United Kingdom in May

One of the best months: long days, fewer midges, drier than average. Two bank-holiday weekends.

• London and the south-east · London, Oxford, Cambridge, Kent, Brightonbest weather

  Mildest and driest region; summer heat waves above 30 °C are now common, and older Tube lines and many homes have no air conditioning.

• South-west England · Bath, Bristol, Cornwall, Devonbest weather

  Mild winters and the warmest sea; Cornish roads and beaches jam in the August school holidays.

• Northern England and Wales · York, Manchester, Lake District, Snowdonia (Eryri), Cardiffbest weather

  Uplands catch the Atlantic rain; May–June and September are the clearest walking months.

• Scotland · Edinburgh, Glasgow, Highlands, Skyebest weather

  18+ hours of daylight in June; midges in the west from June to August; winter gales cancel ferries and close high roads.

Dates as our data lists them. Moving holidays (lunar and Islamic calendars, Easter) shift every year: check the date for your year before you build a trip on it.

• Early May and Spring bank holidays

  3 May and 31 May 2027

  Long weekends; coast and national parks full.

Crowds · United Kingdom

Medium

Prices · United Kingdom

Medium

Nothing unusual for the weather this month.

Build the full packing list for your trip →

Rated best or good this month

• London and the south-east

  Best weather of the year (London, Oxford, Cambridge, Kent, Brighton)

• South-west England

  Best weather of the year (Bath, Bristol, Cornwall, Devon)

• Northern England and Wales

  Best weather of the year (York, Manchester, Lake District, Snowdonia (Eryri), Cardiff)

• Scotland

  Best weather of the year (Edinburgh, Glasgow, Highlands, Skye)

• London

  Good month; bank holidays busy.