Weather in England in November

Is November a good time to go to England?

While still technically autumn, the dark grey days and cold, wet weather are very much characteristic of winter– beach lovers and sun seekers should avoid November. Nevertheless, the empty museum hallways and quiet galleries, as well as a host of great festivals all come at a bargain. Despite the weather, it’s a great time to make the most of a European holiday; finish the English leg of the trip in London on Friday and drink coffee in a Parisian café on Monday.
 

Climate in England in November

It’s grey, wet and typically below 10° (50°F) on most November days and the darkness makes the days feel too short sometimes. Many places will have a number of snowy days, especially in the north and, in a particularly cold winter, the country can shut down on a snowy day. In addition, recent years have seen flooding in England, so beware of weather warnings in the region.

 

What’s on in England in November

Escape the blustery autumn blues at some of the arts and music festivals of the month, including the Wetherby Arts Festival, the Dundee Jazz Festival, the London Jazz Festival, the Brighton Early Music Festival and the Tenby Blues Festival. Even couch potatoes leave the comfort of the living room to get to the Cornwall and Bath film festivals, and book lovers brave the elements to visit the Leicester Literary Festival and the Folkestone Book Festival.

There is always a light side to winter, especially at the Greenwich Comedy Festival, as well as at the major light displays in Lancaster, Durham and Warminster. Hungry travellers will find food, glorious food, at the BBC Masterchef exhibition in London, the BBC Good Food Show in Birmingham, as well as at beer festivals in Heathrow, Rochford and Wakefield. Finally, a trip to England in November would not be complete without a visit to the capital for the Lord Mayor’s Show, which has now been active for over 800 years.
 

What to pack for a holiday in England in November

November is very much like winter in England and it is important to pack layers of clothing; preferably dark synthetic clothing because it does not show dirt easily and dries faster than wool or cotton. Pack some T-shirts and long sleeved shirts to wear with a warm jersey, a warm waterproof coat or raincoat, jeans and durable trousers, with some hats, gloves and scarves for extra warmth. Trainers and closed toed shoes are okay for the city, but boots are first prize because there’s little worse than a wet shoe on a holiday. Lastly, pack some smart clothes for a special night out at an exclusive restaurant, event or nightclub.