What to Wear in London

Planning a trip to London and wondering what to pack? These helpful tips will keep you warm, dry, cozy and looking posh on a visit to England's capital city!

Disclosure: some of the links below are affiliate links. If you purchase a linked item, I will make a commission, at no extra charge to you. I received a dress from Wool& for free. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. ​Updated April 2020.

Wondering what to wear in London?

Across all of my trips, both to Europe and beyond, I've always felt that dressing for London as a tourist is the most difficult.
You want to look nice, you might walk 15 miles in a day, then head out for a fancy meal, and it could, and likely will, rain, unexpectedly, at any moment.

Big Ben's a bit under the weather lately

So let's discuss my top London packing essentials!

Don't forget your packing cubes!

No packing post would be complete without recommending my secret weapon, which keeps everything organized before, during, and after the trip! I love being able to keep small items neat and tidy *in* the hotel room, and they're a great way to pack souvenirs for your trip home!

​For even more travel essentials, check-out my Europe Travel Essentials!

What to Wear in London:
​Jackets for Fall and Spring 

​The most important piece you'll bring to London is the right jacket, regardless of season.

​Rain is a fact of life in England. It rains almost 1/3 of days in this lovely country, totaling nearly 40 inches of rain per year. ​

Barbour waxed jacket in action (April)

Many of those "rainy" days are perfectly comfortable to walk around, and then there will be a slight drizzle, lasting maybe half an hour, and often that will be the end. Sometimes that same thing will happen multiple times throughout a day, or, of course, there are days where it just drizzles and spits rain (or pours) the whole day.

Your coat shouldn't be too warm, and you'll want to be able to remove it if the sun comes out. You'll want it to be relatively light-weight so that you don't mind carrying it around, or wearing it when it's not raining.

So which jacket should I bring to London?

A Barbour Jacket

Barbour - a classic English brand - has a wide selection, from traditional waxed jacket (my choice), to more "casual," lighter or quilted options. The waxed is waterproof and, with the hood added, is perfect for a day touring. 

The Queen has a well-loved Barbour coat. When she sent it in for refurbishment (which is common with Barbour coats, as they're meant to last a lifetime), the company offered her a new one, which she politely declined, preferring to keep her old one!

A Trench Coat

The British trench coat is, of course, another staple for a trip to the U.K. Burberry is the quintessential classic, and is now available in a variety of shorter and more colorful versions. A darker, less-of-a-statement trench, works well, and J Crew has started stocking some cute trenches as well!

Trench in action, with Sir Winston (August)

Do I need a heavy coat?

As far as an "overcoat," remember that it doesn't normally get terribly cold in London. However, I'd likely include one, especially for evenings out, etc., when it's not only chillier, but you'll likely want to look a bit dressier. 

What to Wear in London:
Don't forget your umbrella!

Though the British are notoriously relaxed about being rained on, on the occasions where the drizzle progresses to a downpour, you'll want an umbrella.

I opt for a compact umbrella that I can jam into a pocket before departing in the morning, use for 20 minutes as needed, dry off, and stuff back into the pocket. Another option is a much larger umbrella/walking stick. One of the hotels we stayed in, on our first trip to London, The Goring, had free hotel umbrellas for guests' use. If you're inclined toward a larger umbrella, I'd *strongly* vote for buying it once you get there, rather than hauling it over with you.

What to Wear in London:
​Shoes and boots for rain

​For my money, you can't beat good, solid boots for walking long distances and encountering dirty streets, public transit, random mud, and, of course, the aforementioned rain.

Westminster Abbey

Some form of boots are perfect - they look classy, get the job done, and come in a variety of colors.

I like the full riding boot, for the full rain coverage (can't splash in from over the top) but sometimes the full boot does get a bit toasty, so having booties as well is usually a good idea in the warmer months.

Riding boots in Bath

What if I don't want to wear boots?

I wear boots the vast majority of my days in the U.K., but if not boots, then loafers! Birdie has stunning ballet flats that channel a bit of an upper-crust-private-club vibe.

Cozy sweaters for chilly days (and nights)
​in London

Barbour in Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese

The U.K.'s damp weather can really be damp, even if it's not technically that "cold." There's on better place to warm up than London - pubs, tea, and a Sunday roast: all invented to warm these people up!

Buckingham Palace, rocking a sweater and that Barbour waxed jacket

I like a bit of a turtleneck for everyday wear in colder months, even in spring and fall, to avoid needing a scarf. I've found quite a few that I like from Eileen Fisher. Make sure they fit under the coat you intend to bring - try them on at home with your coat before you leave. A few great sweater purveyors to try: Orvis, LL Bean, & J McLaughlin (for dressier sweaters).

What to Wear in London:
​Dressing for Summer in London

If you're fortunate enough to encounter some days of lovely British sunshine, enjoy! I'd still bring the umbrella out with you in the morning, if I were you (the picture of me with Sir Winston, the trench coat, and the umbrella was taken the same week as the shot below!).

But, for those charming, warm days, I personally like a dress and a light jacket, along with a pair of loafers to protect the feet during all the walking! (My American readers should be reminded that Europeans do not wear beach flip flops unless they are...you guessed it! At the beach!).

​Boden has some excellent dress options. If you're looking for less of an investment, TJ Maxx always has a good selection, though you may have to dig!

Kensington Palace in August

"Can I wear shorts in London?"
Of course you can. Personally, I don't generally wear shorts as a tourist for a few reasons - I don't like my legs touching the public transit seats, I don't find them comfortable for a lot of walking, they aren't as common in Europe, so I feel like half-dressed, and it's just not that hot in London. If you want to wear shorts, I'd recommend a bit longer than what Americans wear and try to avoid pairing them with athletic shoes.

What to Wear in London: Dresses

I do love to wear a cute dress in London, especially when it's a beautiful day or we have a Covent Garden theatre night in store. I would be mindful of the fabric and your accompanying footwear, for fear of the drizzle. Silk and flip flops? I think not (and you'd stand out). Add tights/leggings, a scarf, and a pair of black riding boots, and it's plenty cozy, even in that relentless rain! The Brits also love a good below-the-knee skirt, if you're taller than me!

My most recent find is the Clara Shirt Dress from Wool&. It's lightweight, yet warm, and is made of this gorgeous wool that doesn't itch or get that stale wool smell in drizzle and, it's got a great, structured look, with pockets and a tie at the waist.

What to Wear in London:
​Best purses for London

If you're looking for a British option, a recent discovery of mine, last time we were in Covent Garden, was The Cambridge Satchel Co., purveyor of all sorts of classically designed traditional handbags. Gorgeous, excellent quality, and super sturdy, I picked up a saddle bag with a long, cross-body strap for easy touring!

Note: You should be mindful of pickpockets in any city and in any major tourist attraction, and when those two are combined, extra careful! I have felt perfectly safe at the major London attractions, but always be mindful. I wouldn't bring a purse that does not fully close.

​If you do want to carry a purse, I love a good Longchamp Le Pliage - a classic, even if it's not English! If The Duchess of Cambridge carries one, it's perfect in my book!

Trying to take a picture in front of Burlington Arcade, carrying my Longchamp...thanks, van!

Keeping kids dry in London's persistent rain

On my first trip to London, one of the things that shocked me the most was how Londoners really do just continue going about their business during sudden rain. Depending on where you live, perhaps you are already aware of this, but in Indianapolis, it just doesn't rain that much, and when it does, people generally go inside or change their plans. Not in London!

Moms and dads just grab their handy plastic baby stroller rain shield, pull it down over the kid's stroller, and carry on!

Thanks for stopping by!

Enjoy your visit to London!! I hope you'll check out a few of my other posts on visiting England - my favourite place in the world! xx
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You may also like...

• What to Wear in Scotland
• A Stay The Royal Family's Favourite Hotel, The Goring
• A Day Trip from London to Winchester
• Covent Garden, London
• Visiting the U.K. by Train

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