London in January
 

Did anyone ever go to London in mid-January? I would like to spend 9-10 days but I am scared that it'll be pretty cold. I found the average temperatures for January are between 5 and 10 degree Celsius. Does London ever get snow? What kind of clothes should I bring? How much tourists is there in January compared to the summer?

I also would like to know the best way to get cheap tickets to musicals (Hairspray, Lion King, Wicked...). I've always wanted to see them but I'm on a tight budget. Is it better to buy from home or when I get there?
Thank you!

I've been in London in late Jan for the last two years

and though one day two years ago there was a dusting of snow (shut the tube and roads virtually down for the morning)

the weather is rarely cold enough to snow

this Feb 2 it was sunny and over 60 and the whole week was in the 50s and sunny - better weather than i've seen in some summers there

snow or more likely ice is remotely possible but real snow very rare i believe

Yes, it's cold in London in mid-Jan. You'll also see very little daylight or sun for that matter. Sunrise is around 8am and sunset is around 4pm.

Where do you live? I don't think it's too much of a difference from say NYC or Boston. But if you live in Southern CA or the South, you'll find it quite cold and bleak.

Obviously, this is the low season, so yes, there'll be fewer tourists than summer. But London being London, it'll still have plenty of tourists.

Did anyone ever go to London in mid-January? I would like to spend 9-10 days but I am scared that it'll be pretty cold. I found the average temperatures for January are between 5 and 10 degree Celsius. Does London ever get snow?>>>

I live here. Yes London can be cold in January - aboput -5C is as bad as it can get, and temperatures of 5-10C are about right.

Yes London does get snow but it rarely settles. It does however completly throw the transport into chaos (we're not equipped for it)


What kind of clothes should I bring? How much tourists is there in January compared to the summer?>>>>

Bring warm clothes and some rain protection (it will certainly rain at some times during your stay)

There are significantly less tourists in January - but that still leaves plenty.


I also would like to know the best way to get cheap tickets to musicals (Hairspray, Lion King, Wicked...). I've always wanted to see them but I'm on a tight budget. Is it better to buy from home or when I get there?
Thank you!>>>

There's no "right" answer to this. One way is to go to the half price ticket booth in Leicester Square on the day of the performance. However you are far from guarenteed to get to see a particular show.

Many theatres run promotions during less busy times - look at their websites.

Yes cold is a relative term

In Feb early in London i thought spring had come - daffodils and flowers were blooming in parks

some trees were flowering - the grass was green

One sunday temps were in 60s and parks were full with picknickers, etc.

But yes 40s could be considered cold

and 30s real cold

and 20s freezing

But the whole winter at my home there are weeks when temps do not get above freezing and the daily high can be about zero F

So i find London balmy in dead of winter

Calif types will be shivering.

The snowbanks finally melted here about a week ago

&quot;<i>Calif types will be shivering</i>&quot; Hardly. Among the heaviest snow fall in all of the US is in eastern California. And Truckee CA is very often the coldest weather station in the entire country. Much, MUCH, <b>MUCH</b> colder than London <u>ever</u> experiences. But then again - maybe you are among those who think &quot;California&quot; only means LA . . . . .

nessa: Why are you &quot;scared&quot; of low temps. London does not get nearly as cold as places like Chicago, or NYC or Minnesota, or just about anywhere in the northern/northeastern USA. Take scarves/gloves/warm shoes and clothes you can layer and you'll be fine.

The TKTS booth in Leicester Square will have 1/2 price tickets to most but not all shows in London. So unless there is a blockbuster show that sells out, you will find plenty to choose from.

&lt; What kind of clothes should I bring? &gt;

Wool sweaters, wool pants, wool socks, boots, wool hat, wool scarf, gloves, a long wool coat. And an umbrella.

Actually - I almost never bring a long wool coat (or any wool coat). When I lived there and had my whole wardrobe available to choose from - sure. But when visiting, that is just not as practical since wool is not good in wet weather.

I bring a raincoat w/ a zipout liner. Mine is a s warm as most wool coats since the lining extends down the sleeves.

layering is the key IMO rather than say bringing gear that may be too heavy if it's 50s and gear too skimpy if it's in low 30s

layering allows you to change quickly as the weather is always apt to here

I come from a rather cold weather (Montreal, Canada on the East coast so we have probably colder temperatures than let's say NYC and probably way more snow). I like flying with only a carry-on so I do not like bringing tons of clothes. I usually like sightseeing in nicer weather because I don't need to wear that many clothes.

Since you already have cold weather clothing you won't have ANY trouble. I only use carry ons (the raincoat/liner goes in the overhead w/ my carry on - not inside the rollaboard suitcase)

Silk Long underwear is a great addition - very light, takes up almost no space in the bag, and is nice and warm. Good socks are a must. But otherwise - layering lighter clothing is generally better than taking heavy sweaters and such. Many bldgs are over heated so you'll want layers you can remove.

jj - yes So Cal where all the people live

you are soooooo mis-informed . . . . .

About 25% live in LA county. And just under 50% live in LA, San Diego, Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino counties together.

That is a surprise really - but even most of No Cal is much warmer in winter than London - except higher elevations inland

Seattle would probably approximate a London winter weatherwise

I haven't been in Jan, but I recently got back from a chilly Easter visit. It snowed on Easter (just a dusting). The great thing about being in London is that the weather changes so fast! And when it's cold and/or wet and/or miserable there is so much to inside. Definitely don't let weather concerns keep you from London. It's a year round destination!

The odds are that despite the temperature it will feel damp and if you aren't dressed warmly you will feel as if your very soul is being sucked from you

London is warmer than NYC or Boston in the winter and rarely gets snow, while Boston gets quite a bit and NYC does some years (this year we had only about 10&quot; all together, but some winters we'll get 7 or 8 storms of 6&quot; plus, and a very heavy storm every 5 years or so).

The weather is more like what you would get in Virginia or even North Carolina.

Would it be comparable to Vancouver? I was there this February and found that it was much warmer than I expected.

From what I understood from your responses, I should bring many layers, good pair of socks and a good jacket.

What about shoes? Would I be fine with a good pair of walking/running shoes and a pair of &quot;city boots&quot; (not the kind that you go in the snow with)?

(Thanks everyone for all the answers! It's been very helpful!)

yes - those would be great shoe choices. Just make sure any shoes you take are <b>comfortable</b> because you'll walk your legs off . . . . .

In my understanding London in winter would be very comparable to Vancouver

Been a few times in January - I'm in Toronto - I took a winter coat and boots, not really heavy ones but better to keep your feet dry - they get cold and it's hard to warm up, gloves, scarf, a hat but you won't always need them.

London in January is nothing like a Montreal or Toronto winter.

I was in London this past January...the last Saturday I was there was 19 January...I had tickets to see Tom Paxton at the Queen Elizabeth Centre on Southbank (amazing, it was sold out believe it or not and all the Brits there knew the words to all his great songs, was I impressed as I might have been the only American there!) but in any event, it was around 15 degrees and was such a pleasant night sitting on one of the benches on the South Bank of the thames waiting for the concert to begin wearing a spring jacket...actually it usually doesn't get under freezing, probably the lowest it was was about 3 or 4 degrees and while the telly talked about terrible weather throughout the country, the entire week was not so terrible as temperatures during the day were about 8 or 9 and at night as noted 3 or 4...you will be pleasantly surprised (although I suppose it can get a bit nippier but from what I've read, it hardly ever snows so hard that snow sticks).

January 2008 was the wettest on record, but who knows what 2009 will be like.

During bad weather, it's generally better to travel by tube.

You should bring a scarf and gloves, an umbrella that folds up small and two pairs of comfortable shoes or boots (in case one pair gets wet). A mac or waterproof jacket is fine, if you can put warm layers underneath. Thermal underwear is great in really cold weather.

I'd have a rainproof outer layer. London gets windy too, so a lined microfiber raincoat would protect you against rain and that cold damp wind.

Thanks everyone! I think my weather concerns are pretty much answered. I have 2 new questions though.

-For a 10 day-trip (if I'm, let's say, flying in early morning on day 1 and flying out on day 11), what would be my best transport card option? I've tried to sketch some kind of itinerary by grouping the sites I want to see that are close together in one day. So I guess most of the transportation I'll need will be from accommodation to area and back; maybe some days it'll be more if I decide to go out at night or something. Could I just get an Oyster card with money on it and use it as I go or would getting a 7-day travelcard and a 3-day card be better?

-This may sound really stupid but is it hard for people to understand the British accent? English isn't my first language and I'm still learning but I found that when I watch British movies and I have difficulties to understand what they say. I'm thinking to rent a whole bunch of British movies to practice! Anyone more suggestions for that? Again this may sound silly but I know that by experience, some French from France can't even understand us French-Canadians even though we speak the same language, just with different accents and expressions.

&quot;<i>is it hard for people to understand the British accent? </i>&quot; :) Not stupid.

Well - first of all there isn't one British accent. You will understand many folks but you will run into Scots, South Asians, Welsh, folks from the NW and NE of England and lots of others - and ALL will sound different. Just like in the States, Alabamans sound nothing like people from Minnesota.

If you rent a film set in parts of northern England or Glasgow you will think you are listening to some alien tongue :D

Just remember - they will have just as hard a time understanding you - and there are people in London from just about EVERY county on Earth -- so don't sweat it.

Now about your travel card -- Get an Oyster card and load a zone 1-2, weekly travel card on it. Then as that runs out you can add more &pound; onto the Oyster. Pay as you go may be the best choice for the last 3 days - or maybe not. But the ticket seller in any tube station will be able to tell you which option is best. Don't worry about it - the staff knows everything about Oyster and will sell you the best tickets for your needs.

nessa, I live in London, and I once spent two weeks in Montreal in early November. My regular London clothes were fine for the weather there. It was more consistently colder than London, perhaps, (but fortunately sunny), but nothing we don't experience here. The main difference is that our weather is more changeable - but when the clouds come in they tend to trap the warmer air London's giving off.

As PalenQ says, layers are the thing, rather than thick and bulky clothes. So T-shirts, a sweater or two, something warm for your legs, scarf and gloves, a warm (and waterproof) outer layer. You can also get scarves, gloves and some sort of waterproofing fairly cheap once you're here (street stalls and the like).

nessa-

1) If you are going with someone else on the trip, you may be better off getting a PAPER 7-day travelcard so that you can take advantage of the 2-for-1 deals. If you're going by yourself, then just load a 7-day travelcard onto your Oyster card. If you'ren ot sure what the 2-for-1 deals are, do a search here or go to www.daysoutguide.co.uk

2) As far as British accent goes, I don't think it's that difficult to understand. But Northern UK accents can be quite challenging. Like Janis said, lots of people in London are from different countries (esp Eastern Europe these days). AS a matter of fact, on my last trip 6 months ago, almost every waitstaff in all the restaurants I went to had some &quot;foreign&quot; accents. It won't hurt to rent some British movies just for fun but i don't think it's essential.

yk,

I will be traveling by myself so I guess I would be better with just an Oyster card and loading a zone 1-2 week card on it. I'm guessing getting the Oyster card from any Tube station will be no problem.

Any advice on special things to do in London in winter? I'll hit all the main museums and take a day-trip to Bath. I'll try to visit a few markets as well. But if anyone has any suggestions that would be nice. I'm not such an outdoor kind of person but I do enjoy walking in the city.

I've taken a couple of walks with London Walks. They have plenty of tours every day of the week. The tours are quite popular but I tend to think they aren't as popular in the winter.

I always enjoy going to the opera or symphony or musical or theatre when I'm in London. Esp the opera and symphony because their seasons only run from fall thru spring and not available in summer. But whether those things interest you I do not know.

Otherwise, lots of tea breaks will keep you warm.

Would it be worth it to take the London Eye ride in January? Any idea how long the lines are at that time of the year? Would the fast track be worth the extra money? Would I be better early in the morning? Or later at night?

If it's a clear day it's definitely worth a ride. I've been in June 2006 and then again in March 2008 and the lines have never been prohibitive. Both times it took approximately 10 minutes to get tickets, 20 to wait in line and then 30 for the ride.

why would not this fab ride be as great in january as in any other months

or do the Londonscapes appear different in different months?

St Paul's, Houses of Parliament, buckingham palace, the Gherkin, the Royal Parks, Trafalgar Square, the tall modern buildings in the city and even the Thames will be about the same in January as in any other month

The Eye closes for nearly 2 weeks every January for maintenance. Not sure if the 2009 dates have been published yet.

Thanks janisj! That's very useful to know!

The Eye closes for nearly 2 weeks every January for some much needed 'shut eye'

I found the dates for the London Eye maintenance period: January 11th to 20th.

Alright everyone! I think it's time to post my first schedule. This is just a rough itinerary of what I really want to see. PLEASEEEE comment and help me make this better.

(Just a side note first: I think I'll actually manage to take a full 2 weeks of vacation! I'm planning for 13 full days now! I'm really excited.)

Day 1 (Thursday)-
Land in LGW early morning
Leave luggage at hostel and take the hop on bus tour

Day 2 -
Explore the South Kensington museums and do a little shopping in the area

Day 3 -
If weather permits, London Eye
Tate Modern and Tate Britain (is the TateToTate boat running in the winter as well?)
Visit Borough Market and the Southbank Book Market

Day 4 -
Visit the Spitalfields Market
Take a walking tour of the East End

Day 5 -
Lazy morning around Hyde Park
Visit the Westminster Abbey

Day 6 -
Day trip to Bath

Day 7 -
Take the Westminster Walk in the morning
Visit the National Gallery
Visit the Florence Nightingale Museum

Day 8 -
Visit Greenwich and Maritime Museum
Come back to Central London for afternoon tea (any nice formal place to suggest? Brown's? Dorcester? Claridge's?)
Visit the National Portrait Museum (late night on Thursdays and Fridays)

Day 9 -
Visit the Courtauld Gallery and Covent Garden
See lunchtime concert at St. Martin in the Fields
Shop on Oxford St. and around

Day 10 -
Explore Notting Hill and Portobello Market in the morning
Visit Guildhall Art Gallery and Museum of London in the afternoon

Day 11 -
Explore Hampstead Heath and Camden Town

Day 12 -
Take the Inns of Courts walking tour
Do a little more shopping in the afternoon or go back to any place or museum missed

Day 13 -
The best for last:
British Museum and British Library
Also take the Literary Bloomsbury and Old Museum Quarter Walk.

Day 14 -
Bye bye London.

Ouff. That's it. Well almost. I almost want to see an opera and a musical but I guess I'll just try to find tickets when in London.
I will have a travelcard for the whole time (7-day travelcard x 2).
I guess it's pretty easy to figure out my interests: art, books and shopping. It's really that easy.
So anything I might be missing? (But don't tell me the Tower of London. I can't even understand what's interesting to see there and I refuse to pay 30$ for admission.)

Day 1 (Thursday)-
Looks great. This is a nice way to orient yourself and maybe get a few photos!

Day 2 -
Sounds like a good plan. If you're coming from far away you may still be jet lagged so maybe only one museum?

Day 3 -
Try to do Borough Market first thing in the morning before it gets to crowded. London Eye is a great combo with Southbank Book market (as well as Gabriel's Wharf and possibly even Oxo tower). Perhaps others can comment on the museums. I find it an awful lot to do more than one museum in a day. I love museums and the museums in London are amazing, but overwhelming!

Day 4 -
Don't have any advice on this one

Day 5 -
If you weren't able to make it to The Tate you could go after Westminster Abbey as it is nearby

Day 6 -
Trip to Bath sounds great!

Day 7 -
This plan definitely makes logistic sense since the National Gallery is a medium walk from Westminster Abbey. I LOVE the National Gallery!

Day 8 -
We did tea at the Lanesborough...very nice!
The National Portrait Gallery is nice, but compared to some of the other wonderful museums it paled a bit for me. There are some great pieces - particularly the Tudors.

Day 9 -
No advice

Day 10 -
Get to Portobello Rd Market early to beat crowds. It gets crazy!

Day 11 -
Hampstead Heath and Camden Town - both fun areas!

Day 12 -
This sounds like a good low key day to catch up on missed things.

Day 13 -
The best for last:
Allow yourself plent of time for the British Museum!

Day 14 -
Bye bye London.

The only major thing I noticed missing was the Tower of London. It's my hands down favorite London historical site!

You're going to have a great trip!

&quot;-This may sound really stupid but is it hard for people to understand the British accent? English isn't my first language and I'm still learning but I found that when I watch British movies and I have difficulties to understand what they say.&quot;

Not at all. I'm from the US so english is my first language and for the life of me, I cannot understand some Brits and especially the Scottish. I have no problem understanding scandinavians whose first language is not english. I ususally have no problems with germans but some brits and especially scots, it sounds like they have a mouthful of food and trying to talk at the same time and you're thinking HUH????