Best time of year to visit the UK

[garbon]

Hey kids, I have to take a trip to the UK this year as I've miles that are expiring in November. I'm thinking of hitting up Edinburgh and London. What time of year do you think would be best to visit?

[Zanza]

It's probably a good idea not to go to London during the Olympic Games unless you are specifically interested in that.

[mongers]

May, June or just before school hols begin.

[Sheilbh]

Probably April-June.  I think that'll avoid Olympic and Jubilee madness, plus you've a chance of nice weather.

[MadImmortalMan]

You don't visit the UK for the weather.

[Sheilbh]

You don't visit the UK for the weather.

But it's a bonus.  And I think London's the city that is most improved on a sunny day than an overcast one. 

[mongers]

You don't visit the UK for the weather. climate

If you're visiting the UK it'll most definitely will be for the weather, it's part and parcel of the whole deal; iirc after the olympic Boris Johnson is planning on sustaining the tourist boom with recreated London smog themed on various periods. 

[alfred russel]

Definitely not the winter, but watch out for the Olympics. Check sunrise and sunset times--even though the weather is mild, the UK is very far north, meaning short daylight in the winter but little dark in the summer.

I think the UK is a poor choice for airline miles. The tickets to the UK are very cheap, and depending on the airline the redemption rates can be obnoxious. Flights to eastern europe or south america are generally roughly the same cost in miles but can be twice the cost in cash.  You can usually find a way to extend the miles expiration--for example, if you get a credit card with the airline, any spending usually bumps your expiration date out.

[mongers]

Definitely not the winter, but watch out for the Olympics. Check sunrise and sunset times--even though the weather is mild, the UK is very far north, meaning short daylight in the winter but little dark in the summer.

We're not that bad, you make us sound like Norway. 

Checks latitude .... 50.85 N

[Sheilbh]

We're not that bad, you make us sound like Norway. 

Checks latitude .... 50.85 N

North for a North American though.  We're above Quebec, I think.

[Richard Hakluyt]

I second April-June, very long days in May/June especially in Edinburgh 

Edinburgh does have a big arts festival in August though, the city does get very busy and lively during that; so I would avoid it in August but if you like that sort of thing it is an exciting event.

[garbon]

Children, I have been to the UK before - that's how come I have the miles.   Virgin Atlantic and just enough to get to the British Isles. I looked into before about moving the miles to Virgin America but I believe the answer had been no because I acquired them well before they were airline partners.

But yeah my question was because I've always been to the UK in the January-March/November period.

[Valmy]

As an American I was shocked at how long the days got in France in Summer.  That is where it really hits home at how far north Europe is.

[Richard Hakluyt]

Edinburgh is 56N. I love the long days in Scotland near the solstice 

[Sheilbh]

Edinburgh is 56N. I love the long days in Scotland near the solstice 

I remember playing out until around 10 pm when I lived in Scotland.  Didn't realise it was unusual for it to be light that long.

As an American I was shocked at how long the days got in France in Summer.  That is where it really hits home at how far north Europe is.

I was amazed when I read that DC is on the same latitude as Cairo