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Which UK Cities Could See a White Christmas This Year?
With Christmas now in our sights and a cold snap of weather due this week bookies have already opened the betting on which cities will see snow.
Where is snow most likely this Christmas?
According to the latest data from odds experts Whataretheodds.co.uk, Scotland once again leads the way when it comes to the chance of snow this festive season. Aberdeen (2/1) tops the list as the most likely UK city to see snowfall on December 25th, followed closely by Edinburgh (3/1) and Glasgow (3/1).
Further south, Newcastle (5/1) heads the betting among English cities, with Leeds (6/1), Manchester (7/1) and Liverpool (8/1) also in contention for a Christmas Day flurry. Birmingham (8/1) and Cardiff (10/1) trail slightly behind, while London (12/1) and Brighton (14/1) are again the least likely spots for snow this year.
Across the Irish Sea, Belfast (5/1) also features prominently, with forecasters suggesting that Northern Ireland could experience wintry showers around the festive period.
Dave James from What Are The Odds spokesman said:
“After Storm Claudia has come and gone the British public now have their sights set on the Christmas weather and bookies are gearing up for a cold snap. Current bookmaker prices suggest that the north of the UK is most likely to experience snow this Christmas. Aberdeen’s odds of 2/1 represent roughly a 33% chance, while Edinburgh and Glasgow’s 3/1 imply around a 25% likelihood.
In England, Newcastle’s 5/1 odds give it a 17% chance, while Manchester, Liverpool and Birmingham remain outsiders but not without hope. Eight of the UK’s major cities currently have odds shorter than 10/1, meaning there’s still a realistic prospect of snow across large parts of the country.
“November marks the start of a cold snap, and with nights drawing in and frosty mornings, and with current models hinting at another Arctic blast in mid December, the ingredients are there for a White Christmas especially in Scotland and the North East.
“Aberdeen remains the clear favourite, but we’ve seen late surprises before. Even London, at 12/1, isn’t entirely out of the picture if the cold air lingers into the festive week.”
| City | Odds | Implied Chance of Snow |
|---|---|---|
| Aberdeen | 2/1 | 33% |
| Edinburgh | 3/1 | 25% |
| Glasgow | 3/1 | 25% |
| Newcastle | 5/1 | 17% |
| Belfast | 5/1 | 17% |
| Leeds | 6/1 | 14% |
| Manchester | 7/1 | 12% |
| Liverpool | 8/1 | 11% |
| Birmingham | 8/1 | 11% |
| Cardiff | 10/1 | 9% |
| London | 12/1 | 8% |
| Brighton | 14/1 | 7% |
How do bookies decide what counts as a White Christmas?
While “White Christmas” betting has become increasingly popular in recent years, its important you make sure you know what qualfies as a “White Christmas”.
Bookmakers use official airport weather stations in major UK cities to determine whether it has been a White Christmas in that location. For example, you would need snow to fall at Bristol Airport for the bookies to class it as a White Christmas in Bristol.
This gives bookmakers a clear and consistent metric to work from. It also means there can be some surprises as well. It might snow in areas like Westminster or Putney, but if there’s no snow recorded at Heathrow or London City Airport, then London’s White Christmas bets won’t pay out.
When was the last official White Christmas?
The last “official” White Christmas in the UK was recorded in 2021, when snow was observed at multiple locations across the country. While true widespread snow cover is still a rarity, recent years have seen several “technical” White Christmases, brief flurries that meet the official criteria.
The festive forecast
With bookmakers shortening prices and forecasters predicting colder than average conditions, 2025 could well bring the first proper White Christmas in several years. Whether it’s a light dusting or a full festive blanket, the odds suggest Britain might just be in for a wintry surprise this Christmas Day.
Strictly Come Dancing looks set to be a two horse race in 2025
After a dramatic week in the ballroom, the odds have shifted once again and bookmakers have now ‘named’ their clear favourite. With BBC’s iconic dancing competition in its 23rd series, and the final run with Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly, the show is heading into a pivotal semi-final weekend.
George Clarke has reasserted himself at the top of the Strictly Come Dancing betting, with William Hill trimming the internet star into the 8/11 favourite to lift the Glitterball Trophy. His resurgence comes after a brief challenge from former England footballer Karen Carney, who has now drifted to 5/4.
Dave James of What Are The Odds said Clarke’s move back into odds-on territory “signals a major shift in momentum” ahead of the semi-finals.
“George Clarke has firmly reasserted himself at the top of the Strictly market, shortening to 8/11 from 6/5, and he may now be the one to beat,” he explained.
“Karen Carney had enjoyed a remarkable surge, but drifting to 5/4 from 5/6 suggests the tide has turned again. Balvinder Sopal and Amber Davies remain lively contenders, yet at 12/1 and 28/1 the market still views them as outsiders. With the competition heating up, punters are clearly anticipating a tight two-horse race as we head into the final stages.”
Behind the front runners, there is a notable gap in the market. Balvinder Sopal is priced at 12/1, while Amber Davies who has achieved several perfect scores this series — sits further back at 28/1.
With one of the four remaining celebrities set to lift the Glitterball Trophy later this month, Saturday night’s semi-final on BBC One promises to be crucial.
Will Clarke extend his lead, or can Carney mount one final challenge?
Wolves look destined for relegation from the Premier League after a disastrous start that has yielded just two points from their opening 14 matches. They welcome Manchester United to Molineux on Monday evening with hopes fading rapidly and the club rooted to the bottom of the table.
What TV Channel is the Game on?
The match will be broadcast on Sky Sports Main Event at the kick off time of 8PM in the UK.
A month has passed since Wolves appointed Rob Edwards as manager in place of Vitor Pereira, yet the change has brought no noticeable improvement.
Wolves have lost five consecutive league matches without scoring a single goal, a stark indication of the scale of the challenge facing their new boss.
Wolves remain the only Premier League side without a win this season, and history offers little encouragement. No team has ever survived relegation after collecting such a low points total by this stage of the campaign.
Their league form is worryingly bleak as they enter Monday’s game on an 18-match winless run. Recent records on Monday nights are equally grim, with just one victory in their last ten fixtures played on that day.
Edwards’ immediate priority is to stabilise a team that has conceded at least two goals in seven of their last ten home games. Wolves have beaten Manchester United only once in their last seven meetings at Molineux, and their defensive issues will need urgent attention if they are to avoid another difficult night.
Manchester United arrive in the West Midlands frustrated by their own inability to climb the table. The Red Devils passed up another chance to gain ground on the teams above them when they failed to protect a lead in Thursday’s 1-1 draw with West Ham at Old Trafford.
They now sit twelfth, although the congestion in the league means a win could move them significantly closer to the top five.
United are unbeaten in their last four Premier League away matches, their longest such run since the 2021-22 season, but inconsistency remains a problem. Their defensive record on the road is also a concern, with no clean sheets in their last twelve league away games.
United have not won back-to-back away fixtures in the league since February 2024, but with Wolves in freefall, this match presents a clear opportunity.
Given both sides’ poor defensive showings, a high-scoring contest would not be a surprise as United look to extend Wolves’ misery and strengthen their own league position.
Keir Starmer’s future as Labour leader and UK Prime Minister is under growing scrutiny after a turbulent first year in Downing Street, with bookmakers now cutting odds on several rising figures inside the party.
| Candidate | Odds | Implied Chance |
|---|---|---|
| Wes Streeting | 7/2 | 22.2% |
| Andy Burnham | 7/1 | 12.5% |
| Shabana Mahmood | 7/1 | 12.5% |
Labour stormed back to power in last July’s General Election, securing a landslide victory and ending 14 years of Conservative rule. But the honeymoon period is already showing signs of strain.
Starmer’s personal ratings have slumped, Labour’s showing in the 2025 local elections was branded “dire” by party insiders, and criticism of the government’s budget statement has intensified questions over whether his leadership can withstand another year of political pressure.
Those close to Starmer have publicly defended him but behind the scenes, attention is shifting toward who could step in if the party decides a change is needed.
Streeting Installed as Clear Favourite
Wes Streeting, MP for Ilford North and the current Health Secretary, has been installed as the 7/2 favourite to become the next Labour leader, according to Skybet.
The outspoken frontline minister has found himself at the centre of Westminster gossip, with reports claiming he is being positioned as an alternative to Starmer.
Streeting dismissed the rumours with a tongue-in-cheek swipe at reality TV drama, saying:
“I think whoever’s been briefing this has been watching too much Celebrity Traitors — it’s about the worst attack on a faithful I’ve seen since Joe Marler was kicked out in the final!”
Despite the light-hearted response, his positioning in the betting markets reflects a notable shift in sentiment among political observers.
Burnham and Mahmood Close Behind
Trailing Streeting but still firmly in contention are two heavyweight figures with strong support bases inside the Labour movement:
Andy Burnham (7/1) – The Mayor of Greater Manchester remains a popular figure nationwide and has long been tipped as a potential future leader.
Shabana Mahmood (7/1) – The high profile Secretary of State is increasingly seen as one of the party’s sharpest communicators and a serious contender if the top job becomes available.
A Leadership Question Westminster Won’t Ignore
While Starmer remains firmly in post, political insiders admit he is entering a critical phase of his premiership.
With economic pressures biting, internal unrest growing, and the Conservatives beginning to regroup, senior Labour figures fear that a weakened Starmer could become a liability ahead of the next General Election cycle.
For now, the Prime Minister’s allies insist he will weather the storm but as bookmakers continue to shorten the odds on his potential successors, the question of “what comes next for Labour” is quickly becoming one of Westminster’s biggest talking points.