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Coping With the Famous London Weather

Author: Lisa Jeeves
by Lisa Jeeves
Posted: Jul 27, 2015

If you’re staying in a London hotel and are keen to do some sightseeing, you will, of course, be keen to try to avoid bad weather while doing so. But just what are your options in terms of this aspect? The Famous London Weather

It’s an old joke amongst British people that the most commonly discussed subject in the United Kingdom is the weather – with emphasis usually placed upon just how bad it is at a given time. That may be an exaggeration but there is a grain of truth in it. Let’s be clear at the outset that nobody ever visits the UK capital if their main objective is to get a tan!

So what’s the reality? In spite of much publicity about global warming and impressive statistics supporting one side or other of the great debate, the fact is that extended periods of dry warm sunshine are comparatively rare in the British capital. The nature of the predominant Atlantic weather systems usually mean that a near endless succession of rain and wind sweeps in from the more northerly parts of the ocean and hit (head-on) the British isles and parts of Northern France. So, if you are planning to visit the capital at just about any time in the year, you should probably anticipate some wet and windy weather.

If there is any plus side to this it’s the slight schadenfreude that comes with knowing that the weather usually is nowhere near as bad, on average, as that in many other parts of the United Kingdom. Secondly, harsh, freezing winters are almost as rare as extended periods of warmth.

Choosing your time

If you would like the chance to stroll the streets and stay as dry as possible then look at booking a London hotel around July and August. Saying that you are less likely to get wet in summer as opposed to winter may seem like a case of stating the obvious, but there are a few more subtleties involved here.

For example, for reasons that nobody understands, September can often be rather drier and warmer than July or August - even though logic dictates it shouldn’t be. That’s why the expression 'Indian summer' (meaning a late summer) is so frequently used in the UK. Due to changing weather patterns, it’s also surprisingly commonplace to have several good days or perhaps even a week’s good weather in April. Needless to say, you can’t predict which of the weeks it will be but there have been years when the best extended periods of sunshine come in April or May rather than July and August.

Being realistic

Even with today’s satellites and supercomputer modelling, the weather in north western Europe can rarely be predicted with any accuracy, and it’s very commonplace for it to be completely wrong as little as 24 hours before the time being discussed in the forecast. In fact, it can even be wrong when talking about the ‘happening now’ position!

So, it only makes sense to make sure that you prepare, by bringing good waterproof clothes with you if you're planning to spend a few days walking around the capital's streets.

Unless you plan to spend your entire visit comfortably stowed away in the depths of your London hotel, you may need to be pragmatic about the weather you are likely to encounter. But plan ahead, bring sensible clothes and you’ll hardly notice! Matthew Zelinski works for the London Regency Hotel, a top London hotel in Kensington. This wonderful hotel embodies the true flavour of Kensington, with its traditional regency-style façade and superb facilities. Whether you're looking for accommodation in London for business or leisure, the Regency offers an effortlessly elegant experience.

About the Author

Writer and Online Marketing Manager in London.

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Author: Lisa Jeeves

Lisa Jeeves

Member since: Oct 18, 2013
Published articles: 4550

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