January is one of the cooler months of the year in London, with average highs near -2°C and lows around -8.5°C (mean -5.2°C). It is one of the drier months, averaging 42 mm of rainfall and 88% relative humidity across the period.
January is one of the cooler months of the year in London. Across 45 years of records, the warmest January in London was 2006 — when the month averaged -0.2°C — while the coldest was 1994 at -10.9°C. Typical January days reach -2°C with nights near -8.5°C. The long-term trend is warming, about 0.6°C per decade.
January is one of the drier months in London, averaging 42 mm of rainfall. The wettest January on record was 1999 with 111 mm, while the driest was 2021 at 12 mm.
Relative humidity in London during January averages 88%. The most humid January was 2001 at 96%, and the least humid was 2025 at 80%.
January receives about 1.5 kWh/m²/day of solar energy in London. The sunniest Januarys were 2003, 2005 and 2022, among others at 1.7 kWh/m²/day, and the cloudiest was 2024 at 1.2.
Average wind speed in London during January is 4.7 m/s. The windiest January was 1997 at 5.8 m/s, while the calmest was 2001 at 3.5 m/s.
Ranked against the other 11 months using 1981–2025 averages.
| Metric | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | -6.6°C | -5.2°C | -4.9°C | -5.4°C | -3.5°C | +3.1°C |
| Avg High | -3.2°C | -1.8°C | -1.7°C | -2.2°C | -0.5°C | +2.7°C |
| Avg Low | -10.1°C | -8.6°C | -8.1°C | -8.7°C | -6.4°C | +3.7°C |
| Avg Rain | 45 mm | 54 mm | 38 mm | 41 mm | 27 mm | -18 mm |
January temperatures in London have risen by about 4.2°C between 1981–1985 and 2021–2025.
January has ranged from a record low of -28.2°C (1982) to a record high of 12.5°C (2005).
Rainfall in January is one of the drier months, averaging 42 mm, with a wettest year of 111 mm.
A quieter season to visit London
If your dates are flexible, the more temperate months of July and August tend to be the most comfortable for visiting London. That said, January — with days averaging -2°C and nights around -8.5°C (mean -5.2°C) and moderate rainfall (42 mm) — can still be rewarding for travellers who don't mind the cooler conditions, and often means fewer crowds.
| Year | Avg High | Avg Temp | Avg Low | Hottest Day | Coldest Day | Rainfall | Humidity | Wind | Solar |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | -3.0°C | -5.9°C | -8.8°C | 2.9°C | -20.0°C | 14 mm | 80% | 5.3 m/s | 1.5 |
| 2024 | -0.1°C | -2.7°C | -5.2°C | 6.8°C | -14.7°C | 37 mm | 87% | 4.5 m/s | 1.2 |
| 2023 | 2.0°C | -1.0°C | -3.9°C | 7.8°C | -13.5°C | 29 mm | 85% | 3.8 m/s | 1.3 |
| 2022 | -3.4°C | -7.1°C | -10.8°C | 3.8°C | -20.3°C | 15 mm | 80% | 4.5 m/s | 1.7 |
| 2021 | 0.1°C | -2.5°C | -5.0°C | 4.7°C | -10.3°C | 12 mm | 85% | 3.8 m/s | 1.5 |
| 2020 | 1.4°C | -1.5°C | -4.4°C | 9.6°C | -13.6°C | 55 mm | 87% | 4.2 m/s | 1.4 |
| 2019 | -2.9°C | -6.6°C | -10.4°C | 7.4°C | -22.3°C | 53 mm | 88% | 5 m/s | 1.5 |
| 2018 | -2.5°C | -6.0°C | -9.6°C | 9.5°C | -22.8°C | 48 mm | 89% | 5 m/s | 1.5 |
| 2017 | 0.2°C | -2.6°C | -5.4°C | 7.7°C | -13.5°C | 68 mm | 88% | 4.4 m/s | 1.4 |
| 2016 | -1.2°C | -4.3°C | -7.4°C | 7.2°C | -14.7°C | 36 mm | 86% | 4.8 m/s | 1.6 |
| 2015 | -4.0°C | -8.1°C | -12.1°C | 2.8°C | -21.9°C | 35 mm | 86% | 4.8 m/s | 1.5 |
| 2014 | -5.8°C | -9.5°C | -13.2°C | 3.2°C | -23.4°C | 43 mm | 90% | 5.1 m/s | 1.5 |
| 2013 | -0.6°C | -3.6°C | -6.6°C | 11.5°C | -15.5°C | 58 mm | 87% | 4.7 m/s | 1.5 |
| 2012 | 0.9°C | -2.3°C | -5.4°C | 8.1°C | -14.4°C | 32 mm | 85% | 4.9 m/s | 1.5 |
| 2011 | -3.8°C | -6.6°C | -9.4°C | 7.4°C | -19.8°C | 21 mm | 85% | 3.8 m/s | 1.4 |
| 2010 | -2.0°C | -4.8°C | -7.7°C | 3.6°C | -16.4°C | 17 mm | 86% | 4.5 m/s | 1.6 |
| 2009 | -4.6°C | -7.8°C | -10.9°C | 1.1°C | -18.9°C | 21 mm | 87% | 4.3 m/s | 1.5 |
| 2008 | 0.4°C | -2.6°C | -5.7°C | 12.5°C | -14.5°C | 36 mm | 84% | 5.2 m/s | 1.6 |
| 2007 | 0.2°C | -2.6°C | -5.4°C | 9.8°C | -15.0°C | 34 mm | 85% | 4.6 m/s | 1.5 |
| 2006 🔥 | 2.9°C | -0.2°C | -3.3°C | 8.0°C | -9.9°C | 33 mm | 87% | 4.8 m/s | 1.5 |
| 2005 | -2.4°C | -6.2°C | -10.1°C | 12.5°C | -22.0°C | 55 mm | 88% | 4.3 m/s | 1.7 |
| 2004 | -4.9°C | -8.0°C | -11.0°C | 9.2°C | -19.7°C | 40 mm | 89% | 5.3 m/s | 1.6 |
| 2003 | -4.9°C | -7.9°C | -11.0°C | 2.9°C | -17.3°C | 21 mm | 86% | 4.9 m/s | 1.7 |
| 2002 | 0.7°C | -2.2°C | -5.1°C | 6.4°C | -13.0°C | 53 mm | 90% | 4.6 m/s | 1.7 |
| 2001 | -2.5°C | -6.0°C | -9.5°C | 1.1°C | -23.7°C | 45 mm | 96% | 3.5 m/s | 1.4 |
| 2000 | -1.9°C | -5.4°C | -8.9°C | 9.8°C | -19.8°C | 41 mm | 88% | 4.7 m/s | 1.6 |
| 1999 🌧️ | -3.4°C | -7.2°C | -11.0°C | 7.4°C | -23.3°C | 111 mm | 93% | 4.9 m/s | 1.6 |
| 1998 | 0.8°C | -2.1°C | -5.1°C | 10.1°C | -12.6°C | 64 mm | 90% | 4.5 m/s | 1.4 |
| 1997 | -2.2°C | -5.7°C | -9.3°C | 10.4°C | -17.6°C | 39 mm | 88% | 5.8 m/s | 1.5 |
| 1996 | -2.6°C | -6.3°C | -10.1°C | 9.9°C | -17.7°C | 42 mm | 86% | 5 m/s | 1.5 |
| 1995 | -0.2°C | -3.2°C | -6.1°C | 12.4°C | -14.9°C | 60 mm | 89% | 4.7 m/s | 1.4 |
| 1994 ❄️ | -7.0°C | -10.9°C | -14.8°C | 2.0°C | -25.9°C | 42 mm | 90% | 5.1 m/s | 1.5 |
| 1993 | -0.7°C | -3.9°C | -7.1°C | 8.5°C | -12.1°C | 60 mm | 88% | 4.8 m/s | 1.4 |
| 1992 | -1.0°C | -4.2°C | -7.4°C | 5.1°C | -18.0°C | 48 mm | 91% | 4.3 m/s | 1.6 |
| 1991 | -3.1°C | -6.6°C | -10.0°C | 1.9°C | -18.1°C | 35 mm | 91% | 4.6 m/s | 1.5 |
| 1990 | 1.0°C | -2.0°C | -5.1°C | 7.5°C | -11.9°C | 35 mm | 89% | 5.1 m/s | 1.4 |
| 1989 | 0.7°C | -2.8°C | -6.3°C | 7.2°C | -14.6°C | 33 mm | 87% | 5.3 m/s | 1.5 |
| 1988 | -2.5°C | -5.6°C | -8.7°C | 8.5°C | -16.7°C | 23 mm | 85% | 5.2 m/s | 1.4 |
| 1987 | -1.6°C | -4.7°C | -7.9°C | 3.7°C | -19.0°C | 38 mm | 90% | 4.1 m/s | 1.3 |
| 1986 | -2.9°C | -6.6°C | -10.3°C | 4.3°C | -20.6°C | 30 mm | 92% | 4.6 m/s | 1.4 |
| 1985 | -4.7°C | -7.7°C | -10.8°C | 6.3°C | -20.1°C | 71 mm | 92% | 4.8 m/s | 1.3 |
| 1984 | -5.9°C | -9.7°C | -13.6°C | 0.2°C | -24.0°C | 43 mm | 95% | 3.8 m/s | 1.5 |
| 1983 | -0.7°C | -3.5°C | -6.4°C | 5.0°C | -18.6°C | 36 mm | 88% | 4.3 m/s | — |
| 1982 | -6.2°C | -10.8°C | -15.4°C | 4.1°C | -28.2°C | 98 mm | 92% | 5.6 m/s | — |
| 1981 | -4.9°C | -8.2°C | -11.5°C | 2.9°C | -18.8°C | 31 mm | 94% | 3.9 m/s | — |
Actual recorded January data for each year, 1981–2025 — sourced from NASA POWER.
The average high in January is around -2°C with lows near -8.5°C (mean -5.2°C), based on 45 years of NASA POWER data.
January averages 42 mm of rainfall in London, one of the drier months. The wettest on record was 111 mm in 1999.
The hottest January reached 12.5°C in 2005. The coldest dipped to -28.2°C in 1982.
Comparing the earliest years on record (1981–1985) with the most recent (2021–2025), average January temperatures have risen by about 4.2°C. Daytime highs moved from -4.5°C to -0.9°C and overnight lows from -11.5°C to -6.7°C over the same span.
January is one of the cooler months of the year in London and one of the drier months, so plan for around -2°C daytime highs and -8.5°C at night.
Yes — January is the coldest month of the year in London, averaging -5.2°C.
For January in London, pack warm layers and a jacket for chilly mornings, with typical highs of -2°C and lows of -8.5°C.
Relative humidity in January averages 88% — quite humid.
Average wind speed in January is 4.7 m/s. The windiest January on record averaged 5.8 m/s (1997).
The wettest January on record was 1999 with 111 mm. On average, January sees 42 mm.
All figures are derived from NASA POWER (Prediction Of Worldwide Energy Resources), based on MERRA-2 satellite reanalysis, covering 1981–2025.
Explore how the weather in London behaves each January, based on 45 years of NASA POWER climate data from 1981 to 2025. This page breaks down average temperatures, rainfall, humidity, wind and solar radiation for January specifically, along with year-by-year records and how the month has changed over the decades.
