London in January: Weather, Outfits & Things to Do (2026)

London Weather in January

January is winter season in London and it is the coldest month of the year. The weather in January is cold, rainy and gloomy, with little sunshine.

As January is cold in London, make sure to dress in layers. Wear a warm winter coat, jumper, hat, gloves and boots to stay warm while outside. Also pack an umbrella as there can be some rain too.

It gets dark early in January and the sunset is usually around 4 pm in the afternoon.

If you want to see the sunrise and sunset views of London, check out Hampstead Heath, Primrose Hill, Thames Path, Millennium Bridge, Shard, or the Sky Garden.

London Temperature in January

The average temperature in London in January is between 2.2-7 °C (36-45 °F).

Generally, it is cold and rainy in London in January. There is not much chance for snow, but if there is, it is usually snow that melts away quickly.

Apart from snow, it rains a little bit in January, so good to prepare with umbrella, and waterproof coat and boots.

Does it Snow in London in January?

Winter in London runs from December to February, and the highest chance for snow is between January and February.

However, even if it snows in January, it is usually not permanent snow and it melts away quickly.

Is January a Good Time to Visit London?

Yes, January is a good time to visit London if you don’t mind the cold, want to visit when it is cheaper and there are less tourists around.

January may be low season in London but there are still so many things to do in the city.

The best things to do in London in January is to go sightseeing, watch a play at the West End, go ice-skating or warm up in a pub.

Crowds

January in London is low season and there are not that many tourists.

The high season in London is during the summer and Christmas holidays, and January brings a more quiet time in London. 

If you don’t like crowds and don’t mind the cold, January is a great time to visit.

Prices

January is low season, so if you are looking for discounts for hotels, January is a great time to visit London.

The flights to London are also the cheapest for January and February, so you could catch some good flight deals.

The Best Things to Do in London in January

1. GO SIGHTSEEING

London has many famous attractions and you need a couple of days to see everything. January is the coldest month in London but if it is the only time that you can visit, there are still so many things to do!

Exploring the historic buildings is one of the best things to do in London! If you visit London in January, just make sure to wear warm clothes and dress in layers.

On the positive side there are not that many tourists in January, so it is a great time to exlplore London.

Must-See Attractions in London:

• Big Ben
• Buckingham Palace
• Trafalgar Square
• Tower Bridge
• Tower of London
• Westminster Palace
• St. Paul’s Cathedral
• London Eye
• The Shard

2. GO ICE-SKATING

• Somerset House Ice Skating: 12 November 2025 – 11 January 2026
• Glide Battersea: 7 November 2025 – 4 January 2026
• Hampton Court Palace Ice Rink: mid-November to early January (every year)

During December, there are many ice-skating rinks set up all over London. Some of the ice-skating rinks are open until the beginning of January. Thus, if you visit in the first half of January, you could still go ice-skating in London.

Some of the best ice-skating rinks in London are at the Somerset House, Battersea Power Station and at the Hampton Court Palace.

3. WARM UP IN A PUB

You haven’t really been to London until you have gone to a pub. Pubs are the best in the summer when the weather is good, but it is also fun in the winter.

January is the coldest month in London, so it is a good time to warm up in the pubs while it is cold and gloomy outside.

Many of the pubs in the city centre can be very touristic, but if you go a little bit further out from the city centre, you can find more local pubs.

4. EAT BRITISH FOOD

British cuisine is known for Fish and Chips, Sunday Roast, and the English Breakfast. While you are in London, you should try as my local delicacies as possible.

Some of the most popular British dishes are:

• Fish and Chips
• Sunday Roast
• English Breakfast
• Sheperd’s Pie

There is also Secret Food Tour in London where you can have the best British food while also exploring London!

🥘 Follow your stomach and join a Food Tour in London here!

5. SEE A MUSEUM EXHIBITION

There are so many great museums in London, so if you like to visit art exhibitions or want to learn about the history of the UK, there are many museums to choose from.

The museums are open all year around, and have permanent and temporary exhibitions. The entry fee is free to many permanent exhibitions, and you only have to pay an entry fee to special, temporary exhibitions.

Some of the best museums in London are:

• British Museum
• National gallery
• Tate Modern
• Tate Britain
• Victoria and Albert Museum
• Natural History Museum
• Science Museum

6. GO ON A THAMES RIVER CRUISE

The River Thames flows through London and going a cruise is a great way to see the city.

There are many famous attractions along the river, such as the London Eye, Houses of Parliament, Tower Bridge, and the Tower of London.

The London river cruises usually last between 1-2 hours and also includes a guide.

If you don’t want to go on a proper river cruise, taking the public boat is also an option. The public boats are run by Uber Boats by the Thames Clippers, and you can even pay for the fare with an Oyster Card.

7. WATCH A PLAY AT THE WEST END

Do you love theatre plays? The West End in London is known for some of the best theatres in London.

The West End is located in central London near Leicester Square and Piccadilly Circus and it is full of theatres, restaurants and shops.

There are many famous plays on such as Wicked, Hamilton, or the Lion King. The plays are so good that many people come to London just to see a show.

The tickets are between GBP 80-400 (USD 100-500) but they also have some deals, where you can get 50-60% off on selected shows.

8. GO ON A DAY TRIP

January might be the coldest month in London, but if you dress up in warm clothes, you will get to enjoy it. Also, while it is the coldest time in London, it is nowehere near as cold as lets say a -40 °C winter in Mongolia!

The coldest it gets in London is 2.2 °C (36 °F), so if you dress up in warm layers, you are not going to feel too cold.

There are many places near London that can be visited for a day trip. Going on a day trip is a great way to see more of England and learn about its history and culture.

Some of the best places that can be visited from London as a day trip are Brighton, Canterbury, Hastings, Oxford, Bath and Stonehenge.

There are tours that can take you for a day trip, but if you want to organise it for yourself, you can take the train or bus (Megabus, National Express or Flixbus).

9. GO ON THE LONDON EYE

The London Eye is an iconic landmark in London and even though it can be very touristy, you should not miss out on it while in London.

The queues can be long but you can book fast track tickets to the London Eye, so you can skip the queues.

The London Eye is just by the bank of the River Thames and you get great views of other famous buildings, such as the Big Ben, Buckingham Palace and St. Paul’s Cathedral.

✅ Skip the queue and book your ticket to the London Eye here!

10. GO ON A WALKING TOUR

January might be cold but if you wear warm clothes and dress in layers, then you can still enjoy exploring London on foot!

There are many different walking tours in London that offer various aspects to history and culture.

When deciding on going on a walking tour, you have the options to explore historic sites, go on a pub tour, street art tour, or even a British music tour!

✅ Book a London Walking Tour here!

11. WATCH THE NEW YEAR’S DAY PARADE

On 1 January, London holds its annual New Year’s Day Parade in the city center. If you are not at home or in your hotel recovering from the night before, than checking out the parade is a fun idea.

The parade usually starts from noon and goes through the city centre of London, including Piccadilly Circus and Trafalgar Square.

12. VISIT THE HARRY POTTER FILM STUDIOS

Are you a Harry Potter fan? Do you need some magic in your life? Then, you can explore the Harry Potter Warner Bros Studios during your London trip!

The Harry Potter tour usually takes around 7 hours and you get to see the behind the scenes at the Warner Bros Studios.

You can walk around the set and also see the costumes that were used in the movies. It is a pretty cool experience and if you have time while in London, it is totally worth checking out!

You can visit the Harry Potter Warner Bros Studio as part of a tour or on your own. If you go on your own, you can get the entry tickets online and take the train from Euston (London) to Watford Junction.

✅ Book the Harry Potter Warner Bros Studio Tour here!

13. EAT AT THE BOROUGH MARKET

The Borough Market is famous for its food stalls, restaurants, bars and shops. If you love food and snacking, this is your place to be.

They have so many different food, such as cheese, cured meat, street food, bakery items, fresh fruits and vegetables. It’s a heaven for food!

It is such a great place and you can try so many different dishes. It can get very busy on the weekends or during lunch hours, so the best time to visit is during week days (outside of lunch hours).

14. SHOP AT THE CAMDEN MARKET

Camden Market is such a cool place to be and it has everything from food stalls, bars, second hand bookshops to vintage shops.

It is easy to spend at least half a day here. If you love books, it is a great place to find some great second hand books at a good price. I used to spend so much time here and I could browse books for hours.

The vintage shops are a great place to buy something unique or funny, or even to find a souvenir to take home!

15. GO SHOPPING AT OXFORD STREET

If you love fashion, than it means only one thing: you have to go shopping in London!

The most famous places for fashion are Oxford Street and Regent’s Street. They are right next to each other and there are many fashion brands you can choose from.

January also has a lot of post-Christmas sales going on, so you can find some pretty good deals at that time.

Tips for Visiting London in January

What to Wear in London in January

The average temperature in London in January is between 2.2-7 °C (36-45 °F). It is cold, rainy with a small chance of snow.

January is the coldest time of the year in London, so you should pack warm winter clothes for your trip.

You should dress in layers to stay warm during winter in London and pack clothes such as a winter coat, boots, thick socks, jeans, wool jumper, hat, gloves and scarf.

Public Transport in London

The public transport in London is well-connected and is one of the best ways to get around the city.

The main modes of transport include the tube lines, buses, trains, and there are even public boats!

Once you arrive in London, you can get an Oyster card and use that to pay for public transport. Oyster card works as a contactless payment that you can tap on the bus or when going into the tube station.

Taxis in London

If you want some comfort or save time, you can also easily get a taxi in London.

London has the famous black cab taxi services, as well as taxi apps that offer a more affordable way to get around.

For booking black cabs, you can hail them or use the Gett App to book. For other taxi apps, there is Uber and Bolt.

Walking in London

London is a walkable city with a well-built system of sidewalks and pedestrian crossings. There are many tourist attractions in close walking distance to each other that you can explore on foot.

January is cold in London, so you should dress in warm layers while you explore the city.

Some of the best places to explore on foot in London are:

1. Waterloo + Westminster: London Eye, Westminster Bridge –  walk over bridge to Big Ben, Houses of Parliaments, Westminster Abbey, 10 Downing Street, St. James’ Park, Buckingham Palace (+ Changing of the Guards)

2. Bloomsbury and West End: British Museum, Covent Garden, Trafalgar Square, National Gallery, Leicester Square

3. Kensington: Hyde Park, Kensington Palace, Royal Albert Hall, Natural History Museum, Victoria and Albert Museum, the Design Museum

4. The City: Barbican, St. Paul’s Cathedral, cross over Millennium Bridge to Tate Modern, then walk to Shard

5. Tower Bridge and Tower of London

6. Notting Hill: Portobello Road Market

7. Regent’s Park and Camden Town: pubs, restaurants, Camden Market (food stalls, record stores), Regent’s Park, Primrose Hill, London Zoo

8. Oxford Street and Regent’s Street for fashion and shopping

Events in London in January

• New Year’s Day Parade: 1 January
• London Short Film Festival: 23 January – 1 February 2026

New Year’s Day Parade

On 1 January, London holds its annual New Year’s Day Parade in the city center. If you are not at home or in your hotel recovering from the night before, than checking out the parade is a fun idea.

The parade usually starts from noon and goes through the city centre of London, including Piccadilly Circus and Trafalgar Square.

FAQs: London in January

Is it worth to go to London in January?

Yes, it is worth going to London in January. January is a good time to visit London if you don’t mind the cold, want to visit when it is cheaper and there are less tourists around.

January may be low season in London but there are still so many things to do in the city.

The best things to do in London in January is to go sightseeing, watch a play at the West End, go ice-skating or warm up in a pub.

Will January be cold in London?

January is the coldest month of the year in London. The average temperature is between 2.2-7 °C (36-45 °F). It is cold and rainy, and there is also a small chance of snow.

Does it snow in London in January?

There is some chance of snow in London in January but even if it snows, it usually melts away quickly.

Conclusion

In conclusion, January is low season in London when not that many people come to visit.

The average temperature is between 2.2-7 °C (36-45 °F), and it is cold and rainy. There is also some chance for snow, but it usually melts away quickly.

January is a good time to visit London if you don’t mind the cold, want to visit when it is cheaper and there are less tourists around.

Some of the best things to do in London in January is to go sightseeing, watch a play at the West End, go ice-skating or warm up in a pub.

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