Planning a trip to London? Before you hop across the pond, it’s important to know exactly what to pack for this incredible but unpredictable destination. This guide will help you prepare with all the essentials (and a few extras) to ensure you’re ready for anything London throws your way, rain or shine.
Packing clothes for London can be a bit daunting because you want to be comfortable but cute not to mention weather ready for a wide variety of conditions. The key here is to mix and match. We're sharing everything we packed for our first trip to London.
Mixing and matching is key when trying to pack light while also having a variety of outfits for a variety of activities. Personally I'd recommend 5-7 shirts in a combination of short and long sleeves depending on what season you'll be visiting. I'd also recommend 2-3 cardigans or light jackets for layering.
I personally love wearing dresses and skirts (matched with tights for cooler days) for my nicer outfits for dinner out or a West End show, so I always pack at least 2 dresses when traveling. Keep in mind when choosing your cardigans that you'll want them to layer well with your dresses/skirts, too.
When packing bottoms you can't go wrong with jeans plus some pants that are comfy that can be dressed up or down. I recently found these by Lululemon and love how comfortable and versatile they are! Again, mixing and matching is key. I'd recommend 3-4 pairs of different pants though to give you variety.
No matter how you'll be spending your time in London, it's almost guaranteed you'll be on your feet a lot so be prepared with comfortable walking shoes. Everyone is different when it comes to what they find comfortable, but I personally found my red Mary Jane's by Rothy's the perfect combination of cute and comfortable for exploring London. I also packed my Birkenstocks and a pair of white sneakers, too.
Keep in mind that since it rains in London a lot of the year, you'll want to bring a pair of shoes that handles the wet conditions well. My Rothy's are machine washable plus my white sneakers by Vessi are 100% waterproof (perfect for rainy destinations like London!).
In addition to pajamas, underwear, and socks like you'd pack for any old trip, I'd also recommend a good, comfortable loungewear outfit for travel days. If you're like us and coming from the USA to London, you'll have a long haul flight and being comfortable will be important. Personally I love my yoga pants by Vuori and my Pranayama Restore Wrap by Athleta finished off with compression socks (essential for long bouts of sitting!) and my Birkenstock clogs.
Along the loungewear line is a swimsuit. While London isn't exactly a warm, beach destination, many hotels have indoor pools. I don't know about you, but one of the best ways to relax after a day of lots of walking is by floating in a pool or stretching out in a sauna.
Depending on what season you're visiting London will decide what level of outerwear you should bring. If you're visiting anytime other than the heat of the summer, you'll want to bring more than just the cardigans and light jackets mentioned above in the "outfits" section.
My go to jacket for traveling is a synthetic down jacket because of how small it packs and how versatile it is for varying temperatures. Considering London's unpredictable but often very wet weather, I would recommend a good rain jacket, too. If you're going to be in London during the winter you'll definitely want to bring a good winter coat because in addition to the high chance of precipitation you'll also be dealing with short days that are pretty darn cold.
One things I saw a lot of while in London was trench coats and I now I really want one, too! They seem to be the perfect jacket for quick changing weather. I'm mentioning it here because I think it would be a really great jacket to bring for spring/summer/fall travel.
Hats, gloves, and scarves are all packing essentials if you're visiting London during the colder months. Additionally an umbrella that packs small is important to bring anytime of year. While I'm usually in the rain jacket > umbrella camp, the UK gets a lot of rain and if you want to be able to comfortably look up at the architecture and not be hunched over in a jacket, get an umbrella like this one on Amazon that's small enough to pack in a carryon and is windproof.
While London does get a lot of rain, don't forget the sunglasses! When it's nice outside you'll want to spend every second in that sunshine!
Toiletries tend to be what take up the most weight in my suitcase. Not only that, but if I'm packing carryon only I'm limited to the 3.4 ounce per container rule. It's taken practice but I've really cut down on what I bring as far as toiletries and makeup goes. I'm not someone who wears a lot of makeup anyway, but somehow my toiletry bag always ended up being way too heavy.
First things first: don't pack what your hotel will provide. Body wash, shampoo, conditioner, and (usually) a hairdryer are provided so don't bring those with you to London.
From there I pack only what makeup I'm sure I'll use in London. Just bringing the essentials makes getting ready a breeze and saves space.
The same goes for skincare and any other cosmetics. If you're not sure you're going to use it, leave it at home. Worst case scenario you end up needing that facial mask or zit cream that you left at home you can always run to Boots (the UK's favorite drugstore) and get what you need.
Since we travel a lot, I also keep reusable liquid containers full with my favorite face wash, moisturizer, etc. at all times. That way I can grab and go whenever we're ready to head off again. While places like Sephora sale "mini" or "travel size" of your favorite cosmetics, it's much more cost effective to get the reusable liquid containers and just refill them yourself.
Pro tip: Always pack your medication in your carryon! This is just in case your luggage is lost in transit. Generally doctor's can't call in your prescriptions in another country so you'll want to have them on you.
Electronics is one category that we always have to leave a lot of room in our suitcases for since we're digital nomads who also run a Youtube channel. If you're visiting London on vacation, chances are you won't need as much gear as we do. I'm going to list everything that is essential for all travelers, but keep in mind if you're like us and need computers, cameras, and a billion different chargers, you'll need to pack accordingly.
When considering what electronics to pack for London, think about how you'll be using your tech. For us that's long days exploring in the city using Google Maps for navigating the streets and for looking up public transit routes and timetables. One of the number one things we always recommend traveling with is a portable battery bank to recharge your phone when out and about. While I hate to admit relying on my phone, it really is an essential when traveling these days and the last thing you want is to end up with a dead phone in an unknown city.
Along those same lines, keep in mind that if you're traveling to London from the USA that the electrical outlets in the UK are different than those in the USA. Therefore you'll need to bring a power adapter. It's kind of a pain but it's just the reality of being an American traveling in the UK.
Another must-have for me when traveling is noise cancelling headphones. I love my Sony WH-1000XM5 headphones because they not only cancel out the noise on flights, but also allow me to focus and stay in my own world while exploring new places.
This is the most essential part of this London packing guide. If you forget some of the things on this list you could end up having a less than ideal trip (or not trip at all!).
First up, passport. Always make sure your return date is at least 6 months before your passport expiration date. If you need to renew your passport before you leave for London, make sure you do it well in advance since passport renewal times can be pretty unpredictable.
If you're an American traveling to London you'll need to apply for ETA (electronic travel authorization). An ETA should be applied for at least a few weeks in advance just in case there are any hold ups but generally speaking you'll have your ETA within a matter of a few minutes (just like we did). It's fastest to download the UK ETA app and apply for your ETA there. The nice thing about the ETA is that it's good for two years or until the linked passport expires. so you don't have to apply and pay every time you visit the UK in those two years. The ETA costs £16 per person and can be paid in the app.
While the UK doesn't require visitors to have travel medical insurance we'd highly recommend it! We never travel internationally without our SafetyWing travel medical insurance. It's a small price to pay for the security of medical coverage in the instance of an accident while abroad (which we've had more than once!). SafetyWing easily provides proof of insurance in their user's dashboard if you'd like to print it off before departure. Again, the UK doesn't require proof of medical travel insurance like some countries do, but it never hurts to have it just in case.
Along these same lines, always take copies of your important documents. Generally I carry both hardcopies and digital copies of my passport, drivers license, travel medical insurance, and anything else that would be considered important overseas. Truthfully digital copies are probably plenty but if you do decide to take hardcopies with you then be sure to lock them in your hotel safe for privacy's sake.
As far as money goes, you always want to have some cash on you for tipping (although tipping isn't near as common in the UK as in the USA) and random small charges where credit cards aren't accept for small charges. Generally speaking though, credit cards and tap to pay are almost always accepted throughout London. The most important thing to note is that Visa and Mastercard are the most widely accepted credit cards in the UK. While our Amex Platinum card is our favorite credit card for travel perks, the irony is that Amex isn't accepted nearly as often as Visa and Mastercard so keep that in mind. Our Capital One Venture and Amex Platinum cards both have zero international fees for traveling which makes them good cards to take with you to London.
A couple of other essentials worth mentioning in this section: Airtags and a reusable water bottle. London has free water fill stations all over the city and bringing your own bottle will save money and waste. Not to mention you can fill it up post-security at the airport to keep you hydrated on the plane. The Airtags go inside my checked luggage to keep track of it just in case it doesn't make it on the plane with me.
Most of the miscellaneous items I'm including in this London packing list are optional and just make your travels more comfortable, enjoyable, and even cleaner.
Don't forget these items when packing for London!
Traveling to London is an incredible adventure filled with history, culture, and unforgettable experiences. By packing thoughtfully and including all the essentials, you’ll be ready to tackle whatever the city has in store, rain or shine! Remember, the key is to stay prepared yet flexible, so you can focus on soaking in everything this iconic destination has to offer. Happy travels!
