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United Kingdom

Brighton

City break

Brighton at a glance

Best time
Jun – Sep
Warmest month
Aug · 20°
Warmest sea
Sep · 17.4°
Sunshine a year
1,710 h
Rain a year
708 mm
Climate
Maritime
Time zone
UTC+0 / UTC+1
Elevation
29 m

Climate in Brighton

Brighton has a maritime climate with moderate summers and cool, often grey winters. August is the warmest month with average highs of 20 °C, while January is the coolest at 8 °C. With around 1,710 hours of sunshine a year, Brighton is moderately sunny; June is the sunniest month with 7.3 hours a day.

Holiday weather through the year

Your holiday weather, at a glance

Weather in October

49

Holiday weather in October

Fair

Best time to visit: June – September

Keep in mindFrequent rain

A typical day in October

  1. Morning, 08:00: about 11°
  2. Midday, 13:00: about 15°
  3. Afternoon, 16:00: about 15°
  4. Evening, 20:00: about 13°
  5. Night, 23:00: about 12°

07:2218:11

Cool evenings: pack a jumper or a jacket.

Estimated from the average high and low: coolest around sunrise, warmest in mid-afternoon.

Light for photos in October

Golden hour
Morning 07:01–08:07 · evening 17:26–18:31
Blue hour
Morning 06:48–07:01 · evening 18:31–18:44

Golden hour: the sun between 4° below and 6° above the horizon; blue hour: 6° to 4° below it. Times for the 15th of the month; mountains and clouds shift the light.

What is the weather like in Brighton in October?

In October, Brighton is cool: daytime highs average 15 °C, and nights cool down to about 11 °C. The sea averages 16.2 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun is scarce, with only about 4 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 12 rainy days and 77 mm in total. All in all, October is a so-so month for a holiday in Brighton.

More details for October

Daylight
10 h 49 min07:22 – 18:11
UV index
2 · lowclear sky, noon (estimate)All months
Muggy days
0 daysdew point 18 °C or moreAll months
Wind
24 km/haverage daily peakAll months
Cloud cover
69 %on averageAll months
Hot days
0 days30 °C or more
Snow days
0 days1 cm or more of fresh snow
Time zone
UTC+1Europe/London

How the score comes together

  • Temperatureweight 50 %69 %
  • Sunshineweight 20 %12 %
  • Few rainy daysweight 30 %40 %

Each factor is rated from 0 to 100 % and weighted for the travel style “City break”.

What to pack in October

  • A jumper for the evenings
  • Rain jacket or umbrella
Swimming calendar

Sea temperature in Brighton

Monthly sea surface temperature with the range of cooler and warmer years.

Sea in October16.2°Ccold

8 in 10 years: 15.6 – 17.1 °C

Swimming season: Never above 20 °C

  • cold
  • fresh
  • refreshing
  • pleasant
  • warm
  • very warm
OctoberMean sea temperature 16.2°8 in 10 years 15.6° – 17.1°
20°
Mean sea temperature8 in 10 years20 °C – comfortable for swimming

The sea temperature in Brighton ranges from 8.4 °C in March to 17.4 °C in September. Even at its warmest the sea stays below 20 °C, so swimming is bracing at best.

The sea warms up slowly: it is warmest in September, while the air already peaks in August. From October to February the sea is even warmer than the afternoon air. The sea temperature varies from year to year: in September, eight out of ten years were between 16.7 and 17.9 °C.

Sea temperature by month
MonthAverageCool yearWarm yearFeels
JanuaryJan9.8°8.8°10.5°cold
FebruaryFeb8.7°7.8°9.6°cold
MarchMar8.4°7.2°9.3°cold
AprilApr9.4°8.5°10.4°cold
MayMay11.2°10.3°12.1°cold
JuneJun13.6°12.9°14.6°cold
JulyJul15.8°14.9°16.7°cold
AugustAug17.3°16.6°18.2°fresh
SeptemberSep17.4°16.7°17.9°fresh
OctoberOct16.2°15.6°17.1°cold
NovemberNov14.0°13.3°14.7°cold
DecemberDec11.6°10.9°12.3°cold
Sunshine

Sunshine hours in Brighton

Average hours of bright sunshine per day, next to the length of the day. Tap a month to select it.

Per year
1,710 hours
Sunniest month
Jun · 7.3 h a day
Least sunshine
Dec · 1.8 h a day
OctoberSunshine 3.7 hDaylight 10.8 hShare of daylight 34 %
SunshineDaylight

In October, the sun shines for about 3.7 of 10.8 hours of daylight in Brighton, 34 % of the day.

Sunshine hours: estimated from radiation data (ERA5, 1996–2025) and calibrated against measured station values; no weather station is close enough here. Daylight is the time from sunrise to sunset on the 15th of the month.

Sun protection

UV index in Brighton

How strong the sun is at noon, month by month, and how quickly unprotected skin burns.

Clear-sky UV in October
2 · lowLittle protection needed; sunglasses on bright days.

The sun is strongest in June (UV 8).

Minutes until sunburn in October

Very fair skin
about 65 min
Fair skin
about 80 min
Light brown skin
about 115 min
Olive skin
over 2 h

Rough guide for unprotected skin at noon under a clear sky; clouds lengthen it, water, sand and snow shorten it. Sunscreen extends the time only partly.

Monthly values: clear-sky noon estimate from the sun's angle, ozone and altitude. UV today: Open-Meteo forecast.

Rain

Rain in Brighton: rainy days and rainfall

A rainy day is a day with at least 1 mm of rain or snow; the amount is what falls in the whole month. Tap a month to select it.

Per year
708 mm on 127 days
Wettest month
Nov · 77 mm
Driest month
Mar · 47 mm
OctoberRainy days 12Rainfall 77 mm

In October, Brighton has about 12 rainy days with 77 mm of rain in total.

Wind & clouds

Wind and clouds in Brighton

How breezy and how cloudy Brighton is through the year. Tap a month to select it on the whole page.

Wind

Typical daily peak of the wind in km/h: what the afternoon breeze usually reaches, not the gusts.

Year average
23 km/h · moderate breeze
Windiest month
Jan · 26 km/h
Calmest month
Aug · 20 km/h
OctoberWind 24 km/hBeaufort 4
20
WindBeaufort 4

In October, the wind in Brighton typically peaks at 24 km/h during the day: Beaufort 4, moderate breeze.

Breezy months for windsurfing and kiting

From Beaufort 4 (20 km/h) the daily breeze is usually enough for windsurfing and often for kiting, and here it gets there all year.

Clouds

Average share of the sky covered by cloud, day and night.

Year average
66 % · mostly cloudy
Clearest month
Jul · 61 %
Cloudiest month
Jan · 72 %
OctoberCloud cover 69 %Sunshine 3.7 h

In October, cloud covers on average 69 % of the sky over Brighton: mostly cloudy, with about 3.7 hours of sunshine a day.

Wind: mean daily maximum of the hourly wind 10 m above ground (ERA5, 1996–2025). Gusts are stronger, and the model grid of about 28 km smooths out local effects such as capes and valley winds. Clouds: mean total cloud cover of all layers over day and night (ERA5, 1996–2025). Thin high cloud counts as cover even when the sun still shines through.

Climate through the year

Long-term monthly averages. Tap a month to see its details.

Best time to visit

Nights and sleep in Brighton

How warm the nights get in each month, from the mean night-time low. Tap a month for details.

  • Cold 0–8°
  • Cool 8–15°
  • Pleasant 15–20°

CoolOctober: nights around 11°. A duvet at night and a jumper for the evening.

The coolest nights are in January (4°), the warmest in August (15°). Nights are pleasant for sleeping (15 to 20 °C) in August. Nights fall below 8 °C on average from November to April, so the room should be heated.

Temperatures through the year

Average daytime high, night-time low and sea temperature per month.

OctoberDay 15°Night 11°Sea 16°
DayNightSea
MonthScoreDayNightSeaSunRain daysRain mm
JanuaryJan148°4°9.8°2.0 h1165
FebruaryFeb178°4°8.7°2.8 h1053
MarchMar2810°5°8.4°4.1 h1147
AprilApr4912°6°9.4°6.2 h1047
MayMay6515°9°11.2°6.9 h1054
JuneJun8218°12°13.6°7.3 h953
JulyJul8120°14°15.8°7.3 h1054
AugustAug8020°15°17.3°6.5 h1061
SeptemberSep7718°13°17.4°5.2 h950
OctoberOct4915°11°16.2°3.7 h1277
NovemberNov2711°7°14.0°2.3 h1277
DecemberDec169°5°11.6°1.8 h1270

Climate averages 1996–2025, not a forecast. Data: Copernicus ERA5 / ERA5-Land via Open-Meteo.com (CC BY 4.0), NOAA OISST, WMO 1991–2020 (NOAA NCEI), GeoNames (CC BY 4.0). Sources & licences

50.83° N, 0.14° W · 29 m · Europe/London

Best time to visit

Best time to visit Brighton

The best time to visit Brighton is from June to September. The sea stays too cool for a classic beach holiday: even in September it only reaches 17.4 °C. For sightseeing, day trips and hiking, conditions are most comfortable from May to September. Rain is most frequent from October to December; the wettest month is November with 77 mm.

Brighton through the seasons

How the weather changes over the seasons, with averages for each.

Brighton in spring

Mar – May

47

Fair

  • 10–15 °C by day
  • Sea 10 °C
  • 6 h of sun a day
  • 31 rainy days in all

Brighton in summer

Jun – Aug

81

Excellent

  • 18–20 °C by day
  • Sea 16 °C
  • 7 h of sun a day
  • 29 rainy days in all

Brighton in autumn

Sep – Nov

51

Fair

  • 11–18 °C by day
  • Sea 16 °C
  • 4 h of sun a day
  • 34 rainy days in all

Brighton in winter

Dec – Feb

16

Poor

  • 8–9 °C by day
  • Sea 10 °C
  • 2 h of sun a day
  • 33 rainy days in all

Find your perfect month

Tell us what you like and we rate every month in Brighton for you.

Swimming in the sea
Sunshine
Little rain

Your best months: July – August

Based on the climate averages; tap a month to see its details.

Compare two months in Brighton

Pick two months to see how the weather differs. A tick marks the clearly better value; for temperatures it depends on your plans.

vs.

June has the better holiday weather in Brighton: score 82 against 49. In June, days are 3 °C warmer than in October. The sea is 3 °C cooler in June. June has 3 fewer rainy days. The sun shines 4 hours longer a day in June.

October vs. June, Brighton
MonthOctoberJune
Weather score4982better
Day high15°18°
Night low11°12°
Sea16.2°13.6°
Sunshine3.7 h7.3 hbetter
Rainy days129better
Rainfall77 mm53 mmbetter

Based on the climate averages 1996–2025.

Which month for what?

Beach & swimming

No month

Sea from 21 °C, warm and mostly dry

Sightseeing & hiking

May – Sep

15–28 °C and not too much rain

Rainy months

Oct – Dec

12 or more rainy days

Brighton month by month

The typical weather for every month at a glance.

14January8° · Sea 10° · 2 h

In January, Brighton is cold: daytime highs average 8 °C, and nights cool down to about 4 °C. The sea averages 9.8 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun is scarce, with only about 2 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 11 rainy days and 65 mm in total. All in all, January is not an ideal month for a holiday in Brighton.

Brighton in January
17February8° · Sea 9° · 3 h

In February, Brighton is cold: daytime highs average 8 °C, and nights cool down to about 4 °C. The sea averages 8.7 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun is scarce, with only about 3 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 10 rainy days and 53 mm in total. All in all, February is not an ideal month for a holiday in Brighton.

Brighton in February
28March10° · Sea 8° · 4 h

In March, Brighton is cold: daytime highs average 10 °C, and nights cool down to about 5 °C. The sea averages 8.4 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. Expect around 4 hours of sunshine a day. Rain is frequent, with about 11 rainy days and 47 mm in total. All in all, March is not an ideal month for a holiday in Brighton.

Brighton in March
49April12° · Sea 9° · 6 h

In April, Brighton is cool: daytime highs average 12 °C, and nights cool down to about 6 °C. The sea averages 9.4 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. Expect around 6 hours of sunshine a day. Rain is frequent, with about 10 rainy days and 47 mm in total. All in all, April is a so-so month for a holiday in Brighton.

Brighton in April
65May15° · Sea 11° · 7 h

In May, Brighton is cool: daytime highs average 15 °C, and nights cool down to about 9 °C. The sea averages 11.2 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun shines for around 7 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 10 rainy days and 54 mm in total. All in all, May is a good month for a holiday in Brighton.

Brighton in May
82June18° · Sea 14° · 7 h

In June, Brighton is mild: daytime highs average 18 °C, and nights cool down to about 12 °C. The sea averages 13.6 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun shines for around 7 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 9 rainy days and 53 mm in total. All in all, June is an excellent month for a holiday in Brighton.

Brighton in June
81July20° · Sea 16° · 7 h

In July, Brighton is mild: daytime highs average 20 °C, and nights cool down to about 14 °C. The sea averages 15.8 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun shines for around 7 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 10 rainy days and 54 mm in total. All in all, July is an excellent month for a holiday in Brighton.

Brighton in July
80August20° · Sea 17° · 7 h

In August, Brighton is mild: daytime highs average 20 °C, and nights cool down to about 15 °C. The sea averages 17.3 °C – bracing, so a wetsuit helps for longer swims. The sun shines for around 7 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 10 rainy days and 61 mm in total. All in all, August is an excellent month for a holiday in Brighton.

Brighton in August
77September18° · Sea 17° · 5 h

In September, Brighton is mild: daytime highs average 18 °C, and nights cool down to about 13 °C. The sea averages 17.4 °C – bracing, so a wetsuit helps for longer swims. Expect around 5 hours of sunshine a day. Rain falls on about 9 days, adding up to 50 mm. All in all, September is a good month for a holiday in Brighton.

Brighton in September
49October15° · Sea 16° · 4 h

In October, Brighton is cool: daytime highs average 15 °C, and nights cool down to about 11 °C. The sea averages 16.2 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun is scarce, with only about 4 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 12 rainy days and 77 mm in total. All in all, October is a so-so month for a holiday in Brighton.

Brighton in October
27November11° · Sea 14° · 2 h

In November, Brighton is cool: daytime highs average 11 °C, and nights cool down to about 7 °C. The sea averages 14.0 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun is scarce, with only about 2 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 12 rainy days and 77 mm in total. All in all, November is not an ideal month for a holiday in Brighton.

Brighton in November
16December9° · Sea 12° · 2 h

In December, Brighton is cold: daytime highs average 9 °C, and nights cool down to about 5 °C. The sea averages 11.6 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun is scarce, with only about 2 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 12 rainy days and 70 mm in total. All in all, December is not an ideal month for a holiday in Brighton.

Brighton in December
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Brighton compared

Put Brighton side by side with another destination.

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Brighton vs. Eastbourne

In October the holiday weather in Brighton and Eastbourne is about equally good (score 49 vs. 51). During the day it is about as warm in Eastbourne as in Brighton. The sea is about equally warm.

Brighton vs. Eastbourne, in October
in OctoberBrightonEastbourne
Holiday score4951
Daytime high15°15°
Sea16°16°
Sunshine4 h4 h
Rainy days1212
Best timeJun – SepMay – Aug

Through the year

OctoberBrighton 15°Eastbourne 15°
BrightonEastbourne
Go to Eastbourne
Ranking

United Kingdom in October: the best places

In October, Brighton ranks 4 among the 31 nearest destinations in this country.

  1. London15°51
  2. 2Cambridge15°51
  3. 3Canterbury15°50
  4. 4BrightonThis page15°16°49
  5. 5Portsmouth15°16°49
  6. 6Slough15°49
  7. 7Winchester15°49
  8. 8Watford15°49
All destinations: United Kingdom

Planning a trip to Brighton

Weather for your travel dates

Pick your arrival and length of stay, and we sum up the weather to expect.

Brighton in the school holidays

How the weather suits the usual holiday periods. Dates vary by school and region, so each holiday uses the months it usually falls in.

Brighton has its best school-holiday weather during the summer holidays (score 80) and its weakest during the Christmas holidays (score 15).

  • Easter holidays

    Mar – Apr

    43

    Fair

    • 11 °C by day
    • Sea 9 °C
    • 5.6 h of sun a day
    • 10 rainy days a month
  • May half-term

    May – Jun

    68

    Good

    • 16 °C by day
    • Sea 12 °C
    • 7.0 h of sun a day
    • 10 rainy days a month

    Good for: Sightseeing & walks

  • Summer holidays

    Jul – Aug

    80

    ExcellentBest holidays

    • 20 °C by day
    • Sea 17 °C
    • 6.8 h of sun a day
    • 10 rainy days a month

    Good for: Sightseeing & walks

  • October half-term

    Oct

    49

    Fair

    • 15 °C by day
    • Sea 16 °C
    • 3.7 h of sun a day
    • 12 rainy days a month

    Keep in mind: Frequent rain

  • Christmas holidays

    Dec – Jan

    15

    Poor

    • 8 °C by day
    • Sea 11 °C
    • 1.9 h of sun a day
    • 12 rainy days a month

    Keep in mind: Frequent rain

Based on the climate averages 1996–2025.

Getting there

Flying from

Nonstop flight
Short trip – train or car is often quicker
Distance
70 km
Time zone
UTC+1
Jet lag
Hardly any (under 3 h)

Estimated from the straight-line distance: 30 minutes for take-off and landing plus 830 km/h cruising speed.

Frequently asked questions about Brighton

When is the best time to visit Brighton?

The best time to visit Brighton is from June to September. That is when the holiday weather score, which combines temperature, sea, sunshine and rain, is highest.

How warm is the sea in Brighton?

The sea temperature in Brighton ranges from 8.4 °C in March to 17.4 °C in September. Even at its warmest the sea stays below 20 °C, so swimming is bracing at best.

Can you swim in Brighton in October?

Only if you don't mind cold water: in October the sea averages just 16.2 °C. Comfortable swimming temperatures are not reached at any time of year.

What is the warmest month in Brighton?

August is the warmest month, with average highs of 20 °C and nights around 15 °C. January is the coolest month at 8 °C.

When does it rain most in Brighton?

Rain is most frequent from October to December; the wettest month is November with 77 mm. The driest month is March with 47 mm.

How many hours of sunshine does Brighton get?

Brighton gets around 1,710 hours of sunshine a year. The sunniest month is June with 7.3 hours a day; in December there are 1.8 hours a day.

What time zone is Brighton in?

Brighton uses the time zone Europe/London: UTC+0 in January and UTC+1 in July.

Which school holidays are best for Brighton?

Brighton has its best school-holiday weather during the summer holidays (score 80) and its weakest during the Christmas holidays (score 15). Holiday ratings (0–100): Easter holidays 43, May half-term 68, Summer holidays 80, October half-term 49, Christmas holidays 15.

Near Brighton

Other destinations close by.

Places with a climate like Brighton

Destinations whose weather through the year is closest to Brighton's – good alternatives.

  1. 91% similar10Lyme RegisUnited Kingdom15°16°Best time: Jul – Aug
  2. 90% similar8TorquayUnited Kingdom15°16°Best time: Jun – Aug
  3. 88% similar9ExeterUnited Kingdom15°16°Best time: Jun – Aug
  4. 87% similar10Saint-MaloFrance16°16°Best time: Jul – Aug