Our friends in the UK have visited us almost since the beginning. Unfortunately, most weather stations we recommend in the States are unavailable or very expensive, thanks to international shipping. We recently sat down and researched the best home weather stations in the UK and found several home weather stations that ship free.
You can find brands like Ambient Weather and Davis Instruments in the UK, but some models look similar to stations on sale in the States. As you’ll see below, Ambient Weather (and other brands) licence stations from Ecowitt. For example, the Ambient Weather WS-2000 is the same as the Ecowitt HP2551 weather station, except at the moment, Ecowitt doesn’t offer any smart home functionality.
The HP2553 is Ecowitt's top-of-the-line weather station, and it shows.
This Tempest look-alike doesn't have all its features, but is significantly cheaper.
If the HP2553 is too expensive, consider the HP2551 instead.
Best Home Weather Stations in the UK and Europe
After much research, including comparing stations to their counterparts (or competitors) in the States, we’ve come up with this list of the best home weather stations in the UK.
ECOWITT HP2553 Wi-Fi Weather Station
The HP2553 is Ecowitt's top-of-the-line weather station, and it shows.
The Ecowitt HP2553 is the company’s high-end weather station (and sold as the Ambient Weather WS-5000 in the US). Our tests of the American version of this weather station were stellar. With practically nothing different — save for the lack of smart home support — we had no reservations about making this our top pick.
The HP2553 features a redesigned sensor suite from previous models and an ultrasonic anemometer, drastically reducing the number of moving parts. This should extend its useable life as the traditional anemometer requires ongoing maintenance to ensure trouble-free use. The sensors are more accurate in our tests than in previous Ecowitt stations, and you can add additional sensors, including air quality, soil moisture, water temperature, and lightning. The brilliant colour, easy-to-read LCD console looks great just about anywhere.
The company’s made it easy to share your data publicly through Weather Underground, Ecowitt.net, and many other networks, which is a nice touch and view station data from the Ecowitt app.
Ecowitt HP3500 Wi-Fi Weather Station
The HP3500B is Ecowitt's entry level Wi-Fi compatible weather station, but it isn't expandable.
The Ecowitt HP3500B is the company’s cheapest weather station that doesn’t require PC software to share your weather data online. The console isn’t as flashy as the HP2551 but is still readable from a reasonable distance and can display graphs on its screen, something the cheaper WS2320 cannot do.
You do lose the capability to add additional sensors, which may be a reason to opt for any of the above three models if expandability is a concern. But the savings make the HP3500B a contender if you want to save money.
Ecowitt Wittboy Weather Station
This Tempest look-alike doesn't have all its features, but is significantly cheaper.
The Wittboy is Ecowitt's latest Wi-Fi weather station, and it's aimed at those outside of the U.S. who might not want to pay the extra duties to import in the WeatherFlow Tempest. It doesn't have lightning detection or smart home capabilities (that we can tell), but it does pretty much everything else the Tempest does.
The outdoor sensor contains a haptic rainfall sensor, light and UV sensors, an ultrasonic wind speed sensor, and temperature and humidity sensors. Ecowitt also includes its Wi-Fi hub, which allows you to send your data to Weather Underground. The Wittboy is new, so we're hesitant to give it our full-throated endorsement, but it's worth considering.
ECOWITT HP2551 Wi-Fi Weather Station
If the HP2553 is too expensive, consider the HP2551 instead.
The Ecowitt HP2551 isn’t sold in the US under the Ambient Weather brand, but its feature set is similar to the Ambient Weather WS-2000. While you won’t get the accuracy of the HP2553, it is significantly cheaper and measures everything its more expensive sibling does. The nice console you get with the HP2553 is paired with Ecowitt’s base instrument suite.
The Netatmo was the first smart home weather station (really!).
Unlike most home weather stations in the U.S., there aren't many options for those looking to integrate their home weather station with the smart home elsewhere. However, French technology company Netatmo's popular weather station provides one alternative if you want just that. We tested the Netatmo weather station several years ago, loved the app, and were pleasantly surprised with its accuracy.
The only negative to Netatmo's weather station is everything is sold separately. The package above includes the base station and two temperature/humidity sensors. You'll still need the optional rain gauge and sonic anemometer to complete the station, which costs more. However, it may be worth it if you are looking for a way to use weather data to control your smart home.
If you prefer an "all-in-one" sensor suite (especially with limited space), opt for the Ecowitt WS2910. It includes the same sensor suite as the HP2551, but has a more basic console. You also lose the capability to expand. However, the WS2910 still features the Wi-Fi connectivity of more expensive Ecowitt weather stations.
Bresser Weather Station 5-in-1 Weather Center
Bresser's budget weather station is a great option.
Home weather stations are expensive, so we wanted to offer a budget option. In the UK and Europe, that's German company Bresser. Its weather station measures all the basics, including temperature, humidity, wind direction and speed, and rainfall. It also receives a radio timing signal from Frankfurt, meaning you'll never have to update the clock.
Of course, you're missing some functionality for such a low price. The Bresser weather station doesn't have Wi-Fi support, and sensor quality isn't as good as any of the five previous options. But it is affordable.
FAQ
Are you thinking about purchasing a weather station? Here are some answers to frequently asked questions we hear from readers, some of which are unique to the UK.
Is a home weather station durable?
Yes. The UK sees its share of stormy weather, but nothing that a home weather station can’t handle. Some stations have survived hurricanes, and others have worked for as long as 25 years. Of course, weather station maintenance is essential.
How much will I have to spend for a proper home weather station?
While prices vary, average prices for home weather stations in the UK range between £200-300 depending on functionality.
I don’t live in the UK. Can I still buy these weather stations?
Sorry US readers, but Ambient Weather is the exclusive seller of Ecowitt stations in the US. See our US homepage for our recommendations (some Ecowitt accessories are available in the US store). Ecowitt is available in many countries outside of the United States. While the prices below are in GBP, your local Amazon site might carry the weather station if you’re outside the UK.
Wrapping Up
Again, we’d like to thank our UK readers for visiting us over the past two years. We hope this list of the best home weather stations in the UK helps you make the right decision. Of course, you can always contact us if you have any questions. We’d be happy to help you find the perfect home weather station.
