September Weather in London: Average Temperatures, Daylight, & Rainfall

London isn’t famous for its sunny demeanor. This rings true for both its climate and the attitude of your average Englishman.

However, London does experience some warmth and sunshine in its summer months. Occasionally, it even gets quite hot. This can be a bit problematic for the aging city. This is because most of the buildings in its borders aren’t equipped with air conditioning.

September can go either way for Swinging London. A bit of sunshine, a bit of rain, or sometimes, a lot of both. In general, it’s one of the milder months in the British Isles. Some would call it the secret month of summer.

If you’re interested in taking a trip to London in September or are just interested in the climate of this iconic location, take a read over this guide to its weather during that time period.

Average September Temperatures in London

London has what climatologists refer to as an oceanic climate. This is the same type of climate that exists in much of Great Britain. Oceanic climates mean a lot of rain mixed with relatively mild temperatures. The weather stays mostly cool, and there are very few overall temperature swings or extremes. This has some advantages, though many folks who live in the United Kingdom complain about the lack of sun they receive. Luckily for them, the Mediterranean is just around the corner further south in Europe.

September is somewhat exemplary of this type of climate, though slightly warmer than you’ll find the country deeper into fall and winter. There’s still a bit of the afterglow of the English summer to experience in this month.

The average high temperature in London in September is approximately 69 degrees Fahrenheit, or 19 degrees Celsius. The average low temperature during this month is 56 degrees Fahrenheit, or 13.7 degrees Celsius. This pleasant temperature range is slightly lower than the summer averages of a high of 74 and a low of 59.

As one can see, there’s ultimately only a slight variation in these mild temperature ranges. The record high temperature in London in September was 96.1 degrees Fahrenheit, recorded in 1906.

Daylight Hours in London in September

London and the rest of The United Kingdom are fairly high up in latitude. This means that the changing of the seasons makes for more drastic changes in the amount of daylight one experiences.

However, September is the month of the fall equinox in the Northern Hemisphere. This means that it has the most equitable amount of day and nighttime on average in the year (along with March, when the Spring Equinox occurs).

Around the Spring Equinox, the sun rises at seven AM in London and sets around seven PM. This gives you plenty of time for both daytime and nighttime activities.

Average Rainfall in London in September

Like the rest of the British Isles, London can feature plenty of rain at any time of year. However, rainfall in September. September is no different, and the average rainfall in the city during this month is approximately 2.6 inches. This is spread out over an average of 12 rainy days in this balmy month.

This means you’ll get a bit of a sprinkle during this time period but are unlikely to spend your entire trip dodging mist and rain. You’ll also likely experience a bit of sun.

The rainfall during this time isn’t too different from the winter months, which many perceive as the rainiest periods of the year. The average rainfall in London around that time actually ended up being about the same, just spread out over more days.

Much of this has to do with the nature of an oceanic climate. These types of climates tend to feature a bit of rain over the course of the year, spread out somewhat evenly.

Is September a Good Time to Visit London?

September is a great time to visit London. Because you end up missing some of the busiest months of the tourist season, many who are familiar with the city would say that it’s one of the best months to visit.

Travel connoisseurs refer to the spring and fall as “shoulder seasons” — these times of year are often the best time to go to places that are popular with tourists. You get to see a genuine side of the place, avoid throngs of tourist crowds, and likely experience some of the best weather all year.

That being said, there’s always something to do no matter when you visit London. This means that there’s really ultimately no bad to visit, depending on what you’re looking for.

The photo featured at the top of this post is © Bucchi Francesco/Shutterstock.com