Best time to visit Leeds
The best time to visit Leeds is June, judged on twenty years of weather records and the events worth going for.
Leeds, 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 | 2.3 °C / 36 °F | 67 mm / 2.6 in | neither best nor good |
| February | 7.5 °C / 46 °F | 2.4 °C / 36 °F | 58 mm / 2.3 in | neither best nor good |
| March | 9.6 °C / 49 °F | 3.1 °C / 38 °F | 59 mm / 2.3 in | neither best nor good |
| April | 12.4 °C / 54 °F | 4.6 °C / 40 °F | 46 mm / 1.8 in | good month |
| May | 15.4 °C / 60 °F | 7.6 °C / 46 °F | 62 mm / 2.5 in | good month |
| June | 18.3 °C / 65 °F | 10.5 °C / 51 °F | 73 mm / 2.9 in | best month |
| July | 20.2 °C / 68 °F | 12.5 °C / 55 °F | 79 mm / 3.1 in | good month |
| August | 19.4 °C / 67 °F | 12.4 °C / 54 °F | 72 mm / 2.8 in | good month |
| September | 17.4 °C / 63 °F | 10.4 °C / 51 °F | 63 mm / 2.5 in | good month |
| October | 13.7 °C / 57 °F | 8 °C / 46 °F | 68 mm / 2.7 in | neither best nor good |
| November | 9.6 °C / 49 °F | 4.8 °C / 41 °F | 67 mm / 2.7 in | neither best nor good |
| December | 7.4 °C / 45 °F | 3.1 °C / 38 °F | 74 mm / 2.9 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: best
- JJuly: good
- AAugust: good
- SSeptember: good
- OOctober: neither
- NNovember: neither
- DDecember: neither
- Best
- June
- Good
- April–May, July–September
Leeds stays cool, cloudy and damp for most of the year, so exploring outdoors only really shines in early summer. June is the standout month, warm and sunny with comparatively little heavy rain, while April, May, July, August and September are all good despite regular showers. October through March turn cold, dim and wet, and are better spent indoors.
Why these months
April · good
In its favour: share of daylight that is sunny 70%, days with heavy rain 0.6 days, relative humidity 76%.
Against: feels like (high) 9 °C / 48 °F, average daily high 12.4 °C / 54 °F, wet days 10.4 days, average daily low 4.6 °C / 40 °F, precipitation 46 mm / 1.8 in, share of rain falling in the daytime 49%, time rain usually falls 5 pm.
Also on: Easter Sunday, St George's Day.
May · good
In its favour: share of daylight that is sunny 66%, average daily high 15.4 °C / 60 °F, days with heavy rain 1.4 days, average daily low 7.6 °C / 46 °F, relative humidity 77%.
Against: feels like (high) 12.8 °C / 55 °F, wet days 12.2 days, precipitation 62 mm / 2.5 in, share of rain falling in the daytime 49%, time rain usually falls 5 pm.
Also on: May Day.
June · best
In its favour: feels like (high) 16.8 °C / 62 °F, average daily high 18.3 °C / 65 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 64%, average daily low 10.5 °C / 51 °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 45%, time rain usually falls 3 pm, relative humidity 77%.
July · good
In its favour: feels like (high) 19 °C / 66 °F, average daily high 20.2 °C / 68 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 66%, average daily low 12.5 °C / 55 °F.
Against: wet days 13.6 days, precipitation 79 mm / 3.1 in, days with heavy rain 1.9 days, share of rain falling in the daytime 46%, time rain usually falls 5 pm, relative humidity 77%.
August · good
In its favour: feels like (high) 17.8 °C / 64 °F, average daily high 19.4 °C / 67 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 66%, average daily low 12.4 °C / 54 °F.
Against: wet days 12.7 days, precipitation 72 mm / 2.8 in, days with heavy rain 1.6 days, share of rain falling in the daytime 46%, time rain usually falls 4 pm, relative humidity 78%.
Also on: Leeds Festival, Leeds food and drink festival.
September · good
In its favour: feels like (high) 15.4 °C / 60 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 62%, average daily high 17.4 °C / 63 °F, days with heavy rain 1.4 days, average daily low 10.4 °C / 51 °F.
Against: relative humidity 82%, wet days 11.2 days, precipitation 63 mm / 2.5 in, share of rain falling in the daytime 47%, time rain usually falls 4 pm.
Also on: Mint Festival.
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, 361 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 | 5.5 °C | 9 °C | 12.8 °C | 16.8 °C | 19 °C | 17.8 °C | 15.4 °C | 11.1 °C | 6.2 °C | 3.5 °C |
| Days with heavy rain | 1.2 days | 1 days | 1.2 days | 0.6 days | 1.4 days | 2 days | 1.9 days | 1.6 days | 1.4 days | 1.6 days | 1.6 days | 1.6 days |
| Time rain usually falls | 8 am | 7 am | 7 am | 5 pm | 5 pm | 3 pm | 5 pm | 4 pm | 4 pm | 12 pm | 8 am | 7 pm |
| Sunshine per day | 3.9 h | 5.4 h | 7.5 h | 9.9 h | 10.6 h | 10.8 h | 10.9 h | 9.8 h | 7.8 h | 5.7 h | 4.4 h | 3.3 h |
| Relative humidity | 86% | 84% | 80% | 76% | 77% | 77% | 77% | 78% | 82% | 85% | 87% | 88% |
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 | 6.9 µg/m³ | 6.3 µg/m³ | 8.6 µg/m³ | 8.5 µg/m³ | 9.1 µg/m³ | 8.8 µg/m³ | 7.4 µg/m³ | 7.6 µg/m³ | 7.7 µg/m³ | 6.5 µg/m³ | 6.2 µg/m³ | 5.7 µg/m³ |
| Air pollution (PM2.5, daily peak) 2022–2025 | 11.4 µg/m³ | 11 µg/m³ | 14.2 µg/m³ | 14 µg/m³ | 14.6 µg/m³ | 14.6 µg/m³ | 12.4 µg/m³ | 12 µg/m³ | 11.9 µg/m³ | 10.5 µg/m³ | 10.9 µg/m³ | 9.6 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
- Ice Cube ice skating rink
January, February and March
- Leeds Lights
January, November and December
- New Year
31 December–1 January
- Valentine's Day
14 February
- Shrove Tuesday (Pancake Day)
February, dates vary from year to year
- Easter Sunday
March and April, dates vary from year to year
- St George's Day
23 April
- May Day
1 May
- Leeds food and drink festival
24–31 August
- Leeds Festival
August, dates vary from year to year
- Mint Festival
16–17 September
- Halloween
31 October
- Millennium Square Christmas market
November and December
- Remembrance Day
11 November
- Bonfire Night
5 November
- Boxing Day sales
26 December
- Christmas Day
25 December
Worth knowing before you go
- Christmas and New Year shutdown
24 December–1 January
World Heritage sites nearby
UNESCO World Heritage sites within 25 km, nearest first.
- Saltaire
17 km away