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Climate Passport

London, Greater London, England, United Kingdom

Climate classification

Temperate maritime, mild winters, warm urban summers

Typical winter minimum

-3°C

Typical summer maximum

31°C

Growing-season length

255 days

Rainfall

620 mm per year

Rainfall distribution

Spread through the year, wettest October to January

Drought tendency

moderate

Frost pattern

Light frosts November to March, urban heat island reduces frequency

Humidity

Moderate, rarely oppressive

Wind exposure

Sheltered in most suburban gardens

Data coverage and confidence

Deep local coverage · high confidence

Source period

1991–2020 normals (demonstration values)

What this means for your garden

A long growing season with mild winters lets you grow a wide plant range, but summer soil moisture is now the limiting factor in many London gardens.

Recent significant anomalies

  • 40.3°C recorded in July 2022
  • Notably dry spring seasons in recent years

Future outlook

These are scenario ranges and directions of change, not predictions. Use them to choose plants and projects that also perform well in today's conditions.

2035 outlook

Scenario: Mid-range emissions pathway

Direction of change:
Warmer and drier summers, wetter and milder winters
Summer maximum change:
+0.5 to +1.5°C
Additional heat-stress days:
3–8 per year
Drought or water pressure:
higher
Heavy rain or waterlogging:
higher
Frost and planting windows:
Slightly shorter frost season, last frost likely a little earlier
Confidence:
medium — uncertainty increases with distance into the future

2050 outlook

Scenario: Mid-range emissions pathway

Direction of change:
Longer dry spells punctuated by intense rainfall
Summer maximum change:
+1.2 to +3°C
Additional heat-stress days:
8–20 per year
Drought or water pressure:
much higher
Heavy rain or waterlogging:
higher
Frost and planting windows:
Frost windows shorter and less reliable; earlier growth restart
Confidence:
medium — uncertainty increases with distance into the future

Climate analogue explorer

Climate similarity does not mean the locations are identical. Soil, daylight, pests, local ecology and extreme events may all differ. Use analogues to borrow technique first, plant lists second.

Similar today

Lille, France

Similarity 88%

Temperature:
Very similar summer and winter means
Rainfall and seasonality:
Slightly wetter through summer
Frost:
Comparable light frosts
Heat:
Fewer extreme days
Drought:
Lower

Planting palettes transfer closely between these two climates.

Possible 2050 analogue

Bordeaux, France

Similarity 71%

Temperature:
Hotter, longer summers
Rainfall and seasonality:
Similar annual total, more concentrated in winter
Frost:
Fewer frosts
Heat:
Many more days above 30°C
Drought:
Pronounced summer dry period

Gardeners there rely on deep mulch, shade from established trees and Mediterranean-adapted perennials.

Demonstration data. Climate, plant and retailer records shown here are realistic samples awaiting horticultural validation and live data connections.