United Kingdom, Europe

London in February

Still quiet and cheap. Half-term school break in mid-February bumps family attractions for a week.

Quiet valueChilly, highs near 48F (9C), days lengthening

Tower Bridge over the Thames, London — LondonPhoto: Bob Collowan, CC BY-SA 3.0

The straight answer

February is a quiet, good-value month to visit London. Still quiet and cheap. Half-term school break in mid-February bumps family attractions for a week.

Weather: Chilly, highs near 48F (9C), days lengthening
Crowds: 1 of 5
Prices: 1 of 5

What February is like in London

February stays chilly and quiet, with highs near 48F (9C) and days getting noticeably longer by the end of the month. Hotels and airfare are still near their yearly low, and the museums and theatres run as normal. The one bump is the UK half-term school break in mid February, which crowds family attractions for about a week.

It suits couples, culture trips and budget travelers who do not mind gray skies. Families should either use half-term to their advantage or avoid it, depending on how much they mind queues. For parks and outdoor time, March or later is a better bet.

Make the most of February

What is especially good about London this month.

Low prices on hotels

Central hotels that cost a fortune in summer are often well discounted, which makes a Southwark or Marylebone base affordable.

Pub season

A gray afternoon at a museum followed by a pub with a fire is the classic winter London day, and February is made for it.

Borough Market without the crush

Midweek visits are easy this time of year. Go hungry on a Wednesday or Thursday and you can actually move between the stalls.

What to pack for February

A waterproof coat that also keeps you warm
Comfortable waterproof shoes for long walking days
A compact umbrella or hooded rain layer
Gloves and a warm hat

Our timing tip

Check the UK half-term dates before you book, because the Natural History Museum and the Tower get noticeably busier that week.

Book London for February.

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Hotels. Expedia
Hotels in London
Opens a hotel search for London in February, dates filled in. Book early for the best months: the good rooms go first.
Hotels for February
Vacation rentals. Vrbo
Vacation rentals in London
Whole homes, condos and villas. Usually the better deal for families and groups, with a kitchen and room to spread out.
Rentals on Vrbo
Tours and tickets. Expedia
Tours and tickets in London
Timed-entry tickets, day trips and guided tours in London for February. Popular slots sell out in the best months.
Tours and tickets

Things to do in London

Full guide

Tower of London

Book online and arrive at opening; go straight to the Crown Jewels before the queue builds. Yeoman Warder tours are free with entry and worth planning around.

Official site ↗Tickets and tours →

British Museum

Free entry, but book a timed slot in busy months. The Rosetta Stone room is calmest in the first hour.

Official site ↗Tickets and tours →

Westminster Abbey

Closed to tourists on Sundays for services. Verger-led tours are the sleeper upgrade.

Official site ↗Tickets and tours →

Borough Market

Full market runs Wednesday through Saturday; Saturdays are a crush by 11am. Go hungry, early, midweek.

Official site ↗Tickets and tours →

The South Bank walk

Tate Modern to Tower Bridge along the river is the best free afternoon in London, in any weather.

Tickets and tours →

West End show

The TKTS booth in Leicester Square sells legitimate same-day discounts. Midweek matinees are easiest.

Official site ↗Tickets and tours →

Beat the crowds

Do the Tower of London at opening or after 3pm; the cruise-excursion and coach-tour wave hits between 10am and 2pm.
The free museums are busiest on weekends and rainy afternoons. A sunny weekday morning at the British Museum feels like a different institution.
Book Westminster Abbey's first entry and you will have the Poets' Corner nearly alone; by late morning it is a slow shuffle.
Ride the London Eye in the last daylight hour instead of midday: shorter lines and better light.

Know before you go

London has no off-season shutdown. Museums, theatre, and restaurants run at full speed all twelve months; winter changes the light and the price, not the access.
December 25 is the one true closure day: nearly everything shuts, including the entire Tube network. December 26 (Boxing Day) still runs reduced hours and transit.
Buckingham Palace's state rooms open to the public only in summer, generally July into September. The rest of the year you are looking at the outside.
Westminster Abbey closes to sightseers on Sundays, and state occasions can close it or the surrounding streets with little notice.

London in February, quick answers

Is February a good time to visit London?

February is a quiet, good-value month to visit London. Still quiet and cheap. Half-term school break in mid-February bumps family attractions for a week.

What is the weather like in London in February?

Chilly, highs near 48F (9C), days lengthening.

Is London crowded in February?

February is one of the quieter months in London; most sights can be done without long waits.