Complete Packing List for London in Winter
Are you visiting London in winter and wondering what sort of clothes and accessories you’ll need to pack?
This post will tell you everything you need to know to stay warm and cosy in the capital. I’ll share my top packing tips, an essential packing list for London in winter, advise what not to bring and how to avoid overpacking. You can also use this guide if you are visiting the UK in winter.
However, it’s worth remembering that temperatures in London are milder than the north of England and Scotland so if you’re travelling elsewhere in the UK in winter, you’ll find it’s a few degrees colder than London.
What is the weather like in London in winter?
If you’re hoping to see snow in London, you may be disappointed. Snow in the capital is not as common as many festive movies would suggest!
Although there is an average of 23.7 snow days in the UK, it rarely snows or settles in London. In fact, the average snowfall in London in December is just 2mm, rising to 9mm in January.
If snow is a must-see, you’ll need to head to northern England, north Wales or Scotland, where temperatures are colder.
Although snow is rare, the winter months of December, January, and February are cold, and you can expect frequent overnight frosts.
Wet and windy conditions are common, but if you’re lucky, you’ll also experience cold, crisp, dry days with cloudless blue skies.
It’s also worth noting that daylight hours are short. The shortest day on December 21st has as little as 8 hours of daylight.
🎧 Listen to our podcast about visiting London in December for practical tips and information about what to expect during the festive season.
What to include in your packing list for London in winter
Essential items
- Passport
Your passport must be valid for the duration of your stay in the U.K. If you plan to visit the Schengen Zone (Europe) your passport needs to be valid for 6 months from the day you depart the zone.
For safety, I recommend having a printed copy of your passport as well as scanned copies that you can access online (we use Dropbox for this).
- Visa or ETA
Before you travel, check the U.K.’s visa requirements for your nationality.
The U.K is NOT part of the Schengen Visa zone. If you’re planning to visit mainland Europe or the Republic of Ireland you’ll need to check their visa requirements.
From January 2025, some visitors to the U.K must have an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA). You’ll need this even if you are transiting the U.K (changing planes before flying somewhere else). You can check if you need an ETA here.
An ETA costs £16 (which is non-refundable) and it’s valid for 2 years or until your passport expires, whichever is sooner. You can travel to the UK as many times as you like whilst your ETA is valid. An ETA takes at least three days to arrange and you must have it before you arrive in the UK.
You can apply for an ETA for yourself, or for your travel companions, on the ETA app. You’ll need recent passport style photos, a copy of your passport, an email address and a credit card to apply.
- Tickets and documents
It’s worth having both digital and paper copies of any tickets, booking references or other documentation. We use plastic wallets for our paper copies (organised by day) and keep scanned copies in a Dropbox account.
We also have a UK Travel Toolkit to help you stay organised.
- Money
I recommend taking some cash and one or two credit cards to use during your trip. We use Wise cards which can be pre-loaded before a trip in your local currency.
I also use a thin RFID-blocking wallet or card case to ensure that thieves can not scan my cards. I keep my cards in an accessible travel wallet which is large enough to hold all my essential documents.
I also like to create a currency converter note whenever I travel which enables me to quickly work out costs in my own currency. You can do this on your phone but a simple piece of paper avoids getting your phone out in public all the time!
I keep everything together in a theft-proof bag. I love them so much, I have quite a few theft-proof backpacks, day bags, crossbody bags and even mini theft-proof bags in my collection now!
My bag stopped a pickpocket when on the Paris Metro a few years ago and I wouldn’t leave home without at least one of my bags now.
Read more in my essential guide to pickpocket-proof bags and my post about the best mini theft-proof bags on the market.
Read – How Should I Bring Money to the UK? A Complete Guide to Cash & Cards
- International SIM or eSIM?
Staying connected is vital in the UK (especially when using public transport or driving in the UK). Restaurants, cafes, trains and some buses have free WiFi but ensure that you have a VPN set up on your phone to ensure privacy when accessing public networks.
I don’t recommend relying on free WiFi as it’s so important to have reliable, private and strong connections. Instead, purchase an international SIM to use in the UK. Alternatively, if you prefer more flexibility and convenience we recommend an eSIM (which is our preferred option)
An eSIM will save you having to go shopping when you arrive. Getting connected is often as simple as just installing an app on your phone though you’ll need to check that your current phone supports eSIMS.
We use and recommend Airalo for esims throughout the world. Enter code NEWTOAIRALO15 for a 15% discount on an esim with Airalo (new customers only) or AIRALOESIM10 for 10% discount on purchases over $10 (USD) for existing customers.
- Insurance
I never travel without a comprehensive travel insurance policy. You never know when you may need it.
Insurance doesn’t just cover legal and medical expenses or belongings. A good policy will also cover aspects you might need before you travel such as trip cancellation and curtailment.
Even if your trip is short, travel insurance can be a lifesaver, covering medical costs, trip cancellations, delays, and lost baggage.
For US-based travellers, we recommend Travel Insurance Master.
For Australian-based travellers, check out Cover-More.
Advice given in this article is general in nature and is not intended to influence readers’ decisions about investing or financial products. You should always seek your own professional advice that takes into account your personal circumstances before making any financial decisions. We always encourage our readers to compare options when it comes to financial products.
Read our full disclosure.
Read – Essential travel tips for first-time visitors to London
Clothing
My number one packing tip is to pack items that you can mix and match. A ‘capsule wardrobe’ of just a few, colour-coordinated key items can create multiple outfits. I recommend sticking to darker or more neutral colours that you can accessorise with brighter colours (I like buying scarves when I’m travelling to brighten up my outfits)
A capsule wardrobe will prevent you from making the most common travellers mistake – over packing! If an item can only be worn with one other item I don’t pack it. Think versatility and you will avoid packing too many clothes that you rarely wear.
My second tip is to pack clothes that you can layer. Having light layers that you can add or remove easily will keep you warm outside but cool when you’re inside a heated attraction. I prefer to wear a warm coat with long-sleeved cotton tops or a vest top or a polo neck underneath.
I advise against packing thick jumpers. They are warm and cosy but they are bulky to carry, will make you sweat indoors and can be difficult to dry when laundered.
I also advise against packing an umbrella. They will protect you from the rain but again, can be bulky to carry. If you feel you must have a brolly, you can buy a cheap brolly in London and donate it to another traveller when you leave.
What to add to your packing list for London in winter
Below is a list of the essential items I would pack for your London winter adventure.
- Waterproof coat
Pack a longline waterproof coat (to your hips or below) with a hood. London has an average of 14 rainy days in December with an average rainfall of 58mm. Be prepared with a waterproof coat!
- Long sleeve tops or tees
Perfect for layering over vest tops or short sleeve tops. Pack a mix of warm jersey and easy to dry cotton tops.
- Thermal tops and leggings
Thermal clothing is perfect to layer under trousers and long-sleeved tees on particularly cold days. However, unless you’re heading out of London to explore the rest of the UK, I wouldn’t pack these just for London unless freezing temperatures were predicted.
- Sweater Dresses
These are perfect to wear with thick tights (pantyhose) and long boots and are both stylish and practical.
- Waterproof boots
A good pair of waterproof boots are essential. Ensure they are comfortable before you travel as you’ll do a lot of walking during your trip. You don’t need wellies or gum boots, just any waterproof boot is fine.
- Socks/Pantyhose
Pack thin socks that can be worn in layers rather than super thick wooly socks. A warm pair of tights/pantyhose can double as socks or leggings.
- Hat/scarf/gloves
These are essential for sightseeing in comfort during a London winter. I recommend fleece or other lightweight fabrics that are light to pack and easy to wash and dry.
Don’t forget to include the following items
- 2/3 pairs of trousers/jeans. Jeans are everyone’s favourite item but remember jeans can suck the warmth from your legs and can be hard to dry when wet.
- Underwear/bras
- Nightwear
- Accessories to dress up your capsule wardrobe such as earrings/necklaces, etc
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Toiletries
- Toothbrush
- Toothpaste
- Dental floss
- Moisturiser and lip balm for cold days!
- Cleanser
- Make-up items
- Deodorant
- Hairbrush/comb
- Feminine hygiene products
- Shavers
- Nail file
- Tweezers
- Nail scissors (only if you’re bringing checked bags, not carry-on)
- Washcloth (you won’t always find these in hotels in London, so if you use one, you’ll need to bring your own).
Medication
It’s always a good idea to create a basic first aid kit to travel with. Make sure it includes band aids/plasters, blister plasters, antiseptic wipes, headache medication, rehydration sachets etc.
Don’t worry if you forget anything though as you’ll find pharmacies such as Boots throughout London.
If you take prescribed medication, make sure you carry enough medication for the entirety of your trip. It’s a good idea to carry copies of your prescriptions with you in case you need replacements or if questioned at customs.
Packing Tips
- What luggage do you recommend for a trip to London in winter?
I recommend buying luggage that is easy to carry up and down London’s steps and escalators. Make sure you’ll be able to carry it on and off transport, especially if you’re planning to leave London to travel around the UK via car or train.
This set of luggage is proving very popular following our UK Travel Planning podcast episode with Alison Liscum. There was a lot of interest in our UK Travel Facebook Group after Alison shared a pic of her London Fog carry on luggage.
- Should we use compression packing cubes?
100% yes! I love compression packing cubes and always use them now when I travel. We each have a set to keep our clothes separate, organised and they’re easy to unpack and store.
Enjoy your UK trip!
Follow our tips in this article and you’ll be fully prepared for packing for your winter trip to London.
If you are visiting London in spring, summer or autumn I have a packing post that covers those seasons too – The Ultimate UK packing guide.
If you are still planning your trip, take a look at our London Planning Map plus our London Travel Guide and itinerary Planners bundle.
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