Best time to visit York
The best time to visit York is June–August, judged on twenty years of weather records and the events worth going for.
York, 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 | 6.7 °C / 44 °F | 1.8 °C / 35 °F | 59 mm / 2.3 in | neither best nor good |
| February | 7.8 °C / 46 °F | 2.1 °C / 36 °F | 50 mm / 2 in | neither best nor good |
| March | 9.9 °C / 50 °F | 2.9 °C / 37 °F | 51 mm / 2 in | neither best nor good |
| April | 12.7 °C / 55 °F | 4.5 °C / 40 °F | 44 mm / 1.7 in | good month |
| May | 15.7 °C / 60 °F | 7.5 °C / 46 °F | 62 mm / 2.4 in | good month |
| June | 18.6 °C / 65 °F | 10.4 °C / 51 °F | 73 mm / 2.9 in | best month |
| July | 20.7 °C / 69 °F | 12.4 °C / 54 °F | 77 mm / 3 in | best month |
| August | 20 °C / 68 °F | 12.3 °C / 54 °F | 73 mm / 2.9 in | best month |
| September | 17.8 °C / 64 °F | 10.3 °C / 51 °F | 58 mm / 2.3 in | good month |
| October | 14 °C / 57 °F | 7.8 °C / 46 °F | 64 mm / 2.5 in | neither best nor good |
| November | 9.7 °C / 49 °F | 4.4 °C / 40 °F | 63 mm / 2.5 in | neither best nor good |
| December | 7.3 °C / 45 °F | 2.6 °C / 37 °F | 67 mm / 2.6 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
York's outdoor-exploring window runs April through September, peaking June-August when it's mildest and sunniest; the rest of the year is too cold, dull and damp, with October sliding back into that camp despite still-mild highs.
Why these months
April · good
In its favour: share of daylight that is sunny 72%, days with heavy rain 0.8 days, average daily low 4.5 °C / 40 °F, relative humidity 76%.
Against: feels like (high) 9.2 °C / 49 °F, wet days 9.6 days, precipitation 44 mm / 1.7 in, average daily high 12.7 °C / 55 °F.
Also on: Easter Sunday, St George's Day.
Watch out for: UK bank holiday travel rush.
May · good
In its favour: share of daylight that is sunny 68%, average daily high 15.7 °C / 60 °F, days with heavy rain 1.4 days, average daily low 7.5 °C / 46 °F, relative humidity 76%.
Against: feels like (high) 13.1 °C / 56 °F, wet days 11.8 days, precipitation 62 mm / 2.4 in.
Also on: May Day customs.
Watch out for: UK bank holiday travel rush.
June · best
In its favour: feels like (high) 17.1 °C / 63 °F, average daily high 18.6 °C / 65 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 65%, days with heavy rain 1.8 days, average daily low 10.4 °C / 51 °F.
Against: wet days 11.6 days, precipitation 73 mm / 2.9 in, relative humidity 77%.
Also on: Day of Dance (folk dance), York Chocolate Festival, York Early Music Festival.
July · best
In its favour: feels like (high) 19.5 °C / 67 °F, average daily high 20.7 °C / 69 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 69%, days with heavy rain 1.8 days, average daily low 12.4 °C / 54 °F, relative humidity 76%.
Against: wet days 12.8 days, precipitation 77 mm / 3 in.
Also on: Day of Dance (folk dance), York Chocolate Festival, York Early Music Festival.
August · best
In its favour: feels like (high) 18.3 °C / 65 °F, average daily high 20 °C / 68 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 69%, days with heavy rain 2 days, average daily low 12.3 °C / 54 °F.
Against: wet days 12.3 days, precipitation 73 mm / 2.9 in, relative humidity 77%.
Also on: Day of Dance (folk dance), York Chocolate Festival, York Early Music Festival, Yorkshire Day.
Watch out for: UK bank holiday travel rush.
September · good
In its favour: feels like (high) 15.8 °C / 60 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 64%, average daily high 17.8 °C / 64 °F, days with heavy rain 1.4 days, average daily low 10.3 °C / 51 °F.
Against: relative humidity 81%, wet days 10.6 days, precipitation 58 mm / 2.3 in.
Also on: Hallowscream at York Maze.
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, 355 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 | 3.5 °C | 5.8 °C | 9.2 °C | 13.1 °C | 17.1 °C | 19.5 °C | 18.3 °C | 15.8 °C | 11.3 °C | 6.5 °C | 3.5 °C |
| Days with heavy rain | 1.2 days | 0.9 days | 0.9 days | 0.8 days | 1.4 days | 1.8 days | 1.8 days | 2 days | 1.4 days | 1.6 days | 1.3 days | 1.4 days |
| Time rain usually falls | 10 am | 4 am | 5 pm | 3 pm | 5 pm | 2 pm | 2 pm | 4 pm | 3 pm | 1 pm | 9 am | 7 pm |
| Sunshine per day | 4 h | 5.5 h | 7.7 h | 10.1 h | 10.9 h | 11.1 h | 11.4 h | 10.2 h | 8.1 h | 5.8 h | 4.5 h | 3.3 h |
| Relative humidity | 87% | 84% | 80% | 76% | 76% | 77% | 76% | 77% | 81% | 85% | 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 | 6.2 µg/m³ | 6 µg/m³ | 8 µg/m³ | 8.1 µg/m³ | 8.6 µg/m³ | 8 µg/m³ | 7.2 µg/m³ | 7.3 µg/m³ | 7.3 µg/m³ | 6.2 µg/m³ | 5.7 µg/m³ | 5.4 µg/m³ |
| Air pollution (PM2.5, daily peak) 2022–2025 | 10.4 µg/m³ | 10.3 µg/m³ | 12.7 µg/m³ | 12.8 µg/m³ | 13.6 µg/m³ | 12.8 µg/m³ | 11.8 µg/m³ | 11.3 µg/m³ | 11 µg/m³ | 9.7 µg/m³ | 9.6 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
- New Year celebrations
31 December–1 January
- Valentine's Day
14 February
- Shrove Tuesday (Pancake Day)
February and March, dates vary from year to year
- York Literature Festival
March
- Easter Sunday
March and April, dates vary from year to year
- St George's Day
23 April
- May Day customs
1 May
- York Chocolate Festival
June, July and August
- York Early Music Festival
June, July and August
- Day of Dance (folk dance)
June, July and August
- Yorkshire Day
1 August
- Hallowscream at York Maze
September, October and November
- Halloween
31 October
- Bonfire Night
5 November
- Remembrance Day
11 November
- York Early Music Christmas Festival
December
- York Christmas Festival
December
- Yorkshire's Winter Wonderland ice rink
December
- Boxing Day shopping
26 December
Worth knowing before you go
- UK bank holiday travel rush
January, March, April, May, August and December, dates vary from year to year
- Christmas/New Year travel and closures
January and December
- Boxing Day sales crowds
26 December