This post may contain affiliate links. When you purchase something through these links, I receive a small commission that helps me create this blog’s content. There’s no extra cost to you. Read my privacy policy to learn more.
Published: 2/18/2026
What To Pack For An Autumn Trip to London, England
Quit stressing about what you do or don’t need to pack for England with my no frills, no fuss London packing list.
As a frequent London visitor, I’ve honed my packing list over two decades of visiting (and living in) the English capital city. I’ve packed for London in winter, spring, and fall but this particularly packing list focuses on what I brought on my most recent autumn trip in November 2025.
Since London, England is many folks’ first international trip, it’s absolutely normal to be worried about what you’re throwing in your suitcase. Fun fact: I was so excited about my first trip to London as a high school student that I actually starting packing two months in advance! Needless to say, you can trust me when I tell you that I’ve put a lot of thought into preparing for London travels!
Whether you’re going to London on vacation or heading over for a study abroad program, my packing list ensures you fill your suitcase with essentials, while leaving plenty of room for souvenirs. Best of all, my packing list sets you up to travel with carry-on sized suitcase to ease your travels from Heathrow airport and to make it easy to take on public transport.
I’ll cover what to wear, make sure you don’t overlook anything obvious (yes, you really do need a rain jacket), and let you in on what seemingly must-have item is just a waste of space. (Spoiler: it’s an umbrella.)
Enjoy this look into my London suitcase. If you’re in a hurry, just scroll to the bottom to print off my printable London packing list to make sure you pack for success.
Absolute London Packing Necessities
Rain jacket – While you’ll definitely need a rain jacket whenever you head to London, be sure to check the weather forecast before your trip dates to help you decide whether or not you need to also pack a heavier coat like a wool pea coat. It was so mild during our visit in early November that I got away with just using my lightweight rain jacket that I bought in Key West. This bright blue jacket was a little tourist coded, but it took up no space in my suitcase.
Comfortable, ideally waterproof, shoes – Between walking on uneven pavement, standing for hours in London’s best museums, and putting on an average of 20,000 steps a day, trips to London have a unique ability to chew up your feet in a way you’ve never experienced before. Historically, I’ve had really good luck with Teva sneakers and I also love my waterproof Dansko Chelsea boots.
Blister packs/moleskin – If your shoes don’t work out as well as you hoped, you’ll be very happy to have some blister packs or moleskin pads close at hand to patch up your feet so you can keep logging all those London miles. I tried a different sneaker for this trip and while they looked and felt great they absolutely destroyed the top of my feet. I was very happy indeed for my moleskin!
Theft-proof crossbody bag or backpack – You’ll probably be heading to some of the busy tourist hotspots (aka pickpocket paradise) like Leicester Square and Covent Garden. Keep your wallet and belongings safe by using an antitheft purse or backpack. I still love my convertible Pacsafe backpack, but if you want something with a smaller profile, try one of these sling bags.
Phone grip or strap – I don’t mean to scare you but for the last few years, London’s developed a bit of a reputation for phone snatching. In high traffic areas, thieves, often on electric scooters, would grab your phone right out of your hand and then disappear through the crowds. There was a major crackdown on this back in the summer of 2025, but it’s still an excellent idea to have a grip or strap on your phone to add a layer of security.
Plug adapter – First time abroad? Your mind’s about to be blown by what electrical plugs look like in the British Isles! Be sure to pack a couple North America to UK/Ireland plug adapters so you can keep your electronics charged.
Don’t forget
Complete your ETA application as soon as your travel dates are set in stone so you can breeze into the U.K. (You will need to a passport that’s good for at least six months.)
Set up contactless pay on your phone. London is basically a cash free society. From using the public transportation, paying at restaurants or attractions, or purchasing souvenirs, I just tippiety tapped my way through London with Apple Pay on our last trip. There’s absolutely no reason to have cash on you. (If it’s your first time abroad, be sure to let your bank and credit cards know to expect charges in England!)
My London Luggage
|
Samsonite Freeform Carry-On Luggage |
Camelbak H.A.W.G Backpack  |
Pacsafe Convertible Backpack  Pacsafe Women’s Citysafe Cx Anti Theft Convertible Backpack-Fits 10″ Tablet, Black |
Checked luggage – This is the first time my spouse and I checked two carry on sized suitcases instead one larger roller bag. It certainly made getting around London via the Tube with luggage a lot easier . . . although Andy’s bag didn’t get placed on our first flight and had a side quest over to Amsterdam. Lesson learned; next time we’ll divide our items between my Monos Carry-On Plus and his to make it less dramatic if one of the bags is delayed.
Carry-on – Since I was using a carry-on sized suitcase, I wanted my “personal item” to do some heavy lifting. My H.A.W.G Mil Spec Backpack fit my laptop, a change of clothes, my pajamas, a water bottle, book, some toiletries, and that all important rain jacket.
Personal item– I’ve never felt particularly vulnerable to pickpockets in London, but my convertible, theftproof Pacsafe Backpack added a nice extra level of security. I convert it to a crossbody bag for flights and then use it as a backpack for sightseeing. My favorite part is that when it’s set up as a backpack, it fits my Nalgene waterbottle.
London Outerwear
|
Hooded Rain Jacket |
Colorful Winter Hat |
Scarf |
Long Hooded Rain Jacket – You want your rain jacket looking good for this trip! While my packable rain jacket got the job done, I really would have prefer a much more timeless, multifunctional jacket like this one. A hood is a must because if there’s one item I absolutely recommend you don’t bring to London, it’s an umbrella! (They’re clunky, poorly suited for walks of longer than a couple blocks, and break almost instantaneously with a stiff gust of wind.)
Colorful Winter Hat – While it wasn’t cold enough to need a winter jacket or mittens during our November visit, I was really happy to have a stocking cap. It kept me nice cozy and was especially nice in a light drizzle.
Scarf – In the same vein, a large pashmina scarf was a great way to add warmth as well as a pop of color.
Clothing Essentials
|
Casual Wool Dress |
Cashmere Sweater |
Wool Base Layer |
Casual Wool Dress – I scored some Boden wool dresses from ThredUp before my trip and they were the perfect weight for keeping me warm while sightseeing while also being fancy enough for a night at the theatre. I paired them with merino wool tights.
Cashmere Sweater – I love cashmere sweaters for European travel because they don’t take up much room, always make you look put together, and are incredibly warm.
Wool Crew Top– Whether I’m in Alaska or France, these midweight long-sleeved merino wool tops are the perfect base layer. They fit perfectly underneath sweaters or fleece jackets and do a great job of keeping you warm and dry in London’s damp autumn weather. I also like to bring a merino wool t-shirt and a camisole.
Other Clothes I Packed
Fleece jacket – My hooded Cotopaxi fleece jacket is my go-to top layer for long plane rides because I often freeze on planes! It was great for the markets as well.
Vest – My simple quilted vest has become a travel wardrobe staple for me. Layering it underneath my rain jacket was critical to allowing me to leave a heavier coat at home.
Jeans – I don’t recommend bringing more than one pair of jeans if you’re planning to use a carry-on suitcase because they’re so bulky! However, I always appreciate having a pair along since they can go a few days between washing.
Corduroy pants– I knew we’d spending a lot of time outside in 40 – 50 degree weather, so I packed a pair of comfy corduroy pants.
Underwear – I’m a fan of wool underwear because it stays fresh so much longer than cotton undies.
Socks– I packed a variety of Darn Tough wool socks.
Bras – This sounds sponsored but it’s not (yet . . . ?), I’ve had the best luck with Third Love lately.
Pajamas – I love my super soft LAKE pajamas and while they aren’t the most space efficient, they easily fit in my carry-on backpack. Pro tip: I always throw my pajamas in my carry-on bag on the off-chance my flight is delayed or I get separated from my checked bag.
My Footwear for London
|
Waterproof Hiking Sneakers  |
Black boots – I love these waterproof ankle height black boots for my European adventures. They work with jeans and dress up nicely with dresses for a night out. Since autumn is quite rainy in England, the fact that they’re waterproof was very appreciated!
Waterproof Sneakers – While a lot of this trip was spent in London, we also headed north to York for several days. I recommend having these waterproof Teva sneakers if you’re planning to do any hiking, like exploring the Yorkshire Dales, during your trip.
Perfect London Accessories
|
Waterproof Zippered Tote |
Power Bank |
Laundry Soap |
Waterproof Zippered Tote – I’ll be honest, we didn’t see a lot of sunshine during our two weeks in England! While I made it work with my packable reuseable shopping bag to tote groceries and souvenir purchases, this definitely was another instance where a zippered waterproof tote would have come in clutch to protect my purchases from the ubiquitous drizzle.
Power bank – With so much to see and do in London, you’ll likely spend all day out of your hotel or apartment. You’ll be very happy to have a power bank in your purse if your phone battery starts to flag in the late afternoon while you’re still going strong.
Laundry detergent – A key component in being able to live out of carry-on for a week was being able to do laundry multiple times during our trip, both in our Notting Hill apartment and York. These laundry detergent sheets are great because you don’t have to worry about any spillage in your suitcase! It’s always nice to have a couple dryer sheets also. I also recommend bringing some silica gel packets which you can use to dry out wet shoes.
My Other London Travel Accessories
Games – I always stash a couple small card games like Five Crowns and Phase 10 in my backpack in case of travel delays or just to unwind at the end of a busy day on your feet. Cribbage is a personal favorite. I’ve also a recent convert to the Swedish card game Dot Card.
Breakfast supplies – Better mornings mean better days, so I also recommend bringing any breakfast items you might be used to. (You can buy anything your heart desires in London, but sometimes it’s not nice to have to do a jetlagged grocery shop.) For example, I packed pre-portioned flaxseed meal, chia seeds, and protein powder for our morning oatmeal. Bonus: as you use these items, you free up room in your suitcase! I also always I actually packed this collapsible pour over (along with filters and coffee grounds) in case the coffee situation in our rental apartment is suspect.
Nalgene Water Bottle – If you’re going to survive a week of gluhwein and rich Christmas market food, you need to stay well-hydrated. I don’t leave home without at least one emotional support Nalgene water bottle.
Wine Opener – It’s never a bad idea to have a small wine opener in your suitcase when you head to Europe! I actually picked up this while I was in the Azores.
Plug adapters – Don’t forgot plug adapters for charging your phone and any other devices you brought along.
Wine Skins – Whether you hit up the impressive wine selection at Harrods or develop a taste for whisky or gin while in London, you’ll have plenty of opportunities to purchase some “liquid” souvenirs. These wine skins are the perfect way to transport those precious bottles home.
Snack bag – Speaking of being on the go a lot, I never travel without a small snack bag in my purse just in case we get stuck on a delayed train or on the side of a mountain at lunch time. These granola bars are a must for any travel snack bag!
Bedtime tea – It’s probably a little extra to bring tea to England, but this Soothing Caramel bedtime tea is the perfect London nightcap!
Trash bags and Ziplocs – I always like to have at least one trash bag and a handful of Ziplocs in the suitcase. They don’t take up much space and can be lifesavers when it comes to dealing with wet shoes or wrapping up souvenirs.
Wet Bag – This wet bag is my favorite USVI souvenir. I used it as a laundry bag on this trip.
- I also packed:
- Pocket knife
- Notebook/pens
- Shout wipes
- Laptop/phone/chargers
- Zeiss lens cleaning wipes
- Passport
- Debit card for cash (Not necessary at all, but nice after basically every card we owned decided to also take a vacation when we were France, I’m not taking any chances!)
- Embroidery/crafts
Toiletries
Pharmacy bag – You won’t have any issues sourcing over-the-counter medications in London (just head to the nearest Boots location), but I like to pack a couple doses each of Ex-Lax, Immodium, Emergen C, NyQuil, Advil, and cough drops so I don’t have to run an errand if one of us falls under the weather.
I also highly recommend proactively taking a Gas-x before any flight longer than four hours. Don’t forget some Kleenex travel packs.
First aid kit – I definitely didn’t expect to suffer any dramatic injuries in London, but my sneakers decided to rip the tops of my feet to shreds so I was very happy to have some moleskin, Band-aids and antiseptic cream close at hand. I’ll be honest; I use a Ziploc for my first aid kit, but one day soon, I’ll upgrade to one of these cute kits.
Sleep kit – I think everyone needs a little sleep kit of an eye mask, ear plugs, melatonin, magnesium, and/or sleep gummies.
Toiletry kit – Nothing exciting in here: toothpaste, toothbrush, shampoo, conditioner, razor, etc. etc. If your hair is prone to frizz, you will want to pack some sort of frizz control product to combat that. I don’t recommend packing any hair appliances since it’s a losing battle against London humidity and UK voltage.
Make-up bag – I keep it pretty minimal with just some of mascara (waterproof, natch), tinted moisturizer, eye shadow, and lip butter.
Printable London Packing List
Below is a printable London England packing list to help guide your packing for your own holiday travels in western Europe.
Conclusion: My Best Packing Strategy for a London Trip
London is a massive multicultural city, so I wouldn’t worry to much about what to wear if you don’t want to look like a tourist. You’ll be seeing people wearing basically every style of clothing under the sun. Honestly, you cheesing it up in front of the Houses of Parliament is going to brand you as a tourist a lot faster than your clothing!
However, like with all of my western European travels, I do like to keep my London clothing simple and classic. I leave my most American clothing (here’s looking at you graphic t-shirts and cotton sweatshirts) at home. Merino wool is much nicer than cotton in damp London weather and I find it easiest to mix and match your outfits with minimal clothing items when you have good layering items like wool dress, cashmere sweaters, and quilted vests.
While you’ll definitely want to have a rain jacket within reach the minute you touch down in Heathrow for an autumn visit to London, you won’t have problem purchasing any forgotten items in this big city. If you decide I’m full of it with my advice to not pack an umbrella you’ll have plenty of opportunities to pick one up from souvenir stand or department store.
I hope this post helped answer all of your London packing questions. There’s no reason to lug around a bunch of unnecessary stuff on cobblestone streets and public transportation. Just let me know if you have any specific questions and I’ll update this post with my answers to make your London travels even more enjoyable.
If you enjoyed this London packing list, check out the rest of my United Kingdom posts!
