They're right Bobby, and they would know, don't take that puffy down coat -- it's not gonna snow and you will boil in it. I visit London late November every year and conclude I don't really need a coat, just some sort of jacket that is not too heavy or too long. Take a sweater to wear underneath. The best weather I ever experienced in London was over Christmas a few years ago -- the sun was blinding for two straight days and I abandoned most clothing layers. If you want *snow* and *winter* you're going to the wrong place.

November is actually my favourite time to visit the UK (and I've been there many times at every time of the year). Fairly mild weather, far fewer tourists....

I spent last Thanksgiving in London. The weather was perfect, NO crowds and it was cheaper (if you could call it that!). Not sure who said there were tourists in London during November, but we saw very few. And we saw mainly Americans who were taking advantage of using fewer vacation days during T-giving like us. I only wore a lambs wool jacket or a rain pullover and was fine. Remember, it could be cold and rainy in August there as my UK friend tells me. And besides, we were mainly inside if it did rain which I think was a day or so. Check the historical weather on a site to see if it is something you want. Maybe we got lucky, but I would absolutely go that time of year again. It does get eerily dark there very early that time of year. But who cares. Stay in West End if you can. London is awesome, have fun!

Flanner said:
"November DOES have a mini boom in foreign tourists."

I think you mean LONDON DOES have a mini boom in foreign tourist.

I don't see foreign tourists flocking to many places other than London in Nov.

I don't like November, guy fawkes, darkness, damp and the Build up to Christmas selling already in full swing yuk !!

;-)

Muck

hi, BMK,

how about Cornwall in February - the gardens are open, magnolias in full bloom, and if it rains, you can catch the early daffs at Eden.

regards, ann

Everyone talks about the weather; and rightly so:

I was in London in Nov, 1952: London's 'Black Fog' stayed around for more than a week: many people died! Tubes were running OK; and I actually saw Bus Conducters walking out in front of the Bus with a torch (flashlight) to show the driver the way.

You shouldn't experience anything like that. Expect cold (50's), damp weather in November. Mid-September to mid-October is probably better.

I take it all back. It's winter NOW.

It is indeed Sheila.

Yesterday morning, 9.15am in my garden here in Glasgow it was 10 degrees. Unbelievable August weather.

The house's central heating has been on for a week!

bill

NEDSIRELAND,

Fascinating reply. I find myself wondering if your recollections are those of a young child (we all have them and did it actually happen that way?) or a young adult (12-13 years old maybe?) or were you grown up at the time?

I remember the soot-black buildings in Manchester when i was a child.

I guess I'm asking, how old are you?

NED - Your experience probably had more to do with the fact that coal was still widely used in the 50's and less to do with the season itself.

NED's quite right. It really happened. It was fog that was teh catalyst.

And I take it all back. I just went out and it's glorious. Long may it continue.

NED's right, and coal (not to mention manufacturing industry) was the catalyst for the fog.

We then passed a series of clean air acts, sent the manufacturing abroad and London Fog is now no more than an American brand of raincoat.

?????

We can have fog any time of year and still do.

I repeat, the reason the 50's fogs were so bad is because they were combined with pollution from coal dust. Thus the season is immaterial, as the source of the BLACK fog (coal) has been largely removed now.

What we used to get was smog. Now we just get fog - which harms no one.