United Kingdom Edinburgh Weather in January — Climate Guide
January in Edinburgh is moderate
January is moderate for Edinburgh.
Cold + dark + wet. Sunset 15:45. Hotels lowest of year. Indoor focus: Castle, whisky bars, pubs.
Travel score
Edinburgh January Weather Stats
Avg High
7°C
Avg Low
1°C
Rainy Days
16
60mm total
Sunshine
1h
Daily avg
Humidity
85%
high
UV Index
1
Low
Wind
13 km/h
Gusts 30
Sea Temp
6°C
no swimming
Crowds
Quiet
At attractions
January Sunrise & Sunset
Air Quality
PM2.5
16 μg/m³
PM10
26 μg/m³
Status
good
Feels-Like Temperature & Wind
Feels like
Daytime
4°C
Nighttime
-2°C
Humidity and wind affect how the actual temperature feels.
Wind
13 km/h
Max gust 30 km/h
Activities Recommended for January
January Travel Pros & Cons
Pros
- Hotels 40-50% off summer
- No tourist crowds
- Burns Night Jan 25 (Scottish heritage)
- Indoor pub culture
Cons
- 1-7°C cold
- Daylight 7h
- Sunset 15:45
- Castle exterior cold
January Events & Festivals
- Hogmanay aftermath
- Burns Night Jan 25
Edinburgh in January — Full Picture
Cold + dark + wet. Sunset 15:45. Hotels lowest of year. Indoor focus: Castle, whisky bars, pubs.
What to Wear & What to Pack
Cold + wet. Heavy coat + waterproof + scarf + gloves.
Packing Checklist
Seasonal Weather Overview
Spring (Mar·Apr·May)
12.3°C
5°C
12/mo
Summer (Jun·Jul·Aug)
18.3°C
10.3°C
12.3/mo
Autumn (Sep·Oct·Nov)
13°C
6.7°C
13/mo
Winter (Dec·Jan·Feb)
Current7.3°C
1°C
14.7/mo
Edinburgh Monthly Weather Comparison
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Sun | Humid | UV | Crowd | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7° | 1° | 16d·60mm | 1h | 85% | 1 | Quiet | Low season | |
| 8° | 1° | 13d·50mm | 2h | 80% | 1 | Quiet | Low season | |
| 10° | 3° | 13d·50mm | 3h | 75% | 2 | Moderate | Shoulder | |
| 12° | 5° | 11d·40mm | 4h | 70% | 4 | Busy | Peak | |
| May (Best) | 15° | 7° | 12d·50mm | 5h | 70% | 5 | Busy | Peak |
| June (Best) | 17° | 9° | 12d·60mm | 6h | 70% | 6 | Busy | Peak |
| July (Best) | 19° | 11° | 12d·65mm | 5h | 73% | 6 | Very busy | Peak |
| August (Best) | 19° | 11° | 13d·70mm | 5h | 75% | 5 | Very busy | Peak |
| September (Best) | 16° | 9° | 12d·60mm | 4h | 78% | 3 | Very busy | Peak |
| 13° | 7° | 13d·65mm | 3h | 80% | 2 | Moderate | Shoulder | |
| 10° | 4° | 14d·60mm | 2h | 85% | 1 | Quiet | Low season | |
| 7° | 1° | 15d·60mm | 1h | 85% | 1 | Very busy | Peak |
View Other Months
Edinburgh January Hotel Picks
Frequently Asked Questions
Is January a good time to visit Edinburgh?
Edinburgh in January is moderate. Tourist crowds are quiet and flight/hotel prices are low season.
What's the average temperature in Edinburgh in January?
Edinburgh January averages a high of 7°C and a low of 1°C.
Does it rain much in Edinburgh in January?
Edinburgh January averages 60mm of rainfall over about 16 rainy days.
What should I wear in Edinburgh in January?
Cold + wet. Heavy coat + waterproof + scarf + gloves.
What time are sunrise and sunset in Edinburgh in January?
Edinburgh January sunrise is 08:40 and sunset is 16:30, with 7h 50min of daylight.
What's the air quality like in Edinburgh in January?
Edinburgh January air quality (AQI) averages 45, rated Good. PM2.5 averages 16μg/m³.
What activities are recommended in Edinburgh in January?
In January, Edinburgh is great for Burns Night (Jan 25) haggis dinners, Edinburgh Castle indoor, Whisky bars.
Is January peak season in Edinburgh?
Edinburgh January crowds are quiet and prices are low season. You can travel relatively comfortably without long queues.
Best Months to Visit Edinburgh
View Other Months
Why you can trust weather guide
Based in Chiang Mai for 8+ years, with 30+ countries visited across Southeast Asia, Japan, and Europe. Every detail in this guide is primary-source verified as of April 2026, with prices auto-refreshed via live exchange rate APIs. This isn't AI-generated boilerplate — it's written from the perspective of someone who has actually been there.