Today I want to share my London winter packing list with you. If you’re planning to visit the UK capital this season and you want a local’s advice for what to carry in your bag, read on for A Lady in London’s seasonal essentials for the city. These 11 items will help you travel efficiently, stay warm in the British weather, and arrive looking like a local. I’ve included a free downloadable checklist, too.
Winter Packing List for London
London is cold in the winter. I was born and raised in California, and the UK isn’t my native habitat. The chill, dark, and damp were foreign to me before I moved to the city.
I nearly froze my first year in the UK with inadequate clothing and accessories. But after surviving countless winters in London I have a few tips and tricks to share with you. I hope they’ll save you from the pitfalls I encountered.
Whether you’re new to cold weather or just new to the London weather (it has its own personality), this guide will help you pack like a pro and stay comfortable while you travel.
If you haven’t seen them, it’s worth starting with my general packing posts. From my guide to how to pack for London to my post about what to wear in London, I’ve written a lot about the topic. I’ve also created packing lists for spring, summer, and autumn.
If you’re not familiar with the London weather, winter can last from early November to mid-June. Most years it starts getting cold around mid-November and warms up by the second week of April.
If you want to know more about the winter climate and temperatures, you can take a look at my blog post about the London weather. It has more details about what to expect in cold months like November, December, January, February, and March.
1. Winter Coat
The first item on my London winter packing list is a warm coat. It’s probably the most important thing you’ll bring, and it’s worth investing in a good one.
Nothing fights the freezing air like a thick coat, and if there’s one item of clothing I can’t live without between November and May, this is it. Knee-length with a good collar and warm lining, it’s a lifesaver when the temperatures plummet.
Whether you opt for a classic wool coat or a big puffer jacket, you can’t go wrong. If you want to do as I do, you can see the coat I recommend here.
2. Boots
The next item on my winter packing list for London is a good pair of boots. My feet are always freezing. June or December, they feel like ice blocks even when I’m indoors. So when I leave home, I make sure to wear warm boots.
In the winter, that means high boots. Not only do they keep my feet warm and dry, but also my legs. Flat boots are essential for walking in London, especially if you’re treading on cobbles or if it’s wet, icy, or snowing.
I always have a sturdy pair (or three) on hand. If you want to follow in my footsteps (pardon the pun!), you can get the ones I recommend here.
3. Winter Scarf
The third item on my London winter packing list is a thick scarf. One of the best tricks for keeping warm when temperatures drop is covering your neck. This is particularly true when it’s windy, rainy, or snowy.
A good scarf is not only a necessity for staving off frostbite (okay, that might be a bit dramatic), but also a great accessory for styling an outfit or dressing up a casual look.
I have them in all different shapes, weights, knits, and colors, and I love pairing them with my outfits. If you want to do the same, you can get one here.
4. Knit Sweaters
Under my scarf and coat comes a knit sweater. I’m a fan of classic styles and colors, and I like to mix and match them with whatever else I’m wearing. I’m a sucker for cashmere, both due to its softness and because thick cashmere sweaters keep me warm.
I usually layer them with short or long-sleeved T-shirts underneath, both for style and for when it’s so hot on the tube I have to de-layer before I overheat (more on layers later in this blog post).
Whether you layer them or not, they’re worth having in your luggage. If you want to see the kinds of sweaters I recommend, you can find them here.
5. Winter Hat
The next item on my London winter packing list is a hat. It’s amazing how warm a hat can keep me, and I always have mine either on my head or in my handbag during the colder months.
They come in all shapes and sizes, but I like a thick, warm one to keep the heat in. As with scarves and sweaters, I have them in a range of shapes and colors so I can mix and match.
Given they’re small and easy to pack, I highly recommend putting one (or more) in your suitcase. If you want my recommendation, check this one out.
6. Gloves
Like my feet, my hands get extremely cold in the winter in London. I wear warm gloves to avoid frozen fingers.
Given I’m a professional travel blogger, I’m constantly using my phone. As such, gloves with fingers that work on a touch screen are imperative for me.
Even if the same isn’t true for you, good gloves are a lifesaver in London when the temperatures hover around freezing.
Whether you go with a chic pair of leather gloves or a couple of woolen mittens, you can’t go wrong. If you want to see the ones I recommend, take a look at these.
7. Long Underwear
The next item on my London winter packing list is long underwear. While T-shirts are great when it’s not too cold, having a thermal layer under my clothes makes a huge difference when the mercury drops.
Not only do long underwear keep me warm, but they also keep me dry when it rains or snows. My outer layers might get wet, but I’m cozy underneath.
I own several different types of long underwear. Some are thin and good for not-so-cold days, others are thick fleece numbers that are great for days when it’s freezing outside. You can see my recommendations here.
8. Tights
If it’s not freezing (or even if it is), tights are another London winter essential. Not only are they perfect if you want to wear a skirt or dress, but also if you want a thin layer under your trousers.
You can have a lot of fun with winter tights in London. From colors to patterns and textures, there are lots of styles to choose from.
I like having a mix of classic black ones and colorful accent tights. You can’t go wrong, though. If you want my recommendation, check these out.
8. Umbrella
It rains a lot in London, and an umbrella is one of the most important things to pack in winter. While some locals refuse to carry them, the practical among us never leave home without one (or three) in our bags.
Given how often I lose umbrellas, I tend to opt for a balance of price and quality. I need one that won’t cost a fortune, but isn’t going to blow inside out as soon as the wind picks up (and it often does).
I also require one that’s small enough to fit in my handbag, because there are a lot of mornings when I can’t tell whether it will rain or not. If you want my recommendation, this one is just the thing.
10. Sunglasses
The next item on my London winter packing list is a good pair of sunglasses. As much as it rains in London in winter, it can be extremely sunny sometimes. The sun sits low in the sky in winter, and it can be blinding on bright days.
I always keep a pair of sunglasses at the ready if I wake up on a sunny day in winter. They’re lifesavers in the mornings and early afternoons, when the sun beams right into my eyes.
All my sunglasses have strong cases that can stand up to a bit of battering in my bag, and they have great classic features. If you you want my recommendation, check these out.
11. Hand Warmers
The next item on my winter packing list for London is hand warmers. As I mentioned before, my hands are always freezing. If you’re the same, you’ll love these.
Small enough to pop into my handbag and warm enough to defrost my fingers when the temperatures fall below freezing, hand warmers are amazing to carry around London.
They’re particularly valuable when I’m outdoors walking around all day (which I often am). If you’re sightseeing, you probably will be too. If you’re interested, you can see the ones I recommend here.
London Winter Packing Checklist
As promised, I’ve created a downloadable London winter packing checklist. It has all the items in this blog post, plus links to my other packing tips. You can get it here.
How to Pack for London in Winter
I hope you’ve found my London winter packing list helpful, and that you’ll be all set for your trip, sun or snow.
London is an amazing place, and there’s no such thing as bad weather, only the wrong clothing. If you pack the right things, you’ll be prepared for anything.
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