When is the best time to visit York, United Kingdom?

In Ideal Weather mode, the best months to visit York are June, August, July, May. June is the single peak month with an Ideal Weather score of 9.1/10 based on temperature, rainfall, humidity, daylight and days with 6+ hours of sunshine.

What is the weather like in York year-round?

York has a climate profile suited to sightseeing and cultural travel. Average monthly temperatures range from 5°C in January to 17°C in August, with Ideal Weather scores between 4.5 and 9.1 out of 10.

Which months should I avoid in York?

The lowest Ideal Weather-scoring months in York are December (4.5/10), January (5.7/10), November (5.8/10). These months typically combine less comfortable temperatures, higher rainfall or fewer days with 6+ hours of sunshine.

When is the rainy season in York?

October is the wettest month in York, averaging about 100 mm of rainfall. January is the driest, at roughly 52 mm.

Which is the sunniest month in York?

June sees the most sun in York, with about 28 days with 6+ hours of sunshine on average - ideal for outdoor plans.

Is York a good destination for sightseeing and cultural travel?

York is well suited to sightseeing and cultural travel. Its highest Ideal Weather window (June, August, July, May) aligns with the conditions travelers usually look for in this style of trip.

How is the bestime.to score for York calculated?

Each month receives an Ideal Weather score from 0-10 using ERA5 climate normals for York: temperature comfort, precipitation, humidity, daylight hours, and days with 6+ hours of sunshine - weighted for sightseeing and cultural travel.

Best Time to Visit York: June, August, July

January in York — workable with trade-offs

Trade-offs · 5.7/10

January averages 5°C (40°F) — jacket weather. Comfortable for walking and museums, too cool for anything water-based.

Rainfall runs 52 mm, so plan one flexible day in three; you still get about 12 days with 6+ hours of sunshine and 8.1 hours of daylight.

It scores 5.7/10 here, 11th of 12 months, against 9.1/10 in the destination's best month.

Figure on mid-season pricing, with 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.

Flexible dates? June scores 3.4 points higher here — enough to change the trip.

February in York — workable with trade-offs

Trade-offs · 5.9/10

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

Rainfall runs 71 mm, so plan one flexible day in three; you still get about 12 days with 6+ hours of sunshine and 9.8 hours of daylight.

It scores 5.9/10 here, 9th of 12 months, against 9.1/10 in the destination's best month.

Figure on low-season pricing, with 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.

Flexible dates? June scores 3.2 points higher here — enough to change the trip.

March in York: mixed conditions, plan around the weather

Trade-offs · 6.7/10

Expect 7°C (45°F) in March. A good month for city streets, viewpoints and long meals; leave swimming for another season.

Budget for roughly 65 mm of rain this month — a flexible day or two helps — with about 16 days with 6+ hours of sunshine and 11.9 hours of daylight to work around it.

That is 6.7/10 on the same scale — 7th of 12 months, versus 9.1/10 for the best month here.

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, June is materially better in York — 2.4 points higher on the same scale.

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

Good · 7.7/10

April averages 9°C (47°F) — jacket weather. Comfortable for walking and museums, too cool for anything water-based.

Rainfall runs 65 mm, so plan one flexible day in three; you still get about 22 days with 6+ hours of sunshine and 14.1 hours of daylight.

It scores 7.7/10 here, 6th of 12 months, against 9.1/10 in the destination's best month.

Plan for mid-season pricing, with crowds are moderate.

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

May is one of the strongest months in York (4th)

Best window · 8.5/10

Temperatures hover around 13°C (55°F) — the kind of month where neither heat nor cold forces the schedule.

Budget for roughly 61 mm of rain this month — a flexible day or two helps — with about 25 days with 6+ hours of sunshine and 16 hours of daylight to work around it.

On our climate-comfort scale this is one of the strongest months of the year for York at 8.5/10 (4th of 12), just behind June at 9.1/10.

Budget for 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 York tops the year's climate scores

Best window · 9.1/10

June averages 15°C (59°F), the range most people find easiest for walking a city all day without either overheating or losing daylight to weather.

Rainfall runs 58 mm, so plan one flexible day in three; you still get about 28 days with 6+ hours of sunshine and 17 hours of daylight.

On our climate-comfort scale this is the top-ranked month of the year for York at 9.1/10 — the reference point every other month on this page is measured against.

Plan for peak pricing, with crowds are moderate. 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.

July is one of the strongest months in York (3rd)

Best window · 8.6/10

July 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.

Rainfall runs 79 mm, so plan one flexible day in three; you still get about 25 days with 6+ hours of sunshine and 16.5 hours of daylight.

A 8.6/10 puts this among the year's best months in York (3rd of 12); only June scores higher, at 9.1/10.

Figure on peak pricing, with 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 ranks 2nd of 12 for York — one of the best windows

Best window · 8.9/10

Temperatures hover around 17°C (62°F) — the kind of month where neither heat nor cold forces the schedule.

Budget for roughly 62 mm of rain this month — a flexible day or two helps — with about 26 days with 6+ hours of sunshine and 14.8 hours of daylight to work around it.

On our climate-comfort scale this is one of the strongest months of the year for York at 8.9/10 (2nd of 12), just behind June at 9.1/10.

Budget for 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.

September holds up well in York — 5th best month

Good · 7.9/10

Temperatures hover around 15°C (58°F) — the kind of month where neither heat nor cold forces the schedule.

Budget for roughly 85 mm of rain this month — a flexible day or two helps — with about 19 days with 6+ hours of sunshine and 12.7 hours of daylight to work around it.

That is 7.9/10 on the same scale — 5th of 12 months, versus 9.1/10 for the best month here.

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 York — middling scores, decent value

Trade-offs · 6.4/10

October averages 12°C (53°F) — jacket weather. Comfortable for walking and museums, too cool for anything water-based.

At 100 mm this is a genuinely wet month: about 14 days with 6+ hours of sunshine in total, and outdoor plans need an indoor fallback.

It scores 6.4/10 here, 8th of 12 months, against 9.1/10 in the destination's best month.

Plan for low-season pricing, with crowds are light for this destination.

Pack a mid-weight jacket, long sleeves and shoes you can walk 15 km in, a proper rain shell rather than an umbrella.

Flexible dates? June scores 2.7 points higher here — enough to change the trip.

November in York — middling scores, decent value

Trade-offs · 5.8/10

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

Rainfall runs 62 mm, so plan one flexible day in three; you still get about 10 days with 6+ hours of sunshine and 8.6 hours of daylight.

It scores 5.8/10 here, 10th of 12 months, against 9.1/10 in the destination's best month.

Figure on low-season pricing, with 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.

Flexible dates? June scores 3.3 points higher here — enough to change the trip.

December in York — off-season conditions

Hardest · 4.5/10

Expect 6°C (42°F) in December. A good month for city streets, viewpoints and long meals; leave swimming for another season.

Budget for roughly 91 mm of rain this month — a flexible day or two helps — with about 6 days with 6+ hours of sunshine and 7.5 hours of daylight to work around it.

That is 4.5/10 on the same scale — 12th of 12 months, versus 9.1/10 for the best month here.

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, June is materially better in York — 4.6 points higher on the same scale.