Where to go

Where to go in December

No region passes every outdoor check in December, so the useful question is which come closest. Devon has the warmest highs (10.3°C on average) and Cambridge the lowest rainfall (49 mm). Numbers are Met Office 1991-2020 averages, not a forecast.

Haytor Rocks, a granite tor on the eastern edge of Dartmoor, under a cloudy sky
Devon: warmest highs in DecemberPhoto: Nilfanion, CC BY-SA 3.0
King's College Chapel seen across the lawns of the Backs
Cambridge: least rain in DecemberPhoto: Sandra Humphrey, CC BY-SA 2.0
Durdle Door limestone arch and its curving beach on the Dorset coast
The Jurassic Coast: most sunshine in DecemberPhoto: Saffron Blaze, CC BY-SA 3.0

Best for December: regions that pass every outdoor check

A region is listed when, in December, average highs reach 10°C, there are fewer than 12 days with 1 mm of rain, rainfall is under 80 mm and daylight lasts at least 9 hours. These are the same thresholds we use for packing advice on When to go.

No region passes all four checks in December. The closest are listed next, with the check each one trips.

Closest to passing

Fewer than 2 of the three weather checks (cold, rain days, rainfall) tripped, sometimes with short days as well.

Cambridge (outdoor-leaning): highs average 8.0°C; only 7 h 43 of daylight.

highs 8.0°C, 49 mm of rain on 10.5 days, 7 h 43 of daylight

Newcastle and Gateshead (mixed): highs average 7.7°C; only 7 h 11 of daylight.

highs 7.7°C, 55 mm of rain on 10.7 days, 7 h 11 of daylight

Stratford & Warwickshire (mixed): highs average 8.0°C; only 7 h 43 of daylight.

highs 8.0°C, 56 mm of rain on 11.1 days, 7 h 43 of daylight

Windsor (outdoor-leaning): highs average 8.8°C; only 7 h 51 of daylight.

highs 8.8°C, 57 mm of rain on 10.8 days, 7 h 51 of daylight

Leeds (mixed): highs average 7.5°C; only 7 h 26 of daylight.

highs 7.5°C, 58 mm of rain on 11.2 days, 7 h 26 of daylight

York (outdoor-leaning): highs average 7.5°C; only 7 h 24 of daylight.

highs 7.5°C, 58 mm of rain on 11.2 days, 7 h 24 of daylight

St Andrews and Fife (outdoor-leaning): highs average 7.0°C; only 6 h 53 of daylight.

highs 7.0°C, 63 mm of rain on 11.6 days, 6 h 53 of daylight

Oxford (mixed): highs average 8.2°C; only 7 h 48 of daylight.

highs 8.2°C, 66 mm of rain on 11.6 days, 7 h 48 of daylight

Think twice about, in December

Outdoor-leaning and mixed regions (more than 30% of the sights we tag are outdoors) that trip 2 or more of the three weather checks this month. “Think twice” means plan around the weather, not “do not go”.

Plan around the weather

Anglesey (character unknown, 75% of tagged sights outdoors): highs average 9.1°C; 15.8 days with 1 mm or more of rain; 93 mm of rain; only 7 h 32 of daylight.

Rainy-day ideas in Anglesey All December figures

Bath (outdoor-leaning, 54% of tagged sights outdoors): highs average 8.5°C; 13.6 days with 1 mm or more of rain; 91 mm of rain; only 7 h 52 of daylight.

Rainy-day ideas in Bath All December figures

Brighton & Hove (mixed, 33% of tagged sights outdoors): highs average 8.9°C; 12.6 days with 1 mm or more of rain; 87 mm of rain; only 7 h 57 of daylight.

Rainy-day ideas in Brighton & Hove All December figures

Bristol (mixed, 40% of tagged sights outdoors): highs average 8.4°C; 13.5 days with 1 mm or more of rain; 90 mm of rain; only 7 h 51 of daylight.

Rainy-day ideas in Bristol All December figures

Cardiff (mixed, 36% of tagged sights outdoors): highs average 9.1°C; 15.2 days with 1 mm or more of rain; 140 mm of rain; only 7 h 51 of daylight.

Rainy-day ideas in Cardiff All December figures

Cornwall (outdoor-leaning, 73% of tagged sights outdoors): highs average 9.9°C; 17.0 days with 1 mm or more of rain; 126 mm of rain; only 8 h 03 of daylight.

Rainy-day ideas in Cornwall All December figures

Glasgow (mixed, 45% of tagged sights outdoors): highs average 7.4°C; 16.9 days with 1 mm or more of rain; 161 mm of rain; only 7 h 00 of daylight.

Rainy-day ideas in Glasgow All December figures

Islay and Jura (character unknown, 67% of tagged sights outdoors): highs average 8.5°C; 20.4 days with 1 mm or more of rain; 142 mm of rain; only 7 h 01 of daylight.

Rainy-day ideas in Islay and Jura All December figures

Isle of Arran (character unknown, 50% of tagged sights outdoors): highs average 7.8°C; 18.8 days with 1 mm or more of rain; 160 mm of rain; only 7 h 04 of daylight.

Rainy-day ideas in Isle of Arran All December figures

Isle of Bute (character unknown, 83% of tagged sights outdoors): highs average 7.8°C; 18.8 days with 1 mm or more of rain; 160 mm of rain; only 7 h 00 of daylight.

Rainy-day ideas in Isle of Bute All December figures

Liverpool (outdoor-leaning, 51% of tagged sights outdoors): highs average 8.0°C; 15.3 days with 1 mm or more of rain; 92 mm of rain; only 7 h 30 of daylight.

Rainy-day ideas in Liverpool All December figures

Manchester (outdoor-leaning, 51% of tagged sights outdoors): highs average 7.5°C; 15.7 days with 1 mm or more of rain; 97 mm of rain; only 7 h 29 of daylight.

Rainy-day ideas in Manchester All December figures

Mull and Iona (character unknown, 33% of tagged sights outdoors): highs average 8.0°C; 19.6 days with 1 mm or more of rain; 198 mm of rain; only 6 h 52 of daylight.

Rainy-day ideas in Mull and Iona All December figures

Northern Ireland (outdoor-leaning, 50% of tagged sights outdoors): highs average 8.4°C; 14.8 days with 1 mm or more of rain; 93 mm of rain; only 7 h 16 of daylight.

Rainy-day ideas in Northern Ireland All December figures

Sheffield (outdoor-leaning, 56% of tagged sights outdoors): highs average 7.3°C; 13.7 days with 1 mm or more of rain; 87 mm of rain; only 7 h 31 of daylight.

Rainy-day ideas in Sheffield All December figures

Stirling and the Trossachs (outdoor-leaning, 64% of tagged sights outdoors): highs average 7.5°C; 15.4 days with 1 mm or more of rain; 103 mm of rain; only 6 h 56 of daylight.

Rainy-day ideas in Stirling and the Trossachs All December figures

The Cotswolds (mixed, 42% of tagged sights outdoors): highs average 7.7°C; 13.3 days with 1 mm or more of rain; 90 mm of rain; only 7 h 47 of daylight.

Rainy-day ideas in the Cotswolds All December figures

The Jurassic Coast (outdoor-leaning, 69% of tagged sights outdoors): highs average 9.7°C; 13.1 days with 1 mm or more of rain; 92 mm of rain; only 7 h 59 of daylight.

Rainy-day ideas in the Jurassic Coast All December figures

The Lake District (mixed, 41% of tagged sights outdoors): highs average 7.8°C; 17.8 days with 1 mm or more of rain; 195 mm of rain; only 7 h 18 of daylight.

Rainy-day ideas in the Lake District All December figures

The Outer Hebrides (outdoor-leaning, 73% of tagged sights outdoors): highs average 7.8°C; 20.7 days with 1 mm or more of rain; 139 mm of rain; only 6 h 33 of daylight.

Rainy-day ideas in the Outer Hebrides All December figures

The Peak District (outdoor-leaning, 74% of tagged sights outdoors): highs average 5.9°C; 17.4 days with 1 mm or more of rain; 153 mm of rain; only 7 h 32 of daylight.

Rainy-day ideas in the Peak District All December figures

Wales (mixed, 38% of tagged sights outdoors): highs average 9.1°C; 15.2 days with 1 mm or more of rain; 140 mm of rain; only 7 h 42 of daylight.

Rainy-day ideas in Wales All December figures

Canterbury & Kent (mixed, 48% of tagged sights outdoors): highs average 8.5°C; 12.1 days with 1 mm or more of rain; only 7 h 53 of daylight.

Rainy-day ideas in Canterbury & Kent All December figures

Devon (outdoor-leaning, 55% of tagged sights outdoors): 13.4 days with 1 mm or more of rain; 101 mm of rain; only 7 h 58 of daylight.

Rainy-day ideas in Devon All December figures

Edinburgh (mixed, 47% of tagged sights outdoors): highs average 7.3°C; 12.3 days with 1 mm or more of rain; only 6 h 59 of daylight.

Rainy-day ideas in Edinburgh All December figures

Norfolk and the Broads (mixed, 43% of tagged sights outdoors): highs average 8.0°C; 12.9 days with 1 mm or more of rain; only 7 h 37 of daylight.

Rainy-day ideas in Norfolk and the Broads All December figures

North Coast 500 (outdoor-leaning, 60% of tagged sights outdoors): highs average 6.8°C; 16.0 days with 1 mm or more of rain; only 6 h 26 of daylight.

Rainy-day ideas in North Coast 500 All December figures

The Scottish Highlands (mixed, 39% of tagged sights outdoors): highs average 7.3°C; 14.1 days with 1 mm or more of rain; only 6 h 41 of daylight.

Rainy-day ideas in the Scottish Highlands All December figures

City-led places with plenty indoors when the weather turns

These trip the weather checks in December, but most of the sights we tag are indoors, so the day depends less on the forecast.

Salisbury & Stonehenge: highs average 8.0°C; 12.6 days with 1 mm or more of rain; 85 mm of rain; only 7 h 54 of daylight. 78% of 18 tagged sights are indoors.

Nottingham: highs average 7.2°C; 12.3 days with 1 mm or more of rain; only 7 h 35 of daylight. 75% of 28 tagged sights are indoors.

Birmingham: highs average 7.3°C; 12.7 days with 1 mm or more of rain; 84 mm of rain; only 7 h 40 of daylight. 74% of 35 tagged sights are indoors.

Orkney: highs average 7.0°C; 19.9 days with 1 mm or more of rain; 114 mm of rain; only 6 h 12 of daylight. 71% of 14 tagged sights are indoors.

Portsmouth and Southampton: highs average 9.3°C; 12.7 days with 1 mm or more of rain; 97 mm of rain; only 7 h 57 of daylight. 71% of 35 tagged sights are indoors.

December in numbers

  • Warmest highs: Devon 10.3°C, Cornwall 9.9°C, The Jurassic Coast 9.7°C. Coolest: The Peak District (5.9°C).
  • Lowest rainfall: Cambridge 49 mm, Newcastle and Gateshead 55 mm, Stratford & Warwickshire 56 mm.
  • Most sunshine hours: The Jurassic Coast 64 h, Salisbury & Stonehenge 60 h, Devon 59 h.
  • Longest days (calculated from latitude): Cornwall 8 h 03, The Jurassic Coast 7 h 59, Devon 7 h 58.
December averages by region. Rain days count days with 1 mm or more.
RegionHigh °CLow °CRain mmRain daysSun hoursDaylight
Anglesey9.14.49315.8487 h 32
Bath8.52.59113.6517 h 52
Birmingham7.31.98412.7567 h 40
Brighton & Hove8.92.88712.6n/a7 h 57
Bristol8.42.89013.5577 h 51
Cambridge8.02.24910.5547 h 43
Canterbury & Kent8.52.77212.1567 h 53
Cardiff9.12.814015.2507 h 51
Cornwall9.95.612617.0558 h 03
Devon10.34.610113.4597 h 58
Edinburgh7.31.66712.3496 h 59
Glasgow7.42.116116.9347 h 00
Islay and Jura8.53.214220.4n/a7 h 01
Isle of Arran7.83.016018.8367 h 04
Isle of Bute7.83.016018.8367 h 00
Leeds7.51.45811.2567 h 26
Liverpool8.03.19215.3n/a7 h 30
Manchester7.51.29715.7537 h 29
Mull and Iona8.02.919819.6336 h 52
Newcastle and Gateshead7.72.85510.7567 h 11
Norfolk and the Broads8.02.36412.9557 h 37
North Coast 5006.81.77016.0386 h 26
Northern Ireland8.42.39314.8357 h 16
Nottingham7.22.07012.3557 h 35
Orkney7.02.611419.9266 h 12
Oxford8.22.66611.6587 h 48
Portsmouth and Southampton9.33.59712.7557 h 57
Salisbury & Stonehenge8.02.08512.6607 h 54
Sheffield7.32.68713.7487 h 31
St Andrews and Fife7.00.96311.6546 h 53
Stirling and the Trossachs7.51.110315.4326 h 56
Stratford & Warwickshire8.01.95611.1547 h 43
The Cotswolds7.71.69013.3557 h 47
The Jurassic Coast9.75.19213.1647 h 59
The Lake District7.81.919517.8n/a7 h 18
The Outer Hebrides7.82.813920.7276 h 33
The Peak District5.91.215317.4407 h 32
The Scottish Highlands7.31.47314.1286 h 41
Wales9.12.814015.2507 h 42
Windsor8.83.15710.8557 h 51
York7.51.45811.2567 h 24

Met Office 1991-2020 averages, one station per region (see sources). Daylight is calculated for the 15th at the region’s latitude.

Dated events in December

Only events with dates confirmed on the organizer’s page, up to 4 per place. Always check the organizer before you travel.

Bath

  • Bath Christmas MarketNov 26, 2026 – Dec 13, 2026 · Stall Street · source: Bath Christmas Market (official site)

Bristol

Cambridge

London

3 more in London

Manchester

  • Manchester Christmas MarketsNov 6, 2026 – Jan 3, 2027 · Albert Square and city-center sites · source: CityCo Manchester (official site)

The Cotswolds

The Scottish Highlands

  • Oban Winter FestivalNov 13, 2026 – Dec 20, 2026 · Oban · source: Oban Winter Festival (official site)

York

Bank holidays (public holidays) in December

England and Wales

  • Fri, Dec 25, 2026: Christmas Day
  • Mon, Dec 28, 2026: Boxing Day
  • Mon, Dec 27, 2027: Christmas Day
  • Tue, Dec 28, 2027: Boxing Day

Scotland

  • Fri, Dec 25, 2026: Christmas Day
  • Mon, Dec 28, 2026: Boxing Day
  • Mon, Dec 27, 2027: Christmas Day
  • Tue, Dec 28, 2027: Boxing Day

Northern Ireland

  • Fri, Dec 25, 2026: Christmas Day
  • Mon, Dec 28, 2026: Boxing Day
  • Mon, Dec 27, 2027: Christmas Day
  • Tue, Dec 28, 2027: Boxing Day

From GOV.UK, next two years from this build. Many people travel on bank holiday weekends; we hold no sourced figure for how that changes crowds or prices, so check transport and rooms early.

More for December

← November All months January →

Editorial note. We do not rank destinations or claim a month is “best” overall. We state no crowd or price levels because no source we fetched gives them. London has no Met Office station in our data yet.

Sources

  1. Met Office: Valley, 1991-2020 averages
  2. Met Office: Bute: Rothesay, 1991-2020 averages
  3. Met Office: Bath, Beechen Cliff School, 1991-2020 averages
  4. Met Office: Winterbourne, University Of Birmingham, 1991-2020 averages
  5. Met Office: Shoreham Airport, 1991-2020 averages
  6. Met Office: Filton, 1991-2020 averages
  7. Met Office: Cambridge, NIAB, 1991-2020 averages
  8. Met Office: Cardiff, Bute Park, 1991-2020 averages
  9. Met Office: Camborne, 1991-2020 averages
  10. Met Office: Cirencester, 1991-2020 averages
  11. Met Office: Teignmouth, 1991-2020 averages
  12. Met Office: Edinburgh, Royal Botanic Garden No 2, 1991-2020 averages
  13. Met Office: Paisley, 1991-2020 averages
  14. Met Office: Inverness, 1991-2020 averages
  15. Met Office: Islay: Port Ellen, 1991-2020 averages
  16. Met Office: Weymouth, Wyke Regis, 1991-2020 averages
  17. Met Office: Faversham, 1991-2020 averages
  18. Met Office: Keswick, 1991-2020 averages
  19. Met Office: Church Fenton, 1991-2020 averages
  20. Met Office: Crosby, 1991-2020 averages
  21. Met Office: Woodford, 1991-2020 averages
  22. Met Office: Dunstaffnage, 1991-2020 averages
  23. Met Office: Tynemouth, 1991-2020 averages
  24. Met Office: Coltishall, 1991-2020 averages
  25. Met Office: Wick Airport, 1991-2020 averages
  26. Met Office: Belfast Newforge, 1991-2020 averages
  27. Met Office: Nottingham, Watnall, 1991-2020 averages
  28. Met Office: Kirkwall, 1991-2020 averages
  29. Met Office: Stornoway Airport, 1991-2020 averages
  30. Met Office: Oxford, 1991-2020 averages
  31. Met Office: Buxton, 1991-2020 averages
  32. Met Office: Southampton, Mayflower Park, 1991-2020 averages
  33. Met Office: Boscombe Down, 1991-2020 averages
  34. Met Office: Sheffield, 1991-2020 averages
  35. Met Office: Leuchars, 1991-2020 averages
  36. Met Office: Stirling S Wks, 1991-2020 averages
  37. Met Office: Wellesbourne, 1991-2020 averages
  38. Met Office: Heathrow, 1991-2020 averages
  39. Met Office: Church Fenton, 1991-2020 averages
  40. GOV.UK: UK bank holidays
  41. Event dates: the organiser pages linked in the events list, checked 2026-11-01.

Station notes: some stations sit near, not in, the town (for example Church Fenton for York, Woodford for Manchester). Daylight is calculated, not a Met Office figure.