The weather in London in April averages a daytime high of 15.0°C and an overnight low of 6.0°C, with 42.3mm of rain and 169 hours of sunshine — nearly six hours of daylight more than January and almost as much sunshine as June. April is the month London gains the most light of any: daylight runs from 12 hours 55 minutes on the 1st to 14 hours 45 minutes on the 30th, and by the end of the month the sun does not set until 20:21. Frost effectively disappears, at under one night on average. The famous April showers are real but modest: 42.3mm is less than August. Recent Aprils have been both drier and sunnier than the long-run average, at 35.4mm and 180 hours across 2021–2025. The London Marathon runs over two days for the first time in 2027, on 24 and 25 April, closing a large part of central London. All climate figures come from the Met Office record for the Heathrow station, 1991–2020.
Weather in London in April at a Glance
| Average daily high | Average daily low | Rainfall | Sunshine | Nights of air frost | Daylight on 1 / 30 Apr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15.0°C | 6.0°C | 42.3 mm | 169 hours | 0.8 | 12h 55m / 14h 45m |
April is where London’s year turns properly. The 169 hours of sunshine is within 15 per cent of June’s figure, the daylight passes fourteen hours before the month ends, and the parks are at their best of the entire year. What April does not give you is warmth after dark: at 6.0°C the nights are still cold, and the gap between a 15°C afternoon and a 6°C evening is the widest of any month.
How Warm Is London in April?
April averages 15.0°C by day and 6.0°C at night — mild afternoons and cold evenings. Recent years have run a little warmer at 15.4°C, and April 2025 averaged 18.3°C by day, which is warmer than a normal June.
Frost is essentially gone: 0.8 nights on average across the month, and those fall almost entirely in the first week. What remains is the temperature swing. An April day in London can start at 7°C, reach 18°C in the afternoon and drop back to 8°C by nine in the evening, which catches out anyone who dresses for the middle of the day. This is the month where carrying a layer matters more than owning a warm coat.
Are April Showers Real in London?
Yes in character, no in volume: April brings 42.3mm of rain, less than August’s 53.6mm and barely more than March. The saying survives because of how the rain arrives, not how much of it there is — April rain comes in fast, bright showers with sunshine either side, rather than the all-day grey of November.
Recent Aprils have been drier still, averaging 35.4mm across 2021–2025, with April 2026 recording just 4.8mm and April 2025 18.8mm. Set against 169 hours of sunshine — over five and a half hours a day — the practical picture is a month with plenty of bright weather interrupted by short showers. A compact umbrella and a light jacket handle it; a winter coat is unnecessary.
How Long Are the Days in London in April?
April adds 1 hour 50 minutes of daylight, more than any other month. On 1 April the sun rises at 06:38 and sets at 19:33, giving 12 hours 55 minutes; by the 30th it is 05:36 to 20:21, giving 14 hours 45 minutes.
That reshapes what a day can hold. By late April you can finish a full day of sightseeing, eat outdoors and still walk the river in the light. Combined with the sunshine figure, April is the first month of the year in which an outdoor-led itinerary is a sensible default rather than a gamble — and it does that without the crowds and prices that arrive with the summer.
What to Wear in London in April
Dress for a 15°C afternoon and a 6°C evening: light clothing, one warm layer and a light waterproof. The nine-degree swing across an April day is the widest of the year, and it is the single most common packing mistake visitors make in spring.
- A light waterproof jacket for the showers, which are brief but frequent.
- A jumper or cardigan for evenings — essential, not optional, at 6°C.
- Comfortable walking shoes, because April is the first month where walking the parks all day is realistic.
- A compact umbrella, still worth carrying.
- Sunglasses and sun cream — 169 hours of sunshine is close to a summer figure.
- A scarf for the first fortnight, which can still turn cold.
What Is On in London in April
The London Marathon is the month’s defining event, and in 2027 it runs across two days for the first time, on Saturday 24 and Sunday 25 April. The course closes a wide corridor from Greenwich through Canary Wharf, along the Embankment and to The Mall, and the road closures around it affect central and east London for most of both days. If you are in London that weekend, walk or use the Tube and do not attempt to drive across the course.
Blossom peaks in the first half of the month at Kew Gardens, Greenwich Park, Regent’s Park and St James’s Park, and Kew’s spring programme is the single best day out in the London April. St George’s Day on 23 April brings smaller events around Trafalgar Square. In 2027 the Easter school holidays fall early, around the 28 March Easter Sunday, which means the first half of April carries family crowds while the second half is calmer than usual for the season.
Is April a Good Time to Visit London?
April is arguably the best month of the year to visit London. It has close to summer sunshine, fourteen hours of daylight by month end, less rain than August, no crowds on the August scale and prices well below the peak. The parks are at their best they will look all year.
Against March, April gains more than three degrees, fifty hours of sunshine and nearly two hours of daylight, at the cost of slightly more rain on the long-run figures. Against May, it is three degrees cooler and has an hour less daylight, but it is cheaper and quieter. The two dates to plan around are the marathon weekend and, in 2027, the early Easter holidays.
London Weather in April: Early Month vs Late Month
Early April is peak blossom with cool evenings; late April is warmer, much lighter and quieter. The first ten days average nearer 13°C with an occasional frost and sunset around 19:45. The last ten average closer to 17°C, with sunset past 20:15 and no frost at all.
The trade-off is genuine: come early for the blossom, come late for the light and the warmth. If you want both and can only pick one week, the third week of April — after Easter and before the marathon — is the strongest single week in the London spring.
Getting Around London in April
April is easy to travel in except on marathon weekend, when central and east London effectively close to traffic. On 24 and 25 April 2027 the course runs from Greenwich to The Mall, and crossing it by car is not possible for most of both days — a constraint worth knowing before booking a hotel on the wrong side of it.
The rest of the month is comfortable: the Tube is not yet hot, the roads are not yet at summer volume, and the daylight supports a full day out of the city. Airport arrivals are calmer than in the summer, though the Easter period brings the year’s first real queues. A pre-arranged London airport transfer avoids them, and our Heathrow transfer to your hotel tracks the flight and waits if it is late.
April is the best month of the year for days out of London. Windsor, Oxford, Bath, Stonehenge and the Cotswolds all get spring colour and long light without summer coach traffic. A chauffeur-driven car in London makes a three-stop day realistic in April in a way it is not in December, and a private tour guide in London can come with you.
Frequently Asked Questions
How warm is London in April?
April averages 15.0°C by day and 6.0°C at night, with frost on less than one night on average. Recent Aprils have been warmer, at 15.4°C across 2021–2025 and 18.3°C in April 2025.
Does it rain a lot in London in April?
Less than most people expect: 42.3mm, below August’s 53.6mm. April rain arrives as short bright showers rather than all-day rain, and recent Aprils have averaged only 35.4mm.
When is the London Marathon in 2027?
Saturday 24 and Sunday 25 April 2027 — the first time the race has been run across two days. Expect road closures from Greenwich through Canary Wharf and the Embankment to The Mall on both days.
When is peak blossom in London?
The first half of April, at Kew Gardens, Greenwich Park, Regent’s Park and St James’s Park. Magnolias and early cherry start in the second half of March.
Do I need a coat in London in April?
A light waterproof jacket and a jumper, not a winter coat. Afternoons average 15.0°C but evenings fall to 6.0°C, so the warm layer needs to travel with you during the day.
Planning an April Trip
April gives you close to summer light and sunshine at spring prices, and it is the month the parks are worth the trip on their own. Pick early April for blossom or late April for the long evenings, keep the marathon weekend in mind when you book a hotel, and carry a warm layer every day regardless of the forecast. Check availability and prices for a transfer or a full day out with a chauffeur.
Sources
Temperature, rainfall, sunshine and air-frost figures are 1991–2020 averages calculated from the Met Office Heathrow station record, which also supplies the individual recent years quoted. London Marathon 2027 dates are from the published race calendar. Sunrise and sunset times are calculated for central London.