Best time to visit Manchester
The best time to visit Manchester is June–August, judged on twenty years of weather records and the events worth going for.
Manchester, 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 | 6.5 °C / 44 °F | 1.9 °C / 35 °F | 96 mm / 3.8 in | neither best nor good |
| February | 7.3 °C / 45 °F | 2.2 °C / 36 °F | 79 mm / 3.1 in | neither best nor good |
| March | 9.4 °C / 49 °F | 2.8 °C / 37 °F | 77 mm / 3 in | neither best nor good |
| April | 12.4 °C / 54 °F | 4.4 °C / 40 °F | 55 mm / 2.2 in | good month |
| May | 15.4 °C / 60 °F | 7.4 °C / 45 °F | 74 mm / 2.9 in | good month |
| June | 18.1 °C / 65 °F | 10.3 °C / 51 °F | 86 mm / 3.4 in | best month |
| July | 19.5 °C / 67 °F | 12.1 °C / 54 °F | 98 mm / 3.9 in | best month |
| August | 18.7 °C / 66 °F | 11.9 °C / 53 °F | 91 mm / 3.6 in | best month |
| September | 16.8 °C / 62 °F | 10 °C / 50 °F | 85 mm / 3.3 in | good month |
| October | 13.4 °C / 56 °F | 7.7 °C / 46 °F | 94 mm / 3.7 in | neither best nor good |
| November | 9.4 °C / 49 °F | 4.5 °C / 40 °F | 88 mm / 3.5 in | neither best nor good |
| December | 7.2 °C / 45 °F | 2.8 °C / 37 °F | 106 mm / 4.2 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: best
- AAugust: best
- SSeptember: good
- OOctober: neither
- NNovember: neither
- DDecember: neither
- Best
- June–August
- Good
- April–May, September
Manchester's best weather for exploring runs June through August, warm and the sunniest of the year despite regular rain showers, with April, May and September as good shoulder months; the rest of the year is too cold, damp and overcast for comfortable sightseeing.
Why these months
April · good
In its favour: precipitation 55 mm / 2.2 in, share of daylight that is sunny 68%, days with heavy rain 0.9 days, wet days 11.4 days, average daily low 4.4 °C / 40 °F, relative humidity 77%.
Against: feels like (high) 9 °C / 48 °F, average daily high 12.4 °C / 54 °F.
Also on: Manchester Duck Race.
Watch out for: Bank holiday travel rush.
May · good
In its favour: share of daylight that is sunny 65%, precipitation 74 mm / 2.9 in, feels like (high) 12.9 °C / 55 °F, average daily high 15.4 °C / 60 °F, days with heavy rain 1.4 days, average daily low 7.4 °C / 45 °F.
Against: wet days 13.7 days, share of rain falling in the daytime 49%, relative humidity 77%.
Also on: Manchester Jazz Festival.
Watch out for: Bank holiday travel rush.
June · best
In its favour: feels like (high) 16.7 °C / 62 °F, average daily high 18.1 °C / 65 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 63%, precipitation 86 mm / 3.4 in, average daily low 10.3 °C / 51 °F.
Against: wet days 14.1 days, days with heavy rain 2.4 days, relative humidity 78%.
Also on: Big Green Festival, Chorlton Arts Festival, Manchester Day, Manchester Flower Show, Parklife, Sounds of the City, Unity Festival (Chorlton Park).
July · best
In its favour: feels like (high) 18.5 °C / 65 °F, average daily high 19.5 °C / 67 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 63%, precipitation 98 mm / 3.9 in, average daily low 12.1 °C / 54 °F.
Against: wet days 16.2 days, days with heavy rain 2.9 days, share of rain falling in the daytime 49%, relative humidity 80%.
Also on: Big Green Festival, Caribbean Festival of Manchester, Chorlton Arts Festival, Manchester International Festival, Manchester Reggae Festival, RHS Flower Show, Unity Festival (Chorlton Park).
August · best
In its favour: feels like (high) 17.4 °C / 63 °F, average daily high 18.7 °C / 66 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 63%, precipitation 91 mm / 3.6 in, days with heavy rain 1.9 days, average daily low 11.9 °C / 53 °F.
Against: wet days 16 days, share of rain falling in the daytime 50%, relative humidity 82%.
Also on: Big Green Festival, Caribbean Festival of Manchester, Chorlton Arts Festival, Manchester Pride, Unity Festival (Chorlton Park).
September · good
In its favour: feels like (high) 15.1 °C / 59 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 59%, average daily high 16.8 °C / 62 °F, precipitation 85 mm / 3.3 in, average daily low 10 °C / 50 °F.
Against: wet days 12.9 days, relative humidity 84%, days with heavy rain 2.5 days, sunshine per day 7.4 h, share of rain falling in the daytime 48%.
Also on: Manchester Food and Drink Festival.
Watch out for: Football season influx.
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, 384 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 | 5.4 °C | 9 °C | 12.9 °C | 16.7 °C | 18.5 °C | 17.4 °C | 15.1 °C | 10.9 °C | 6.2 °C | 3.6 °C |
| Days with heavy rain | 2.4 days | 2.1 days | 1.9 days | 0.9 days | 1.4 days | 2.4 days | 2.9 days | 1.9 days | 2.5 days | 2.4 days | 2.3 days | 3 days |
| Time rain usually falls | 12 am | 2 pm | 4 pm | 3 pm | 3 pm | 5 pm | 2 pm | 3 pm | 5 pm | 11 am | 4 pm | 2 pm |
| Sunshine per day | 3.5 h | 4.9 h | 7.1 h | 9.5 h | 10.4 h | 10.7 h | 10.3 h | 9.3 h | 7.4 h | 5.4 h | 4 h | 3 h |
| Relative humidity | 89% | 86% | 81% | 77% | 77% | 78% | 80% | 82% | 84% | 87% | 89% | 90% |
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 | 7.7 µg/m³ | 6.8 µg/m³ | 8.9 µg/m³ | 9 µg/m³ | 9.7 µg/m³ | 9.2 µg/m³ | 7.7 µg/m³ | 7.9 µg/m³ | 8.1 µg/m³ | 7 µg/m³ | 7 µg/m³ | 6.4 µg/m³ |
| Air pollution (PM2.5, daily peak) 2022–2025 | 13.7 µg/m³ | 12.3 µg/m³ | 15.5 µg/m³ | 15.3 µg/m³ | 15.1 µg/m³ | 15.7 µg/m³ | 13 µg/m³ | 12.7 µg/m³ | 13.2 µg/m³ | 11.7 µg/m³ | 13.4 µg/m³ | 11.2 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
- Manchester Beer and Cider Festival
24 January–7 February, dates vary from year to year
- Chinese New Year (Dragon Parade)
January and February, dates vary from year to year
- Christmas ice skating and winter attractions
January and December
- Shrove Tuesday pancake races
February and March, dates vary from year to year
- Manchester Film Festival
March
- Manchester Irish Festival
March
- Submerge Festival
March
- Manchester Duck Race
March and April, dates vary from year to year
- Manchester Jazz Festival
May
- Parklife
June
- Manchester Day
June
- Sounds of the City
June
- Manchester Flower Show
June
- Unity Festival (Chorlton Park)
June, July and August, dates vary from year to year
- Big Green Festival
June, July and August, dates vary from year to year
- Chorlton Arts Festival
June, July and August, dates vary from year to year
- Manchester Reggae Festival
July
- RHS Flower Show
July
- Manchester International Festival
July, dates vary from year to year
- Caribbean Festival of Manchester
July and August
- Manchester Pride
24–31 August, dates vary from year to year
- Manchester Food and Drink Festival
September
- Oktoberfest Manchester
October
- Manchester Science Festival
October
- Halloween in the City
October
- Bonfire Night
5 November
- Manchester Christmas Markets
15 November–25 December, dates vary from year to year
Worth knowing before you go
- Bank holiday travel rush
January, March, April and May, dates vary from year to year
- Christmas and New Year travel crush
24 December–1 January
- Football season influx
September
- October half-term price spike
October, dates vary from year to year