Things to Do in United Kingdom in June
June weather, activities, events & insider tips
June Weather in United Kingdom
Is June Right for You?
Advantages
- Longest daylight hours of the year - sunrise around 4:45am, sunset after 9:15pm, giving you nearly 17 hours of daylight to pack in activities without feeling rushed. Those late sunsets mean you can visit outdoor attractions until 8pm and still have natural light for photos.
- Gardens and countryside at absolute peak condition - the Chelsea Flower Show happens in late May for good reason. By June, every public garden, from Kew to the Yorkshire Dales wildflower meadows, is in full bloom. The hedgerows are thick with hawthorn and elderflower, and the South Downs look genuinely spectacular.
- Festival season in full swing without the chaos of July-August school holidays. You get Glastonbury, Trooping the Colour, Royal Ascot, and dozens of smaller food and music festivals, but accommodation prices haven't hit their July-August peak yet. Book 6-8 weeks ahead and you'll pay 15-20% less than high summer rates.
- Coastal areas are warm enough for beach days (18-20°C / 64-68°F water temperature) but not yet overrun. Devon, Cornwall, and the Norfolk coast are genuinely pleasant in June - you can actually find parking and get a table at seaside restaurants without booking weeks ahead.
Considerations
- Weather is genuinely unpredictable - that 10°C to 19°C (50°F to 66°F) range means you might need a winter coat one morning and sunscreen by afternoon. Rain happens about one day in three, though showers tend to be brief rather than all-day washouts. Pack layers and accept you'll look like you're dressed for three different seasons.
- Major events drive accommodation prices up sharply in specific locations - if you're near Glastonbury festival dates (typically last weekend of June), Royal Ascot week (third week), or Wimbledon fortnight (starts late June), expect hotel prices to double or triple within 50 km (31 miles) of the event. London rates jump 30-40% during Wimbledon weeks.
- School groups everywhere until mid-June - UK schools don't break up until around June 20th, so popular attractions like the Tower of London, Edinburgh Castle, and Stonehenge get swarmed with school trips on weekdays. Visit these places after 3pm or save them for the last week of June when term ends.
Best Activities in June
Lake District hiking and fell walking
June is arguably the best month for the Lakes - long daylight hours mean you can tackle longer routes like the Fairfield Horseshoe or Catbells without rushing, wildflowers are covering the lower fells, and the weather is warm enough that you won't freeze at altitude but cool enough for comfortable hiking. The UV index of 8 is high for the UK, so you actually need proper sun protection above 500 m (1,640 ft). Trails are usually dry after the spring mud, though carry waterproofs because mountain weather changes fast.
Scottish Highlands and Isle of Skye road trips
The Highlands get as close to reliable weather as Scotland offers in June - still variable, but you'll typically see 15-18°C (59-64°F) days with extended twilight lasting until nearly 11pm in the far north. The midges haven't reached their July-August horror show levels yet. Roads like the North Coast 500 are accessible without winter driving concerns, and attractions like Eilean Donan Castle and the Fairy Pools have manageable crowds compared to peak summer.
London theatre and cultural experiences
June is when London's cultural calendar peaks before tourist crowds hit maximum capacity in July-August. West End shows are in full swing, the Royal Opera House runs its summer season, and outdoor theatre in Regent's Park and Shakespeare's Globe is genuinely pleasant in the long evenings. Those 9:15pm sunsets mean you can do a matinee show, have dinner, and still see the city in daylight afterward. The humidity at 70% is noticeable but nothing compared to actual tropical climates.
Cotswolds village cycling and walking routes
The Cotswolds look like a film set in June - honey-colored stone villages surrounded by bright green countryside, roses climbing cottage walls, and pub gardens actually warm enough to sit in comfortably. The rolling terrain is perfect for leisurely cycling, with routes connecting villages like Bourton-on-the-Water, Stow-on-the-Wold, and Chipping Campden. Those 19°C (66°F) highs are ideal cycling weather - warm but not overheating on hills.
Cornwall coastal path walking and beach exploration
Cornwall in June offers the best balance of warm weather and manageable crowds. The South West Coast Path sections around St Ives, Padstow, and the Lizard Peninsula are spectacular with wildflowers and seabirds nesting on cliffs. Water temperature reaches 15-17°C (59-63°F) - cold but swimmable if you're hardy or have a wetsuit. The UV index of 8 means you need proper sun protection on exposed clifftops where there's no shade for hours.
Bath and historic spa town experiences
Bath is particularly good in June because you can combine indoor attractions like the Roman Baths and Thermae Spa with outdoor activities along the River Avon and surrounding countryside. The Georgian architecture looks magnificent in June sunshine, and the city's gardens are at their best. That variable weather actually works in Bath's favor - when it rains, you have world-class museums and the thermal spa as backup plans.
June Events & Festivals
Trooping the Colour
The official celebration of the monarch's birthday, held on the second or third Saturday in June. This is the full ceremonial display with 1,400 soldiers, 200 horses, and 400 musicians parading from Buckingham Palace to Horse Guards Parade. The Royal Family appears on the Balcony afterward for the RAF flypast. Tickets are allocated by ballot (apply in January), but you can watch the parade route for free - arrive by 9am for decent spots along The Mall.
Royal Ascot
Five days of high-end horse racing and spectacular fashion, typically the third week of June. Even if you're not into racing, the people-watching is extraordinary - morning suits, elaborate hats, and Champagne in the Royal Enclosure. General admission to the Queen Anne Enclosure costs around £35-50 and gives you access to the parade ring and betting. The atmosphere is genuinely special, though accommodation within 30 km (19 miles) gets expensive and books out months ahead.
Glastonbury Festival
The UK's largest music and performing arts festival, held on a farm in Somerset, typically the last full weekend of June. Around 200,000 people attend across five days. Tickets sell out within hours when released in October, but the festival's cultural impact means accommodation, trains, and roads within 80 km (50 miles) are affected even if you're not attending. If you're touring the southwest that weekend, factor in traffic and fully booked hotels around Bristol and Bath.
Wimbledon Championships
The tennis tournament starts in late June and runs into early July. The grounds are in southwest London (Wimbledon Park), and the atmosphere around the area is brilliant - giant screens on Murray Mound (Henman Hill), strawberries and cream, and that peculiarly British combination of intense competition and polite queuing. Queue for ground passes (around £30) to access outside courts, or enter the daily ballot for Centre Court and No.1 Court tickets. London hotel prices jump notably during Wimbledon fortnight.