Weather in United Kingdom in May
May in United Kingdom is mild enough that walking is the default. This is a city-break month more than a sea-holiday month.
A country pin in May is a warning: one region of United Kingdom will not match another. Use a city page if you already know where you are going. Compared with July and January, May sits in the middle of United Kingdom's year.
- Average temp
- 14°C
9–18°C
- Rainfall
- 46 mm
Not much rain
- Sunshine
- 6.3 h
hours per day
What to expect
Daytime
Mild afternoons in United Kingdom are the prize in May. You can eat outside on the good days. You still want something for the breeze.
This is walking weather. Shade is useful, not essential the way it is in the hot months. A long outdoor day is a reasonable plan.
Rain
Mixed skies in United Kingdom in May. Dry days and wet days share the month. Outdoor plans need a backup, not a cancellation policy.
Pack a shell you will actually carry. The monthly table is the place for totals. This is the feel: usable, interrupted.
Evening
Evenings are cooler. A layer helps after sunset.
What to pack
A layer for cooler evenings
Where to stay in United Kingdom
Featured stays on trip1. Dates are a starting point for May.
Travel guides for United Kingdom
What to read before you book.
Average weather in United Kingdom
TemperatureRainfall
Similar weather in May
Other destinations whose May averages sit close to this one.
Check another month
This is the month you are reading. Change either side to look at another.
FAQs about United Kingdom
Climate averages for United Kingdom, 1991–2020.
The best time to visit United Kingdom is between May and October, the most comfortable stretch of the year on these averages.
July is the hottest month, with an average around 19°C.
November is the wettest month, with about 67 mm of rain.
No. These are 1991–2020 climate normals from Meteostat, not a live forecast. Actual weather in any given week can differ.
