenoir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/258eb7/32.png) [@betenoir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/betenoir)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2004, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-dopers-london-weather-at-christmas/265769/5 "2004-09-24T01:57:07Z")
> [@NewHeart(Male)](#): > > I’m sure for the last five years there has been no snowfall during the December(/January) Christmas period. Liar! I was there New Years Day of this year…lured by the promise that it never snowed in England. And what did I touch down to…yes! snow!!! And then he had the nerve to claim this had never happened to him before! Bewear the wiles of Englishmen!!! > [@](#): > > However I heard there was massive snowfall in February 2003 (in some parts - particularly in Northern U.K.) there was like 3-6 inches of snow on the ground). > > As far as I can tell, it hardly ever snows during Christmas in London (freak years notwithstanding). Err…ok, in honesty, this is pretty acurate. It did in fact snow the day I got there, and a couple more days that month but I was a bit north of London, and even there it didn’t stick. 3-6 inches would indeed count as a massive snow fall. _Bitterly prepares herself for a New England winter this year_ ---
**Author:** ![paulberserker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c4cdca/32.png) [@paulberserker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/paulberserker)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2004, 11:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-dopers-london-weather-at-christmas/265769/6 "2004-09-24T11:09:46Z")
It really only snows in North London. February 2003 did indeed get a big snowfall (around 2-3 inches in a day) which brought the roads to a standstill. Because people don’t expect it. Around January of this year in North London (where I live and work) it snowed about 1 and a half inches in 2 hours - I went into Central London and it was nothing more than wet on the floor. It’s not often it happens, and it’s generally a couple of degrees warmer than the north of the country, but snow won’t be a problem if you come across, trust me. I come from Yorkshire. I miss blizzards at Christmas time. ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2004, 1:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-dopers-london-weather-at-christmas/265769/7 "2004-09-24T13:08:53Z")
It wasn’t 2-3 inches in a day - it was 2-3 inches in 30 minutes. I drove through it. What made it worse was that it was preceded by rain which washed all the salt and grit from the road. ---
**Author:** ![Algernon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a183cd/32.png) [@Algernon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Algernon)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2004, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-dopers-london-weather-at-christmas/265769/8 "2004-09-24T13:39:16Z")
Thanks for the replies everyone. I appreciate it. It sounds downright balmy compared to what I’m used to here in the cold and snowy upper midwest USA. ---
**Author:** ![NewHeart\_Male](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/bc8723/32.png) [@NewHeart\_Male](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NewHeart_Male)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2004, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-dopers-london-weather-at-christmas/265769/9 "2004-09-24T13:56:58Z")
> [@qts](#): > > It wasn’t 2-3 inches in a day - it was 2-3 inches in 30 minutes. I drove through it. What made it worse was that it was preceded by rain which washed all the salt and grit from the road. He (or she) speaks the truth. Snowfall was more immediate than a long, drawn out process that February. ---
**Author:** ![paulberserker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c4cdca/32.png) [@paulberserker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/paulberserker)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2004, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-dopers-london-weather-at-christmas/265769/10 "2004-09-24T14:41:17Z")
Oh, sorry. I only walked home through it. Horizontal snow blasting in your face whilst trying to move house is not fun. ---
**Author:** ![AngelicGemma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/439d5e/32.png) [@AngelicGemma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AngelicGemma)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2004, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-dopers-london-weather-at-christmas/265769/11 "2004-09-24T15:30:15Z")
Chances are, it will be cold and wet. ---
**Author:** ![Colophon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f05b48/32.png) [@Colophon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colophon)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2004, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-dopers-london-weather-at-christmas/265769/12 "2004-09-24T15:46:12Z")
> [@](#): > > It’s possible that it’ll be miserable and raining, more likely clear and crisp. > [@](#): > > Chances are, it will be cold and wet. Basically, it could be anything 🙂 Clear and crisp is fairly common winter weather, but in my experience it always seems to be gray and drizzly at Christmas itself, just to ensure that it feels as un-festive as possible. ---
**Author:** ![Algernon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a183cd/32.png) [@Algernon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Algernon)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2004, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-dopers-london-weather-at-christmas/265769/13 "2004-09-24T16:24:59Z")
Clear and crisp would be terrific. Gray and drizzly would be consistent with pre-conceived American notions of London weather. Therefore, either will be enjoyed. The trip is only an idea at this point. We normally spend out Christmas holiday vacation on some Caribbean island. For various reasons, it’s not working out this year. Child#1 (at the University) bails out. So Child#2 (also at a different University) doesn’t want to go without Child#1, and the all-inclusive resorts we were considering are too expensive for Child#2’s friends. Child#1 bailed out because of a study abroad opportunity in Antartica. Child#2 thinks she might want to do this too. Suddenly I’m facing about $11,000 US in study abroad expenses. As a result, Mrs. Algernon and I might be visiting our local drinking establishment, rather than a London pub.