The best time to visit London

Londoners jump for joy when blossom-filled March arrives (not really, but we definitely smile a bit more) and there are plenty of events to help visitors make the most of the longer daylight hours. Join the sea of green leprechaun floats, traditional musicians and squads of Irish dancers when the St Patrick’s Day parade rolls around. Get your flower fix at Kew Gardens’s spectacular Orchid Festival or celebrate International Women’s Day at the Southbank Centre’s WOW – Women of the World festival.

Summer in London is a scorcher. Not due to the temperature but because there are so many hot events to pack in. The city’s parks are ripe for music festivals while the (usually) warmer weather allows for alfresco dining and hours spent unwinding at one of London’s best rooftop bars or snuggled up in front of an outdoor cinema screen. July sees the arrival of Wimbledon, while the August bank holiday weekend is all about Europe’s biggest street party: Notting Hill Carnival.

Londoners don’t hibernate just because the nights are drawing in. Autumn sees fancy dress fans gear up for Halloween, while film buffs make a beeline for October’s London Film Festival. In November, the city’s sky is lit up with fireworks as Bonfire Night celebrations burst into life, followed by the Lord Mayor’s Show. As London’s trees turn from luscious green to burnt orange, you’ll find many people content to cosy up with a glass of something boozy in one of the capital’s many characterful pubs with fires.

Winter is the season to be chilly and drink gallons of mulled wine. Christmas lights illuminate the capital, ice rinks appear and winter pop-ups pop up: think Thames-side igloos and cosy ski lodges. On the lookout for gifts? Wander around a fairy-lit Christmas market or brave the January sales. London also throws a damn good party on New Year’s Eve. And if you’re lucky, there might even be a smattering of snow.