United Kingdom weather in December
United Kingdom in December averages 6°C (43°F), 57 mm of rain and 1.8 hours of sun a day.
Of the twelve months in United Kingdom, December is the fourth wettest and the dullest.
- Average temp
- 6°C (43°F)
4–9°C · 38–47°F
- Rainfall
- 57 mm
Showers likely
- Sunshine
- 1.8 h
hours per day
What is United Kingdom like in December?
Daytime
Days are cool.
Rain
Some rain is likely; pack for showers.
Evening
Evenings are cooler. A layer helps after sunset.
What should I pack for United Kingdom in December?
A light rain jacket
About 57 mm falls this month — showers rather than washouts.
A warm mid-layer
Nights drop to around 4°C (38°F).
December compared with November and January
December in United Kingdom is 2.4°C cooler than November and 10 mm drier than it, which averages 8°C (47°F).
December in United Kingdom is about the same temperature as January and about as wet as it, which averages 6°C (42°F).
Daylight in United Kingdom in December
On 15 December the sun is up for 7 hours 52 minutes in United Kingdom, rising about 08:00 and setting about 15:51 local time.
December ends 15 minutes shorter than it begins, so the last week of the month is a different length of day from the first.
No month in United Kingdom has less daylight than December.
Travel guides for United Kingdom
What to read before you book.
United Kingdom weather by month
TemperatureRainfall
How December compares with the rest of the year
December is highlighted. Every other month links to its own page.
| Month | Average | Rainfall |
|---|---|---|
| January | 6°C / 42°F | 59 mm |
| February | 6°C / 43°F | 45 mm |
| March | 8°C / 46°F | 38 mm |
| April | 10°C / 51°F | 43 mm |
| May | 14°C / 56°F | 46 mm |
| June | 17°C / 62°F | 47 mm |
| July | 19°C / 66°F | 46 mm |
| August | 19°C / 65°F | 53 mm |
| September | 16°C / 60°F | 51 mm |
| October | 12°C / 54°F | 64 mm |
| November | 8°C / 47°F | 67 mm |
| December | 6°C / 43°F | 57 mm |
Similar weather in December
Other destinations whose December averages sit close to this one.
Check another month
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FAQs about United Kingdom in December
December climate averages for United Kingdom, 1991–2020.
United Kingdom averages 6°C (43°F) in December, ranging from about 4°C (38°F) at night to 9°C (47°F) in the afternoon. That is a 1991–2020 average, so an individual week can run either side of it.
Some. About 57 mm falls across December, enough to need a light jacket but not enough to reshape a trip.
They are about the same. December averages 6°C (43°F) and January 6°C (42°F), so temperature alone will not decide between them.
December is 2.4°C cooler than November, and about as wet.
It is outside the easiest window. The most comfortable stretch here is May to October; December sits outside it, which usually means more heat, more rain, or both — worth it if you would rather have the place to yourself.
About 1.8 hours of sun a day on the 1991–2020 average, so daylight is short on useful sun.
This page does not show today's weather. It is a 1991–2020 climate normal from Meteostat — a long-run average of what December is usually like, which is what you want when booking months ahead. For today or the coming week, check a live forecast.
About 7 hours 52 minutes of daylight in mid-December, the least of any month in United Kingdom.
On 15 December, sunrise is about 08:00 and sunset about 15:51 local time. Both shift across the month — the month ends 15 minutes shorter than it starts.
