Best time to visit Bristol
The best time to visit Bristol is April, June and September, judged on twenty years of weather records and the events worth going for.
Bristol, England, United Kingdom
°C
mm
- Average daily high and low
- Precipitation
- Good month
- Best month
- Made good or best by an event
| Month | Average daily high | Average daily low | Precipitation | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7.6 °C / 46 °F | 2.5 °C / 37 °F | 68 mm / 2.7 in | neither best nor good |
| February | 8.4 °C / 47 °F | 3 °C / 37 °F | 59 mm / 2.3 in | neither best nor good |
| March | 10.5 °C / 51 °F | 3.8 °C / 39 °F | 61 mm / 2.4 in | neither best nor good |
| April | 13.6 °C / 56 °F | 5.4 °C / 42 °F | 50 mm / 2 in | best month |
| May | 16.5 °C / 62 °F | 8.6 °C / 47 °F | 73 mm / 2.9 in | good month |
| June | 19.4 °C / 67 °F | 11.5 °C / 53 °F | 64 mm / 2.5 in | best month |
| July | 21.2 °C / 70 °F | 13.3 °C / 56 °F | 68 mm / 2.7 in | good month |
| August | 20.3 °C / 69 °F | 12.9 °C / 55 °F | 69 mm / 2.7 in | good month |
| September | 18.4 °C / 65 °F | 10.9 °C / 52 °F | 61 mm / 2.4 in | best month |
| October | 14.8 °C / 59 °F | 8.7 °C / 48 °F | 79 mm / 3.1 in | neither best nor good |
| November | 10.8 °C / 51 °F | 5.5 °C / 42 °F | 79 mm / 3.1 in | neither best nor good |
| December | 8.5 °C / 47 °F | 3.8 °C / 39 °F | 76 mm / 3 in | neither best nor good |
Good and best months depend on more than temperature, rain and events. How they are chosen
Each activity on this page has its own good and best months, rated on twenty years of daily weather records. Which measures count, and how much, depends on the activity: humidity for exploring outdoors, wind for the beach, hiking and skiing, snow for skiing alone. Between them, the activities are rated on:
- Daytime highs
- Night-time lows
- How warm it feels
- Humidity
- How much of the day is sunny
- Hours of daylight
- Monthly rainfall
- How many days it rains
- Days of heavy rain
- Wind
- Snowfall and days with snow
- Major events, such as festivals
The chart shows the good and best months for exploring outdoors.
The event icon marks a month that an event lifts to good or best, such as a festival or a natural spectacle. Choose “Weather only” in the toolbar to rate the months on weather alone.
Best months by activity
Exploring outdoors
Mild days and nights, mostly dry and bright. The default for 'when should I go'.
- JJanuary: neither
- FFebruary: neither
- MMarch: neither
- AApril: best
- MMay: good
- JJune: best
- JJuly: good
- AAugust: good
- SSeptember: best
- OOctober: neither
- NNovember: neither
- DDecember: neither
- Best
- April, June, September
- Good
- May, July–August
Exploring outdoors is best April through September: driest and sunniest in April, June and September, still good but rainier and more afternoon-skewed in May, July and August. October through March are cold, dim, damp and increasingly wet, with November and December the bleakest.
Why these months
April · best
In its favour: precipitation 50 mm / 2 in, share of daylight that is sunny 69%, days with heavy rain 0.7 days, average daily high 13.6 °C / 56 °F, wet days 10.1 days, average daily low 5.4 °C / 42 °F, relative humidity 77%.
Against: feels like (high) 10.6 °C / 51 °F, share of rain falling in the daytime 50%.
Watch out for: UK bank holiday weekends.
May · good
In its favour: feels like (high) 14.3 °C / 58 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 67%, average daily high 16.5 °C / 62 °F, average daily low 8.6 °C / 47 °F.
Against: wet days 12.2 days, days with heavy rain 2 days, precipitation 73 mm / 2.9 in, share of rain falling in the daytime 50%, relative humidity 77%.
Also on: Great Bristol Run, May Day, Upfest.
Watch out for: UK bank holiday weekends.
June · best
In its favour: feels like (high) 18.2 °C / 65 °F, average daily high 19.4 °C / 67 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 67%, precipitation 64 mm / 2.5 in, days with heavy rain 1.6 days, average daily low 11.5 °C / 53 °F, wet days 10.9 days.
Against: share of rain falling in the daytime 46%, relative humidity 77%.
Also on: Bristol Comedy Garden, Upfest, World On Your Doorstep festival.
July · good
In its favour: feels like (high) 20.3 °C / 69 °F, average daily high 21.2 °C / 70 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 69%, average daily low 13.3 °C / 56 °F.
Against: wet days 11.4 days, days with heavy rain 1.9 days, precipitation 68 mm / 2.7 in, share of rain falling in the daytime 51%, relative humidity 77%.
Also on: Bristol Harbour Festival.
August · good
In its favour: feels like (high) 19.2 °C / 67 °F, average daily high 20.3 °C / 69 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 65%, average daily low 12.9 °C / 55 °F.
Against: wet days 11.1 days, days with heavy rain 2.1 days, precipitation 69 mm / 2.7 in, share of rain falling in the daytime 52%, relative humidity 80%.
Also on: Bristol Balloon Fiesta.
Watch out for: UK bank holiday weekends.
September · best
In its favour: feels like (high) 16.9 °C / 62 °F, average daily high 18.4 °C / 65 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 62%, precipitation 61 mm / 2.4 in, wet days 9.7 days, average daily low 10.9 °C / 52 °F.
Against: days with heavy rain 1.8 days, share of rain falling in the daytime 45%, relative humidity 83%.
Also on: Bristol Pitbulls ice hockey season.
Hiking and trekking
Cool enough to climb in, dry enough to enjoy, long enough days.
- JJanuary: neither
- FFebruary: neither
- MMarch: good
- AApril: best
- MMay: good
- JJune: best
- JJuly: good
- AAugust: good
- SSeptember: best
- OOctober: neither
- NNovember: neither
- DDecember: neither
- Best
- April, June, September
- Good
- March, May, July–August
Trekking is best in April, June and September when it's cool, dry and bright, and good in March, May, July and August: March for its lingering chill, the others for heavier or more afternoon-heavy rain. Short, cold, wet days from October to February rule hiking out.
Why these months
March · good
In its favour: precipitation 61 mm / 2.4 in, average daily high 10.5 °C / 51 °F, days with heavy rain 1.1 days, share of daylight that is sunny 59%, average daily low 3.8 °C / 39 °F, daylight per day 11.9 h, wind (daily max) 22 km/h / 14 mph.
Against: wet days 11.4 days, feels like (high) 6.7 °C / 44 °F.
Also on: Bristol Pitbulls ice hockey season.
Watch out for: UK bank holiday weekends.
April · best
In its favour: average daily high 13.6 °C / 56 °F, precipitation 50 mm / 2 in, days with heavy rain 0.7 days, average daily low 5.4 °C / 42 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 69%, daylight per day 13.9 h, wet days 10.1 days, wind (daily max) 20 km/h / 12 mph.
Against: feels like (high) 10.6 °C / 51 °F, share of rain falling in the daytime 50%.
Watch out for: UK bank holiday weekends.
May · good
In its favour: average daily high 16.5 °C / 62 °F, feels like (high) 14.3 °C / 58 °F, average daily low 8.6 °C / 47 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 67%, daylight per day 15.6 h, wind (daily max) 20 km/h / 12 mph.
Against: wet days 12.2 days, days with heavy rain 2 days, precipitation 73 mm / 2.9 in, share of rain falling in the daytime 50%.
Also on: Great Bristol Run, May Day, Upfest.
Watch out for: UK bank holiday weekends.
June · best
In its favour: average daily high 19.4 °C / 67 °F, precipitation 64 mm / 2.5 in, days with heavy rain 1.6 days, feels like (high) 18.2 °C / 65 °F, average daily low 11.5 °C / 53 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 67%, daylight per day 16.5 h, wet days 10.9 days, wind (daily max) 19 km/h / 12 mph.
Against: share of rain falling in the daytime 46%.
Also on: Bristol Comedy Garden, Upfest, World On Your Doorstep festival.
July · good
In its favour: average daily high 21.2 °C / 70 °F, feels like (high) 20.3 °C / 69 °F, average daily low 13.3 °C / 56 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 69%, daylight per day 16.1 h, wind (daily max) 19 km/h / 12 mph.
Against: wet days 11.4 days, days with heavy rain 1.9 days, precipitation 68 mm / 2.7 in, share of rain falling in the daytime 51%.
Also on: Bristol Harbour Festival.
August · good
In its favour: average daily high 20.3 °C / 69 °F, feels like (high) 19.2 °C / 67 °F, average daily low 12.9 °C / 55 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 65%, daylight per day 14.5 h, wind (daily max) 20 km/h / 12 mph.
Against: wet days 11.1 days, days with heavy rain 2.1 days, precipitation 69 mm / 2.7 in, share of rain falling in the daytime 52%.
Also on: Bristol Balloon Fiesta.
Watch out for: UK bank holiday weekends.
September · best
In its favour: average daily high 18.4 °C / 65 °F, precipitation 61 mm / 2.4 in, wet days 9.7 days, feels like (high) 16.9 °C / 62 °F, average daily low 10.9 °C / 52 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 62%, daylight per day 12.6 h, wind (daily max) 19 km/h / 12 mph.
Against: days with heavy rain 1.8 days, share of rain falling in the daytime 45%.
Also on: Bristol Pitbulls ice hockey season.
An activity is listed only where it applies: skiing at ski destinations, beach and swimming at beach destinations. The nearest ski area is Glencoe Mountain Resort, 592 km away.
Weather averages
Monthly averages over twenty years, 2006–2025. Highs, lows and precipitation are in the chart at the top.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feels like (high) | 4 °C | 4.6 °C | 6.7 °C | 10.6 °C | 14.3 °C | 18.2 °C | 20.3 °C | 19.2 °C | 16.9 °C | 12.7 °C | 7.9 °C | 5 °C |
| Days with heavy rain | 1.9 days | 1.1 days | 1.1 days | 0.7 days | 2 days | 1.6 days | 1.9 days | 2.1 days | 1.8 days | 2.4 days | 1.9 days | 2.2 days |
| Time rain usually falls | 11 pm | 3 pm | 4 pm | 4 pm | 2 pm | 4 pm | 2 pm | 1 pm | 4 pm | 1 pm | 8 am | 3 pm |
| Sunshine per day | 4.1 h | 5.2 h | 7.1 h | 9.5 h | 10.4 h | 11 h | 11 h | 9.5 h | 7.9 h | 5.7 h | 4.6 h | 3.7 h |
| Relative humidity | 88% | 85% | 81% | 77% | 77% | 77% | 77% | 80% | 83% | 86% | 88% | 89% |
Air quality
Averaged over a shorter period (2022–2025) than the twenty-year averages above, and not counted towards good or best months.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Air pollution (PM2.5) 2022–2025 | 7 µg/m³ | 6.3 µg/m³ | 8.4 µg/m³ | 8.7 µg/m³ | 9.2 µg/m³ | 9.3 µg/m³ | 6.9 µg/m³ | 7.5 µg/m³ | 7.5 µg/m³ | 6.4 µg/m³ | 6 µg/m³ | 5.5 µg/m³ |
| Air pollution (PM2.5, daily peak) 2022–2025 | 11.8 µg/m³ | 10.4 µg/m³ | 13.7 µg/m³ | 13.9 µg/m³ | 14.3 µg/m³ | 14.9 µg/m³ | 11.5 µg/m³ | 11.3 µg/m³ | 11.8 µg/m³ | 10 µg/m³ | 9.9 µg/m³ | 8.9 µg/m³ |
- Good 15 µg/m³ or less
- Fair 15 to 25 µg/m³
- Moderate 25 to 37.5 µg/m³
- Poor 37.5 to 50 µg/m³
- Very poor 50 to 75 µg/m³
- Extremely poor over 75 µg/m³
Each figure is compared with the World Health Organization's guideline for a day's air, 15 µg/m³ or less, and with its interim targets above that. The words are ours: the WHO does not name its steps. The figures are modelled monthly averages, so single days can be well above them. The daily peak is the average of each day's highest hour, shaded on the same scale.
Events and seasons
What the weather records cannot show. A major event can lift a month to good or best. The warnings are there to help you plan, and never count against a month.
Reasons to go
- Bristol Pitbulls ice hockey season
January, February, March, September, October, November and December
- Shrove Tuesday (Pancake Day)
February, dates vary from year to year
- Upfest
21 May–10 June
- Great Bristol Run
12 May
- May Day
1 May
- Bristol Comedy Garden
June
- World On Your Doorstep festival
June
- Bristol Harbour Festival
19–21 July
- Bristol Balloon Fiesta
August
- Halloween
31 October
- Bonfire Night (Guy Fawkes Night)
5 November
- Christmas markets
December
Worth knowing before you go
- Christmas and New Year closures
18 December–1 January
- UK bank holiday weekends
January, March, April, May, August and December, dates vary from year to year
- Remembrance Day two-minute silence
11 November
- Boxing Day sales
26 December
World Heritage sites nearby
UNESCO World Heritage sites within 25 km, nearest first.
- Bath
18 km away