01Weather
London weather in October
Afternoons in October average 14.9 °C (59 °F) and nights cool to 9.0 °C (48 °F). The month brings about 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain spread over roughly 10 days. Compared with September it is 4.3 °C cooler; November is 4.6 °C cooler again.
What the averages hide
| In a typical October | Value | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Warm afternoons (90th percentile) | 18 °C / 65 °F | one day in ten is at least this warm |
| Cool afternoons (10th percentile) | 12 °C / 53 °F | one day in ten stays below this |
| Cold nights (10th percentile) | 6 °C / 42 °F | one night in ten is colder than this |
| Days above 30 °C (86 °F) | 0.0 | per month, average 2016–2025 |
| Nights at or below 0 °C (32 °F) | 0.0 | frost mornings per month |
| Chance of rain on any given day | 32 % | at least 1 mm |
| Hottest / coldest October day 2016–2025 | 23.7 °C / 0.1 °C | extremes in the ten-year record |
02Daylight
Sunrise, sunset and the length of the day
| Date | Sunrise | Sunset | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 October | 07:01 | 18:38 | 11.6 h |
| 15 October | 07:24 | 18:07 | 10.7 h |
| 31 October | 06:52 | 16:35 | 9.7 h |
Daylight shrinks by about 114 minutes over the month. Times are local (Europe/London), including the clock change on the last Sunday of October.
03Crowds
How busy London is in October
moderate The main sights are moderate in October. What drives it:
- October half-term in the last week
- Frieze art fair
- clocks go back
04Public holidays
Public holidays in October 2027
No public holidays in United Kingdom fall in October, so shops and museums keep normal hours all month.
05Events
What's on in London in October
Every year in October
| Event | When | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Frieze London | mid-October, Regent's Park | art |
07Packing
What to pack for London in October
- a warm jacket or coat
- scarf for windy evenings
- closed, water-resistant shoes
- a compact umbrella or hooded rain jacket, rain falls on roughly one day in three
08Editor's notes
What the numbers don't tell you
October is mild early on and distinctly autumnal by the end, with the clocks going back on the last Sunday and sunset jumping from around six to before five. Frieze brings the art world to Regent's Park for a weekend in the middle of the month, and half-term in the final week brings families back to the museums. Hotel prices soften after the summer, making October good value for a museum and theatre trip.
Autumn colour peaks in the last fortnight in Richmond Park, where the deer rut is at its loudest, and at Kew. Rain increases, with about eleven wet days, so a hooded jacket beats an umbrella in the wind off the river. Halloween events at the Tower and the London Dungeon run through the last week. Afternoon temperatures average 15 °C in the first half and closer to 12 °C by the end. The month after, November, is darker but brings the Christmas lights.
09Compare
London month by month
| Month | High | Low | Rain days | Sun h | Crowds | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7 °C | 2 °C | 11 | – | quiet | Mixed |
| February | 9 °C | 4 °C | 11 | – | quiet | Mixed |
| March | 11 °C | 4 °C | 9 | – | moderate | Good |
| April | 14 °C | 5 °C | 7 | – | busy | Good |
| May | 17 °C | 8 °C | 9 | – | busy | Good |
| June | 21 °C | 12 °C | 8 | – | very busy | Good |
| July | 22 °C | 14 °C | 8 | – | very busy | Good |
| August | 22 °C | 14 °C | 8 | – | very busy | Good |
| September | 19 °C | 12 °C | 7 | – | busy | Excellent |
| October | 15 °C | 9 °C | 10 | – | moderate | Good |
| November | 10 °C | 6 °C | 12 | – | moderate | Good |
| December | 8 °C | 4 °C | 11 | – | busy | Mixed |
Not sure about October? See the best time to visit London.
10Elsewhere
October in nearby cities
| City | High | Rain days |
|---|---|---|
| Paris in October | 17 °C | 12 |
| Amsterdam in October | 15 °C | 11 |
| Dublin in October | 15 °C | 13 |
| Copenhagen in October | 13 °C | – |
| Prague in October | 15 °C | 8 |
| Venice in October | 19 °C | 6 |
11FAQ
London in October: your questions
Is October a good time to visit London?
October is a good month to visit London. Daytime highs average 15 °C (59 °F), rain falls on about 10 days, and hotel arrivals run above the yearly average, so the main sights are moderate.
What is the weather like in London in October?
Expect cool days around 15 °C (59 °F) and nights near 9 °C (48 °F). One October in ten brings afternoons above 18 °C, and one in ten stays below 12 °C.
Does it rain a lot in London in October?
October brings about 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain over roughly 10 days, which is showery by London standards. On any given day the chance of at least 1 mm of rain is 32 percent.
What should I wear in London in October?
Pack a warm jacket or coat, scarf for windy evenings, closed, water-resistant shoes.
Is London crowded in October?
The main sights are moderate in October. Main drivers: October half-term in the last week; Frieze art fair; clocks go back.
What time does it get dark in London in October?
Around the middle of October the sun sets at about 18:07 and rises at 07:24, giving 10.7 hours of daylight.