Edinburgh in November: What to Expect

Edinburgh in November is either a great idea or a hard pass, depending on what you're after. If you want atmospheric, uncrowded, and cheap, this is the month. If you need reliable weather and long daylight hours, this is not the month. The city itself is perfectly capable of being excellent in November, provided you dress for it and lean into the gothic winter mood rather than fight it.

Weather

Expect temperatures between 3°C and 8°C, with frequent rain, occasional gales coming off the Firth of Forth, and limited daylight from around 8am to 4pm. Edinburgh is a walking city and November makes those walks considerably more bracing. Arthur's Seat is fine on a dry day but genuinely testing in wind and rain. The Royal Mile is manageable in any conditions.

Crowds and Prices

The Fringe crowds are a distant summer memory. Accommodation is at some of its lowest prices of the year, with good hotels in the New Town and along the Royal Mile available well below peak rates. The Scottish National Museum, the National Gallery, and the Castle are all comfortably visited without queuing. Whisky bars and traditional pubs are populated by locals, not hen parties, which is a significant improvement.

What's On

Guy Fawkes Night on November 5 is celebrated with fireworks across the city. Edinburgh's bonfire and fireworks events are typically held in the city's parks and on Calton Hill, which is a spectacular viewpoint at any time.

The Edinburgh Christmas market on Princes Street Gardens typically opens in late November and is one of Scotland's best festive events, with the castle illuminated above the market stalls.

One Thing to Watch

November in Edinburgh can mean genuine gales. If your agenda includes the open-air walk on Arthur's Seat, the Salisbury Crags, or the coastal path at Cramond, check the weather forecast the day before and have a solid indoor alternative ready. The castle battlements in a November gale are memorable but not always in a good way.