London · May · warmth

Warmest places to go from London in May

The warmest place you can reach from London in May within 15 hours is Edfu at 31.4 °C, costing 951 kg CO₂e return. The lowest-carbon option is Calais at 4.5 kg — 211× less carbon for 18.5 °C less.

Every destination here is on the efficiency frontier: nowhere else in Europe is both warmer in May and lower in carbon. Anything a better option beats outright has been left out.

Where they are. Solid lines are rail or ferry, dashed are flights, from London. Pick one to compare.

By rail or ferry By air

Carbon against warmth, May, departing London. Journeys of up to 15 hours each way.

What the 15-hour limit costs: at this budget Zaragoza can only be reached by air — 276 kg CO₂e, in 5h. Allow up to 24 hours and the train does the same journey for 32.4 kg in 17h — 9× less carbon for 12h more travelling.

May from London — 19 destinations on the frontier, 6 without flying.
Destination	How	CO₂e return	Temp	Sun/day	Rain/day	Journey
Calais, France	Rail	4.5 kg	12.9 °C	11.2 h	2.3 mm	4h 6m
Ghent, Belgium	Rail	8.0 kg	13.9 °C	10.2 h	3.1 mm	5h 42m
Nijmegen, The Netherlands	Rail	12.2 kg	14.6 °C	11.0 h	3.5 mm	7h 42m
La Rochelle, France	Rail	17.7 kg	15.6 °C	11.3 h	3.1 mm	10h 12m
Montpellier, France	Rail	27.4 kg	17.4 °C	11.3 h	3.3 mm	14h 42m
Arles, France	Rail	27.8 kg	17.6 °C	11.3 h	3.5 mm	14h 54m
Zaragoza, Spain	Air	276 kg	18.8 °C	13.1 h	0.8 mm	5h
Alzira, Spain	Air	346 kg	20.3 °C	12.2 h	1.3 mm	5h 18m
Seville, Spain	Air	412 kg	21.7 °C	12.3 h	0.8 mm	5h 42m
Kairouan, Tunisia	Air	488 kg	21.8 °C	11.0 h	1.7 mm	6h 6m
Gafsa, Tunisia	Air	511 kg	22.9 °C	11.7 h	1.2 mm	6h 12m
Metlaoui, Tunisia	Air	511 kg	23.8 °C	11.8 h	0.8 mm	6h 12m
Tozeur, Tunisia	Air	520 kg	25.8 °C	11.6 h	0.6 mm	6h 18m
Moulay Ali Cherif, Morocco	Air	572 kg	26.6 °C	12.1 h	0.1 mm	6h 30m
Zagora, Morocco	Air	604 kg	27.6 °C	12.4 h	0.0 mm	6h 42m
Assiut, Egypt	Air	881 kg	29.0 °C	11.9 h	0.0 mm	8h 30m
Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt	Air	909 kg	30.0 °C	12.6 h	0.1 mm	8h 42m
Luxor, Egypt	Air	932 kg	31.2 °C	12.0 h	0.0 mm	8h 48m
Edfu, Egypt	Air	951 kg	31.4 °C	12.1 h	0.0 mm	8h 54m

Warm is not the same as pleasant, which is why sunshine and rainfall are shown alongside temperature. All three are ERA5 monthly means for 2023–2024.

Where the curve breaks

The frontier is gentle until it isn't. Going from Seville (412 kg, 21.7 °C) to Kairouan (488 kg, 21.8 °C) buys 0.1 °C more warmth for an extra 76.1 kg — 761 kg of CO₂e per degree. That single step is the most expensive warmth on the whole curve.

The pick of them

CalaisFrance4.5 kg CO₂e return12.9 °C · 11.2 h sun · 4h 6m by railmild and bright ArlesFrance27.8 kg CO₂e return17.6 °C · 11.3 h sun · 14h 54m by railwarm but wet EdfuEgypt951 kg CO₂e return31.4 °C · 12.1 h sun · 8h 54m by airwarm, bright and dry

If you'd rather have sunshine than heat

May answers differently depending on what you're after. The sunniest destinations from London in May are a different list — the brightest places are not always the hottest, and in winter the difference is large.

Where to stay in Edfu

Places to stay in Edfu, Egypt, on a live map. Prices and availability come from Stay22 and its booking partners.

Affiliate disclosure. A booking made through this map may earn 0xCarbon a commission, at no extra cost to you. It changes nothing above it: the emissions figures come from UK Government conversion factors and are computed before anyone is paid anything.See the method.

Other months from London

May from elsewhere

Questions

Where is the warmest place to go from London in May?

Edfu, Egypt, at 31.4 °C. Reaching it emits 951 kg CO₂e return, travelling 8h 54m each way by air.

Can I get somewhere warm from London in May without flying?

Yes. Arles reaches 17.6 °C and is reachable by rail or ferry in 14h 54m, emitting 27.8 kg CO₂e return — though Edfu is warmer still, if you fly.

How much carbon does a return trip from London to Edfu produce?

951 kg CO₂e for one person, return, by air. That uses the UK Government's 2026 conversion factors, including radiative forcing for flights.

Carbon uses UK Government (DESNZ/DEFRA) 2026 conversion factors applied to great-circle distance, with radiative forcing included for flights. Rail journey times are modelled estimates, not timetabled services. Full method · download the data.