Updated 16 Sep 2026 · recomputed nightly

Is December 2026 a good month to visit London?

Lively — the typical December day in London is busier than 60% of its year.

If you are coming for something that only happens in December, that is the trade. If not, February is quieter.

Calm · Lively · Busy · Packed rank a day against London's own year — not a headcount.

This month's verified events: New Year's Eve fireworks (31 — expected).

December sits between the seasons in London: cool and wet, around 9°C / 48°F with rain on about 13 days, Lively on 18 of 31 days — 13 days run Busy or Packed.

Mostly yes, if the weather does not put you off. The typical December day in London is Lively, and 13 of the 31 days in our window run Busy or Packed. Expect around 9 °C by day, with rain on about 13 days. The crowd comes with the school holidays in Germany and France. Cruise ships call on 12 of the 31 days. Hyde Park Winter Wonderland falls on 1–31 December. Late December is the month's quietest stretch in London — the typical day at 59%, against 69% in early December. The crush is at Westminster Bridge and Parliament Square; the quiet is at the royal parks' chain. The calmest day is Wednesday 2 December, the busiest Thursday 31 December.

In short, a solid middle-ground pick.

Among the 12 months we forecast for London, December ranks 5th for crowd pressure. Its heaviest day is Thu 31 Dec, busier than 99% of the year; its lightest is Wed 2 Dec at 49%.

Crowds

13/31 busy or packed

0 calm · 18 lively

Weather

9°C / 48°F

rain ~13 days

Value

Weather is the catch

a solid middle-ground pick

Preparing pays off in a month like this: timed-entry tickets and pre-booked tours turn the queue time into sightseeing time. see the options →

What to pack for London in December

Pack for wet first — rain on 13 of 31 days.

Two people walking under one umbrella in the rain

rain on 13 of 31 days Compact umbrella

A folding one lives in the day bag and weighs nothing.

See umbrellas →

A pair of worn walking trainers, seen from above

most sightseeing is on foot Walking shoes with grip

Wet stone is the thing to plan around in a month this wet.

See walking shoes →

How busy is London in December?

The busiest days are the 4th, 10th, 18th and 31st, and 9 more. Away from those, most days sit Lively. The calmest stretch is the 22nd–30th.

Ships call on 12 of 31 days, a typical call day carrying at least 1,596 guests — real, but a secondary part of the crowd here; the season moves the needle more.

The month is not one thing: its lightest day sits at 49% of the year and its heaviest at 99%, so where you land inside it matters. Daylight runs about 8 hours.

Either side of it, November picks up and January is far calmer.

The calmest days include the 2nd, 3rd and 5th — 7 days share that level, so there is room to choose.

CalmLivelyBusyPacked⚓ ships in port · % = busier than this share of the year · tap any day for its full forecast

Best daysWed 2 · Thu 3 · Sat 5 — The calmest days include the 2nd, 3rd and 5th — 7 days share that level, so there is room to choose.

Busiest daysFri 4 · Thu 10 · Fri 18 · Thu 31 — the heaviest of 13 busier days — check the calendar for the rest.

Tue 01 Dec Busy busier than 69% of days here · ⚓1 · Hyde Park Winter Wonderland

Event on this day

Is December 2026 a good month to visit London?

How busy is London in December?

Which week of December is quietest in London?

Can't move the dates? How to avoid the worst crowds

December weather in London

More about London in December