Bournemouth weather in December
December in Bournemouth: cold, rainy, with clean air — one of the weakest months to visit.
Updated September 2026 · climate normals from ERA5 reanalysis
#12 of 12 months in Bournemouth · #1301 of 1413 destinations to visit in December · comfort 38/100 (tier F)
- Days
- 11°C
- Nights
- 4°C
- Wet days
- 13
- Sun
- 3.2 h
- Humidity
- 86%
- Daylight
- 8 h

Traveller notes on Bournemouth in December
Bournemouth-forum threads on local weather describe December as one of the wetter months of the year here, rain a regular feature across a real share of days, temperatures rarely climbing much past the high 40s Fahrenheit even at midday. Posters note it can dip to freezing on a cold snap, though such stretches seldom last more than a day or two before moderating again. Snow is called genuinely uncommon this close to the coast, with most winters bringing only light flurries that melt quickly rather than settling into anything photogenic. Wind off the Channel is a near-constant feature regardless of temperature, worth a proper windproof layer even on a day that isn't especially cold. The pier and seafront promenade are still called worth a walk on a clear day, bracing rather than pleasant, but a genuine local tradition regardless. The record: 10.6C days feeling like 7C, 3.9C nights, 84mm across 12.8 days, a 10.3C sea, 86 percent humidity and just 3.2 hours of sun.
Other months in Bournemouth
Regulars asking about wet-weather backups are a recurring feature of this town's forum regardless of the month, and the standard answer leans on the museums, indoor markets and covered attractions clustered near the seafront rather than assuming the beach plan will simply work out. Our row backs a real chance of that backup being needed, 51.9mm of rain across 10.1 days, alongside mild spring warmth, 18.4C over 7.4C nights feeling 5C, and a real 20.5 kph wind. The sea is still properly cool at 13.3C, not yet the swimming draw it becomes later in summer. The record: humidity 76 percent, 11.4 hours of sun and AQI 42.
Asked to choose June or July, Bournemouth regulars pick June: a little quieter, and crucially before the school holidays send hotel prices up. Weekdays are quiet on the sand and weekends are not, and the crowding is concentrated rather than general - the stretch by the pier fills first, and walking a few minutes from any access point thins it out fast. Our row gives 21.3C over 10.9C with 58.9mm across 9.4 precipitation days and 11.5 hours of sun, which is a good British June. The one thing they will not promise is the water: at 17C the sea is still too cold for comfortable swimming this early, whatever the air is doing. The record: humidity 76 percent, a 20.9 kph wind, 16.4 hours of daylight and AQI 40.
The Bournemouth forum's July pitch is that the south coast gets the better end of English summer - mid to high 20s when it goes well, and not as bad as up country when it does not - with the honest rider that the weather is hard to judge in advance any more. The beach fills on the same schedule every day: quiet on the west side at 10am, busy by the pier by afternoon, so walk away from the pier for space. The sea warms from June onward and is pleasant in the shallows in a decent summer. From late July to the end of August there are fireworks off the pier every Friday night. The record: 23.2C days, 12.6C nights, 9 precipitation days, 11.6 hours of sun in a 16-hour day, and a 16.1C sea.
Forum posters call February English weather thoroughly unpredictable - cold, possibly wet or snowy, possibly clear and crisp, with no way to know in advance which day gets which. Days are lengthening through the month, from roughly 9.25 hours of daylight at the start to nearly 11 by the end, and posters note some attractions still run reduced winter hours through to Easter. The clear upside consistently raised: noticeably thinner crowds and cheaper accommodation than peak season, making it a reasonable trade for visitors willing to dress for the cold and keep plans flexible around the weather.
Year-round notes are on Bournemouth's overview. Add your own note from Bournemouth's card on the map.
Bournemouth climate normals — December
Monthly averages from ERA5 reanalysis. AQI is the mean US Air Quality Index for the month.
Crowds in Bournemouth in December
How busy the place itself is — school and mass holidays, the months an editor tagged, and how sought-after the weather makes them. Never part of the comfort score.
BusyChristmas holidays in United Kingdom, school holidays in 6 of the markets that fill it(estimated)
Peak crowdsBusyShoulder seasonQuiet
Best months for Bournemouth's weather
Ranked by this destination's own climate comfort score across the year — a different thing from how busy it gets (see Crowds above).
Toughest weatherBournemouth's weather peaks June–August, best around July.
Best weatherFair weatherToughest weather
What's on in Bournemouth in December
Recurring seasonal events, natural spectacles, closures and holidays — curated and sourced.
- Nature
Winter waders on Poole Harbour
15 Oct – 10 Mar · usuallyBirdlife seasonAvocets, black-tailed godwits and brent geese pack the mudflats at Arne and Brownsea through the cold months, and the hides are busiest on a falling tide. Source ↗
- Nature
Fossil hunting season
1 Nov – 31 Mar · usuallyWinter storms cut into the Jurassic Coast cliffs west of here and turn out ammonites onto the beach at Charmouth and Lyme. Collecting is done on the tide line, never at the cliff face. Source ↗
- Festival
Christmas Tree Wonderland
15 Nov – 2 Jan · usuallyChristmas & New YearThe town gardens are strung with light installations and a walking trail from mid-November, which is what a seaside resort does with a month nobody would otherwise come for. Source ↗
Nearby, and something's on
Within 300 km of Bournemouth — a day trip or a short hop — with something on this month. Never part of the comfort score.
Where is Bournemouth?
Bournemouth in December — FAQ
- Is December a good time to visit Bournemouth?
- December in Bournemouth: cold, rainy, with clean air — one of the weakest months to visit. It ranks #12 of 12 months for Bournemouth on SeasonMap's comfort score (38/100).
- What is the weather like in Bournemouth in December?
- In December, Bournemouth averages a daily high of 10.6°C and a low of 3.9°C, with about 84.3 mm of rain over roughly 12.8 rainy days.
- What is the air quality in Bournemouth in December?
- Bournemouth has a mean US Air Quality Index of about 32 in December.
Within 300 km: Isle of Wight's Brent geese and winter waders around 1 Oct – 15 Mar, and Bath's Bath Christmas Market on 26 Nov – 13 Dec.