Published 21 May 2026 | Updated 1 October 2026 by Jane Robinson
Where’s hot in February from the UK? Cape Verde is the warmest place within about six hours, at 25 degrees. The Canary Islands reach 21 to 23, Marrakech 21 and Madeira 20, with more rain. The dates matter as much as the place. Half-term in England runs from 15 to 19 February 2027, and fares that week cost two to four times as much as the week before, or more.
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The February picks at a glance
Temperatures are 1991-2020 averages for the month from each country’s weather service. Fares are the cheapest non-stop return we found on Google Flights for one adult, flights only with no hold bag, checked on 1 October 2026. Sal is priced from Manchester because easyJet’s Gatwick flights don’t run on Saturdays.
| Destination | Daytime high | Flight time | Return, 6-13 Feb | Return, 13-20 Feb |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lanzarote | 22.2°C | About 4h 15m | £95 | £395 |
| Cape Verde (Sal) | 24.9°C | About 6h 10m | £257 | £519 |
| Marrakech | 20.7°C | About 3h 45m | £82 | £267 |
| Madeira | 19.9°C | About 3h 55m | £101 | £257 |
"If your children are at school in England, the half-term premium is the price of a warm February, so spend it where it goes furthest. Madeira and Marrakech came in under £270 at half-term against £395 for Lanzarote, and they’re only a couple of degrees cooler by day. Welsh families get the better deal: their break, from the 8th to the 12th, lands in the cheaper week."
Kate Acaster, Chief Editor, Flight Tribe
Lanzarote and the Canary Islands
Lanzarote averages 22 degrees in February, with about 210 hours of sunshine and rain on two or three days. Nights drop to 14. The sea is about 18 degrees, cool enough for a quick dip. Tenerife South is a touch warmer at 23, and Gran Canaria a little cooler at 21.
Famara, on the north coast, is the surf beach. Puerto del Carmen and Playa Blanca in the south are the main resorts. Our best time to visit Lanzarote guide compares the months.
easyJet, Ryanair, Jet2 and TUI fly to Lanzarote from airports across the UK, and BA flies from Gatwick. Carnival peaks in Santa Cruz de Tenerife from 19 to 28 February 2027, with the big parade on Tuesday the 23rd, so expect Tenerife to be busy over half-term. The EU’s Entry/Exit System is now fully running, so expect to give fingerprints and a photo the first time you enter the Schengen area. ETIAS, the €20 travel permit, hadn’t started by October 2026, so check GOV.UK before you go.
Cape Verde
Cape Verde is the warmest place on this page. Sal averages 25 degrees by day and 19 at night, and gets about half a millimetre of rain in the whole month. The sea is about 22 degrees. The wind is steady, which is why Santa Maria is a kitesurfing centre, and Saharan dust can bring hazy days.
easyJet flies to Sal from Gatwick, Manchester and Bristol, though not every day. TUI flies to Sal and Boa Vista from more UK airports. Our Cape Verde budget guide has prices.
You can stay 30 days without a visa. GOV.UK says you must pre-register on the EASE website and pay the airport security fee at least five days before arrival. Skip it and you’ll pay double at the border.
Marrakech
Marrakech warms up in February, to an average high of 21 degrees. Nights are still cold at about 8, and rain falls on three or four days. It’s sightseeing weather rather than pool weather.
easyJet, Ryanair, Jet2 and BA all fly direct. At half-term it costs about the same as Madeira: returns from £267, against £257 for Madeira and £395 for Lanzarote.
Ramadan is expected to begin around 8 February 2027 and end around 9 March, depending on the moon, so it overlaps both weeks in the fare table. Opening hours change during the month, so check with your riad before you plan meals out. UK passport holders don’t need a visa for up to 90 days. Our Morocco budget guide covers costs.
Madeira
Madeira is the mildest of the four. IPMA puts Funchal’s February high at 20 degrees, with about 72mm of rain over five or six days. It suits walkers on the levadas, the island’s old irrigation channels, more than sunbathers. There are few sandy beaches.
Funchal’s carnival runs from 3 to 14 February 2027, with the two big float parades on the 5th and 6th and the satirical Trapalhão parade on Carnival Tuesday, the 9th. All three fall before English half-term. Fly out on the 6th, when returns started at £101, and you catch the second float parade and the Trapalhão.
easyJet flies to Funchal from Gatwick, Luton and Bristol, BA from Gatwick, Ryanair from Stansted and Manchester, and Jet2 from several bases including Gatwick. The flight takes about four hours. Madeira is part of Portugal, so the same EU border checks apply. Our Madeira budget travel guide covers costs on the island.
February half-term 2027 and what it does to prices
Schools in most of England break for half-term from Monday 15 to Friday 19 February 2027. Wales is a week earlier, from the 8th to the 12th, and Northern Ireland has two days off on the 11th and 12th. In Scotland, Edinburgh takes the same week as England and Glasgow the first two days of it, plus an in-service day. Check your own council’s dates.
| Route | 6-13 Feb | 13-20 Feb | Half-term premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manchester to Tenerife | £123 | £361 | £238 |
| Manchester to Lanzarote | £143 | £344 | £201 |
| Manchester to Sal | £257 | £519 | £262 |
For four seats at the adult fare, the half-term premium on Manchester to Tenerife comes to £952. Our guides to cheap school holiday breaks and when to book have more on beating the half-term premium.
Where’s hot in February further afield
This is one of the driest times of year in Barbados and the Maldives.
| Destination | Daytime high | Direct from | Worth knowing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Barbados | 29.2°C | Heathrow, Gatwick, Manchester | The Holetown Festival runs from 14 to 21 February 2027. No visa needed; fill in the online immigration and customs form before you fly. |
| Maldives | 31°C | Heathrow | About 38mm of rain in Malé, less than half January’s total. Complete the IMUGA declaration in the 96 hours before you land. |
| Miami | 25.7°C | Heathrow | Warm and less humid than summer. You need an ESTA before you fly; check the current fee on the official US site. |
See also where’s hot in January, where’s hot in March, or the full where’s hot each month guide.
Frequently asked questions
Where’s hot in February from the UK?
Cape Verde is the warmest place within about six hours, at 25 degrees, ahead of the Canaries at 21 to 23, Marrakech at 21 and Madeira at 20. Further afield, Barbados and the Maldives are around 29 to 31.
When is February half-term 2027?
Monday 15 to Friday 19 February 2027 in most of England, and in Edinburgh. Wales breaks a week earlier, from the 8th to the 12th, while Northern Ireland has the 11th and 12th off and Glasgow a shorter break.
How warm is Lanzarote in February?
The average high is 22 degrees and nights drop to about 14. Rain falls on two or three days, and the sea is about 18 degrees.
Is anywhere in Europe hot in February?
Not hot, but the Canary Islands are warm, at 21 to 23 degrees. Madeira is milder at 20, and Seville, Málaga and the Algarve average 17 to 18.
How much more does half-term cost?
On 1 October, a Luton to Lanzarote return cost £95 for 6 to 13 February and £395 for 13 to 20 February. From Manchester, the premium was about £200 to £260 per person.
Is February a good time for Marrakech?
For a city break, yes. Days average 21 degrees and nights 8. Ramadan is expected to start around 8 February 2027, so opening hours may change during your stay.
Jane Robinson is Senior Editor at Flight Tribe. She has a Master’s in English and Journalism, and writes about flight deals, holiday offers and practical ways UK travellers can spend less without wasting time on weak promotions. Jane has spent time living and working across Asia and New Zealand, which gave her a lasting interest in how people travel, eat, move around and spend their free time in different places.
At Flight Tribe, her work focuses on verified prices, realistic travel dates, booking terms and whether a deal is actually worth attention.
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