United Kingdom weather in January
United Kingdom in January averages 6°C (42°F), 59 mm of rain and 2 hours of sun a day.
Of the twelve months in United Kingdom, January is the coldest, the third wettest and the second dullest.
- Average temp
- 6°C (42°F)
3–8°C · 38–47°F
- Rainfall
- 59 mm
Showers likely
- Sunshine
- 2 h
hours per day
What is United Kingdom like in January?
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 January?
A light rain jacket
About 59 mm falls this month — showers rather than washouts.
A warm mid-layer
Nights drop to around 3°C (38°F).
January compared with December and February
January in United Kingdom is about the same temperature as December and about as wet as it, which averages 6°C (43°F).
January in United Kingdom is about the same temperature as February and 14 mm wetter than it, which averages 6°C (43°F).
Daylight in United Kingdom in January
On 15 January the sun is up for 8 hours 20 minutes in United Kingdom, rising about 07:59 and setting about 16:20 local time.
January ends 1 hour 11 minutes longer than it begins, so the last week of the month is a different length of day from the first.
That is 8 hours 17 minutes short of June, the longest-lit month here.
Travel guides for United Kingdom
What to read before you book.
United Kingdom weather by month
TemperatureRainfall
How January compares with the rest of the year
January 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 January
Other destinations whose January averages sit close to this one.
Check another month
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FAQs about United Kingdom in January
January climate averages for United Kingdom, 1991–2020.
United Kingdom averages 6°C (42°F) in January, ranging from about 3°C (38°F) at night to 8°C (47°F) in the afternoon. That is a 1991–2020 average, so an individual week can run either side of it.
Some. About 59 mm falls across January, enough to need a light jacket but not enough to reshape a trip.
They are about the same. January averages 6°C (42°F) and February 6°C (43°F), so temperature alone will not decide between them.
January is about as warm as December, and about as wet.
It is outside the easiest window. The most comfortable stretch here is May to October; January sits outside it, which usually means more heat, more rain, or both — worth it if you would rather have the place to yourself.
About 2 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 January is usually like, which is what you want when booking months ahead. For today or the coming week, check a live forecast.
About 8 hours 20 minutes of daylight in mid-January, against 16 hours 37 minutes in June and 7 hours 52 minutes in December.
On 15 January, sunrise is about 07:59 and sunset about 16:20 local time. Both shift across the month — the month ends 1 hour 11 minutes longer than it starts.
