Steve

Our family is planning our first trip to London and we can either go March 12-22nd or May 23-31st. Would love feedback as to pros and cons of both. We are probably leaning towards March just because we are anxious to go, but wonder if we should wait until it is warmer and greener.

Ira

Hi Steve,<BR> It will be warmer and greener, but airfare and hotel rates are likely to be higher.

janis

There shouldn't be too much difference in hotel rates. Airfares will be dirt cheap in March - but there are bargains to be found all the way into June. While there is no guarantee any time of the year, May would be much more likely to have decent weather. The gardens will be better, it should be warm enough to enjoy Thames cruises, and make outdoors activities MUCH more comfortable. The days are also significantly longer in late May.<BR><BR>If the airfare isn't tremendously higher, I would choose May for a first London trip.

Matt

<BR>I'd recommend May.<BR>From experience, the days will be longer and warmer, the flowers and trees will be in full bloom and it will be just before the start of the tourist season yet most places will already be open but without mass crowds. Perfect ! Besides, when you get back home, you'll still have the whole summer just beginning.

bettyk

We were in London in mid May last year and the weather was mostly good. It was windy and cold the day we went to the Tower of London and rained on the day we left. Of course, this year it could be entirely different! I love the gardens in London and agree that everything will be greener in May.

Jen

May is prettier, but March is sooner. Furthermore, the dates you've given us indicate that if you go in March you'll have 2 more days to spend there. That alone would make the decision for me! If you're from the colder northern part of the US, even March in the UK will look pretty good, with leaves sprouting and bulbs blooming.

Joyce

Visit in May if you are planning any side trips to other towns. The surroundings will be more attractive then. The English countryside is beautiful when the weather is nice.<BR><BR>You will get rainy days even in May, but overall the weather will be much nicer then than in March. Also, in May you will not have to take winter clothing with you, which will make for easier packing and walking around town.

elaine

May has more hours of daylight<BR>which may compensate for the fewer number of days you have there<BR>plus monuments and museums will be on summer hours

wwwww

It depends on how important it is to you to have good weather and how you plan to spend your time. Some people don't mind inclement weather and their interests (museums, plays, cathedrals. etc.) are not weather-dependent. For me, however, weather greatly influences my enjoyment of a trip. In London, I like boat rides on the Thames, street markets, sitting in the parks, watching the changing of the guard, Covent Garden,and just generally wandering around (in addition to museums and plays). All of this is much more pleasant in good weather. <BR><BR>May is much more likely than March to have pleasant weather. If you plan to be outdoors a lot and don't want to slog through rain, then choose May. If having two extra days in London is important and rain doesn't bother you, then go in March. In any event, London is a wonderful place to visit and I wish you a very pleasant trip.

Mike Keene

Hello Steve,<BR>As a Londoner/tourguide I think I'd go marginally for May. It is difficult to decide on the grounds of weather because it's so unpredictable here but more likely to be a little warmer. As others have said the evenings will be longer in May and still not too crowded, it gets really hectic from July. <BR>Mail me if you need any more help.<BR><BR>Have a great trip!

Justin

Well, I will be in London in May, therefore that makes it better, in and of itself. <BR><BR>Seriously, I am going then because I found a rate of $502 to fly from Jacksonville to Gatwick, not including taxes. It has one of the lowest average rainfall of any month. It is warmer, long days, things stay open longer. Hotel rates are usually slightly cheaper, overall, it was an easy decision to make. Although, I was deciding whether to go in May or August.

isabel

Since everyone else is voting for May I'll vote for March - maybe because I'm also going then so I want to think it will be good. But anyway here are my reasons:<BR><BR>While May has more hours of sunlight, March has about 12 which is quite a lot, but since it does get dark by 6:30 or so there is plenty of time to enjoy Lodon with the lights on. I don't know if London is a pretty after dark as Paris but when I went to Paris last July I was actually disappointed that it didn't get dark till so late (after 11:00) cause I wanted more time to enjoy the lights.<BR><BR>While it won't be warm, there should be buds on trees and early flowers (bulbs). Havn't been to London in March but people have told me it's similiar to Paris in terms of bloom times. Last March Paris was beautiful with early flowering trees and green grass. But since most of the trees only had buds you see through them in ways you can't when they are fully leafed out. Also, depending on where you are coming from (like the north east) March could feel like a real difference, something I really like, whereas in May, both places are more similiar.