AI-generatedBristol at a glance
- Best time
- May – Sep
- Warmest month
- Jul · 21°
- Sunshine a year
- 1,580 h
- Rain a year
- 797 mm
- Climate
- Maritime
- Time zone
- UTC+0 / UTC+1
- Elevation
- 21 m
Climate in Bristol
Bristol has a maritime climate with moderate summers and cool, often grey winters. July is the warmest month with average highs of 21 °C, while January is the coolest at 7 °C. With around 1,580 hours of sunshine a year, Bristol is rather dull; June is the sunniest month with 6.6 hours a day.
Holiday weather through the year
Weather in October
Holiday weather in October
Fair
Best time to visit: May – September
Keep in mindFrequent rain
A typical day in October
- Morning, 08:00: about 9°
- Midday, 13:00: about 14°
- Afternoon, 16:00: about 14°
- Evening, 20:00: about 12°
- Night, 23:00: about 11°
07:3218:20
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 07:12–08:18 · evening 17:34–18:40
- Blue hour
- Morning 06:59–07:12 · evening 18:40–18:53
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 Bristol in October?
In October, Bristol is cool: daytime highs average 15 °C, and nights cool down to about 9 °C. The sun is scarce, with only about 3 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 13 rainy days and 82 mm in total. All in all, October is a so-so month for a holiday in Bristol.
More details for October
- Daylight
- 10 h 47 min07:32 – 18:20
- UV index
- 2 · lowclear sky, noon (estimate)All months
- Muggy days
- 0 daysdew point 18 °C or moreAll months
- Wind
- 22 km/haverage daily peakAll months
- Cloud cover
- 73 %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 %65 %
- Sunshineweight 20 %7 %
- Few rainy daysweight 30 %38 %
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
Sunshine hours in Bristol
Average hours of bright sunshine per day, next to the length of the day. Tap a month to select it.
In October, the sun shines for about 3.4 of 10.8 hours of daylight in Bristol, 31 % 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.
UV index in Bristol
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 7).
Minutes until sunburn in October
- Very fair skin
- about 70 min
- Fair skin
- about 85 min
- Light brown skin
- over 2 h
- 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 in Bristol: 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.
In October, Bristol has about 13 rainy days with 82 mm of rain in total.
Wind and clouds in Bristol
How breezy and how cloudy Bristol 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.
In October, the wind in Bristol typically peaks at 22 km/h during the day: Beaufort 4, moderate breeze.
Clouds
Average share of the sky covered by cloud, day and night.
In October, cloud covers on average 73 % of the sky over Bristol: mostly cloudy, with about 3.4 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.
Nights and sleep in Bristol
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°
CoolOctober: nights around 9°. A duvet at night and a jumper for the evening.
The coolest nights are in January (2°), the warmest in July (13°). 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.
| Month | Score | Day | Night | Sun | Rain days | Rain mm |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| JanuaryJan | 13 | 7° | 2° | 1.9 h | 12 | 65 |
| FebruaryFeb | 17 | 8° | 3° | 2.8 h | 11 | 58 |
| MarchMar | 30 | 10° | 3° | 3.8 h | 11 | 58 |
| AprilApr | 48 | 13° | 5° | 5.5 h | 11 | 60 |
| MayMay | 63 | 16° | 8° | 6.3 h | 12 | 71 |
| JuneJun | 78 | 19° | 11° | 6.6 h | 11 | 61 |
| JulyJul | 76 | 21° | 13° | 6.5 h | 11 | 65 |
| AugustAug | 74 | 20° | 13° | 5.9 h | 11 | 70 |
| SeptemberSep | 74 | 18° | 11° | 4.9 h | 10 | 58 |
| OctoberOct | 45 | 15° | 9° | 3.4 h | 13 | 82 |
| NovemberNov | 23 | 10° | 5° | 2.4 h | 13 | 74 |
| DecemberDec | 12 | 8° | 3° | 1.7 h | 12 | 74 |
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
51.46° N, 2.60° W · 21 m · Europe/London
Best time to visit Bristol
The best time to visit Bristol is from May to September. For sightseeing, day trips and hiking, conditions are most comfortable from June to September. Rain is most frequent in May and from October to December; the wettest month is October with 82 mm.
Bristol through the seasons
How the weather changes over the seasons, with averages for each.
Bristol in spring
Mar – May
Fair
- 10–16 °C by day
- 5 h of sun a day
- 34 rainy days in all
Bristol in summer
Jun – Aug
Good
- 19–21 °C by day
- 6 h of sun a day
- 33 rainy days in all
Bristol in autumn
Sep – Nov
Fair
- 10–18 °C by day
- 4 h of sun a day
- 35 rainy days in all
Bristol in winter
Dec – Feb
Poor
- 7–8 °C by day
- 2 h of sun a day
- 35 rainy days in all
Find your perfect month
Tell us what you like and we rate every month in Bristol for you.
Your best months: July – August
Based on the climate averages; tap a month to see its details.
Compare two months in Bristol
Pick two months to see how the weather differs. A tick marks the clearly better value; for temperatures it depends on your plans.
June has the better holiday weather in Bristol: score 78 against 45. In June, days are 4 °C warmer than in October. June has 2 fewer rainy days. The sun shines 3 hours longer a day in June.
| Month | October | June |
|---|---|---|
| Weather score | 45 | 78better |
| Day high | 15° | 19° |
| Night low | 9° | 11° |
| Sunshine | 3.4 h | 6.6 hbetter |
| Rainy days | 13 | 11better |
| Rainfall | 82 mm | 61 mmbetter |
Based on the climate averages 1996–2025.
Which month for what?
Beach & swimming
No sea nearby
Sea from 21 °C, warm and mostly dry
Sightseeing & hiking
Jun – Sep
15–28 °C and not too much rain
Rainy months
May, Oct – Dec
12 or more rainy days
Bristol month by month
The typical weather for every month at a glance.
13January7° · 2 h
In January, Bristol is cold: daytime highs average 7 °C, and nights cool down to about 2 °C. The sun is scarce, with only about 2 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 12 rainy days and 65 mm in total. All in all, January is not an ideal month for a holiday in Bristol.
Bristol in January17February8° · 3 h
In February, Bristol is cold: daytime highs average 8 °C, and nights cool down to about 3 °C. The sun is scarce, with only about 3 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 11 rainy days and 58 mm in total. All in all, February is not an ideal month for a holiday in Bristol.
Bristol in February30March10° · 4 h
In March, Bristol is cool: daytime highs average 10 °C, and nights cool down to about 3 °C. The sun is scarce, with only about 4 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 11 rainy days and 58 mm in total. All in all, March is not an ideal month for a holiday in Bristol.
Bristol in March48April13° · 6 h
In April, Bristol is cool: daytime highs average 13 °C, and nights cool down to about 5 °C. Expect around 6 hours of sunshine a day. Rain is frequent, with about 11 rainy days and 60 mm in total. All in all, April is a so-so month for a holiday in Bristol.
Bristol in April63May16° · 6 h
In May, Bristol is mild: daytime highs average 16 °C, and nights cool down to about 8 °C. Expect around 6 hours of sunshine a day. Rain is frequent, with about 12 rainy days and 71 mm in total. All in all, May is a good month for a holiday in Bristol.
Bristol in May78June19° · 7 h
In June, Bristol is mild: daytime highs average 19 °C, and nights cool down to about 11 °C. The sun shines for around 7 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 11 rainy days and 61 mm in total. All in all, June is a good month for a holiday in Bristol.
Bristol in June76July21° · 7 h
In July, Bristol is mild: daytime highs average 21 °C, and nights cool down to about 13 °C. The sun shines for around 7 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 11 rainy days and 65 mm in total. All in all, July is a good month for a holiday in Bristol.
Bristol in July74August20° · 6 h
In August, Bristol is mild: daytime highs average 20 °C, and nights cool down to about 13 °C. Expect around 6 hours of sunshine a day. Rain is frequent, with about 11 rainy days and 70 mm in total. All in all, August is a good month for a holiday in Bristol.
Bristol in August74September18° · 5 h
In September, Bristol is mild: daytime highs average 18 °C, and nights cool down to about 11 °C. Expect around 5 hours of sunshine a day. Rain is frequent, with about 10 rainy days and 58 mm in total. All in all, September is a good month for a holiday in Bristol.
Bristol in September45October15° · 3 h
In October, Bristol is cool: daytime highs average 15 °C, and nights cool down to about 9 °C. The sun is scarce, with only about 3 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 13 rainy days and 82 mm in total. All in all, October is a so-so month for a holiday in Bristol.
Bristol in October23November10° · 2 h
In November, Bristol is cool: daytime highs average 10 °C, and nights cool down to about 5 °C. The sun is scarce, with only about 2 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 13 rainy days and 74 mm in total. All in all, November is not an ideal month for a holiday in Bristol.
Bristol in November12December8° · 2 h
In December, Bristol is cold: daytime highs average 8 °C, and nights cool down to about 3 °C. The sun is scarce, with only about 2 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 12 rainy days and 74 mm in total. All in all, December is not an ideal month for a holiday in Bristol.
Bristol in DecemberBristol compared
Put Bristol side by side with another destination.
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Bristol vs. Bath
In October the holiday weather in Bristol and Bath is about equally good (score 45 vs. 43). During the day Bath is 1 °C cooler than Bristol. Bath gets one more hour of sunshine a day.
| in October | Bristol | Bath |
|---|---|---|
| Holiday score | 45 | 43 |
| Daytime high | 15° | 14° |
| Sunshine | 3 h | 4 h |
| Rainy days | 13 | 13 |
| Best time | May – Sep | May – Sep |
Through the year
United Kingdom in October: the best places
In October, Bristol ranks 14 among the 31 nearest destinations in this country.
- Winchester15°49
- 2Portsmouth15°16°49
- 3Slough15°49
- 4Watford15°49
- 5Glastonbury15°48
- 6Reading15°48
- 7Salisbury15°47
- 8Oxford14°47
- 14BristolThis page15°45
Planning a trip to Bristol
Weather for your travel dates
Pick your arrival and length of stay, and we sum up the weather to expect.
Bristol 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.
Bristol has its best school-holiday weather during the summer holidays (score 75) and its weakest during the Christmas holidays (score 13).
- 43
Easter holidays
Mar – Apr
Fair
- 12 °C by day
- 5.0 h of sun a day
- 11 rainy days a month
- 66
May half-term
May – Jun
Good
- 17 °C by day
- 6.4 h of sun a day
- 12 rainy days a month
Keep in mind: Frequent rain
- 75
Summer holidays
Jul – Aug
GoodBest holidays
- 20 °C by day
- 6.1 h of sun a day
- 11 rainy days a month
Good for: Sightseeing & walks
- 45
October half-term
Oct
Fair
- 15 °C by day
- 3.4 h of sun a day
- 13 rainy days a month
Keep in mind: Frequent rain
- 13
Christmas holidays
Dec – Jan
Poor
- 8 °C by day
- 1.8 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
- 150 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 Bristol
When is the best time to visit Bristol?
The best time to visit Bristol is from May to September. That is when the holiday weather score, which combines temperature, sea, sunshine and rain, is highest.
What is the warmest month in Bristol?
July is the warmest month, with average highs of 21 °C and nights around 13 °C. January is the coolest month at 7 °C.
When does it rain most in Bristol?
Rain is most frequent in May and from October to December; the wettest month is October with 82 mm. The driest month is February with 58 mm.
How many hours of sunshine does Bristol get?
Bristol gets around 1,580 hours of sunshine a year. The sunniest month is June with 6.6 hours a day; in December there are 1.7 hours a day.
What time zone is Bristol in?
Bristol uses the time zone Europe/London: UTC+0 in January and UTC+1 in July.
Which school holidays are best for Bristol?
Bristol has its best school-holiday weather during the summer holidays (score 75) and its weakest during the Christmas holidays (score 13). Holiday ratings (0–100): Easter holidays 43, May half-term 66, Summer holidays 75, October half-term 45, Christmas holidays 13.
Near Bristol
Other destinations close by.
Places with a climate like Bristol
Destinations whose weather through the year is closest to Bristol's – good alternatives.