Planning a British Isles Cruise? Don’t Get Caught Out by the Weather!

I love a British Isles cruise. Even though I am from the UK, they visit places that I would not usually have the opportunity to get to.

Living down on the south coast of England, I have to take a reasonably long drive or a flight to places like Liverpool, Glasgow, or Edinburgh. I don’t often take the train, as fares can be very expensive.

I am not a great traveller, and I sometimes get car sick – so arriving by cruise ship is a much more appealing option for me.

When visiting the UK, it’s important to plan ahead, with regards to the weather. It can be unpredictable, so layer up and pack a light, waterproof coat at the very least.

Don’t let that put you off, though, taking a cruise around the UK and Ireland can be a wonderful experience, and I highly recommend it.

In this article, we look at the weather month by month, so you will have some idea of what you might get when you come and visit.

January, February and March

January, February and March are usually the coldest months of the year.

The days are short, with an average of eight hours of daylight. Of course, those days might be grey, wet, damp and rainy – or cold, clear and frosty.

Temperatures average 4°C to 9°C (39°F to 48°F). You are unlikely to get snow – at the southern end of the country, at least. If you visit the highlands of Scotland, it may be a different matter…

What To Pack

• A warm, waterproof coat is a necessity.
• Comfortable waterproof shoes or boots if you are planning to do a lot of walking.
• Layer up – sweaters (or jumpers, as we would say in the UK!), think cardigans, long trousers, woolly tights!
• A hat, gloves and scarf may be a good idea.

April

April can be lovely in the UK, spring bulbs like Tulips, bluebells and daffodils are out, the weather is improving and the days are longer.

Temperature average 8°C to 15°C (46°F to 59°F).

Again, the weather is unpredictable; you can get rainy, sunny or windy days.

What To Pack

• A warm, waterproof coat is a necessity.
• Comfortable waterproof shoes or boots if you plan to do a lot of walking.
• Layer up with sweaters (or jumpers, as we would say in the UK!), still think cardigans, long trousers, woolly tights!

May

May can be a lovely month. It’s normally milder, and the days are longer.

Flowers are in bloom, and parks and gardens are beautiful.

Temperatures average 10°C to 16°C (50°F to 61°F).

Still, expect to see some rain, usually just rain showers rather than non-stop, soaking-wet rain.

What To Pack

• Maybe consider a “Pac a Mac” – a fold-up waterproof coat that you can keep in your bag in case it’s needed.
• Again, pack cardigans and jumpers and layer up. You will likely get chilly in the evenings, so get caught short.
• It might be warm enough to wear shorts and sandals, but I would make sure you have some shoes or trainers ( sneakers for showery days.)

June, July and August

These are the warmest summer months in the UK.

Temperatures average around 12°C to 18°C (54°F to 64°F).

It can get up into the 20°s(C) or 70°s(F). Days are long, with an average of 16 hours of daylight a day.

Occasionally, it can get up to as warm as the late 20°(C) or the 80°s (F). If the weather reaches 30c we call that a heatwave and the country seems to come to a stop…

You still might get the odd rainy day or showers.

What To Pack

• Think shorts, t-shirts, summer dresses.
• Again, pack a jumper or cardigan because it might still get chilly, particularly in the evenings.
• A “Pac a Mack” or lightweight waterproof coat would be handy, just in case.
• Pack a pair of trainers (sneakers) or shoes because if it does rain, you will end up with wet feet if you only take sandals.

September

September can be a lovely month to visit the UK.

The schoolchildren usually return to school in the first week of September, so places you might want to visit will be less busy, but the weather is still likely to be good.

Temperature averages around 10°C to 19°C (50°F to 66°F), but it can be warmer if you are lucky.

The daylight hours are getting shorter, but the weather is still mild. There will probably be many sunny days with occasional showers.

What To Pack

• Think shorts, t-shirts, summer dresses. Also, pack long trousers for cooler days and evening wear.
• Pack jumpers or cardigans because it will get chilly in the evenings.
• A “Pac a Mac” or lightweight waterproof coat would be handy, just in case of showers.
• Pack Sandals along with a pair of trainers (sneakers) or shoes.

October, November, December

Days are getting shorter, gloomier and wetter. You will still have some clear, bright, but colder days.

Temperatures average 10°C to 6°C (50°F to 42°F) but could dip down to 4°C to 9°C (39°F to 48°F) by December.

As you get closer to Christmas, there may be snow – but again, usually in the northern half of the country, but it rarely snows in the south.

It is virtually unheard of to have a White Christmas here in the south of the UK.

Days are short, daylight is decreasing, and by December, you might only get eight hours of daylight.

What To Pack

• A warm, waterproof coat is a necessity.
• Comfortable waterproof shoes or boots.
• Layer up – sweaters (or jumpers, as we would say in the UK!), think cardigans, long trousers, woolly tights!
• Hat, gloves, and scarf wouldn’t come amiss!

On my last UK and Ireland cruise, I tried to avoid cruise ship excursions and visit places of interest independently.

This was in August 2023, so it will give you an idea of the weather we had.

Before You Go

Find my complete British Isles Cruise Packing List and Printable Checklist here:

British Isles Cruise – Complete Packing List + Printable Checklist

Find out more about British Isles cruises – places you are likely to visit, prices etc here:

British Isles Cruises: (Real Prices, Weather & More) – Everything You Need to Know