United Kingdom holidays

2 destinations in United Kingdom. Compare them in the trip search, or pick one below.

Highlights

The UK's two headline trips are a study in contrast: London's vast, year-round capital against Edinburgh's compact, hillier Scottish one.

Why go

London offers enough sightseeing, food and culture to fill a trip many times over, in any season.
Edinburgh compresses a capital city's worth of history and a dramatic hilltop castle into a centre small enough to walk in a day or two.
A direct train links the two, so a longer trip can genuinely take in both without a flight.

Worth knowing

London and Edinburgh are a genuine intercity trip apart, not a twin-centre weekend without real travel time built in.
London costs noticeably more than Edinburgh, particularly for accommodation.

Edinburgh
City · United Kingdom
Layered Scottish capital of closes and crescents, ideal for festival seasons and atmospheric winter city breaks.
London
City · United Kingdom
A major world capital where West End theatre, historic districts and varied neighbourhoods cluster along the Thames.

Choosing where to go

How United Kingdom’s own destinations differ, and who each tends to suit.

LondonA huge, year-round capital with more sightseeing than one trip can cover. Costs more than most of the rest of the UK, especially for accommodation.
EdinburghScotland's capital, compact and hilly, built around a castle and a historic old town. Considerably livelier and more crowded during its famous August festival season than the rest of the year.

When to go

Spring: Mild and increasingly green in both, with fewer crowds than summer and reasonable value.
Summer: Warm and long-dayed, the busiest season for both, and especially so in Edinburgh through its August festival period.
Autumn: Cooler and quieter, with decent value returning once the summer crowds clear.
Winter: Cold and short-dayed in both, though London's Christmas period and Edinburgh's New Year celebrations give the season its own draw despite the weather.

Weather across United Kingdom

Monthly highs and rainfall averaged across United Kingdom’s 2 published destinations — one place inside that set can run warmer or cooler than this. Gold months are the best weather fit by our formula.

Best overall: June · July · August · September
Hottest: July · 21°C
Wettest: October · 107mm

January, averaged across these destinations: daily high 7°C, 69mm rainfall.
February, averaged across these destinations: daily high 9°C, 60mm rainfall.
March, averaged across these destinations: daily high 11°C, 62mm rainfall.
April, averaged across these destinations: daily high 12°C, 48mm rainfall.
May, averaged across these destinations: daily high 16°C, 66mm rainfall.
June, averaged across these destinations: daily high 20°C, 54mm rainfall. Good month for weather.
July, averaged across these destinations: daily high 21°C, 73mm rainfall. Good month for weather.
August, averaged across these destinations: daily high 21°C, 53mm rainfall. Good month for weather.
September, averaged across these destinations: daily high 18°C, 78mm rainfall. Good month for weather.
October, averaged across these destinations: daily high 15°C, 107mm rainfall.
November, averaged across these destinations: daily high 11°C, 86mm rainfall.
December, averaged across these destinations: daily high 9°C, 87mm rainfall.

What it costs

An inexpensive restaurant meal runs around €19. A budget hotel room is typically around €75/night, €138 mid-range. These are United Kingdom-wide estimates, not live listing prices.

Getting around

A direct train links London and Edinburgh, making a combined trip straightforward without a car. London runs on an extensive public transport network that covers the whole city; Edinburgh's centre is compact enough to walk, with buses covering the parts that aren't.