Best time to visit Glasgow
The best time to visit Glasgow is May–September, judged on twenty years of weather records and the events worth going for.
Glasgow, Scotland, 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 | 6.5 °C / 44 °F | 2.2 °C / 36 °F | 111 mm / 4.4 in | neither best nor good |
| February | 7.3 °C / 45 °F | 2.5 °C / 37 °F | 98 mm / 3.8 in | neither best nor good |
| March | 9 °C / 48 °F | 2.8 °C / 37 °F | 89 mm / 3.5 in | neither best nor good |
| April | 11.8 °C / 53 °F | 4.2 °C / 40 °F | 63 mm / 2.5 in | good month |
| May | 14.7 °C / 58 °F | 7 °C / 45 °F | 83 mm / 3.3 in | best month |
| June | 17.1 °C / 63 °F | 9.9 °C / 50 °F | 87 mm / 3.4 in | best month |
| July | 18.3 °C / 65 °F | 11.5 °C / 53 °F | 103 mm / 4 in | best month |
| August | 17.7 °C / 64 °F | 11.3 °C / 52 °F | 110 mm / 4.3 in | best month |
| September | 15.9 °C / 61 °F | 9.5 °C / 49 °F | 86 mm / 3.4 in | best month |
| October | 12.8 °C / 55 °F | 7.3 °C / 45 °F | 116 mm / 4.6 in | neither best nor good |
| November | 9.1 °C / 48 °F | 4.1 °C / 39 °F | 107 mm / 4.2 in | neither best nor good |
| December | 7 °C / 45 °F | 2.4 °C / 36 °F | 127 mm / 5 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: best
- JJune: best
- JJuly: best
- AAugust: best
- SSeptember: best
- OOctober: neither
- NNovember: neither
- DDecember: neither
- Best
- May–September
- Good
- April
May through September are best for exploring Glasgow on foot, with September the standout for its dry, mild, sunny run; October through March turn cold, dark and rain-prone, with April a decent bright, mild shoulder month.
Why these months
April · good
In its favour: share of daylight that is sunny 65%, precipitation 63 mm / 2.5 in, days with heavy rain 1.3 days, wet days 12.1 days, average daily low 4.2 °C / 40 °F.
Against: feels like (high) 8.4 °C / 47 °F, average daily high 11.8 °C / 53 °F, relative humidity 77%.
Also on: Glasgow Clan ice hockey season, Greenbank Garden daffodils and bluebells, Shinty season.
May · best
In its favour: share of daylight that is sunny 63%, precipitation 83 mm / 3.3 in, average daily high 14.7 °C / 58 °F, days with heavy rain 2.4 days, average daily low 7 °C / 45 °F.
Against: wet days 14.6 days, feels like (high) 12.2 °C / 54 °F, relative humidity 77%.
Also on: Greenbank Garden daffodils and bluebells, Shinty season.
June · best
In its favour: feels like (high) 15.5 °C / 60 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 58%, average daily high 17.1 °C / 63 °F, precipitation 87 mm / 3.4 in, days with heavy rain 2.4 days, average daily low 9.9 °C / 50 °F.
Against: wet days 14.2 days, relative humidity 79%.
Also on: Glasgow Jazz Festival, Glasgow Mela, Glasgow Science Festival, Shinty season, Steam railway excursions, WestFest.
July · best
In its favour: feels like (high) 17.3 °C / 63 °F, average daily high 18.3 °C / 65 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 58%, days with heavy rain 2.9 days, average daily low 11.5 °C / 53 °F.
Against: wet days 16.5 days, precipitation 103 mm / 4 in, relative humidity 82%.
Also on: Glasgow Real Ale Festival, Merchant City Festival, Orange Parades, Shinty season, Steam railway excursions, Trnsmt.
August · best
In its favour: feels like (high) 16.4 °C / 62 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 58%, average daily high 17.7 °C / 64 °F, average daily low 11.3 °C / 52 °F.
Against: wet days 17.1 days, precipitation 110 mm / 4.3 in, days with heavy rain 3.5 days, relative humidity 83%.
Also on: Glasgow Real Ale Festival, Merchant City Festival, Shinty season, Steam railway excursions, World Pipe Band Championships.
September · best
In its favour: share of daylight that is sunny 55%, feels like (high) 14.1 °C / 57 °F, precipitation 86 mm / 3.4 in, average daily high 15.9 °C / 61 °F, days with heavy rain 2.5 days, average daily low 9.5 °C / 49 °F.
Against: wet days 13.2 days, relative humidity 84%.
Also on: Glasgow Clan ice hockey season, Shinty 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: best
- JJune: best
- JJuly: best
- AAugust: best
- SSeptember: best
- OOctober: neither
- NNovember: neither
- DDecember: neither
- Best
- April–September
- Good
- March
Cool, dry trail weather runs April through September, peaking with September's clear, calm spell; March is a solid shoulder month, while October through February are too dark, wet and raw for enjoyable hiking.
Why these months
March · good
In its favour: precipitation 89 mm / 3.5 in, average daily high 9 °C / 48 °F, days with heavy rain 2.5 days, share of daylight that is sunny 56%, daylight per day 11.9 h, average daily low 2.8 °C / 37 °F, wind (daily max) 22 km/h / 13 mph.
Against: wet days 14.8 days, feels like (high) 5.1 °C / 41 °F.
Also on: Glasgow Clan ice hockey season, Glasgow Film Festival, Glasgow International Comedy Festival, Greenbank Garden daffodils and bluebells.
April · best
In its favour: average daily high 11.8 °C / 53 °F, precipitation 63 mm / 2.5 in, days with heavy rain 1.3 days, average daily low 4.2 °C / 40 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 65%, daylight per day 14.2 h, wet days 12.1 days, wind (daily max) 19 km/h / 12 mph.
Against: feels like (high) 8.4 °C / 47 °F.
Also on: Glasgow Clan ice hockey season, Greenbank Garden daffodils and bluebells, Shinty season.
May · best
In its favour: average daily high 14.7 °C / 58 °F, precipitation 83 mm / 3.3 in, days with heavy rain 2.4 days, feels like (high) 12.2 °C / 54 °F, average daily low 7 °C / 45 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 63%, daylight per day 16.3 h, wind (daily max) 19 km/h / 12 mph.
Against: wet days 14.6 days.
Also on: Greenbank Garden daffodils and bluebells, Shinty season.
June · best
In its favour: average daily high 17.1 °C / 63 °F, precipitation 87 mm / 3.4 in, days with heavy rain 2.4 days, feels like (high) 15.5 °C / 60 °F, average daily low 9.9 °C / 50 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 58%, daylight per day 17.5 h, wind (daily max) 18 km/h / 11 mph.
Against: wet days 14.2 days.
Also on: Glasgow Jazz Festival, Glasgow Mela, Glasgow Science Festival, Shinty season, Steam railway excursions, WestFest.
July · best
In its favour: average daily high 18.3 °C / 65 °F, feels like (high) 17.3 °C / 63 °F, average daily low 11.5 °C / 53 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 58%, daylight per day 16.9 h, days with heavy rain 2.9 days, wind (daily max) 17 km/h / 11 mph.
Against: wet days 16.5 days, precipitation 103 mm / 4 in.
Also on: Glasgow Real Ale Festival, Merchant City Festival, Orange Parades, Shinty season, Steam railway excursions, Trnsmt.
August · best
In its favour: average daily high 17.7 °C / 64 °F, feels like (high) 16.4 °C / 62 °F, average daily low 11.3 °C / 52 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 58%, daylight per day 15 h, wind (daily max) 18 km/h / 11 mph.
Against: wet days 17.1 days, days with heavy rain 3.5 days, precipitation 110 mm / 4.3 in.
Also on: Glasgow Real Ale Festival, Merchant City Festival, Shinty season, Steam railway excursions, World Pipe Band Championships.
September · best
In its favour: average daily high 15.9 °C / 61 °F, precipitation 86 mm / 3.4 in, feels like (high) 14.1 °C / 57 °F, average daily low 9.5 °C / 49 °F, days with heavy rain 2.5 days, share of daylight that is sunny 55%, daylight per day 12.7 h, wind (daily max) 19 km/h / 12 mph.
Against: wet days 13.2 days.
Also on: Glasgow Clan ice hockey season, Shinty 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, 90 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) | 2.7 °C | 3.4 °C | 5.1 °C | 8.4 °C | 12.2 °C | 15.5 °C | 17.3 °C | 16.4 °C | 14.1 °C | 10.3 °C | 6 °C | 3.4 °C |
| Days with heavy rain | 3.5 days | 3.2 days | 2.5 days | 1.3 days | 2.4 days | 2.4 days | 2.9 days | 3.5 days | 2.5 days | 3.8 days | 3.5 days | 4 days |
| Time rain usually falls | 3 pm | 3 pm | 5 pm | 6 pm | 4 pm | 5 pm | 4 pm | 4 pm | 3 pm | 3 pm | 10 am | 8 pm |
| Sunshine per day | 3.4 h | 4.9 h | 6.6 h | 9.2 h | 10.3 h | 10.1 h | 9.7 h | 8.8 h | 7 h | 5.1 h | 3.9 h | 2.7 h |
| Relative humidity | 87% | 85% | 82% | 77% | 77% | 79% | 82% | 83% | 84% | 86% | 87% | 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 | 5.3 µg/m³ | 5.6 µg/m³ | 6.4 µg/m³ | 7.4 µg/m³ | 8.3 µg/m³ | 7.7 µg/m³ | 5.6 µg/m³ | 6.5 µg/m³ | 5.7 µg/m³ | 5.6 µg/m³ | 5 µg/m³ | 5.2 µg/m³ |
| Air pollution (PM2.5, daily peak) 2022–2025 | 9.5 µg/m³ | 10 µg/m³ | 11.1 µg/m³ | 12.7 µg/m³ | 13.8 µg/m³ | 12.3 µg/m³ | 9.7 µg/m³ | 10.5 µg/m³ | 9.1 µg/m³ | 9.4 µg/m³ | 9.1 µg/m³ | 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
- Celtic Connections
14–31 January
- Glasgow Clan ice hockey season
January, February, March, April, September, October, November and December
- Glasgow Film Festival
24 February–7 March
- Glasgow International Comedy Festival
10–28 March
- Greenbank Garden daffodils and bluebells
March, April and May
- Shinty season
April, May, June, July, August and September
- Glasgow Science Festival
3–13 June
- Glasgow Jazz Festival
9–13 June
- WestFest
1–30 June
- Glasgow Mela
21 June
- Steam railway excursions
June, July and August
- Glasgow Real Ale Festival
July and August, dates vary from year to year
- Orange Parades
1–12 July
- Trnsmt
19–21 July
- Merchant City Festival
24 July–2 August
- World Pipe Band Championships
14–15 August
- Armistice Day and Remembrance Sunday
November
Worth knowing before you go
- Christmas and New Year closures
25 December–1 January
- Pre-Christmas travel congestion
18–24 December
- Boxing Day sales crowds
26 December