How bad is the U.K. in January??
 

I am itching to go even if it means freezing to death.
I plan to be in Englang and Europe Jan. Feb.March.
How should I prepare in the way of clothing??

I suggest you might check out sites or guidebooks that give the "average" temperature for each region by month or season. 30 degrees in Europe is pretty much like 30 degrees anywhere else (although humidity or lack thereof would certainly affect one's perception of how "cold" it feels) and dress the same way you would if it were 30 degrees where you live. On a "practical" note when I was in Northern Europe last November/December I took a down-filled jacket that crushes to almost nothing, packing-wise, and it was perfect. Am sure you'll be advised to "dress in layers."
I've been to London in January and found the cold to be rather moderate...certainly not a deep freeze.

I've been to London when the tv weatherguy was saying "tomorrow's high is 1C" Yikes, that's cold. (I'm from a warm climate, freezing is too cold for a daily low) Good layering and lots of wonderful museums made for a good visit.

With outside temps near freezing and indoor temps at a comfortable level, you have to be able to add and shed layers without causing a scandal. For my core I went with silk underwear, shirt, sweater, parka with zip-out lining. Plus hat, gloves, scarf.

Also, you don't have to worry about the tube's lack of airconditioning. :)

I was in London in February a couple of years ago and the weather was nice sunny even. Of course, I took a long heavy coat but I was hot some of the time. The tube will be warm. Layer, layer, layer.

I've been to London twice in February and London and Paris in September. I actually don't mind the weather in February and I like that London is less crowded then. Some February days are sunny and you can get by with a warm sweater and a scarf, others are quite chilly especially if it is windy and rainy. Travel to the UK is usually a bargain during the timeframe you mentioned, so don't worry too much about the weather.

We were in London in January a few years back. It was cold 40-50ish and wet, but not as cold or wet as at home. We even did a fair amount of outside stuff like Portobello Road and a walking tour of Kensington. Very pleasant, but we are from Michigan where January is wet and 15 degrees.

I think you'll find England to be relatively warm when compared with it's north European neighbours during the winter months. Usually January is cool, and grey, February very cold and blue, and March can provide the odd warm spell (maybe even low 60s). But surely none of this is enough to put you off visiting?! At least we don't often suffer from typhoons, hurricanes, earthquakes and volcanic eruptions...!

If the UK wasn't cold in winter then you'd not have our wonderful country hotels with oak beams and a roaring fire. What better way to spend an evening in a hotel than having a bar meal and a nice drink next to a real log fire? You can't imagine that in a hotel in Cairo, Las Vegas or Dubai?

Cold wet windy but that is the way I like winters!
Mrs Mc likes to wear long underwear and plenty of sweaters and woolies.
Can hardly find her some mornings!

If you're from FL or CA prepare to be cold. I like silk or poly underlayers, like what you can get in REI or other outdoors shops. Warmth without the bulk.

Best thing about that time of year is the lack of tourists, we're talkin' low season. Worst thing is the grumpiness of the locals on a post-hols downer!

Come on over and try to find the perfect pub fireplace . . .
HTH

I took silk long johns... they fit under anything - and saved my life! It was very cold - but worth it!

To Julie: You women are lucky that you can buy silk undies. We men have to do with uncomfortable cotton briefs or - worse - leaky boxers.

I have to add that the coldest I have ever been in my life was on the Liberty Island ferry, NYC, in the middle of February!

roterbaron, there are many sources of silk underwear for men, try cabelas.com.

Dito the silk thermal wear. We were in London and Paris last Jan with snow,ice and wind and the silk under the wool clothing really saved my life! Check out Land's End they carry silk for men and women. Don't forget a nice wool hat, scarf and gloves.

Hello everyone!
Thanks for the advice.
I am indeed from the tropics.Just went through a hurricane and it is 95 outside today.I don't even own a coat!
I was in London during the Jubilee so I AM looking forward to being there during the low season.
So, now I need to know what type of coat will be 1) The warmest 2) Lightweight 3) Functional.
Can't wait to curl up in front of a roaring fireplace!
Cheers!

Am I the only one from Florida who relishes the cold weather? I can't wait to break out my winter coat ..that only gets about 2 weeks use a year!

Hey roterbaron...they have silk longjohns for men...my DH has them for when he goes hunting in CO on NM in the winter!

As a Londoner I have always hated the months of January and February more than any other.

Partly that's down the cold - I hate having to bundle up in so many layers and I also hate the way the cold seeps into my feet regardless of how thick my socks and boots are.

But mostly the cold is bearable because, as a resident, one tends not to spend as much time outdoors. There are those horrible delays waiting for trains and buses and the occasional need to hurry from one place to another but, generally, I try to keep my exposure to bitter winds and rains to a minimum.

What I find hardest to deal with is the darkness.

Sunrise is so late. Sunset is so very early. If you're working you can pass the entire day without seeing much sunlight at all since it's dark when leaving home for work and when leaving work for home.

I find myself feeling lethargic and less sociable during these months of darkness. It may also be an issue for a visitor if the intention is to spend a lot of time just walking through various areas rather than visiting specific indoor sites.

It all depends on how much the climate and darkness affect you individually.

In terms of clothing, I would recommend above all keeping feet, hands, head and neck warm and dry so do pack warm socks, gloves, scarf and hat. Go for layers in terms of clothing rather than rely solely on a thick coat. Weather is unpredictable even at that time of year. Layers are more adaptable.

Hope you enjoy the visit.

It will be quite cold in London during January. Ive lived here all my life and Jan is the coldest month. So bring lots of warm clothes (good overcoats for Jan). Occasionally it snows and there can be freezing conditions, so bring good shoes/walking boots in case of icy roads (if you plan to do lots of walking). Sometimes the wind chillk can be quite severe. So a good scarf and gloves can be quite handy. However February is not as cold and March is much milder.

Enjoy your trip.

You didn't say where in England you were thinking of going.
If you mean further North from London, then I would say "wet, bring an umbrella and lots of socks" (I used to live in Lancashire.)

Bluewater - no one has yet answered you about lightest weight etc coat, and I am not an expert either -- but if I were you, thinking of buying one coat to have on hand for winter travel, I think I'd get hold of a LandsEnd catalog, and look in there for something like a "long stadium coat."

The catalog is full of educational stuff about what various coats protect you from. I think the long stadium thing has the advantage of looking a bit more urban than a jacket & covering more of you.

LL Bean might have something too. But warm-light-urban isn't that easy a bill to fill, I find. (Live in cold city, NY. Sheepskin, leather, fur, fake fur -- warm but heavy. Wool is heavy too. Down can look "wrong" to me here.)