SeasonMapSt Andrews weather in December
United Kingdom
December in St Andrews: cold, rainy, with clean air — one of the weakest months to visit.
#12 of 12 months in St Andrews · #1191 of 1383 destinations to visit in December · comfort 46/100 (tier F)
Updated September 2026 · climate normals from ERA5 reanalysis
Traveller notes on St Andrews in December
Notes from nearby Aviemore (113 km away)
St Andrews doesn't have its own notes for December yet — these are about Aviemore, close enough to share the season.
Aviemore's forum calls the Cairngorms genuinely fiercer than England's Peaks or Lakes in December — regulars describe conditions swinging from freezing rain to surprisingly pleasant within the same week, and snow is famously unpredictable, with one visitor reporting brilliant snow one year and barely a smattering the next. The only real certainty is short daylight — around eight hours on a good day.
Add your own note from St Andrews's card on the map.
St Andrews climate normals — December
| Daytime high | 7°C / 44°F | 🧥 cold |
|---|---|---|
| Nighttime low | 3°C / 38°F | |
| Sea temperature | 7°C / 45°F | 🥶 cold sea |
| Rainfall | 106 mm / 4.2 in | 🌧 rainy |
| Rainy days | 16 days | |
| Humidity | 83% | 💦 very humid |
| Dew point | 2°C / 36°F | |
| Sunshine | 2.5 h/day | |
| Daylight | 7 h | |
| Wind | 28 km/h / 18 mph | |
| Snowfall | 2 cm / 0.8 in | |
| Air quality (US AQI) | 31 | 🍃 good |
Monthly averages from ERA5 reanalysis. AQI is the mean US Air Quality Index for the month.
Crowds in St Andrews 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 St Andrews'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 weatherSt Andrews's weather peaks June–August.
Best weatherFair weatherToughest weather
What's on in St Andrews in December
Recurring seasonal events, natural spectacles, closures and holidays — curated and sourced.
- Rule
Old Course closed on Sundays
1 Jan – 31 DecClosuresNo golf is played on the Old Course on Sundays; it rests, and the town walks over it instead. If you only have a weekend, that is the day to do the beach and the ruins, not the tee sheet. Source ↗
Nearby, and something's on
Within 300 km of St Andrews — a day trip or a short hop — with something on this month. Never part of the comfort score.
Where is St Andrews?
St Andrews in December — FAQ
- Is December a good time to visit St Andrews?
- December in St Andrews: cold, rainy, with clean air — one of the weakest months to visit. It ranks #12 of 12 months for St Andrews on SeasonMap's comfort score (46/100).
- What is the weather like in St Andrews in December?
- In December, St Andrews averages a daily high of 6.9°C and a low of 3.4°C, with about 106.1 mm of rain over roughly 16.2 rainy days.
- What is the air quality in St Andrews in December?
- St Andrews has a mean US Air Quality Index of about 31 in December.
- Does it snow in St Andrews in December?
- St Andrews sees roughly 2 cm of snowfall in December.
Other months in St Andrews
Compare St Andrews in December
Warmer or cooler than St Andrews in December
Similar destinations in Northern Europe — December
Within 300 km: Edinburgh's Christmas market around 15 Nov – 4 Jan, and Glasgow's Christmas lights and market around 15 Nov – 31 Dec.