Back to destinations
AI-generated illustrative landscape; not a photograph of this destination
AI-generated
United Kingdom

Plymouth

City break

Plymouth at a glance

Best time
May – Sep
Warmest month
Jul · 19°
Warmest sea
Aug · 16.9°
Sunshine a year
1,720 h
Rain a year
886 mm
Climate
Maritime
Time zone
UTC+0 / UTC+1
Elevation
14 m

Climate in Plymouth

Plymouth has a maritime climate with moderate summers and cool, often grey winters. July is the warmest month with average highs of 19 °C, while January is the coolest at 9 °C. With around 1,720 hours of sunshine a year, Plymouth is moderately sunny; June is the sunniest month with 7.4 hours a day.

Holiday weather through the year

Your holiday weather, at a glance

Weather in October

44

Holiday weather in October

Fair

Best time to visit: May – September

Keep in mindFrequent rain

A typical day in October

  1. Morning, 08:00: about 11°
  2. Midday, 13:00: about 14°
  3. Afternoon, 16:00: about 15°
  4. Evening, 20:00: about 13°
  5. Night, 23:00: about 12°

07:3718:27

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 07:17–08:22 · evening 17:43–18:48
Blue hour
Morning 07:04–07:17 · evening 18:48–19:00

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 Plymouth in October?

In October, Plymouth is cool: daytime highs average 15 °C, and nights cool down to about 10 °C. The sea averages 15.1 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun is scarce, with only about 4 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 14 rainy days and 94 mm in total. All in all, October is a so-so month for a holiday in Plymouth.

More details for October

Daylight
10 h 50 min07:37 – 18:27
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
74 %on averageAll months
Hot days
0 days30 °C or more
Time zone
UTC+1Europe/London

How the score comes together

  • Temperatureweight 50 %67 %
  • Sunshineweight 20 %8 %
  • Few rainy daysweight 30 %30 %

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 Plymouth

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

Sea in October15.1°Ccold

8 in 10 years: 14.5 – 15.8 °C

Swimming season: Never above 20 °C

  • cold
  • fresh
  • refreshing
  • pleasant
  • warm
  • very warm
OctoberMean sea temperature 15.1°8 in 10 years 14.5° – 15.8°
20°
Mean sea temperature8 in 10 years20 °C – comfortable for swimming

The sea temperature in Plymouth ranges from 9.4 °C in March to 16.9 °C in August. 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 August, while the air already peaks in July. From October to February the sea is even warmer than the afternoon air. The sea temperature varies from year to year: in August, eight out of ten years were between 16.2 and 17.8 °C.

Sea temperature by month
MonthAverageCool yearWarm yearFeels
JanuaryJan10.4°9.2°11.0°cold
FebruaryFeb9.6°8.7°10.3°cold
MarchMar9.4°8.3°10.3°cold
AprilApr10.3°9.4°11.2°cold
MayMay12.1°11.2°13.1°cold
JuneJun14.5°13.6°15.5°cold
JulyJul16.3°15.3°17.5°cold
AugustAug16.9°16.2°17.8°cold
SeptemberSep16.2°15.6°16.9°cold
OctoberOct15.1°14.5°15.8°cold
NovemberNov13.4°12.8°14.2°cold
DecemberDec11.7°10.9°12.3°cold
Sunshine

Sunshine hours in Plymouth

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

Per year
1,720 hours
Sunniest month
Jun · 7.4 h a day
Least sunshine
Dec · 1.8 h a day
OctoberSunshine 3.5 hDaylight 10.8 hShare of daylight 32 %
SunshineDaylight

In October, the sun shines for about 3.5 of 10.8 hours of daylight in Plymouth, 32 % 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 Plymouth

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 110 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 Plymouth: 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
886 mm on 150 days
Wettest month
Oct · 94 mm
Driest month
Sep · 57 mm
OctoberRainy days 14Rainfall 94 mm

In October, Plymouth has about 14 rainy days with 94 mm of rain in total.

Wind & clouds

Wind and clouds in Plymouth

How breezy and how cloudy Plymouth 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
Dec · 26 km/h
Calmest month
Jul · 20 km/h
OctoberWind 24 km/hBeaufort 4
20
WindBeaufort 4

In October, the wind in Plymouth 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
71 % · mostly cloudy
Clearest month
Apr · 65 %
Cloudiest month
Dec · 75 %
OctoberCloud cover 74 %Sunshine 3.5 h

In October, cloud covers on average 74 % of the sky over Plymouth: mostly cloudy, with about 3.5 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 Plymouth

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 10°. A duvet at night and a jumper for the evening.

The coolest nights are in February (4°), the warmest in August (14°). Nights fall below 8 °C on average from December 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 10°Sea 15°
DayNightSea
MonthScoreDayNightSeaSunRain daysRain mm
JanuaryJan149°5°10.4°1.9 h1379
FebruaryFeb189°4°9.6°3.0 h1269
MarchMar2710°5°9.4°4.2 h1266
AprilApr4612°6°10.3°6.3 h1265
MayMay6115°9°12.1°7.2 h1370
JuneJun7618°12°14.5°7.4 h1270
JulyJul7519°14°16.3°6.9 h1269
AugustAug7319°14°16.9°6.4 h1371
SeptemberSep7318°12°16.2°5.5 h1057
OctoberOct4415°10°15.1°3.5 h1494
NovemberNov2711°8°13.4°2.3 h1387
DecemberDec179°6°11.7°1.8 h1389

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

50.37° N, 4.14° W · 14 m · Europe/London

Best time to visit

Best time to visit Plymouth

The best time to visit Plymouth is from May to September. The sea stays too cool for a classic beach holiday: even in August it only reaches 16.9 °C. For sightseeing, day trips and hiking, conditions are most comfortable in September. Rain is most frequent from March to August and from October to January; the wettest month is October with 94 mm.

Plymouth through the seasons

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

Plymouth in spring

Mar – May

45

Fair

  • 10–15 °C by day
  • Sea 11 °C
  • 6 h of sun a day
  • 37 rainy days in all

Plymouth in summer

Jun – Aug

75

Good

  • 18–19 °C by day
  • Sea 16 °C
  • 7 h of sun a day
  • 37 rainy days in all

Plymouth in autumn

Sep – Nov

48

Fair

  • 11–18 °C by day
  • Sea 15 °C
  • 4 h of sun a day
  • 37 rainy days in all

Plymouth in winter

Dec – Feb

16

Poor

  • 9 °C by day
  • Sea 11 °C
  • 2 h of sun a day
  • 38 rainy days in all

Find your perfect month

Tell us what you like and we rate every month in Plymouth 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 Plymouth

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 Plymouth: score 76 against 44. In June, days are 3 °C warmer than in October. The sea is 1 °C cooler in June. June has 2 fewer rainy days. The sun shines 4 hours longer a day in June.

October vs. June, Plymouth
MonthOctoberJune
Weather score4476better
Day high15°18°
Night low10°12°
Sea15.1°14.5°
Sunshine3.5 h7.4 hbetter
Rainy days1412better
Rainfall94 mm70 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

Sep

15–28 °C and not too much rain

Rainy months

Mar – Aug, Oct – Jan

12 or more rainy days

Plymouth month by month

The typical weather for every month at a glance.

14January9° · Sea 10° · 2 h

In January, Plymouth is cold: daytime highs average 9 °C, and nights cool down to about 5 °C. The sea averages 10.4 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun is scarce, with only about 2 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 13 rainy days and 79 mm in total. All in all, January is not an ideal month for a holiday in Plymouth.

Plymouth in January
18February9° · Sea 10° · 3 h

In February, Plymouth is cold: daytime highs average 9 °C, and nights cool down to about 4 °C. The sea averages 9.6 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun is scarce, with only about 3 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 12 rainy days and 69 mm in total. All in all, February is not an ideal month for a holiday in Plymouth.

Plymouth in February
27March10° · Sea 9° · 4 h

In March, Plymouth is cool: daytime highs average 10 °C, and nights cool down to about 5 °C. The sea averages 9.4 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. Expect around 4 hours of sunshine a day. Rain is frequent, with about 12 rainy days and 66 mm in total. All in all, March is not an ideal month for a holiday in Plymouth.

Plymouth in March
46April12° · Sea 10° · 6 h

In April, Plymouth is cool: daytime highs average 12 °C, and nights cool down to about 6 °C. The sea averages 10.3 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. Expect around 6 hours of sunshine a day. Rain is frequent, with about 12 rainy days and 65 mm in total. All in all, April is a so-so month for a holiday in Plymouth.

Plymouth in April
61May15° · Sea 12° · 7 h

In May, Plymouth is cool: daytime highs average 15 °C, and nights cool down to about 9 °C. The sea averages 12.1 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun shines for around 7 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 13 rainy days and 70 mm in total. All in all, May is a good month for a holiday in Plymouth.

Plymouth in May
76June18° · Sea 15° · 7 h

In June, Plymouth is mild: daytime highs average 18 °C, and nights cool down to about 12 °C. The sea averages 14.5 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun shines for around 7 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 12 rainy days and 70 mm in total. All in all, June is a good month for a holiday in Plymouth.

Plymouth in June
75July19° · Sea 16° · 7 h

In July, Plymouth is mild: daytime highs average 19 °C, and nights cool down to about 14 °C. The sea averages 16.3 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun shines for around 7 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 12 rainy days and 69 mm in total. All in all, July is a good month for a holiday in Plymouth.

Plymouth in July
73August19° · Sea 17° · 6 h

In August, Plymouth is mild: daytime highs average 19 °C, and nights cool down to about 14 °C. The sea averages 16.9 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. Expect around 6 hours of sunshine a day. Rain is frequent, with about 13 rainy days and 71 mm in total. All in all, August is a good month for a holiday in Plymouth.

Plymouth in August
73September18° · Sea 16° · 6 h

In September, Plymouth is mild: daytime highs average 18 °C, and nights cool down to about 12 °C. The sea averages 16.2 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. Expect around 6 hours of sunshine a day. Rain is frequent, with about 10 rainy days and 57 mm in total. All in all, September is a good month for a holiday in Plymouth.

Plymouth in September
44October15° · Sea 15° · 4 h

In October, Plymouth is cool: daytime highs average 15 °C, and nights cool down to about 10 °C. The sea averages 15.1 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun is scarce, with only about 4 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 14 rainy days and 94 mm in total. All in all, October is a so-so month for a holiday in Plymouth.

Plymouth in October
27November11° · Sea 13° · 2 h

In November, Plymouth is cool: daytime highs average 11 °C, and nights cool down to about 8 °C. The sea averages 13.4 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun is scarce, with only about 2 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 13 rainy days and 87 mm in total. All in all, November is not an ideal month for a holiday in Plymouth.

Plymouth in November
17December9° · Sea 12° · 2 h

In December, Plymouth is cold: daytime highs average 9 °C, and nights cool down to about 6 °C. The sea averages 11.7 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun is scarce, with only about 2 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 13 rainy days and 89 mm in total. All in all, December is not an ideal month for a holiday in Plymouth.

Plymouth in December
Compare

Plymouth compared

Put Plymouth side by side with another destination.

Nearby:
Compare with home:

Plymouth vs. Torquay

In October the holiday weather in Plymouth and Torquay is about equally good (score 44 vs. 47). During the day it is about as warm in Torquay as in Plymouth. The sea in Torquay is 1 °C warmer.

Plymouth vs. Torquay, in October
in OctoberPlymouthTorquay
Holiday score4447
Daytime high15°15°
Sea15°16°
Sunshine4 h4 h
Rainy days1414
Best timeMay – SepJun – Aug

Through the year

OctoberPlymouth 15°Torquay 15°
PlymouthTorquay
Go to Torquay
Ranking

United Kingdom in October: the best places

In October, Plymouth ranks 14 among the 31 nearest destinations in this country.

  1. Winchester15°49
  2. 2Portsmouth15°16°49
  3. 3Slough15°49
  4. 4Brighton15°16°49
  5. 5Glastonbury15°48
  6. 6Reading15°48
  7. 7Salisbury15°47
  8. 8Oxford14°47
  9. 14PlymouthThis page15°15°44
All destinations: United Kingdom

Planning a trip to Plymouth

Weather for your travel dates

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

Plymouth 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.

Plymouth has its best school-holiday weather during the summer holidays (score 74) and its weakest during the Christmas holidays (score 16).

  • Easter holidays

    Mar – Apr

    40

    Fair

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

    Keep in mind: Frequent rain

  • May half-term

    May – Jun

    64

    Good

    • 16 °C by day
    • Sea 13 °C
    • 7.2 h of sun a day
    • 13 rainy days a month

    Keep in mind: Frequent rain

  • Summer holidays

    Jul – Aug

    74

    GoodBest holidays

    • 19 °C by day
    • Sea 17 °C
    • 6.6 h of sun a day
    • 12 rainy days a month

    Keep in mind: Frequent rain

  • October half-term

    Oct

    44

    Fair

    • 15 °C by day
    • Sea 15 °C
    • 3.5 h of sun a day
    • 14 rainy days a month

    Keep in mind: Frequent rain

  • Christmas holidays

    Dec – Jan

    16

    Poor

    • 9 °C by day
    • Sea 11 °C
    • 1.9 h of sun a day
    • 13 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
290 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 Plymouth

When is the best time to visit Plymouth?

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

How warm is the sea in Plymouth?

The sea temperature in Plymouth ranges from 9.4 °C in March to 16.9 °C in August. Even at its warmest the sea stays below 20 °C, so swimming is bracing at best.

Can you swim in Plymouth in October?

Only if you don't mind cold water: in October the sea averages just 15.1 °C. Comfortable swimming temperatures are not reached at any time of year.

What is the warmest month in Plymouth?

July is the warmest month, with average highs of 19 °C and nights around 14 °C. January is the coolest month at 9 °C.

When does it rain most in Plymouth?

Rain is most frequent from March to August and from October to January; the wettest month is October with 94 mm. The driest month is September with 57 mm.

How many hours of sunshine does Plymouth get?

Plymouth gets around 1,720 hours of sunshine a year. The sunniest month is June with 7.4 hours a day; in December there are 1.8 hours a day.

What time zone is Plymouth in?

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

Which school holidays are best for Plymouth?

Plymouth has its best school-holiday weather during the summer holidays (score 74) and its weakest during the Christmas holidays (score 16). Holiday ratings (0–100): Easter holidays 40, May half-term 64, Summer holidays 74, October half-term 44, Christmas holidays 16.

Near Plymouth

Other destinations close by.

Places with a climate like Plymouth

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

  1. 86% similar10Saint-MaloFrance16°16°Best time: Jul – Aug
  2. 86% similar8RoscoffFrance16°15°Best time: Apr – Sep
  3. 86% similar49BrightonUnited Kingdom15°16°Best time: Jun – Sep
  4. 85% similar11EastbourneUnited Kingdom15°16°Best time: May – Aug