Packing for London can be daunting. You may wonder what the weather will be like or if you should dress up or down. But never fear. You only have to keep a few key tips in mind to have a pack perfectly for your London vacation.
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Plan for Unpredictable Weather
The weather in London can be quite unpredictable. It does have four distinct seasons. Winter has an average daily high of around 50° and spring and fall are about 60° on average. Summer temperatures are widely variable. On average you can expect around 75°. But the temperature soared as high as 104° and was around 90° when I was there in June 2023.
There can also be quite a dramatic temperature change during the day. You may need a jacket in the morning and be sweating by mid-afternoon. In addition, there are consistent rainy days in London. On average there are 11-15 rainy days each month and 24″ of rain each year. Even if it is not raining, it is often overcast and cloudy 150 days on average.
With this in mind, here are some things you can pack to help:
- Travel Umbrella – I own this umbrella and it goes everywhere with me! It’s great for rain but also for sun protection. It came in handy while we waited in the hot sun to see the Changing of the Guards at Buckingham Palace!
- Packable Rain Jacket – definitely pack a light rain jacket no matter what season you are going to London. If it’s cold, you can layer it over a heavier jacket.
- Disposable Rain Ponchos – if you know it’s going to rain, take your rain jacket. But if rain isn’t in the forecast, slip one of these in your bag, just in case.
Pack Cute Comfortable Clothes
In addition to weather, you also have to consider what activities you will be doing while you are in London. Most likely you will be walking many miles a day. Think about what you will be comfortable wearing while outside for hours at a time, walking from place to place, and still be stylish enough to fit with locals.
Summer
In the summer, women should plan to wear dresses, skirts, or skorts. When we were there in June, every woman I saw was in a dress. I only brought one and wished I had several more in my suitcase! I own this dress in several colors and patterns, and it’s perfect for touring, day trips, and nights at the theater. And possibly this is TMI, but I wear these slip shorts underneath for a non-binding way to prevent thigh chafing. Even if you usually don’t chafe, you might if you are walking 10+ miles a day while touring.
Remember to bring two pairs of comfortable footwear. Cute sneakers are fine, even with dresses. You may also like having a pair of sandals. You won’t see many people wearing flip flops. But I live in my Fit Flops and think they are stable enough for cobblestones and comfy enough for miles of walking.
And even though it will likely be hot, toss a cardigan in your suitcase, just in case you need it. You will probably be cold at some point and will glad you have it!
Fall, Winter & Spring
For the rest of the year, jeans are always appropriate. But choose a dark-wash skinny jean. Avoid acid washed tattered bell-bottomed jeans that are so popular in the US. My 16 year old daughter wore a pair of these on our first day in London. Immediately after breakfast at our hotel, she returned to our room and changed. She said everyone was staring at her. Those jeans stayed in her suitcase unworn the rest of the trip!
Pair weather appropriate simple tops in natural colors and muted patterns with your dark pants. This is not the time to wear your bright tank tops and t-shirts covered with American flags! You may also want to have something a bit dressier, so pack a warmer dress or nicer blouse to pair with pants.
Comfortable footwear options during the fall, winter, and spring months include sneakers and boots. These Sketchers slip-in sneakers are great for the plane and are comfortable for miles of walking. And I particularly like Clarks boots for vacations where I’ll be walking a lot.
Full Packing List for London
It is critical to pack light for trips to Europe as you are likely to be hauling suitcases through train and subway stations and across cobblestone streets. Even if I plan to check my luggage, I only take a carry-on sized suitcase and a large backpack. It just makes it so much easier to navigate!
The following is a packing list for one week in London. I always plan to wear tops and dresses at least twice. And dark colored pants can literally be worn day after day with a bit of spot cleaning and a spray of Downy Wrinkle Releaser with odor control! I often wash tops, dresses, underwear and socks in the hotel sink or bathtub using the hotel provided soap or shampoo. Pack all of this according to Amanda’s Ultimate Carry-on Luggage Combo!
- Passport
- 1 pair of dark-washed jeans (summer); 2-3 pairs of jeans and/or other pants (rest of the year)
- 3-4 tops
- Dresses/skirts/skorts (3 for summer trips; 1 for other times of year)
- Cardigan or sweater (1 for summer, 2-3 for other times of year)
- Packable rain jacket
- Coat or jacket appropriate for the season
- Sneakers & sandals (summer) or boots (other times of year)
- 4 sets underclothes (including slip shorts in summer) & socks
- 1 pajamas
- Sunglasses
- Umbrella
- 2-3 disposable rain ponchos
- Sunscreen
- Toiletry kit
- Medicine kit
- Electronics kit with international travel adapter & power banks
- 4 granola bars, 4 packs of trail mix, mints, & gum
- 2 mini-Kleenex packs and hand wipes/sanitizer
- Travel pillow
- Reusable water bottle
What’s on your packing list for London?
Tell us below! And don’t miss our other London posts:
