Bring Back Summer

Once upon a time, the summer holidays were all about getting kids out in the fields to help with the harvest in August. Fast-forward to today, and it’s fair to say that children spend their summer holidays slightly differently.

Although the August 6-week summer break is intended as a time for children to escape the classroom and swap maths and English for outdoor play during the warmest months of the year, nowadays, children are more interested in staying inside, playing, and socialising with their friends online. But how much does August’s weather play a part in this? 

In recent years, July has often been warmer than August, with some August months also proving to be the wettest of the summer season, begging the question: Should the school summer break move to July instead? 

Better weather in July may be the factor that encourages children to get off their devices and make the most of the playhouses and climbing frames in their garden or at the local park, or play sports and physically socialise with their friends in the sun.

So, we’ve looked at July and August weather data from the years 2014, 2019, and 2024 to see how much warmer and drier the month of July has been over the last 10 years. We’ve also looked at the number of rainy days to determine if July is drier than August. Finally, we’ve estimated what the weather could look like in five years time, to see if July will continue to be warmer than August, and the most ideal month for the summer school break. 

Why is the summer break important for children?

Summer holidays are perfect for kids to take a well-earned break after a busy school year. It’s a chance to unwind, recharge, and make the most of the sunshine—whether that means running around with friends, kicking a football, or just enjoying some fresh air.

Here’s why the summer break matters:

• It gets kids moving, helping them stay active and healthy.

• Sunshine boosts vitamin D, which is great for strong bones and muscles.
  Camps, sports, and playdates are great ways to make new friends and build social skills.

• Families get to slow down, hang out, and make special memories together.

• A break from routine can help to prevent burnout—for both kids and parents!

• It’s the perfect time for kids to explore hobbies and interests that school doesn’t always cover.

Here’s why making the most of that outdoor time really counts. Natalie, nature play specialist at evergreenexploring.org, shares just how powerful it can be:

“Spending time outdoors offers far more than just fresh air - it plays a vital role in children’s development, supporting everything from physical growth and motor skills to creativity, resilience, problem-solving and vocabulary.

But the weather can be a major barrier to getting families outside. Moving the school holidays to July could be the change that encourages children to swap screens for climbing, exploring, creating and connecting. Warmer, more reliable weather makes it easier for families to spend longer outdoors - whether that’s building dens in the garden, tackling the climbing frame at the park or simply playing football with friends. When the sun’s out, those valuable moments of play happen far more naturally.”

Is July warmer than August in the UK? 

To see whether July would be the better month for the summer school break, we’ve compared the two to see which month has a hotter temperature and fewer rainy days.

• Between 2014 and 2024, July averaged 22.3°C, almost 2°C warmer than August, which averaged 20.5°C. July 2019 topped the charts, with an average temperature of 24°C. With July's higher average temperatures, children may be more encouraged to play outside and enjoy the sunshine rather than staying inside glued to their screens.  

• In typical British fashion, our summers are known for bringing rain, which can be a problem if you want your kids to play outside. Overall, July and August have a similar number of rainy days. July averaged 16 rainy days between 2014 and 2024, compared to 16.3 rainy days in August.

Which cities would benefit the most from having the summer holiday in July? 

Although the UK has a bad reputation for its weather, the temperature can vary from city to city. We’ve revealed the top 10 cities that would benefit the most from moving the school’s summer holidays to July.

1. Southampton - 2.8°C difference between July and August

Southampton pupils would enjoy the biggest temperature increase, with the average temperature in July being 2.8°C higher than in August. In 2014, 2019, and 2024, July was 3.9°C, 2.2°C, and 2°C warmer than August. Although Southampton is not directly on the coast, it’s close to several beaches, perfect for a family day out during the summer holidays, especially when the sun is shining. Weston Shore, Lepe Beach, and Calshot Beach are top options if you’re in Southampton and want to enjoy the coast.

2. Bristol - 1.8°C difference between July and August

Bristol is the second-best city equipped to move the summer holidays from August to July. Bristol was 4°C, 1.5°C, and 0.6°C warmer in July 2014, 2019, and 2024, respectively. Bristol is another city that’s close to the coast. Some of the best coastal towns near Bristol include Clevedon, Weston-Super-Mare, and Burnham-On-Sea. If you’re looking to keep your kids off their devices and get them to play outside in the sun, Bristol is an excellent place for that.

3. Reading - 1.6°C difference between July and August

Reading completes our top three, with July being 1.6°C warmer than August. July was 3.5°C warmer in 2014, 1.6°C warmer in 2019, and 0.7°C warmer in 2024 compared to August. Unfortunately, if you live in Reading, there are no beaches nearby. However, Reading still has plenty of outdoor activities to enjoy with your families. Forbury Gardens and Beale Wildlife Park are fantastic options for families, as both have play areas for the children.

Which cities have less rainfall in July than in August?

Living in the UK means you have to get used to rain. However, some cities in the UK boast less rainfall than others. Below, we’ve revealed the cities that could avoid the most rainfall by moving the summer holiday to July.

1. Cardiff - 9.3 fewer days of rain in July than August

The city that would avoid the most days of rain if they were to move their summer holiday to July is Cardiff, with August having 9.3 more days of rainfall. July is also 1.4°C warmer than August in Cardiff, the fifth biggest difference between July and August on our list. Not only does the weather make the Welsh capital a great place for a July summer holiday, but it’s also near some seaside towns. Barry Island, arguably Wales's most famous seaside resort, is only 30 minutes from Cardiff.

2. Bristol - 9 fewer days of rain in July than August

August has nine more days of rain than July in Bristol, making it the second-best city for avoiding rainfall if the summer holidays were moved. Bristol ranked second for cities with the biggest temperature difference between July and August, making it well-equipped to have the summer holidays in July. If you want to encourage your children to play outside, Bristol has plenty of parks with playground areas. St. Andrews Park, Canford Park, and Cotham Gardens are some of the best places, offering a variety of exciting equipment for children.

3. Sheffield - 7.7 fewer days of rain in July than August

Sheffield is the third-best city for avoiding rain in July, with 7.7 more rainy days in August than in July. July in Sheffield is also warmer than August, with a 1.1°C difference between the two months. Sheffield may not be the best place for access to a beach. However, it’s less than 20 minutes from the Peak District National Park, an excellent place for a family hike. The reservoirs also provide a great opportunity for your children to get into watersports.

How will July compare to August in five years?

According to the Met Office, UK summer temperatures are expected to increase by around 1.2°C by the 2030s, relative to the 1980-2000 average. We’ve already seen around a 1.0°C increase as of 2025, meaning an additional increase of approximately 0.2°C to 0.3°C is expected over the next five years. Based on this, we’ve estimated July and August 2029 temperatures by adding 0.3°C to the 2024 figures. We then highlighted the cities with the biggest predicted difference between these two months. 

1. Southampton - 2°C difference between July and August in 2029

Based on our estimations, July in Southampton will be 2°C warmer than August in 2029, the most significant difference compared to other UK cities. Southampton’s July temperatures are also the second-highest on our list, at 19.7°C, behind only London, where the estimated temperature will be 21.3°C.

2. Leeds - 1.5°C difference between July and August in 2029

In second place is Leeds, with an estimated difference between July and August of 1.5°C in 2029. Unfortunately for Leeds’ residents, spending a few days on the beach during the summer holiday is only an option if you’re willing to drive a couple of hours. That being said, Leeds boasts plenty of outdoor activities. Roundhay Park, Temple Newsam, and Golden Acre Park have playgrounds and open spaces for children to play. Temple Newsam also has a Go Ape facility, which is perfect for keeping children entertained and active.

3. Bradford - 1.4°C difference between July and August in 2029

Finalising our top three is Bradford, where we estimate a 1.4°C difference between July and August in 2029. The temperature in Bradford is expected to be 16.9°C in July, compared to 15.5°C in August. As Bradford neighbours Leeds, the residents in Bradford will also have to travel around two hours to get to the beach. This means you’ll have to make the most of the outdoor areas in this West Yorkshire city. Grass Hoppers at Tong Garden Centre has play areas for younger and older children. 

Methodology

We used Visual Crossing to find the minimum and maximum temperatures and the number of rainy days in July and August 2014, 2019, and 2024.

To calculate the average temperature, we averaged the minimum and maximum temperatures for each month in each year to get our 10-year average for July and August. 

To calculate the estimated 2029 temperatures, we added 0.3°C to the 2024 temperatures for July and August. This uplift is based on the Met Office UK Climate Projections (UKCP18, RCP4.5, 50th percentile), which suggests that UK summer temperatures will rise by about 1.2°C relative to 1981-2000, with approximately 1.0°C of that already realised by 2025. This implies a further increase of around 0.2-0.3°C in the next five years. Future estimates are indicative only and depend on a range of climatic factors.