AI-generatedCanterbury at a glance
- Best time
- Jun – Sep
- Warmest month
- Aug · 21°
- Sunshine a year
- 1,840 h
- Rain a year
- 673 mm
- Climate
- Maritime
- Time zone
- UTC+0 / UTC+1
- Elevation
- 19 m
Climate in Canterbury
Canterbury has a maritime climate with moderate summers and cool, often grey winters. August is the warmest month with average highs of 21 °C, while January is the coolest at 7 °C. With around 1,840 hours of sunshine a year, Canterbury is moderately sunny; June is the sunniest month with 7.8 hours a day.
Holiday weather through the year
Weather in October
Holiday weather in October
Fair
Best time to visit: June – September
Keep in mindFrequent rain
A typical day in October
- Morning, 08:00: about 11°
- Midday, 13:00: about 15°
- Afternoon, 16:00: about 15°
- Evening, 20:00: about 13°
- Night, 23:00: about 12°
07:1718:05
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 06:57–08:03 · evening 17:20–18:26
- Blue hour
- Morning 06:44–06:57 · evening 18:26–18:39
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 Canterbury in October?
In October, Canterbury is cool: daytime highs average 15 °C, and nights cool down to about 11 °C. The sun is scarce, with only about 4 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 12 rainy days and 73 mm in total. All in all, October is a so-so month for a holiday in Canterbury.
More details for October
- Daylight
- 10 h 48 min07:17 – 18:05
- UV index
- 2 · lowclear sky, noon (estimate)All months
- Muggy days
- 0 daysdew point 18 °C or moreAll months
- Wind
- 27 km/haverage daily peakAll months
- Cloud cover
- 68 %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 %15 %
- Few rainy daysweight 30 %41 %
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 Canterbury
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 3.9 of 10.8 hours of daylight in Canterbury, 36 % of the day.
Sunshine hours: measured at the weather station 19 km away, averages 1991–2020 (WMO climate normals). Daylight is the time from sunrise to sunset on the 15th of the month.
UV index in Canterbury
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
- about 120 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 in Canterbury: 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, Canterbury has about 12 rainy days with 73 mm of rain in total.
Wind and clouds in Canterbury
How breezy and how cloudy Canterbury 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 Canterbury typically peaks at 27 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 68 % of the sky over Canterbury: mostly cloudy, with about 3.9 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 Canterbury
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) from July to 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.
| Month | Score | Day | Night | Sun | Rain days | Rain mm |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| JanuaryJan | 13 | 7° | 4° | 2.1 h | 12 | 59 |
| FebruaryFeb | 16 | 8° | 4° | 3.0 h | 11 | 51 |
| MarchMar | 30 | 10° | 5° | 4.3 h | 10 | 43 |
| AprilApr | 51 | 12° | 7° | 6.5 h | 10 | 41 |
| MayMay | 67 | 15° | 10° | 7.4 h | 10 | 51 |
| JuneJun | 84 | 19° | 13° | 7.8 h | 10 | 50 |
| JulyJul | 81 | 21° | 15° | 7.8 h | 11 | 55 |
| AugustAug | 81 | 21° | 15° | 7.3 h | 10 | 61 |
| SeptemberSep | 78 | 18° | 14° | 5.7 h | 9 | 51 |
| OctoberOct | 50 | 15° | 11° | 3.9 h | 12 | 73 |
| NovemberNov | 25 | 11° | 7° | 2.6 h | 13 | 72 |
| DecemberDec | 13 | 8° | 5° | 1.9 h | 12 | 67 |
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
51.28° N, 1.08° E · 19 m · Europe/London
Best time to visit Canterbury
The best time to visit Canterbury is from June to September. For sightseeing, day trips and hiking, conditions are most comfortable from May to September. Rain is most frequent from October to January; the wettest month is October with 73 mm.
Canterbury through the seasons
How the weather changes over the seasons, with averages for each.
Canterbury in spring
Mar – May
Fair
- 10–15 °C by day
- 6 h of sun a day
- 30 rainy days in all
Canterbury in summer
Jun – Aug
Excellent
- 19–21 °C by day
- 8 h of sun a day
- 31 rainy days in all
Canterbury in autumn
Sep – Nov
Fair
- 11–18 °C by day
- 4 h of sun a day
- 34 rainy days in all
Canterbury 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 Canterbury for you.
Your best months: July – August
Based on the climate averages; tap a month to see its details.
Compare two months in Canterbury
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 Canterbury: score 84 against 50. In June, days are 4 °C warmer than in October. June has 2 fewer rainy days. The sun shines 4 hours longer a day in June.
| Month | October | June |
|---|---|---|
| Weather score | 50 | 84better |
| Day high | 15° | 19° |
| Night low | 11° | 13° |
| Sunshine | 3.9 h | 7.8 hbetter |
| Rainy days | 12 | 10better |
| Rainfall | 73 mm | 50 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
May – Sep
15–28 °C and not too much rain
Rainy months
Oct – Jan
12 or more rainy days
Canterbury month by month
The typical weather for every month at a glance.
13January7° · 2 h
In January, Canterbury is cold: daytime highs average 7 °C, and nights cool down to about 4 °C. The sun is scarce, with only about 2 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 12 rainy days and 59 mm in total. It is often windy, with gusts of around 29 km/h. All in all, January is not an ideal month for a holiday in Canterbury.
Canterbury in January16February8° · 3 h
In February, Canterbury is cold: daytime highs average 8 °C, and nights cool down to about 4 °C. The sun is scarce, with only about 3 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 11 rainy days and 51 mm in total. It is often windy, with gusts of around 29 km/h. All in all, February is not an ideal month for a holiday in Canterbury.
Canterbury in February30March10° · 4 h
In March, Canterbury is cold: daytime highs average 10 °C, and nights cool down to about 5 °C. Expect around 4 hours of sunshine a day. Rain is frequent, with about 10 rainy days and 43 mm in total. All in all, March is not an ideal month for a holiday in Canterbury.
Canterbury in March51April12° · 7 h
In April, Canterbury is cool: daytime highs average 12 °C, and nights cool down to about 7 °C. The sun shines for around 7 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 10 rainy days and 41 mm in total. All in all, April is a so-so month for a holiday in Canterbury.
Canterbury in April67May15° · 7 h
In May, Canterbury is cool: daytime highs average 15 °C, and nights cool down to about 10 °C. The sun shines for around 7 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 10 rainy days and 51 mm in total. All in all, May is a good month for a holiday in Canterbury.
Canterbury in May84June19° · 8 h
In June, Canterbury is mild: daytime highs average 19 °C, and nights cool down to about 13 °C. The sun shines for around 8 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 10 rainy days and 50 mm in total. All in all, June is an excellent month for a holiday in Canterbury.
Canterbury in June81July21° · 8 h
In July, Canterbury is mild: daytime highs average 21 °C, and nights cool down to about 15 °C. The sun shines for around 8 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 11 rainy days and 55 mm in total. All in all, July is an excellent month for a holiday in Canterbury.
Canterbury in July81August21° · 7 h
In August, Canterbury is mild: daytime highs average 21 °C, and nights cool down to about 15 °C. 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 Canterbury.
Canterbury in August78September18° · 6 h
In September, Canterbury is mild: daytime highs average 18 °C, and nights cool down to about 14 °C. Expect around 6 hours of sunshine a day. Rain is frequent, with about 9 rainy days and 51 mm in total. All in all, September is a good month for a holiday in Canterbury.
Canterbury in September50October15° · 4 h
In October, Canterbury is cool: daytime highs average 15 °C, and nights cool down to about 11 °C. The sun is scarce, with only about 4 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 12 rainy days and 73 mm in total. All in all, October is a so-so month for a holiday in Canterbury.
Canterbury in October25November11° · 3 h
In November, Canterbury is cool: daytime highs average 11 °C, and nights cool down to about 7 °C. The sun is scarce, with only about 3 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 13 rainy days and 72 mm in total. It is often windy, with gusts of around 28 km/h. All in all, November is not an ideal month for a holiday in Canterbury.
Canterbury in November13December8° · 2 h
In December, Canterbury is cold: daytime highs average 8 °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 12 rainy days and 67 mm in total. It is often windy, with gusts of around 29 km/h. All in all, December is not an ideal month for a holiday in Canterbury.
Canterbury in DecemberCanterbury compared
Put Canterbury side by side with another destination.
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Canterbury vs. Dover
In October the holiday weather in Canterbury and Dover is about equally good (score 50 vs. 51). During the day it is about as warm in Dover as in Canterbury.
| in October | Canterbury | Dover |
|---|---|---|
| Holiday score | 50 | 51 |
| Daytime high | 15° | 15° |
| Sea | – | 16° |
| Sunshine | 4 h | 4 h |
| Rainy days | 12 | 12 |
| Best time | Jun – Sep | Jul – Aug |
Through the year
United Kingdom in October: the best places
In October, Canterbury ranks 3 among the 31 nearest destinations in this country.
- London15°51
- 2Cambridge15°51
- 3CanterburyThis page15°50
- 4Brighton15°16°49
- 5Watford15°49
- 6Slough15°49
- 7Portsmouth15°16°49
- 8Winchester15°49
Planning a trip to Canterbury
Weather for your travel dates
Pick your arrival and length of stay, and we sum up the weather to expect.
Canterbury 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.
Canterbury has its best school-holiday weather during the summer holidays (score 81) and its weakest during the Christmas holidays (score 13).
- 45
Easter holidays
Mar – Apr
Fair
- 11 °C by day
- 5.8 h of sun a day
- 10 rainy days a month
- 70
May half-term
May – Jun
Good
- 16 °C by day
- 7.5 h of sun a day
- 10 rainy days a month
Good for: Sightseeing & walks
- 81
Summer holidays
Jul – Aug
ExcellentBest holidays
- 21 °C by day
- 7.5 h of sun a day
- 10 rainy days a month
Good for: Sightseeing & walks
- 50
October half-term
Oct
Fair
- 15 °C by day
- 3.9 h of sun a day
- 12 rainy days a month
Keep in mind: Frequent rain
- 13
Christmas holidays
Dec – Jan
Poor
- 8 °C by day
- 2.0 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
- 110 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 Canterbury
When is the best time to visit Canterbury?
The best time to visit Canterbury is from June to September. That is when the holiday weather score, which combines temperature, sea, sunshine and rain, is highest.
What is the warmest month in Canterbury?
August is the warmest month, with average highs of 21 °C and nights around 15 °C. January is the coolest month at 7 °C.
When does it rain most in Canterbury?
Rain is most frequent from October to January; the wettest month is October with 73 mm. The driest month is April with 41 mm.
How many hours of sunshine does Canterbury get?
Canterbury gets around 1,840 hours of sunshine a year. The sunniest month is June with 7.8 hours a day; in December there are 1.9 hours a day.
What time zone is Canterbury in?
Canterbury uses the time zone Europe/London: UTC+0 in January and UTC+1 in July.
Which school holidays are best for Canterbury?
Canterbury has its best school-holiday weather during the summer holidays (score 81) and its weakest during the Christmas holidays (score 13). Holiday ratings (0–100): Easter holidays 45, May half-term 70, Summer holidays 81, October half-term 50, Christmas holidays 13.
Near Canterbury
Other destinations close by.
Places with a climate like Canterbury
Destinations whose weather through the year is closest to Canterbury's – good alternatives.