What Are the Warmest Cities in the UK?
British weather isn’t known for its countless hours of sunshine or high average temperature. Summers are mild compared to other countries in Europe and UK cities don’t get to enjoy much winter sun, either.
Thankfully, there’s some variation between various cities. Temperatures can be up to a few degrees Celsius higher or lower depending on the city. In this article I’m going to share with you a list of the warmest cities in the UK ranked by their annual daily mean temperature.
I created my list by researching climate data provided by the Met Office (Met Office UK climate averages).
Below I’m listing the top 10 warmest cities in the United Kingdom that have the highest average temperature. Later in the article I also share the entire table with data for 72 UK cities.
Top 10 Warmest Cities in the UK
Here are the top ten warmest places in the UK, ranked by the annual daily mean temperature (which is the average of the annual maximum and annual minimum temperature). Many of the cities featured below are also some of the sunniest cities in the UK featured in my other ranking.
For the top five cities I also give average winter and summer temperatures.
1. Portsmouth – daily mean temperature of 11.74 °C
The most densely populated city in the UK, Portsmouth in Hampshire, is the warmest of all ranked cities. Its average temperature is 0.76 °C higher than in Central London. While London gets higher temperatures in the summer, Portsmouth has milder winters. Compared to the coldest cities in the UK, Leeds and Bradford, the annual difference is a much more noticeable 2.97 °C. If you want warm weather in the UK, this is the best area for you.
Winter temperatures: highs of 9 °C (48 °F), lows of 4 °C (39 °F)
Summer temperatures: highs of 20-22 °C (68-72 °F), lows of 12-15 °C (54-59 °F)
2. Southampton – daily mean temperature of 11.73 °C
Southampton in Hampshire not only has the highest daily mean temperature but also the highest annual average high temperature. The only reason why it doesn’t rank first is because Portsmouth has slightly higher average low temperatures. Both cities are located so close to each other than their shared climate shouldn’t come as a surprise. If you want to escape cold weather, both will be good options. Southampton offers a slightly warmer average maximum temperature, though.
Winter temperatures: highs of 9 °C (48 °F), lows of 3-4 °C (37-39 °F)
Summer temperatures: highs of 21-23 °C (70-73 °F), lows of 12-14 °C (54-57 °F)
3. Chichester – daily mean temperature of 11.43 °C
The West Sussex town of Chichester, the sunniest city in the UK, is also the third warmest city in the United Kingdom. If you’re looking for the sunniest and warmest place in the United Kingdom, look no further. Out of all the ranked cities, with higher temperatures and many more sunshine hours than the average, Chichester is the best option to survive the bleak winter months.
Winter temperatures: highs of 8-9 °C (46-48 °F), lows of 3-4 °C (37-39 °F)
Summer temperatures: highs of 19-21 °C (66-70 °F), lows of 12-14 °C (54-57 °F)
4. Plymouth – daily mean temperature of 11.32 °C
Plymouth is a port city on the south coast of Devon. It has a milder climate than the rest of England, with winter months having warmer nights than the warmest city in the UK, Portsmouth. Curiously, the city ranks #4 both in my ranking of the warmest places as well as in my ranking of places by their annual hours of sunshine.
Winter temperatures: highs of 9-10 °C (48-50 °F), lows of 4-5 °C (39-41 °F)
Summer temperatures: highs of 18-20 °C (64-68 °F), lows of 11-13 °C (52-55 °F)
5. Swansea – daily mean temperature of 11.27 °C
Located in South Wales, Swansea is another coastal city in our ranking. As is the case with the previous places, the proximity of the ocean moderates the local climate. Located close to two spectacular national parks (Brecon Beacons National Park and Pembrokeshire Coast National Park), Swansea may be the best option for nature lovers looking to live in one of the warmest regions of the country.
Winter temperatures: highs of 8-9 °C (46-48 °F), lows of 4-5 °C (39-41 °F)
Summer temperatures: highs of 18-20 °C (64-68 °F), lows of 12-14 °C (54-57 °F)
6. Truro – daily mean temperature of 11.14 °C
Cornwall’s mild climate offers higher temperatures and more sunshine. Such is also the case for Truro, a small (non-coastal) town in western Cornwall. Like the entire region, it gets much fewer days of air frost than the average in the United Kingdom, making winter a little more tolerable.
7. Cardiff – daily mean temperature of 11.11 °C
The capital of Wales is the most populous city on this list. If you’re looking to move to one of the largest cities in the United Kingdom that also happens to be one of the warmest, Cardiff is your best option.
8. Southend-on-Sea – daily mean temperature of 11.10 °C
Located close to London, the coastal city of Southend-on Sea in Essex not only offers a convenient quick getaway but also slightly higher temperatures. It also enjoys some of the highest in the UK annual sunshine hours, ranking third in my ranking of the sunniest cities in the United Kingdom.
9. Gloucester – daily mean temperature of 11.09 °C
Lying on the River Severn, Gloucester in Gloucestershire is one of the few cities on this ranking that isn’t located on the coast (though it still has a port). Located between the protected landscape of Cotswolds and the Forest of Dean, Gloucester is a good option for those looking for a middle-sized city with better weather.
10. Oxford – daily mean temperature of 11.07 °C
Oxford in Oxfordshire is not only home to one of the world’s most prestigious universities. It also enjoys a warmer climate than other parts of the United Kingdom. It’s the tenth sunniest city in the UK, with an average temperature 0.67 °C lower than Portsmouth.
Video Summary of the Warmest UK Cities
All Cities in the UK Ranked by Daily Mean Temperature
Here’s my list of 72 cities in the UK ranked by the daily mean temperature. While the differences don’t look that impressive, the warmest cities are much warmer than the coldest ones. Moving from a cold city to a warm one means an improvement of up to a few degrees Celsius.
The table also includes average high temperatures and average low temperatures. You’ll notice that the average maximum temperature in some cities is higher but they rank lower because the average minimum temperature is lower, resulting in a lower average.
| City | Average high temperature (°C) | Average low temperature (°C) | Daily mean temperature (°C) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portsmouth | 14.89 | 8.58 | 11.74 |
| Southampton | 15.46 | 7.99 | 11.73 |
| Chichester | 14.66 | 8.2 | 11.43 |
| Plymouth | 14.39 | 8.24 | 11.32 |
| Swansea | 13.72 | 8.81 | 11.27 |
| Truro | 13.79 | 8.49 | 11.14 |
| Cardiff | 14.95 | 7.26 | 11.11 |
| Southend-on-Sea | 14.65 | 7.54 | 11.1 |
| Gloucester | 15.09 | 7.08 | 11.09 |
| Canterbury | 15.05 | 7.09 | 11.07 |
| Oxford | 15.02 | 7.12 | 11.07 |
| London | 14.67 | 7.29 | 10.98 |
| Westminster | 14.67 | 7.29 | 10.98 |
| Bangor | 14.03 | 7.87 | 10.95 |
| Bristol | 14.53 | 7.33 | 10.93 |
| Exeter | 15.04 | 6.7 | 10.87 |
| Brighton and Hove | 14.4 | 7.18 | 10.79 |
| Bath | 14.66 | 6.89 | 10.78 |
| Cambridge | 14.88 | 6.65 | 10.77 |
| Wells | 14.89 | 6.49 | 10.69 |
| Chelmsford | 15.04 | 6.27 | 10.66 |
| Kingston upon Hull | 14.45 | 6.85 | 10.65 |
| Newport | 15.16 | 6.02 | 10.59 |
| Worcester | 14.84 | 6.27 | 10.56 |
| Ely | 14.98 | 6.08 | 10.53 |
| Liverpool | 13.57 | 7.54 | 10.56 |
| Winchester | 14.98 | 6.05 | 10.52 |
| Norwich | 14.24 | 6.67 | 10.46 |
| Salisbury | 14.44 | 6.39 | 10.42 |
| Coventry | 14.17 | 6.62 | 10.4 |
| St Asaph | 13.64 | 7.13 | 10.39 |
| Leicester | 14.29 | 6.45 | 10.37 |
| Lancaster | 13.23 | 7.49 | 10.36 |
| Wrexham | 14.32 | 6.37 | 10.35 |
| Sheffield | 13.71 | 6.92 | 10.32 |
| Milton Keynes | 14.44 | 6.13 | 10.29 |
| Hereford | 14.49 | 6.01 | 10.25 |
| Wolverhampton | 14.16 | 6.34 | 10.25 |
| Lichfield | 14.16 | 6.34 | 10.25 |
| St Albans | 14.1 | 6.38 | 10.24 |
| Preston | 14.11 | 6.37 | 10.24 |
| Peterborough | 14.12 | 6.35 | 10.24 |
| Lincoln | 13.86 | 6.6 | 10.23 |
| Nottingham | 13.78 | 6.48 | 10.13 |
| Derby | 13.78 | 6.48 | 10.13 |
| Birmingham | 13.86 | 6.28 | 10.07 |
| Belfast | 13.66 | 6.26 | 9.96 |
| Derry | 13.28 | 6.61 | 9.95 |
| Armagh | 13.55 | 6.3 | 9.93 |
| Carlisle | 13.21 | 6.28 | 9.75 |
| Newcastle upon Tyne | 12.41 | 6.89 | 9.65 |
| Sunderland | 12.41 | 6.89 | 9.65 |
| Chester | 13.13 | 6.09 | 9.61 |
| Manchester | 13.13 | 6.09 | 9.61 |
| Salford | 13.13 | 6.09 | 9.61 |
| Stoke-on-Trent | 13.01 | 6.11 | 9.56 |
| Edinburgh | 12.96 | 6.09 | 9.53 |
| Stirling | 13.26 | 5.79 | 9.53 |
| Durham | 13.2 | 5.71 | 9.46 |
| York | 13.67 | 5.06 | 9.37 |
| Ripon | 13.67 | 5.06 | 9.37 |
| Wakefield | 12.92 | 5.65 | 9.29 |
| Lisburn | 12.64 | 5.91 | 9.28 |
| Newry | 12.48 | 6.04 | 9.26 |
| Perth | 13.1 | 5.34 | 9.22 |
| Inverness | 12.68 | 5.66 | 9.17 |
| Dundee | 12.75 | 5.39 | 9.07 |
| Glasgow | 12.45 | 5.69 | 9.07 |
| St Davids | 12.74 | 4.89 | 8.82 |
| Aberdeen | 12.21 | 5.37 | 8.79 |
| Leeds | 12.05 | 5.49 | 8.77 |
| Bradford | 12.05 | 5.49 | 8.77 |
Further Reading
Make sure to check my list of the sunniest cities in the UK as well. I also have an article on the sunniest part of England.
For comparison purposes, you may also be interested in articles about the warmest cities in other European countries.