Weather in Edinburgh in January
January in Edinburgh is a coat month. Treat it as cities, food and short walks, not as a terrace holiday.
In United Kingdom, this is how Edinburgh actually wears January, not how a country centroid would. January is the cold side of the year in Edinburgh. Pack for that, not for a leftover summer photo.
- Average temp
- 4°C
1–7°C
- Rainfall
- 62 mm
Showers likely
- Sunshine
- 2 h
hours per day
What to expect
Daytime
You want a proper coat in Edinburgh in January, not a festival jacket. Wind makes the same afternoon feel sharper than the map suggests.
Outdoor time is the middle of the day. Finish plans before the light goes. Evenings are for indoors.
Rain
January is a wetter month in Edinburgh. Showers are part of the deal, not a spoiled surprise.
Waterproof shoes matter more than a rain plan for a beach, especially if a beach is not why you came. Build indoor hours into the afternoon.
Evening
Evenings are cooler. A layer helps after sunset.
What to pack
Rain jacket
A layer for cooler evenings
Where to stay in Edinburgh
Dates are a starting point for January.
Travel guides for Edinburgh
What to read before you book.
Average weather in Edinburgh
TemperatureRainfall
Similar weather in January
Other destinations whose January averages sit close to this one.
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FAQs about Edinburgh
Climate averages for Edinburgh, 1991–2020.
The best time to visit Edinburgh is between May and October, the most comfortable stretch of the year on these averages.
July is the hottest month, with an average around 15°C.
October is the wettest month, with about 80 mm of rain.
No. These are 1991–2020 climate normals from Meteostat, not a live forecast. Actual weather in any given week can differ.
