Is UK weather as bad as many people say?

Ah, I'm not sure how long you've lived in the UK, but the past two summers were rather damp squibs but usually we do get good summers. Never too hot, but decently sunny and the sun doesn't set until like 9-10!

But there is no summer

That's not a fair statement at all. Even last summer, which I'll admit was pretty dreary, we had a gorgeous May, June and September! I've got pictures of sunny days on the beach to prove it! 

There most definitely is a summer but it would be true to say some years it comes in fits and starts. A couple of sunny weeks then a couple of rainy weeks.  It also varies a lot depending where in the UK you might be.  Last year we had temperatures up to 30C in the south east of England but don't expect that if you're moving to Scotland.

Completely agree - last spring was lovely and early autumn was nicer than summer. Bits of the summer were OK though admitedly not great, but I don't think it's fair to say there's no summer at all. And the best part IMHO is that people get fed up with the cold and grey and REALLY take advantage of sunny days - I know I spend far more time outside now than I ever did in SF....

I grew up in New Jersey, went to school in Missouri and have been in London for the last 16 years. Whether you get a nice summer - sun and blue skies - or one where it never really starts is always a roll of the dice. About even odds in my experience.

That's my one (mild) problem with the weather here. Nothing ever seems to change that much. It gets somewhat colder in the winter, somewhat hotter in the summer. A lot of the days it's overcast (but doesn't rain.) In a way, it's like living in the Catholic conception of Limbo: a grayish, eithery place where nothing much good or bad happens meteorologically.

I'd have to disagree britwrit. Where I am, we had a fortnight at close to 30C last summer and now we've just had a week at sub zero.

That's not a fair statement at all. Even last summer, which I'll admit was pretty dreary, we had a gorgeous May, June and September! I've got pictures of sunny days on the beach to prove it! 

Yeah, the summers of 2007 and 2008 weren't great, but then we also had heatwaves in August 2003 (reaching 100F in London), July 2006 (temps reached about 97F) and June 2009 (temps reached the low 90s). Plus, end of April/early May 2007 saw a warm spell with temps in the 70s for a few days and on my university graduation day (July 2005) it was 82F and I was wearing thick black robes all day (and almost fainted in the ceremony because I was so hot and I had a Pimms-related headache from drinking in the sunshine the day before)!  .

I love UK summertime... sitting outside at the pub soaking up the evening sunshine, having barbecues in the back garden and staying outside until 10 p.m. because it's still light, sunbathing on the grass and watching people playing football/walking their dogs/having picnics, long summer walks across the fields, picking blackberries/strawberries/raspberries - it's lovely .

OK, Britain lovers, there is a bit of a summer. But all told the spread between summer and winter is much narrower than it is in many other climates, considering that winter usually doesn't go below 40 F (this winter is an exception) and summer days rarely go above, say, 70 except for a couple of hours in the afternoons, according to my personal thermostat. This summer had several beautiful weeks but it is not a full summer- you cannot really predict when it will happen except that it is unlikely to be in July and August!

Hi rebeccajo

No you are not being too nosy at all. The Mrs could have allready gone for her citizenship she has been here long enough working as a nurse.I allways thought she was procrastinating but it turns out she just doesn't want to be an American. Do you want to hear something funny? She does want me to become a British citizen. The inconsistencies of my woman.

I know if she had her way we would live the rest of our lifes in the UK.I believe once we leave she would never want to live again in america and is only willing to come back in two years in order to guard my health and to make me happy.Truth is I'm happy as long as we are together and healthy.So I guess we are soon off to the UK.End of 2010 will be about right and we will travel this summer to visit her family and to set up her new job.

Truth is I don't know anything about the country of the UK and only a small amount about it's traditions and culture.My friends tell me I'm crazy for doing this.My family who love Karen are telling me to go for it. This is going to be a hoot.

Well, I don't understand people telling you you'd be "crazy" for moving to the UK.  It's quite a lovely country - very civilized and all .  There's loads of history; the lifestyle is less hectic; the public transportation is fantastic; and then of course there is the NHS to take care of any needs you may have with your bronchitis.  Are the naysayers the type of folks who think the US is the greatest place of earth?  Not knocking our country (I'm a US citizen too) but I can tell you that traveling definitely opened up my eyes.  It's something every American should do.

Anyway, I digress.  I know you say your lady has no interest in becoming a US citizen.  But if you are planning to be in the US a few more months, I'd urge her to consider it.  Naturalization gives her a free pass to return to the US at any time without ever filing for a visa again.  I know right now it looks as if a move to the UK would be permanent and for good.  But even the best laid plans sometimes have a way of falling down.  Should you and she ever wish to return to the US to live, as a naturalized citizen all she need do is purchase a plane ticket.  Quite an advantage given the current US immigration route, which would have you tangled in paperwork for months.

Just my two cents.

OK, Britain lovers, there is a bit of a summer. But all told the spread between summer and winter is much narrower than it is in many other climates, considering that winter usually doesn't go below 40 F (this winter is an exception) and summer days rarely go above, say, 70 except for a couple of hours in the afternoons, according to my personal thermostat. This summer had several beautiful weeks but it is not a full summer- you cannot really predict when it will happen except that it is unlikely to be in July and August!

It might not be your cup of tea, but a lot of people enjoy a more temperate climate! And depending what part of the UK you are talking about, some parts do get a lot hotter in summer or colder in winter. It's not that I'm a 'Britian lover' or that I love the weather here (I hate it right now!!) but I don't think it's fair to say things like there's no summer etc

It might not be your cup of tea, but a lot of people enjoy a more temperate climate! And depending what part of the UK you are talking about, some parts do get a lot hotter in summer or colder in winter. It's not that I'm a 'Britian lover' or that I love the weather here (I hate it right now!!) but I don't think it's fair to say things like there's no summer etc

Depends on how you define "summer".

"Summer" to me is 90 degree (Fahrenheit) temperature or above every day and thunderstorms once a week.

My experience of York summers is that they are equivalent to spring in New York City.

I'm not complaining - I was miserable from the heat in New York.

ETA: "Sub-zero" isn't very cold unless you're talking Fahrenheit.

Depends on how you define "summer".

"Summer" to me is 90 degree (Fahrenheit) temperature or above every day and thunderstorms once a week.

That's a peculiar definition of summer.  I've lived in a lot of places and never experienced a summer like that. 

Depends on how you define "summer".

"Summer" to me is 90 degree (Fahrenheit) temperature or above every day and thunderstorms once a week.

My experience of York summers is that they are equivalent to spring in New York City.

I'm not complaining - I was miserable from the heat in New York.

ETA: "Sub-zero" isn't very cold unless you're talking Fahrenheit.

Agree.  (I am agreeing with you a lot lately, sweetpeach!   )  I am loving all the snow because it is a bit more extreme than what we usually get for a UK winter.  And I just like snow in general.  I, too was miserable from the disgustingly hot summers in Philadelphia.  when I didn't have AC I looked forward to riding the bus or going into work where I could cool down.  Three showers a day was normal.  Hooray for spring-like summers in the UK!

That's a peculiar definition of summer.  I've lived in a lot of places and never experienced a summer like that. 

For the Phila (and NYC) areas high 80s to high 90s is pretty much what you get for the majority of late June through end of August.  Of course it will be different in different parts of the US since it's such a big place with different weather patterns wherever you go. 

Of course it will be different in different parts of the US since it's such a big place with different weather patterns wherever you go. 

Definitely.
There are parts of the US having some strange patterns right now too. A friend of mine in Miami, FL told me they he had to scrape the ice off his car this morning! That's very RARE!

Definitely.
There are parts of the US having some strange patterns right now too. A friend of mine in Miami, FL told me they he had to scrape the ice off his car this morning! That's very RARE!

Yeah, my parents are in Florida--it's really bad, the orange crops are going to suffer.