Best time to visit Derby
Month-by-month weather averages for Derby.
Derby, 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 | 6.6 °C / 44 °F | 2 °C / 36 °F | 61 mm / 2.4 in | neither best nor good |
| February | 7.5 °C / 46 °F | 2.3 °C / 36 °F | 52 mm / 2.1 in | neither best nor good |
| March | 9.7 °C / 49 °F | 3 °C / 37 °F | 54 mm / 2.1 in | neither best nor good |
| April | 12.8 °C / 55 °F | 4.7 °C / 40 °F | 46 mm / 1.8 in | good month |
| May | 15.8 °C / 60 °F | 7.7 °C / 46 °F | 63 mm / 2.5 in | good month |
| June | 18.9 °C / 66 °F | 10.7 °C / 51 °F | 66 mm / 2.6 in | good month |
| July | 20.8 °C / 69 °F | 12.7 °C / 55 °F | 76 mm / 3 in | good month |
| August | 19.9 °C / 68 °F | 12.5 °C / 55 °F | 66 mm / 2.6 in | good month |
| September | 17.7 °C / 64 °F | 10.4 °C / 51 °F | 56 mm / 2.2 in | good month |
| October | 13.9 °C / 57 °F | 8 °C / 46 °F | 68 mm / 2.7 in | neither best nor good |
| November | 9.6 °C / 49 °F | 4.7 °C / 40 °F | 67 mm / 2.6 in | neither best nor good |
| December | 7.4 °C / 45 °F | 3 °C / 37 °F | 70 mm / 2.8 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: good
- MMay: good
- JJune: good
- JJuly: good
- AAugust: good
- SSeptember: good
- OOctober: neither
- NNovember: neither
- DDecember: neither
- Good
- April–September
Derby never reaches best for outdoor exploring: April through September bring the mildest-to-warmest temperatures and the best sunshine of the year, but frequent, often afternoon rain keeps every one of those months at good rather than best. The rest of the year is cold, damp, humid and notably dull.
Why these months
April · good
In its favour: precipitation 46 mm / 1.8 in, share of daylight that is sunny 68%, days with heavy rain 0.7 days, average daily low 4.7 °C / 40 °F, relative humidity 76%.
Against: feels like (high) 9.4 °C / 49 °F, wet days 10.3 days, share of rain falling in the daytime 52%, average daily high 12.8 °C / 55 °F.
Also on: Easter egg hunts and church services, Peregrine falcon viewing at Derby Cathedral, St George's Day parades and fairs.
Watch out for: Easter bank holiday travel rush.
May · good
In its favour: share of daylight that is sunny 65%, feels like (high) 13.3 °C / 56 °F, average daily high 15.8 °C / 60 °F, days with heavy rain 1.4 days, average daily low 7.7 °C / 46 °F, relative humidity 76%.
Against: wet days 11.7 days, precipitation 63 mm / 2.5 in, share of rain falling in the daytime 50%.
Also on: May Day maypole dancing and May Queen crowning, Peregrine falcon viewing at Derby Cathedral.
Watch out for: Early May and Spring bank holiday travel rush.
June · good
In its favour: feels like (high) 17.2 °C / 63 °F, average daily high 18.9 °C / 66 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 63%, average daily low 10.7 °C / 51 °F, relative humidity 76%.
Against: wet days 11.9 days, days with heavy rain 1.7 days, precipitation 66 mm / 2.6 in, share of rain falling in the daytime 45%.
Also on: Peregrine falcon viewing at Derby Cathedral.
July · good
In its favour: feels like (high) 19.5 °C / 67 °F, average daily high 20.8 °C / 69 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 66%, average daily low 12.7 °C / 55 °F, relative humidity 76%.
Against: wet days 13.9 days, precipitation 76 mm / 3 in, days with heavy rain 1.8 days, share of rain falling in the daytime 48%.
August · good
In its favour: feels like (high) 18.2 °C / 65 °F, average daily high 19.9 °C / 68 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 65%, days with heavy rain 1.4 days, average daily low 12.5 °C / 55 °F.
Against: wet days 11.8 days, precipitation 66 mm / 2.6 in, share of rain falling in the daytime 47%, relative humidity 78%.
Watch out for: Summer bank holiday travel rush.
September · good
In its favour: feels like (high) 15.8 °C / 60 °F, precipitation 56 mm / 2.2 in, share of daylight that is sunny 61%, average daily high 17.7 °C / 64 °F, days with heavy rain 1.4 days, average daily low 10.4 °C / 51 °F.
Against: relative humidity 82%, wet days 10 days, share of rain falling in the daytime 48%.
Also on: Derby Book Festival (Autumn edition).
An activity is listed only where it applies: skiing at ski destinations, beach and swimming at beach destinations. The nearest ski area is Glenshee Ski Center, 456 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) | 2.6 °C | 3.3 °C | 5.6 °C | 9.4 °C | 13.3 °C | 17.2 °C | 19.5 °C | 18.2 °C | 15.8 °C | 11.2 °C | 6.3 °C | 3.5 °C |
| Days with heavy rain | 1.1 days | 0.9 days | 1.2 days | 0.7 days | 1.4 days | 1.7 days | 1.8 days | 1.4 days | 1.4 days | 1.6 days | 1.6 days | 1.8 days |
| Time rain usually falls | 8 am | 1 pm | 3 pm | 5 pm | 5 pm | 5 pm | 3 pm | 3 pm | 4 pm | 11 am | 8 am | 10 pm |
| Sunshine per day | 3.9 h | 5.2 h | 7.3 h | 9.5 h | 10.3 h | 10.6 h | 10.7 h | 9.5 h | 7.7 h | 5.6 h | 4.3 h | 3.3 h |
| Relative humidity | 88% | 85% | 80% | 76% | 76% | 76% | 76% | 78% | 82% | 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 | 6.5 µg/m³ | 6.1 µg/m³ | 8.2 µg/m³ | 8.1 µg/m³ | 8.9 µg/m³ | 8.6 µg/m³ | 7.1 µg/m³ | 7.3 µg/m³ | 7.5 µg/m³ | 6.2 µg/m³ | 5.9 µg/m³ | 5.4 µg/m³ |
| Air pollution (PM2.5, daily peak) 2022–2025 | 10.5 µg/m³ | 10.4 µg/m³ | 13.1 µg/m³ | 13.2 µg/m³ | 14.1 µg/m³ | 13.6 µg/m³ | 11.6 µg/m³ | 11.2 µg/m³ | 11.6 µg/m³ | 9.6 µg/m³ | 9.7 µg/m³ | 8.6 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
- New Year's Eve and Day parties and fireworks
31 December–1 January
- Shrove Tuesday pancake races
February, dates vary from year to year
- Peregrine falcon viewing at Derby Cathedral
March, April, May and June
- Easter egg hunts and church services
March and April, dates vary from year to year
- St George's Day parades and fairs
23 April
- May Day maypole dancing and May Queen crowning
1 May
- Derby Book Festival (Autumn edition)
September, October and November
- Halloween costumes and trick-or-treating
31 October
- Bonfire Night fireworks and bonfires
5 November
- Remembrance Day moment of silence
11 November
- Christmas markets and festive lights
December
- Boxing Day sales
26 December
Worth knowing before you go
- Christmas and New Year closures and travel rush
18 December–1 January
- Easter bank holiday travel rush
March and April, dates vary from year to year
- Early May and Spring bank holiday travel rush
May, dates vary from year to year
- Summer bank holiday travel rush
August, dates vary from year to year
World Heritage sites nearby
UNESCO World Heritage sites within 25 km, nearest first.
- Derwent Valley Mills
21 km away