How To Correctly Pack When You’re Going To London For The First Time

PublishedAugust 14, 2018

London is a city known for many things: historical sites, gorgeous architecture, chic fashion, and fantastic food. It’s also known for having very unpredictable weather. It might be sunny one minute, and downpouring the next. This summer, London has been in the midst of a scorching heat wave, so temps have obviously been a lot higher than usual (pretty much exactly like the rest of the world. Thanks, global warming). Typically, though, it can be on the cooler side, and has a reputation for being a bit damp and rainy. Since you’re probably going to be walking around outside most of the time you’re there, you’ll definitely want to pack the right items to stay as comfortable as possible.

Of course, the weather isn’t the only thing you should be thinking about when visiting London. Traveling abroad always means packing specific items to make your trip run as smoothly as possible, so you’ll definitely want to take that into consideration as well.

Below is a list of items you should definitely bring with you if you’re going to London for the first time - or, really, any time you’re going over there.

A Cute Rain Jacket
Lauren by Ralph Lauren Hooded Raincoat | Nordstrom
The thing about London is that it often seems like everyone there looks good, all the time. Whether it’s tourists, students, or locals, everyone always looks like they just stepped out of a fashion magazine. For that reason alone, you might consider ditching a rain jacket for something more chic. Don’t! Going to London without a raincoat is just asking for trouble. Pick something simple and more sleek that will go with everything, like this black raincoat. It will keep you dry and it looks cute.

Graphic: Jessica Booth

Comfortable Shoes That Can Handle A Little Rain
Naturalizer Dawson Waterproof Boots | Zappos
Packing rain boots can be a bit unrealistic - they’re large, clunky, and take up way too much precious space in a suitcase (and who really wants to wear them on a plane?). Instead, opt for a pair of boots or shoes that can handle getting a little wet if you get caught in a storm. These Naturalizer boots are waterproof and they’re actually pretty stylish. You can wear them with anything without worrying about having to deal with wet socks, which is the actual worst.

Graphic: Jessica Booth

A Coin Purse
Truffle Privacy Leather Coin Purse | Nordstrom
One thing to keep in mind about London: when it comes to currency, they use a lot of coins. On my first trip to London, I was unprepared for the amount of coins I would get when exchanging my U.S. dollars, and I was also surprised at the amount of stores and businesses that preferred coins over bills. Bring a small coin purse to keep your coins on hand at all times – searching for them at the bottom of your bag while paying isn’t ideal.

Graphic: Jessica Booth

A Versatile Scarf
A New Day Travel Wrap | Target
The best thing I did when I went to London for the first time was pack several different large scarves. Even though I was there in the spring, I wore them every single day, and they were lifesavers. A big scarf, like a blanket scarf, can be worn around your neck to fight the chill, as a sweater if you don’t want to wear more layers, or even as a makeshift blanket on a plane. Plus, they look good with everything.

Graphic: Jessica Booth

AdvertisementYou can skip ad after 1 second

You can go to the next slide after 1 second

A Canvas Tote Bag
Big Canvas Tote | ban.do
One of my personal favorite things to do in London was go to the many markets they have all over the city (I highly recommend Borough Market for food you can bring home and food you can eat right then and there). If you can, pack a canvas tote that’s easy to fold up, and bring it with you when heading out. It’s great for holding your purchases in a smart way, and will just make your life a lot easier.

Graphic: Jessica Booth

An Adaptor
Ceptics World Traveler Adaptor | Amazon
If you’ve gone to Europe before, don’t assume the adaptor you have will work – a different one is required for the U.K., and if you forget it, you’ll definitely struggle with being able to charge or use anything the requires an outlet. This adaptor from Amazon is great if you love to travel, because it comes with options for several different parts of the world, including the U.K.

Graphic: Jessica Booth

A Foldable Umbrella
Fidus Mini Travel Umbrella | Amazon
Rain can come on quickly in London, and could last just a few minutes, or it could be a few hours. In any case, you’ll want to be prepared with an umbrella. Most hotels offer umbrellas you can borrow, but I found that, especially abroad, they tend to be huge and not foldable. To make walking around a little more comfortable, bring your own compact umbrella that you can stick in your bag whenever you don’t need it.

Graphic: Jessica Booth

A Chic Backpack
A New Day Trapunto Backpack | Target
Being a tourist can be exhausting – and slightly painful. Carry a backpack to ensure you have access to everything you might need while out without hurting your arm or shoulder. This option from Target is inexpensive and still looks stylish, so it’s a win-win.

Graphic: Jessica Booth

AdvertisementYou can skip ad after 1 second

You can go to the next slide after 1 second

A Sweater That Goes With Everything
Alton Cardigan Sweater | Madewell
When packing clothes for London, opting for layers is your best bet. It can get chilly there, even in the summer – a friend of mine went two years ago and it was in the 50s in August. Bring at least one versatile cardigan sweater that will go with anything you’re wearing. It’s not too much of a pain to carry around, and there will definitely be at least one moment where you’ll feel grateful you bought it.

Graphic: Jessica Booth

1 / 9