May in London averages highs of 17 °C (63 °F) and lows of 8 °C (47 °F), with about 8 rainy days and 15 h 35 min of daylight.
May weather in London at a glance
average high to low each dot ≈ 3 rainy days
Is May a good time to visit London?
Mixed weather: cool and some rain. May is usually shoulder season in London: fewer crowds than peak months, with prices often a little lower.
Our rule: a month scores 2 points for comfortable average highs of 18–28 °C (1 point for 14–18 or 28–32 °C) and 2 points for 5 or fewer rainy days (1 point for 6–10). Average highs above 35 °C or below 8 °C make it a tough month whatever the rain. A rainy day here means 2 mm of rain or more. 4 points = great, 3 = good, 2 = mixed, 0–1 = tough.
Holidays and events in May 2026
- Mon 4 May: Early May Bank Holiday public holiday
- Mon 25 May: Spring Bank Holiday public holiday
Banks and many shops close on public holidays, and museums may change their hours, so check before you go.
Things to do in London in May
May's weather suits a mix of outdoor sights and museums, so the open-air ones come first.
- Westminster and Big Ben — then a walk along the South Bank outdoors
- Hyde Park and Kensington — plus the free museums in South Kensington outdoors
- British Museum — free, huge, go with a plan indoors
- Tower of London and Tower Bridge — Crown Jewels inside indoors
- National Gallery and Trafalgar Square — free indoors
- Borough Market — lunch under cover indoors
Where to stay: South Bank or Covent Garden for sights on foot; King's Cross for transport; Shoreditch for nightlife.
What to pack for London in May
- Layers and a light jacket: days around 17 °C (63 °F), nights near 8 °C (47 °F).
- Comfortable walking shoes.
What a day in London costs
| Budget traveller | Mid-range | |
|---|---|---|
| Typical total per person, per day | £55–150 | £180–385 |
Excluding flights. May is usually shoulder season in London: fewer crowds than peak months, with prices often a little lower.
May in nearby cities
| City | High / low | Rainy days | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paris | 19° / 9° | 10 | Good time to go |
| Amsterdam | 17° / 9° | 8 | Mixed weather |
| Dublin | 15° / 8° | 9 | Mixed weather |
Plan your London trip
- 3 Days in London Itinerary: First-Timer's Plan for 2026
- Is London Expensive? A Realistic Budget Guide for 2026
Want the whole trip planned? Join the Journey waitlist: tell it where, when and your budget, and it plans every day hour by hour.
FAQ
Is May a good time to visit London?
By the numbers, May is a mixed month: cool and some rain, with average highs of 17 °C (63 °F) and about 8 rainy days. May is usually shoulder season in London: fewer crowds than peak months, with prices often a little lower. The best months for weather are June, July, August, September.
How warm is London in May?
Average highs are 17 °C (63 °F) and lows 8 °C (47 °F) (2015–2024 averages).
Does it rain a lot in London in May?
Expect about 8 days with 2 mm of rain or more, about 57 mm in total. It is the 5th driest month of the year in London.
Sources: climate averages from Open-Meteo historical weather (ERA5 reanalysis, 2015–2024); sea temperatures from the Open-Meteo marine API (2023–2024); public holidays from Nager.Date. Daylight is calculated for the 15th of the month. Averages are a guide, not a forecast. Costs are typical ranges per person per day, excluding flights.