Everything you need to know about winter in England
Whether you’re looking to visit or move to England, it’s important to know what winter in England is truly like. Here’s some tips and tricks to surviving during the coldest (and darkest) month in England
What to wear (or pack)
The most important thing to have during winter in England is a reliable winter coat. The best coat for an English winter is something that’s warm, waterproof and ideally has a hood. It’s more likely to rain on you during winter in England than snow, so it’s really important to have something that can protect you during the rain.
I would also recommend picking a coat that’s long to help keep you warm in the cold wind.
Properly shoes or boots are also important. While it’s unlikely that you’ll ever need serious winter boots, you will need waterproof boots for wintertime. Your boots still need to warm, as well. Just because there’s no snow doesn’t mean it’s not cold!
Since you’ll be dealing with a lot of rain, it’s wise to have a good umbrella, too. The best option is a compact umbrella that can be folded up into a case and put into your purse or backpack. That way, your wet umbrella can be stored away without ruining your stuff.
Weather conditions in England
Of course, weather conditions in the winter will depend on where in England you’re visiting (or living). Overall, you could see temperatures range from -1C and 10C. December to February are typically the coldest months, with the average temperature hovering around 3C. Most years, January is the coldest month.
By September and October, you’ll notice the temperature drop as autumn finishes and we move into winter.
It’s not often you’ll see many sunny days during the winter. Winter in England is often dark, stormy and cold. However, don’t let that discourage you! There are still comfortable days during winter, and very little snow to deal with.
Snow in England
It’s uncommon to get a lot of snow during winter in England, although it’s not impossible. In my recent years, “The Beast from the East” brought feet of snow to England during January and February. More often than not, you’ll be dealing with rain instead of snow during the winter.
However it’s important to note that many businesses and services will close if there is snow. Buses, schools, businesses and shops can close, even if there’s only a little bit of snow.
SADS in British winters
As an immigrant in the UK, I personally deal with SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder) in the wintertime. A good way to counteract this is with daily Vitamin D3 and a SAD light (which you can get on Amazon). For more details about SADs, check out my article: What they don’t tell you about being an immigrant in the UK
I’d also recommend that you make sure to register with a UK GP before wintertime. Most people get ill during the winter and might need to see a doctor, so it’s best to register with one before you need it.
