When to Go

Climate

You don't come to London for the weather. Yes, it rains, but nowhere near as much as Britain's reputation suggests. Downpours are most likely in the Autumn, especially November (2 1/2 in./63mm. on average). It can, however, rain at any time; there's no "dry season" here. Daytime temperatures can range from -1° to 35°C (30° to 95°F), but they rarely stay below 2°C (36°F) or above 26°C (79°F) for too long. Evenings are usually cool, even in summer, but hot July and August days can be muggy -- particularly on the Underground, which is not air-conditioned. Note that the British like to keep hotel thermostats about 6°C (10°F) below the American comfort level.

Current Weather Conditions -- The best place to head online for a detailed weather forecast is www.bbc.co.uk/weather. Once in the city, you can tune into local radio stations for regular -- usually quarter- or half-hourly -- weather updates on LBC (97.3 FM) or BBC London (94.9 FM).

When You'll Find Bargains

In short, summer's warmer weather gives rise to many free outdoor music and theatre festivals. But winter offers savings pretty much across the board.

The cheapest time to fly to London is usually during the off season: from late October to mid-December and from January to mid-March. In the last few years, long-haul airlines in particular have offered some irresistible fares during these periods. Remember that weekday flights are often cheaper than weekend fares.

Rates generally increase between March and June, and hit their peak in high travel seasons between late June and September, and in December for the run-up to Christmas and New Year. July and August are also when most Europeans take their holidays, and so as well as higher prices you have to deal with more crowds and limited availability of the best hotel rooms.

You can avoid crowds to some extent, by planning trips for November or January through March. Sure, it may be rainy and cold -- but London doesn't shut down when the tourists thin out a little! In fact, it's a 365-days-a-year tourism city, and the winter season includes some of London's best theatre, opera, ballet, and classical music offerings. Additionally, hotel prices can drop by 20% (unheard of during peak travel times). By arriving after the winter holidays, you can also take advantage of post-Christmas sales, which these days start as early as December 26 or 27. There's usually another major sales period in stores in midsummer.

Public Holidays

England downs tools for eight public holidays (also known as "bank holidays") spread throughout the year: New Year's Day (January 1); Good Friday and Easter Monday (usually April); May Bank Holiday (first Monday in May); Spring Bank Holiday (usually last Monday in May, but occasionally the first in June); August Bank Holiday (last Monday in August); Christmas Day (December 25); Boxing Day (December 26). In 2012, there is an additional public holiday on June 5, to mark the Queen's Diamond Jubilee celebrating 60 years of her reign. Note: If a marked date such as Christmas Day falls on a Saturday or Sunday, the public holiday rolls over to the following Monday.