Climate guide for Cambridge, United Kingdom

Best Time to Visit
Cambridge

How to read the score (0–10)
05810
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About Cambridge

May-September favors Cambridge’s King’s College Chapel, Bridge of Sighs views, and Cam river punting. Walk the Backs mornings; Fitzwilliam Museum covers grey afternoons.

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Travel Tips

Timing & weather
Check Cambridge's monthly climate scores before locking flights - temperate patterns shift comfort for sightseeing trips across the year.
Getting around
In Cambridge, pair a walkable core day with one transit or transfer buffer - crowds and traffic vary by season in United Kingdom.
Tickets & access
Reserve popular museums and day trips from Cambridge ahead in peak months; shoulder seasons are more flexible.
Pack for the profile
Comfortable walking shoes and a day bag matter more than formal wear for most Cambridge sightseeing days.

Things to do in Cambridge

Cambridge, United Kingdom. Live activities and tours from GetYourGuide, matched to this destination.

When to visit Cambridge: the short answer

The best time to visit Cambridge is August, followed by June, July. Those months combine the most usable temperatures with the fewest lost days to rain: August averages 18°C with 40 mm of rain and about 27 sunny days. The months to avoid unless you have a specific reason are December, January. If budget matters more than perfect weather, February is the strongest of the low-rate months at 6.2/10.

Across the year Cambridge swings from 4°C in January to 18°C in July, a 14-degree spread, while rainfall ranges from 40 mm in August to 74 mm in July. That is the whole planning problem in one sentence: Cambridge is not equally good year-round, and the difference between the best and worst month here is 4.3 points on a 10-point scale.

Warmest month: July (18°C). Coolest: January (4°C). Driest: August (40 mm). Wettest: July (74 mm).

Cambridge month by month

January in Cambridge — workable with trade-offs

Trade-offs · 5.6/10

January averages 4°C (39°F) — jacket weather. Comfortable for walking and museums, too cool for anything water-based.

Rainfall runs 53 mm, so plan one flexible day in three; you still get about 12 sunny days and 8.3 hours of daylight.

It scores 5.6/10 here, 11th of 12 months, against 9.6/10 in the destination's best month.

Expect mid-season pricing, and crowds are light for this destination.

Pack a mid-weight jacket, long sleeves and shoes you can walk 15 km in, a packable rain layer.

If your dates are flexible, August is materially better in Cambridge — 4 points higher on the same scale.

February in Cambridge — workable with trade-offs

Trade-offs · 6.2/10

February averages 6°C (43°F) — jacket weather. Comfortable for walking and museums, too cool for anything water-based.

Rainfall runs 54 mm, so plan one flexible day in three; you still get about 11 sunny days and 9.9 hours of daylight.

It scores 6.2/10 here, 9th of 12 months, against 9.6/10 in the destination's best month.

Expect low-season pricing, and crowds are light for this destination.

Pack a mid-weight jacket, long sleeves and shoes you can walk 15 km in, a packable rain layer.

If your dates are flexible, August is materially better in Cambridge — 3.4 points higher on the same scale.

March in Cambridge — reliably good (7th best month)

Good · 7.4/10

March averages 8°C (46°F) — jacket weather. Comfortable for walking and museums, too cool for anything water-based.

Rainfall runs 50 mm, so plan one flexible day in three; you still get about 19 sunny days and 11.9 hours of daylight.

It scores 7.4/10 here, 7th of 12 months, against 9.6/10 in the destination's best month.

Expect mid-season pricing, and crowds are moderate.

Pack a mid-weight jacket, long sleeves and shoes you can walk 15 km in, a packable rain layer.

If your dates are flexible, August is materially better in Cambridge — 2.2 points higher on the same scale.

April in Cambridge — reliably good (6th best month)

Good · 8.3/10

April averages 9°C (48°F) — jacket weather. Comfortable for walking and museums, too cool for anything water-based.

Expect 43 mm of rain — occasional showers rather than washed-out days — alongside about 26 sunny days and 14 daylight hours.

It scores 8.3/10 here, 6th of 12 months, against 9.6/10 in the destination's best month.

Expect mid-season pricing, and crowds are moderate.

Pack a mid-weight jacket, long sleeves and shoes you can walk 15 km in.

May in Cambridge — the year's strongest window

Best window · 8.5/10

May averages 13°C (55°F), the range most people find easiest for walking a city all day without either overheating or losing daylight to weather.

Rainfall runs 62 mm, so plan one flexible day in three; you still get about 25 sunny days and 15.7 hours of daylight.

On our climate-comfort scale this is the top-ranked month of the year for Cambridge at 8.5/10 — the reference point every other month on this page is measured against.

Expect mid-season pricing, and crowds are moderate.

Pack layers you can shed by midday plus one warm layer for the evening, a packable rain layer.

June in Cambridge — the year's strongest window

Best window · 9.5/10

June averages 17°C (62°F), the range most people find easiest for walking a city all day without either overheating or losing daylight to weather.

Expect 44 mm of rain — occasional showers rather than washed-out days — alongside about 26 sunny days and 16.7 daylight hours.

On our climate-comfort scale this is the top-ranked month of the year for Cambridge at 9.5/10 — the reference point every other month on this page is measured against.

Expect mid-season pricing, and crowds are moderate.

Pack layers you can shed by midday plus one warm layer for the evening.

July in Cambridge — the year's strongest window

Best window · 8.8/10

July averages 18°C (65°F), the range most people find easiest for walking a city all day without either overheating or losing daylight to weather.

Rainfall runs 74 mm, so plan one flexible day in three; you still get about 27 sunny days and 16.2 hours of daylight.

On our climate-comfort scale this is the top-ranked month of the year for Cambridge at 8.8/10 — the reference point every other month on this page is measured against.

Expect peak pricing, and this is one of the busiest months here. You are paying the year's highest rates for the year's best conditions — book early or shift a few weeks either side.

Pack layers you can shed by midday plus one warm layer for the evening, a packable rain layer.

August in Cambridge — the year's strongest window

Best window · 9.6/10

August averages 18°C (65°F), the range most people find easiest for walking a city all day without either overheating or losing daylight to weather.

Expect 40 mm of rain — occasional showers rather than washed-out days — alongside about 27 sunny days and 14.6 daylight hours.

On our climate-comfort scale this is the top-ranked month of the year for Cambridge at 9.6/10 — the reference point every other month on this page is measured against.

Expect peak pricing, and this is one of the busiest months here. You are paying the year's highest rates for the year's best conditions — book early or shift a few weeks either side.

Pack layers you can shed by midday plus one warm layer for the evening.

September in Cambridge — the year's strongest window

Best window · 8.7/10

September averages 16°C (61°F), the range most people find easiest for walking a city all day without either overheating or losing daylight to weather.

Rainfall runs 68 mm, so plan one flexible day in three; you still get about 23 sunny days and 12.6 hours of daylight.

On our climate-comfort scale this is the top-ranked month of the year for Cambridge at 8.7/10 — the reference point every other month on this page is measured against.

Expect mid-season pricing, and crowds are moderate.

Pack layers you can shed by midday plus one warm layer for the evening, a packable rain layer.

October in Cambridge — reliably good (8th best month)

Good · 7.4/10

October averages 13°C (55°F), the range most people find easiest for walking a city all day without either overheating or losing daylight to weather.

Rainfall runs 72 mm, so plan one flexible day in three; you still get about 18 sunny days and 10.6 hours of daylight.

It scores 7.4/10 here, 8th of 12 months, against 9.6/10 in the destination's best month.

Expect mid-season pricing, and crowds are moderate.

Pack layers you can shed by midday plus one warm layer for the evening, a packable rain layer.

If your dates are flexible, August is materially better in Cambridge — 2.2 points higher on the same scale.

November in Cambridge — workable with trade-offs

Trade-offs · 6.1/10

November averages 8°C (47°F) — jacket weather. Comfortable for walking and museums, too cool for anything water-based.

Rainfall runs 64 mm, so plan one flexible day in three; you still get about 13 sunny days and 8.8 hours of daylight.

It scores 6.1/10 here, 10th of 12 months, against 9.6/10 in the destination's best month.

Expect low-season pricing, and crowds are light for this destination.

Pack a mid-weight jacket, long sleeves and shoes you can walk 15 km in, a packable rain layer.

If your dates are flexible, August is materially better in Cambridge — 3.5 points higher on the same scale.

December in Cambridge — workable with trade-offs

Trade-offs · 5.3/10

December averages 7°C (44°F) — jacket weather. Comfortable for walking and museums, too cool for anything water-based.

Rainfall runs 64 mm, so plan one flexible day in three; you still get about 7 sunny days and 7.8 hours of daylight.

It scores 5.3/10 here, 12th of 12 months, against 9.6/10 in the destination's best month.

Expect mid-season pricing, and crowds are light for this destination.

Pack a mid-weight jacket, long sleeves and shoes you can walk 15 km in, a packable rain layer.

If your dates are flexible, August is materially better in Cambridge — 4.3 points higher on the same scale.

Frequently asked

When is the best time to visit Cambridge, United Kingdom?
In Ideal Weather mode, the best months to visit Cambridge are August, June, July, September. August is the single peak month with an Ideal Weather score of 9.6/10 based on temperature, rainfall, humidity, daylight and historical sunny days.
What is the weather like in Cambridge year-round?
Cambridge has a climate profile suited to sightseeing and cultural travel. Average monthly temperatures range from 4°C in January to 18°C in July, with Ideal Weather scores between 5.3 and 9.6 out of 10.
Which months should I avoid in Cambridge?
The lowest Ideal Weather-scoring months in Cambridge are December (5.3/10), January (5.6/10), November (6.1/10). These months typically combine less comfortable temperatures, higher rainfall or fewer sunny days.
When is the rainy season in Cambridge?
July is the wettest month in Cambridge, averaging about 74 mm of rainfall. August is the driest, at roughly 40 mm.
Which is the sunniest month in Cambridge?
July sees the most sun in Cambridge, with about 27 sunny days on average - ideal for outdoor plans.
Is Cambridge a good destination for sightseeing and cultural travel?
Cambridge is well suited to sightseeing and cultural travel. Its highest Ideal Weather window (August, June, July, September) aligns with the conditions travelers usually look for in this style of trip.
How is the bestime.to score for Cambridge calculated?
Each month receives an Ideal Weather score from 0-10 using ERA5 climate normals for Cambridge: temperature comfort, precipitation, humidity, daylight hours, and historical sunny days - weighted for sightseeing and cultural travel.

Explore by month

Curated in Cambridge

Tickets & experiences