backpack travel in london

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Backpacking london: all budget travelers need to know.

London is an expensive city and certainly, one of the most pricey I have visited so far. Though, even with such incredible price tags it still remains a hotspot with young travelers doing their European OE. In this backpacking London travel guide, I will let you in on all the top things to do in London, the best attractions, where to sleep, eat and more!

London is such an interesting place full of many different types of people and amazing sights. Walking down the streets you will be absolutely surrounded by history.

Though, being located in the infamously expensive Western Europe region you can be sure that if you have not done the correct research London might not only steal a part of your heart but a decent portion of your savings as well.

If this is your first time visiting you may find the city a little overwhelming. There are plenty of interesting sights, though entry fees can add up fast. Feeling a bit peckish? Well, you can’t just step into the nearest restaurant hoping it will be within budget.

London is certainly a place where research pays off, literally, and since you are reading this backpacking London post you are certainly on the right track!

Backpacking London- Everything You Need To Know!

How many days to spend in london, cost per day to travel in london, where to stay in london, getting around london, where to eat & drink in london, safety in london, things to do in london.

London is an absolutely massive city so you could spend weeks here and not experience more. Though, while saying this, it is unlikely your budget will ultimately allow you long enough to take in all the incredible sights and hidden local highlights. The first time I visited I only managed to spend 48 hours in London .

Therefore I recommend spending anywhere from three days to one week exploring. However, if you just have one day in London there are still plenty of things to do so you can make the most of your time.

It’s difficult to know exactly how much money you will need when traveling London as it will differ greatly depending on your travel style. Where you stay, eat and explore will largely effect it, especially as the British Pound is so strong against many other currencies.

Overall, I spent between $55.00 – $90.00 / £43.00 – £70.00 per day when backpacking London. The cheaper range eating at Tescos, enjoying the sights from the outside and walking to get around, and the higher budget eating in at cheap restaurants and taking the tube to explore further afield. I stayed at St Christopher’s Inn- London Bridge in their cheapest dorm room. It wasn’t anything special, but it provide a decent bunk bed for the night. Though, I will go into more detail on how to explore London on a budget so you can save as much money as possible, allowing you to travel longer!

London is an incredibly sprawling city that just seems to be expanding by the day. There are so many different areas you could stay which can get a little overwhelming when figuring out where to stay in London . Though, assuming you are a first-timer to London, looking to get the most out of a short stay and experience many of the sights, your best option is Southbank. As well as this you will need to figure out whether hostels, hotels or Airbnbs in London will suit your travel style best.

Here are my top picks for the backpacking London travel guide:

Getting From The Airport to London Central

London is a massive region and has one of the busiest airports in the world. In total there are six different airports serving London which are Heathrow , Gatwick , City , Southend , Stansted, and Luton . Thanks to excellent public transport it makes it relatively easy to travel from these airports right into London Central.

Each airport provides different transportation options including a variety of trains, the tube, taxis, or buses. I recommend checking out the links above depending on the airport you are flying to/from to figure out what would be best for you. Just remember to leave with plenty of time to spare as traffic in London can be horrendous and delays on the trains and the tube are extremely common.

Traveling Within London

I highly recommend downloading the offline map of London on the Maps.Me app for your cell phone. Either way, London has an excellent public transport service allowing you to easily get between your destinations efficiently and quickly.

Luckily for those travelers on a budget, London is a relatively flat city, especially in the center, allowing the perfect terrain for walking. Strap on some comfortable shoes, though as it can be quite some distance to travel between attractions.

For example, from the Tower of London to the London Eye is about 45 minutes away and from the London Eye to Buckingham Palace is another 30 minutes walk away. The attractions in London can be quite spread out so prepare yourself for that, though you will be saving a lot of money than by taking public transport.

Another thing to that into account if deciding to walk around London is the weather. Make sure to check the weather reports for the day to make sure you don’t get stuck in the rain, having to jump over puddles, and hide under the corners of buildings.

It’s a bucket list item for many to take a black cab around London, though they are not always black. They are easy enough to hail from the side of the street, just make sure that their taxi light is on to show they are available.

This might be an affordable option if you are traveling with five people as you can split the fare and it does not cost any more/less depending on the number of people. Though, if you are a solo traveler or with a friend, this will not be the best option.

The London underground or tube is a network of trains that cover the city. It is actually the largest underground rail network in the world making it the perfect way to travel between destinations. Even with its vast size, it is still great for first-timers in London and you can get free maps from any of the stations and most tourist offices.

It is very easy to figure out how to get between stations thanks to these well-designed maps, though be aware that it is not a scaled map and therefore stations can appear closer than they really are. Though, be aware that during rush hours the tube can become extremely busy which often causes many delays, over 500,000 people use the tube to commute to and from work!

You can use an Oyster card (local transportation card), or your credit card to purchase a ticket at the station. All are extremely easy to do and thanks to the free maps it is simple to work out which trains you need to get on for your destination.

The only thing when taking the tube is to be aware of pickpockets who like to spend their days on overcrowded trains. Wear your backpack on your front to deter any theft and keep a close eye on all of your belongings.

Top Tip: Take the tube to Holland Park during May to see Bluebells in London

They are perfect if traveling short distances as they are actually quicker than taking the tube. Though, for long distances, they are the slow option thanks to heavy London traffic. There is plenty of hop on hop off sightseeing bus tours which is the perfect way to explore the city on a beautiful day.

Unfortunately for many tourists you cannot purchase a bus ticket on the bus, or find ticket machines at the stops. Therefore you must have either an oyster card, travel card ticket, bus pass, or a contactless bank card. If you plan to spend a decent amount of time in London and use the public transport system a lot then the oyster card is a great choice. If not, you can always use your contactless credit card, though just be aware of foreign bank charges which can add up.

From high-end restaurants to delicious markets and streetside eateries, there are so many options when eating in London. Wherever you are staying you will be able to find something, from cheap eats in Soho to incredible restaurants in East London .

No worries if you have dietary restrictions you will be spoilt for choice with gluten-free, vegetarian-friendly, and vegan restaurants in London . Though unfortunately for us many of them are not budget-friendly, especially when you add in the ‘not necessary, always pushed’ tip.

These are my top picks, all tested and tried, for backpacking London:

Cheap Food In London

London has such a delightful selection of different food, though if you are a backpacker on a budget it is unlikely you will be able to afford it all. Rather you will often find yourself at one of the London supermarkets , grabbing an affordable bite. We would commonly visit Tescos to purchase their ‘meal deals’. Also, head there just before closing to buy items that have been reduced down for a quick sale. There are plenty of Tesco Express all around Central London, and if you have a kettle in your accommodation that can provide a cheap meal, keeping your budget as low as possible.

If you cannot resist hot and healthy food your next best option will be to hit up one of the markets. Borough Market is located in Southbank and not too far from London Bridge. The food here is not as cheap as markets in Greater London, though if you are in the city center this is a great option. A bustling hub of such a variety of cuisines you will find something delicious no matter what you are craving!

British Dishes You Must Try

There are plenty of dishes you must try when in Britain, though if you are traveling further outside London I would recommend waiting until you try them as prices will be lower in more local areas. Either way, you must try some scones and English tea, it is the perfect way to spend an afternoon. Then for dinner find a local pub and get the fish and chips with vinegar!

London is a relatively safe city to explore, though just like any place it is best to be knowledgeable and aware of your surroundings at all times. Unlike in many countries, cars drive on the left, so make sure to double-check traffic before crossing.

Muggings are rare in London, though, on occasion they do happen. Always try to be in a group, especially a night, to keep safe. During the weekend you can also find plenty of drunk people wandering the streets. It is always best to ignore them to avoid any trouble.

In terms of scams you should always be on guard in quite touristy areas and remember if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Also, be conscious when withdrawing money, making sure to hide your pin and discretely putting away your cash.

London city center is full of amazing activities and attractions which will keep you busy for days. Whether you enjoy a spot of shopping, experiencing some history, doing something unique by checking out the dark tourism sites in London , or want to see a view from above, this city has something for everyone. For something more off the beaten track be sure to check out the non-touristy activities in London .

The city is huge as well so the majority in this list and quite focused on the center. Though be sure to check out a local’s opinion on the best places to visit in London if you have more time or want to get away from the tourist spots.

The London Eye

The London Eye is a must on your London bucket list ! This gigantic Ferris wheel on the South Bank of the River Thames is Europe’s tallest Ferries wheel. It is also the most popular paid attraction in the entire United Kingdom. It stands 135 meters tall with a wheel diameter of 120 meters.

Unfortunately for us, this popular ‘must do’ does it come cheap. Costing $37.00 / £28 on the day, though if you are prepared you can book tickets online at a slightly cheaper price. Though, luckily for us, it does not cost to look at and appreciate this awesome Ferris wheel.

The Shard is an integral part of the London skyline and is a must-see when in London. Also referred to as the shard of glass, London Bridge Tower and Shard London Bridge this impressive feat of architecture was designed by Renzo Piano. Standing at nearly 310 meters tall, it is the tallest building in the UK, the tallest building in the European Union, and the fifth tallest building in Europe.

You can go up The Shard to appreciate the views with tickets costing $41.00 / £31 on the day. Again, you can save money by booking in advance online.

Buckingham Palace

Located in Central London, Buckingham Palace is a popular to-do on any tourist’s first visit to London. This is one of the best free things to do in London , perfect for backpackers on a budget. The official residence of the Queen the doors are opened each summer, usually between August and September, for a glimpse into life at this historic building. If visiting on one of the tours you can marvel at the impressively decorated staterooms, the Throne room, grand staircase, fine art, and a special exhibition that changes each year.

If you aren’t interested in a tour or just want to admire Buckingham Palace from the outside makes sure to time your visit with the popular changing of the guards. Happening at 1pm each day make sure to arrive at least 45 minutes early to snag a good spot. Just be aware that the time can change and it’s best to visit their website to check for any changes.

Palace of Westminister (Big Ben)

The Palace of Westminister is one of the most historic buildings in all of London. It is the meeting place of the House of Commons and House of Lords, which make up the Parliament of the United Kingdom. This is where many laws were created, which many other countries applied to their legal system as well. If you are a bit of a history buff and interested in the legal system the Palace of Westminister is a must-visit.

Though even if you don’t visit for historical reasons, it is still well worth it for the impressive architecture and to get that famous photo of Big Ben. Located at the north end of the Palace of Westminister it stands 96 meters tall and was once the largest four-sided clock tower in the world.

Tower of London

The Tower of London is one of the most popular places in London and should be on the itinerary of any first-timer backpacking London. It is a historic castle founded all the way back in 1066 with the Norman Conquest of England. Located on the north bank of the River Thames it is extremely easy to get to and among all the action of London. It is made up of several buildings set within rings of defensive walls and a moat.

If you wish to enter the Tower of London tickets cost $35.00 / £26.80, though you can buy them cheaper online (this also will save you queuing on the day to purchase tickets). If you are on a tight budget and don’t wish to go inside it is still well worth visiting to walk around the outside of the grounds and admire the impressive castle complex right on the river. You can always photograph London sights from the outside for free, perfect for that awesome Instagram shot!

Tower Bridge

Tower Bridge is just one of the many iconic sights around London which are a must-visit when in this city. A combination of bascule and suspension bridges, it was built over 8 years, from 1886 to 1894. Crossing over the River Thames it is freely available to both vehicles and pedestrians. Perfect for those people backpacking London on a budget with tickets needed.

Though if you are wanting to go inside the bridges twin towers and high walkway, there is an admission charge which is just $13.00 / £9.80! It is certainly one of the more affordable sights to visit in London.

St Pauls Cathedral

Sitting at the highest point in London is St Pauls’s Cathedral. Another integral part of London’s skyline, it is one of the most famous and recognizable sights of the city. Standing 111 meters high it was the tallest building in London from 1710 to 1967. Nevertheless, the dome and spires have dominated the skyline for over 300 years.

You can visit this impressive and historic cathedral with tickets costing $23.40 / £18. Though, even if you decide not to go inside, it is certainly worth visiting, just to appreciate the beauty of this impressive structure.

Any Questions? Let me know in the comments!

Want more England inspiration? Check out…. CITIZENM TOWER OF LONDON REVIEW: A HOTEL FOR MODERN TRAVELERS

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. So, if you click on it and purchase something, I get a small percentage at no extra cost to you. As always all opinions are my own and your support is much appreciated.

Tasha Amy is a true backpacker at heart and has been discovering the world on a budget since 2015. Based in Gisborne, New Zealand she will spend many months each year traveling overseas as a solo female traveler before coming home and sharing her adventures online with you.

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• United Kingdom
• Western Europe

A Guide to Backpacking in London [UPDATED FOR 2024]

Nic Hilditch-Short - Last updated on August 16th, 2024 at 1:23 pm

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London, like Sydney and Auckland for British Backpackers,

London, like Sydney and Auckland for British Backpackers, is ground zero for that backpacking around the UK and quite often those on working Holiday Visas from Australia. It can be an expensive place to visit but the countless unique experiences that greet the 30 million international visitors each year are well worth the cost.

It’s a busy hive of activity, culture, history and opportunity for those willing to jump in head first! It’s also a great starting point for visiting the UK as a whole and is also surprisingly family-friendly for those backpacking families too.

How Much Does Backpacking In London Cost?

Backpacking in london: top things to do in london, top things to do in london for backpacking families, budget tips for backpacking in london, where to stay while backpacking in london, backpacking in london travel tips, london transport information, final thoughts on backpacking in london.

London is expensive! There is no way around that, in fact, compared to the rest of the UK it is practically its own economy with “London Wages” being a thing and sheds costing more to rent than an entire 4-bedroomed house up north!

It can be a hard place to visit as a backpacker on a tight budget, just like Australia and New Zealand it is a harsh reality check from the free and easy feel of travelling around Asia. Here your money just doesn’t seem to stretch quite as far as it did before but the good news is there are plenty of free things to do and lots of hidden gems in London that are very budget-friendly.

Visiting expensive countries on a budget is always a challenge. It can be stressful trying to fit everything into a tight financial situation! You’re desperate to experience all there is to do but at the same time, you’ve got to eat and have somewhere to stay!

Budget wise, you can get by on around £60-70 a day by staying in a hostel with free breakfast, cooking meals in the hostel in the evening, riding the tube and walking as well as taking advantage of the free or cheap activities London has to offer!

That’s a lot of money for most backpackers! That kind of budget in Southeast Asia could afford you a nice hotel, restaurant food, tuk-tuk rides and a tour!

Having said that, whilst it might not be the cheapest way to travel in E urope, visiting London is a must-do.

London has a ton of epic places to visit whilst backpacking, many of which are great for those on a budget. Here I will rundown some of my favourite spots to visit.

Walk Along The Thames and Westminster Bridge

Nothing beats a stroll along the Thames, taking in the mixture of historic and modern buildings that make London the incredible city that it is today. From the imposing Tower Bridge to the space-age Milellium Eye the banks of the river of the capital are a sightseeing haven and a hub of activity at all hours. Start over at the Tower of London and walk down past City Hall and finish at Westminster Bridge where you can take in the iconic Big Ben! It’s also possible to do some cheap boat tours along the Thames too!

Head up The Monument

The Shard might cost a fortune and the Millenium Eye might not seem worth the outlay, but where else do you take in great views of London? From a-top The Monument that’s where a perfect budget option for backpacking in London!

For only £6 you can climb the 300+ steps up the monument to the Great Fire of London just across London Bridge (Yeah the one that burnt down in the song!) Here you combine great value, history and exercise too! The views from the top down the river and over the city are unbelievable!

Visit the Museums

Many of the city’s museums have free permanent collections open to the public to view. From the famous dinosaurs of the Natural History Museum to the priceless works at the National Portrait Gallery and even the Rosetta Stone at the British Museum can all be seen for free! Amazing!

Some of the museums with free entry to their permanent collections are:

The British Museum, National History Museum, Victoria & Albert Museum, The National Gallery, Science Museum, Tate Modern, Museum of London, Imperial War Museum, Horniman Museum and Gardens, National Maritime Museum, The Wallace Collection, National Portrait Gallery, Tate Britain, RAF Museum, British Library and many more .

Explore Camden Town

Camden is the alternative heartland of London, full of fun and quirky markets, independent shops, record stores, clubs, bars and restaurants. It really is a cool place to hang out, grab some food, catch a band, have a drink by the locks or just people-watch!

There is also a lifesize statue of Amy Winehouse here too! For those backpacking in London, it’s also a hub for hostels too.

See The Changing Of The Guard at Buckingham Palace

Visiting the inside of the Palace is an expensive outlay, however, you can stand and watch the Changing of the Guards for absolutely nothing! You don’t need to miss out on what we British do best just because you’re on a budget, no, you can still take in that pomp and circumstance!

Taking place in the Buckingham Palace forecourt at 11 am daily from May to July and on alternate days for the rest of the year. You can also catch the same ceremony at 11 am (10 am on Sundays) daily at Horse Guards Parade. For anyone backpacking in London seeing the palace and the guards is a must-do!

Wander the Parks

London has some incredible parks and gardens right in the busy city centre that are pure escapism from the bustling machine that is London. Not only are these green spaces a perfect place for a wander in nature but many of them contain their own particular stories of history and culture as well as well-maintained gardens and public artworks too.

Hyde Park is a popular large park with its memorial to Princess Diana, a lake, a rose garden and an easy-to-reach central location. You can also visit Speakers Corner, an area of the park set about in 1872 for free speech. Each day people gather here to listen to speakers demonstrate anything and everything. The spot has been the site of Suffragette protests, anti-war movements and even impassioned speeches by Vladimir Lenin and Karl Marx! 

Other popular parks include Regent’s Park with its boating Lake and outdoor sports facilities. Then there is Richmond Park with its wild deer. Or St. James Park close to Buckingham Palace where we got engaged!

See Westminster Abbey and St Paul’s Cathedral

Visiting the inside of Westminster Abbey and St Paul’s is again pretty expensive on a tour.

Westminster Abbey’s roots date back over 1000 years with the current building being mostly from the 1500s. It’s a magnificent and awe-inspiring site of Gothic Architecture. It has to be one of the most important buildings in the city, especially to our Royal Family where 16 royal weddings have taken place as well as being the resting place for 8 prime ministers, 16 monarchs and the unknown warrior.

Heading inside for a tour will set you back a considerable amount but it’s not only free to take in the spectacular building from the outside but it is in fact free to attend a service as long as you are quiet and respectful.

Again on a similar note, it is free to take in the wonderful St. Paul’s cathedral from the outside as well as attend a service. The famous domed building has been a feature of the London skyline for 322 years with the site being in use for well over 1300 years as a church! It’s been home to the wedding of Diana and Charles as well as the funerals of Winston Churchill, Admiral Nelson and our course our late Queen.

Sample Some of The Local Products At Borough Market

 Borough Market is London’s best food market offering flavours from around the world, as well as fresh local cuisine and all within a stone’s throw of Big Ben! It is also mostly undercover so it’s a great thing to do on those rainy London days! A warren of lively passageways and alleys the historic area has been home to a market since the 12th century with the current building dating back to the 1850s.

Of course with kids in tow things can get a little more expensive but we’ve met plenty of backpacking families on our adventures around the world and thankfully London is one of the most family-friendly UK holiday destinations. Despite its reputation as a big, busy and bustling city, it is actually a great destination for families with lots of fun activities for the kids that are also enjoyable for all age ranges too!

Buy A Combination Ticket For Madame Tussauds and The London Dungeon

The kids will no doubt want to visit the fun attractions of Madame Tussauds and The London Dungeons! From mixing with celebrities and royalty to exploring the Great Plague and the gruesome side of the capital’s history they are both a lot of fun!

However, for those on a budget they can run quite expensive, especially for a whole family! But a trip to London wouldn’t be the same for the kids without visiting these two classic attractions so purchasing a combination ticket which will often also include other attractions around the city too is a great way to save!

Search for Harry Potter on Platform 9 & 3/4 And Explore the Magical Warner Bro’s Studios.

If your family loves Harry Potter then London is the place to come! For those on a really tight budget then you can take one of the Cheap Harry Potter walking tours to see all the filming locations around the city. Not only that but you can head on over to King’s Cross Station and see Platform 9 & 3/4 and pose with the disappearing luggage trolley!! There is also a Harry Potter shop nearby styled as Ollivander’s wand emporium! 

For those whose budget stretches a little further kids and adults alike can visit the enchanting Harry Potter World at the Warner Brothers Studios. Here you can step into iconic sets, see many of the intricate original props and costumes as well as see some of the special effects and artwork that went into creating the films.

Have a Blast At The Diana Memorial Playground

Inspired by the story of Peter Pan with teepees, pirate ships, musical instruments and a sandy beach this is one of London’s best free playgrounds. A fitting tribute to the late Princess allows kids to get lost in their imagination and have a real adventure in Kensington Gardens.

See The Mummies At The British Museum & Dinosaurs at the National History Museum!

The British Museum and the National History Museum are two of the many free-to-visit museums in London (permanent collection). Here the whole family can be inspired by some of the most mesmerizing and fascinating historical artefacts!

Seeing real-life mummies and towering dinosaurs is bound to be a memorable day! Another great feature of these museums is their family activity days usually each week which feature interactive games and workshops! There are also activity trails around the museum, activity backpacks and even free art materials!

Take a Dip in The Serpentine Lido

Everyone loves to cool down on a hot and sticky London summer’s day and the kids especially love a swim. This family-friendly and historic Lido is a cheap and fun day out! Not only does it feature the main pool but it has a paddling pool, climbing frame, sandpit and lawns!

V&A Museum of Childhood

Another great museum to visit is the V&A Museum of Childhood in Bethnal Green. It houses the largest collection of childhood objects in the UK. The museum is dedicated to allowing young people to explore items designed by and made for children.

The collection compromises toys, costumes and memorabilia dating from the 1600s to the present day! It’s a wonderful trip down memory lane for the adults whilst the kids can learn how previous generations of children entertained themselves as well as having a go themselves! 

Visit the best football stadium in the world!

Ok, so I am super bias here, but you can’t come backpacking in London without visiting a football stadium, after all, it is the main religion in the UK! As an Arsenal fan, of course, I recommend heading to the Emirates Stadium. You can take a tour or how about grabbing some tickets to see the Arsenal Women in action (because let’s face it, you’re not getting tickets to see the fellas any time soon unless you’re loaded!).

Our Favourite Backpacks

Osprey Farpoint/ Fairview

We’ve used the Osprey Farpoint / Fairview for all our backpacking adventures over the past 5 years and highly recommend them!

The main area of the pack opens like a suitcase, which is great for using packing cubes to keep everything organised and they even come with a detachable day pack!

Stay in a Hostel, Couchsurf or AirBnB

Staying in hostel dorms is a must for backpacking in London and it is unfortunately still very expensive for what is usually pretty bog-standard accommodation. It can be a real disappointment after the incredible hostels that are on offer in Southeast Asia and Eastern Europe but unfortunately, with the astronomical property prices in London, you don’t get much for your money here.

Having said that though it is worth doing some thorough research and considering which areas of the capital you do stay in. Paying a little more on the train or a fraction more for better quality accommodation with kitchen facilities can save you in the long run and make for a better experience.

Couchsurfing is also a great way to visit the capital for free. You might get a few nights here or there staying with a local who can not only save heaps of money but that local insight can be priceless too! It’s also good to have a local contact too if you’re planning on sticking around for longer.

Staying in an Airbnb with a local family too is another great way to save accommodation costs as there are often some real bargains to be had. You could also find somewhere within commuting distance and have access to that local knowledge too. I know this is something we’ve done in Melbourne and it resulted in work and friendships over time!

Make Sure Your Accommodation Has a Kitchen and Breakfast

A great way to save is to be sure your accommodation includes a free breakfast so you can fill up in the mornings without splashing out again. This is especially great if the breakfast is a buffet where you can potentially go up multiple times and then skip lunch!

Another money saver is to get accommodation with a kitchen which is quite common in hostels. This way you can visit the local supermarkets (Aldi and Lidl are great for those on a budget as are ethnic shops, avoid Waitrose!) and cook your own food!

Stay Out in The More Local Areas Of The City

As we mentioned before, central London is VERY expensive! If you spread out a little into some of the suburbs or even the home counties if you are planning on living here for a while then you can really save on accommodation. Transport is expensive too and that has to be a consideration too especially in commuter towns but it is well worth investigating. It’s also a nice way to see some of the more local areas around the capital and discover the communities there too.

Eating and Drinking in London

Eating out in London again can be bloody expensive! Restaurants charge a fortune and even those that are part of a chain will have separate inflated prices for the capital! However, visiting the smaller local cafes and takeaways is where you can really get a bargain.

Just like with supermarkets, ethnic takeaways are usually a lot cheaper. They can usually be found more in local areas of the city where there are certain ethnic communities rather than in the centre of town. A kebab, fried chicken, pizza or a chip shop is a great way to fill up on a budget!

Check Out The Free Activities & Low-Cost Things To Do in London

London has a lot of free activities and low-cost things to do and many of them are frankly better than the expensive things and offer much more culture such as heading up The Monument rather than The Shard!

Check out our list of free and budget activities further down in the post!

Buy An Oyster Card and Also Walk… A Lot!

London transport is amazing and covers everywhere you might ever want to go! Get an Oyster and make the most of it and explore all corners of the city! Also, try to walk as much as you can to save on Tube fares but also to see so much more, especially within central London! If you’re backpacking in London then you best get used to walking and using public transport!

Best Budget Backpacker: Wombat’s CITY Hostel – London

The best hostel in London by far! With a great free breakfast, a bar, kitchen facilities and a central location alongside spacious and well-presented simple rooms it’s epic!

• huge lockers that fit a big bag in!
• 750 yards from Tower Bridge
• Keycard access

Best Mid-Range Option: Inhabit, Southwick Street

This cosy but modern hotel is the ideal place for a backpacking couple wanting some privacy. It’s got a cosy and historic feel being located inside a boutique townhouse.

• 15min walk from Oxford Road
• Gym, Peloton bike, infrared sauna, yoga classes
• Pets allowed!

Best Family Option: Kings Wardrobe Apartments

Here you’ve got enough room for a family, a full kitchen and it’s in a super central location. Each apartment also comes with private bathrooms which is important for travelling families.

• Located near St Paul’s Cathedral
• Great location with good transport links

Check Out More Options Here:

The Best Time Of Year To Visit London

London can have wild weather year-round but generally speaking, it can get very cold in the winter and uncomfortably hot in the summer. London might not seem as hot as Sydney or Melbourne for the travelling Aussies but with thick old brick buildings, tiny windows and hardly any air conditioning it can be sweltering especially on the Tube! Similarly in the winter, it can often drop below zero and snow isn’t uncommon!

For us, the best seasons to come to London are early Autumn and lake Spring when the weather should be warm and fine and the crowds not too crazy to deal with!

Summer can be manic with visiting tourists as can Christmas time! Whenever you visit you should always pack for all weather and especially rain!!

Backpacking in London: Getting In And Out Of London

London is one of the best-connected cities in the world and is served by 6 airports (Heathrow, Gatwick, City, Stansted, Luton, Southend) with Heathrow being one of the busiest in the world! All the major airports are well connected to the city via the Tube, Buses, Coaches or Trains.

However, do consider that getting from Heathrow to Central London on the Tube can be quite costly and using a National Express Coach (book beforehand) is a better budget option. 

Find Your Flight To London Here:

London is also the hub of the British Railways with many different stations covering every corner of the country. You should check which particular station your service leaves from and also be sure to book well in advance. The cost of train tickets in the UK is famously astronomical, however, booking 3 months before your departure can often result in some great prices. There are also a few other tricks like split ticketing that can be employed to get around the high prices as well as getting a railcard.

With Eurostar, the UK is also connected via rail to mainland Europe with regular services to Paris, Brussels and Amsterdam from St. Pancras International Station. 

Book an Alternative Travel Experience with Trainline

Book Your Cheap Train Tickets Here

Train travel is the perfect way to get around, but in some places, especially the UK, it can be expenisve!

Get yoursef on Trainline for cheap tickets! They offer tickets across the globe, so it’s easy to book and organise your trip and have it all right there on your phone before you go.

I have also found it to be the best place for getting cheap UK train tickets too.

A great budget option for backpacking in London and the UK is to take a National Express or Megabus. These buses again cover pretty much every corner of the UK and leave from Victoria Bus Station several times a day. You can even get international buses from here too.

The buses/ coaches offer really great prices though they will take a lot longer than the train (think between 5-7 hrs to Manchester rather than 2.5). If you search early enough or catch a special deal it’s possible to get a fare for as low as £1! You can also get a National Express coach card for lower fares if you will be travelling often.

Book Transport

Best Place to Book Other Transport Options

If you’re looking for another option for transport, specifically booking Ryanair, Easyjet, National Express or Renfe then Omio are another super reliable company especially when travelling in Europe.

Transport Within London

London has a world-class system of transport that is all linked to the one ticketing system: The Oyster Card (Oh how I wish we had something similar in Manchester where not even all our buses are on the same system!)

Once you buy your Oyster Card you can use it on the London Underground (The Tube), the buses and the Light Railways. Recharging your Oyster rather than buying single tickets is much more cost-effective. Another thing to bear in mind is that London buses don’t accept cash anymore, but you can pay on your card.

Using The Underground is by far the best way to get around the city with the many routes spreading to all corners of the capital and being interlinked at many points. The simple and easy-to-follow map shows interchange stations, routes and lines as well as zones where the fare increases with distance. Some routes also now operate for 24 hours a day!

London also has a great cycle rental system where they can be paid for by the hour. However, London isn’t the most cyclist-friendly city like many in mainland Europe so do bear that in mind!

London Cabs are also a great but expensive way to get around. The classic black Hackney carriages can be seen everywhere and can be hailed down, unlike minicabs. Uber is also another way to catch a ride around the city.

Don’t Forget Your Travel Insurance For London

Whilst London is a super safe place for backpackers, it’s always wise to have comprehensive cover before travelling, even if that is domestic travel. They can put you up in a hotel if you need to stay any longer if you or your partner falls ill and of course, cover any medical fees or repatriation costs.

Safety Wing Travel Insurance

The Best Insurance for Nomads

No one likes buying insurance, but equally everyone hates skyhigh medical bills! Get yourself covered so you can enjoy your trip worry free!

Here at The Roaming Renegades we love Safetywing Insurance because it’s designed for nomads, you can buy it when you’re already abroad and it’s kickass!

Click the button below to get a quote on your insurance provided by Safetywing.

So there you have it. Hopefully, my post has gone some way to prove that backpacking in London is not only possible but can be hella fun. With the sheer amount of epic things to do and places to stay, it’s a backpacker hub that is often many people’s first experience of our home country, the UK. Whilst we always encourage visitors to get out and see the rest of the country, even as Northerners we do love London and for sights and vibe, it’s hard to beat.

Have a great time on your backpacking trip to London and remember, you’ll have to come up north and say hi if you want to get some proper fish and chips, not like that Southern muck!

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Hey! I’m Nic, one-half of The Roaming Renegades.

I have a passion for travel, photography, heavy metal music (particularly Rammstein), Arsenal FC, gaming, mountaineering and pugs (Dooku RIP & Billy)

I have a BA in Fine Art and an MA in Design & Art Direction before I started galavanting around the globe! So far, I’ve been to 68 countries in 5 continents.

I’ve spent 2 years travelling around Southeast Asia including travelling the length of Vietnam twice on a motorbike, visiting off the beaten track locations such as Myanmar and Brunei and seeking out adventure opportunities along the way like canyoning, climbing and mountain hiking.

I’ve also spent 6 months exploring Eastern Europe, again visiting more unusual places such as Moldova, Kosovo, Ukraine and the breakaway state of Transnistria. I’ve visited all but 3 countries in Europe whilst both backpacking and using the UK as a base to explore Western Europe.

I have also lived in Australia and New Zealand for a total of over 3 years whilst doing Working Holiday Visas. I called Melbourne and Christchurch home during this period and explored both countries extensively whilst using these as bases.

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13 comments

We went to London for the first time this year and it’s definitely not a cheap city to visit, but it was so worth it. We loved visiting the museums and walking around the beautiful parks. The public transport is awesome and we didn’t even need to buy an Oyster card since we had a contactless credit card. I’ve never tried backpacking, but you have some great tips for people who love backpacking 🙂

I have been to London. My first time was this past April, actually. It was a great time to go because the weather was still cool but not downright cold. We happened upon great weather as it was during that three-week pattern where a front was holding off the rain. We got lucky as we only had drizzle two days in 3 weeks! I agree with your tips for saving money. We did stay in an Airbnb and it was away in a local area and not in central London. We took the train in and flew out. Our place had a kitchen and we did experience smaller, more local places to eat!

It’s good to see there are plenty of free and cheaper things to do while in London. My family would LOVE to do all of the Harry Potter experiences! It’s on the bucket list. I’ve always wanted to visit the National History Museum as well.

I love London! Such a big city with endless opportunities of things to do! One thing you mention that I have always wanted to do while visiting London and haven’t had the time to is visiting platforms 9 and 3/4! It looks like such a blast and as a Harry Potter fan, this would be surreal.

Fantastic post on the city I work in, which I dub the ‘tourist trap capital of Euroland’. 🙂 – not a cheap city to explore, eat and drink in and this post is a great guide for those who want to do it on a budget. However, people who come to use the Underground and other public transport, they may not need to buy a oyster card (still recommended) as the system uses contactless, but what tourists are forgetting is that there is a transaction fee on top of the journey. So this will cost more. Eeekkkkk…only discovered this when friends from China and Belarus came over last week. So guys, buy Oyster and if you got money at the end of the trip, take it to the ticket office in the underground and get a refund 🙂 I am just blabbing now 😛

This is a very detailed and well-written post about London. Thanks for sharing. I had visited London on an official trip some years back and missed out on some of the things so I definitely want to visit again and explore some more.

Thank you! Yeah, London is always somewhere where there is more to see and always a reason to go back!

If only these sorts of detailed guides were around when we first visited London! Spent a small fortune and husbands still refused to return. Love the tip about the Serpentine Lido – they definitely don’t cope well with warm weather!

Thanks! Yeah it’s not always easy to find information as many guides just go for the big tourist attractions that are so expensive!

I purposely avoided London when I was backpacking because it was so expensive! Thanks for these very detailed tips. I’ll be heading back to London next year so this guide will be very useful.

It’s true that London is expensive and my backpacking days are long gone, but there are plenty of things to do for free. You can just entertain yourself walking around, window shopping or going to free museums… I remember getting lost in the tube many years ago, I’ll do better next time!

I have always kept London aside as I feel everything is so expensive in London – right from the visa to food to accommodation to transport! But I am so glad to know these cheaper options and I can actually afford to go!

I love London!! Thanks for sharing. This post is helpful for me.

Backpacking London: London On A Budget Guide 2024

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London is on many people’s travel bucket lists- and rightly so, the city is incredible.

But it seems expensive, right? Is backpacking London possible? Can you visit London on a budget?

These are questions I had before visiting London. As a budget traveller, I want to travel as cheaply as possible.

It turns out it is possible, and this guide will teach you exactly how to save money on a London trip.

Backpacking London

London is known for being an amazing city to visit, and that’s why millions of people visit London each year.

I spent 2 days backpacking London, and I can say with certainty that London is without a doubt worth visiting on a budget. It seems a daunting task, but it’s easier than you think when I break it down.

During my trip, I spent approximately £120 which in my opinion is very very reasonable for London, at £60 per day . Especially considering I include my return flight price in this. Comparing this to how much a “normal” person would spend on a trip to London, I was pretty happy with the outcome.

To help you understand where my money was spent, here is my budget split into 4 categories.

Immediately, you can see that a hostel in London is extremely expensive for a bed. Compare the £30 price to the £1-2 hostels you can get backpacking Southeast Asia , and it’s night and day.

My activities expense was one single purchase, but I would recommend it in a heartbeat: London Hop-on Hop-off bus tours . There are so many landmarks and sights to see in London that makes it one of the few cities I actually recommend using the hop-on hop-off buses.

But let’s go into further detail on how you can save money while backpacking London!

How To Get To London On A Budget

First off, in order to reach London on a budget, you need to be somewhere in Europe. If you live outside of Europe, I recommend visiting multiple places in Europe at once to make those long flights worth it. As London is definitely worth visiting, but I’m not sure if it’s worth 2x 10-hour flights to spend 3 days in.

From Europe, you can reach London pretty cheaply. There are always cheap flights to any of London’s airports (there are 6) but make sure you get one closer to the city itself rather than Luton, for example. SkyScanner is a great tool to use to find the best price for a flight.

It’s essentially Google, but for flights. It’s a flight search engine and it allows you to find the best deals. If you can be flexible with your dates, you can often find flights for £30 or less from cities like Dublin (as I did), Paris, Rome and loads of places in Europe.

➡️Use SkyScanner to find the best prices for your flights to London or anywhere else around the world you plan to fly to.

Another option for reaching London is to take the Eurostar . The Eurostar is a train which runs underneath the English Channel and connects mainland Europe to London by train. You can go between London and Paris, Amsterdam and Brussels. If you are Interrailing, the Eurostar is included in your Interrail pass, meaning it could be a great budget option.

Where To Stay While Backpacking London

Finding the right part of London to stay in is crucial to saving money while visiting London on a budget. I always say that accommodation can save or break your budget and this couldn’t be more true than about London.

If you stay in a hotel with a view of Big Ben, you’re spending at least £200 a night whereas if you opt for a hostel near Hyde Park.

As a backpacker, you will probably want to choose to stay in a hostel. One of the biggest differences between a hotel and a hostel is the price, and you want to keep it as low as possible.

In my opinion, the best hostel in London is Astor Hyde Park , the dorm beds are pretty cheap (for London). Mine cost £30 but they can go as low as £15ish. Definitely value for money, as it’s rated 8.9/10 on Hostelworld. The hostel was also voted as the best small hostel chain, so you know you’re in for a good stay.

If you are a couple or family, or if hostels aren’t for you, you may wish to simply stay in a budget hotel. Again, the area is crucial here. I suggest staying in the Alexandra Hotel . It’s usually about £100 a night, which seems a lot but compared to the £200-£1000 hotels elsewhere in the city, it’s not too bad. For the money, it’s definitely a good option too.

➡️ Best budget-friendly hotel in London: Alexandra Hotel . ➡️ Best hostel in London: Astor Hyde Park

Where To Eat While Backpacking London

The trick to saving money eating while backpacking London is to eat like a local. You won’t find a Londoner paying £30 for lunch, it’s more likely to be about £5 maximum.

There are two main options in my opinion: meal deals, and Greggs.

Meal deals are a great way to save money. You pay £3-4 and get a sandwich, snack (chocolate bar etc) and a drink . Most shops sell them like Tesco, Asda, Spar, etc. and they’re usually quite tasty too. You can’t go wrong with a meal deal.

Greggs is another amazing option, and you should definitely try it at least once during your trip. You can get 2 sausage rolls for £2.20 and they are absolutely delicious. There are other tasty things on offer too such as pasties, bakes, and more. Greggs is one of the UK’s most loved things , and you’ll see why when you try it. Wow!

As for dinner, it’s just a case of not going somewhere too fancy or too expensive. If you find a pizzeria or something, you’ll probably spend £10-15 per person which is a pretty universal price in my opinion.

Or you may want to try Fish and Chips. I recommend trying this at least once while in the UK! As someone who grew up having a “Chippy” once a week, you’ll love what you try. The prices are pretty similar to those above and you will probably pay about £10 each . Again, not too bad. You can choose a sit-in chippy or a takeaway, it doesn’t matter, they’ll both provide the same delicious food.

How To Get Around London On A Budget

As I said in the introduction, I recommend using the London Hop-on Hop-off bus tours to get around the city and see all of the main landmarks. While parts of London are walkable, there are simply too many things to see.

Sure, you can walk from Big Ben to Downing Street as it’s only 5-10 minutes, but can you walk from Buckingham Palace to Tower Bridge which is a 1 hour and 7-minute walk? Probably not.

That’s why buying tickets for the London Hop-on Hop-off bus tours is a good idea. There are over 50 stops and it passes by and stops at all of the main tourist attractions. It allows you to see quite literally everything a tourist could want to see in London.

You can even see London in a day with these buses! But I would recommend buying a ticket for the duration of your stay as it will allow you to get around London as well as see all of the main tourist attractions.

That’s the biggest benefit, it combines transport with sightseeing tours. It really is the best option.

🚍 Book your Hop-on Hop-off bus pass now to see ALL the attractions and get around London on a budget.

10 Free Things To Do In London

Of course, when backpacking London, you’ll want to do some free activities. So here are 10 free things to do while visiting London on a budget:

1) Watch the changing of the guards: The changing of the guards is quite the spectacle and I would encourage anyone visiting London to watch this performance. At 11 am every other day, there is an incredible performance outside Buckingham Palace and it’s truly amazing. You can find out more information here .

2) Listen to Big Ben’s iconic chimes: Big Ben is actually the bell inside the clock tower and its chimes are something London is famous for. The bell has quarter bells every 15 minutes and of course, strikes each hour. It’s a truly special sound and if you are from the UK, you’ll recognise it as the sound on BBC news.

3) Visit the British Museum: The British Museum is one of the top things to do in London and it’s completely free. In my opinion, it’s one of the best museums there are, and I would definitely recommend visiting. Even if you aren’t too keen on history, there’s something fun for everyone to learn at the British Museum.

4) Take a free walking tour: A free walking tour is something I suggest doing anywhere in the world, particularly when you visit for the first time or are visiting on a budget. It’s a great way to see some famous sights, learn a bit about the city and meet new people. I use FreeTour and although it is free, I do encourage you to tip your guide, but £5 would be enough.

5) Sit in the Houses of Parliament Public Galleries: The Public Galleries are seated areas in the Houses of Parliament from which you can observe the proceedings of the government officials. Tickets are not required for general debates and it’s completely free for UK and foreign residents. Something quite unique!

6) Step inside Westminster Abbey: Westminster Abbey is a beautiful church and you can step inside completely free of charge. It is a functioning and active church though, so make sure you check if it is open to the public before going in. There are so many iconic things that have happened in the church such as the wedding of pretty much any Royal Family member.

7) See the screens in Piccadilly Circus: Piccadilly Circus is London’s version of Times Square and it’s a great place to people-watch. The electronic advertising screens are fascinating and you can spend a good few minutes simply watching the adverts.

8) Enjoy a free busker show: London is packed with buskers and there’s always such a wide variety. There are magicians, singers, and even comedians. If you walk around central London, you’re never too far away from a busker. Some of them are actually quite good and definitely worth watching and enjoying.

9) Go statue hunting: There are tons of statues around London, both of real people and fictional ones. It’s up to you what you go after but all I’ll say is there are amazing statues of Mr. Bean, Paddington Bear, Mary Poppins, Bugs Bunny and more in Leicester Square…

10) Enjoy a walk through St. James’s Park: One of my favourite things to do in London, which just happens to be free is to take a walk through St. James’s Park. Not only are the walks and paths surrounded by beautiful greenery, but there is also an abundance of extraordinary wildlife. There are ducks and geese, pelicans, and even wild parrots. And you can feed them!

Backpacking London: Top Tips

And of course, how could I be a backpacking site without giving you tips about backpacking London. There are lots of general tips for how to travel on a budget but as with everywhere, there are some tips which can be specifically applied to London. Here are 6 top tips:

Use the hop-on hop-off buses: The London Hop-on Hop-off bus tours are the perfect combination of transport and sightseeing. You can use the service for both and it’s more than worth the money.

Tips are not mandatory: Although it is a nice gesture to tip exceptional service, tipping in the UK is not mandatory or expected the way it is in America, for example.

You still need travel insurance: This is a case of spending money to save money. You won’t want to rack up a huge hospital bill if something goes wrong, so make sure to buy travel insurance. I always use SafetyWing and recommend it to anyone travelling.

You can drink tap water: Tap water in the UK is completely safe to drink, and you can save a good amount of money this way by having a refillable water bottle and not paying 3-4 times a day for bottled water.

Take the bus from the airport: Regardless of which London airport you land at, the cheapest way to reach the heart of London will be by bus. The best company to go through is National Express .

Don’t stay too long: As London is so expensive in terms of accommodation, you don’t want to stay longer than you need. I suggest 2 days is the right amount of days in London .

Backpacking London: FAQ

I spent about £60 per day while backpacking London. Hostels are more expensive in London than in other parts of the world and you can expect to pay up to £30 for a bed in a decent hostel.

The best hostel in London is the Astor Hyde Park hostel, where you can expect to pay between £15-30 per night for a bed. It’s highly rated and in a good area.

Yes, of course. It’s a little harder than elsewhere in the world but it’s definitely possible. I spent £60 per day while backpacking London.

I recommend budgeting about £80 per day in London. I spent £60 per day but that was pretty hardcore. London is expensive and for this reason, I wouldn’t stay more than a few nights.

Backpacking London: Conclusion

And there you have it, a complete guide to backpacking London.

Visiting London on a budget is easier said than done, but hopefully, this guide will leave you feeling confident about how to save money and have an affordable trip.

London is amazing and if you follow my tips, it’s definitely possible to spend less.

Have a great trip and I hope you enjoy London 🙂

Josh Band is the founder of A Backpacker's World. He is a full-time traveller currently on a mission to visit every country in the world. As a full-time traveller, Josh knows exactly how to make the most of any trip and shares these tips with his readers. Josh mostly travels as a backpacker on a budget, so he is also an expert when it comes to getting the most of your money while travelling.

The Only London Packing List You’ll Ever Need: 35 Essentials

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Figuring out what to pack for London can be a REAL struggle.

With such variable weather in the UK, sometimes you’re stuck wondering whether you’re going to need your bikini and board shorts in June or your parka and leggings (this is slightly extreme, but you get the picture).

As someone who has lived in London for the past 9 years, I’m pulling together this London packing list to help you prepare for all eventualities, including what to pack for London in the winter, what to pack for London in the summer, and everything in between.

This packing list for London will be incredibly useful to someone who is

a) a visitor to London for a short period b) a study abroad student in London wondering what to pack for your semester or program abroad c) expats to London who are coming from very different climates and trying to assess which clothes to bring with them (as someone from Florida, I can relate to this!)

Now, let’s get into what you should bring to London for the adventure of a lifetime…or at least so your feet don’t get cold.

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Start your planning with this “Intro to London” guide and access to my London planning Facebook group!

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The Absolute Must-Knows (from a Londoner)

• 😍 Cheapest Way to See it All: Get the London Pass here (yes, it’s worth it)
• 🎭 Cheapest site for West End theatre tickets: London Theatre Direct
• 🚕 Cheapest and most reliable airport transfer service: Welcome Pickups
• 🚉 Cheapest Way to Book Train and Bus Tickets: Omio
• 🔌 Most Reliable Adapter for UK Plugs: This one

Hey! Want more honest UK tips and planning advice? Click here to join my London and UK Travel Tips Facebook group , where I can answer more of your questions!

🛎 Still looking for somewhere to stay in London?

My favorite hotel in London for all visitors is the Strand Palace ( click here to check prices ). ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Check out the YouTube channel for more London tips

London Packing List Essentials

You know the things you pack in your carry-on so you can still have a good trip and not completely fall apart should the airline lose your luggage?

The stuff that is ESSENTIAL and oh-so-important and will make your trip either a success or an awkward story about the time you lost all of your luggage and then cried in London for two weeks?

Yeah, that stuff.

These are the top tier requirements for your London packing list that I want you to drill into your head now so you don’t forget them!

IMPORTANT: are you coming to the UK from abroad?

In case you’re reading this from outside the UK and will be a foreign visitor here, you need to know these 2 things to stay safe and save money.

• Travel insurance – you need it when going overseas! I use this site to get the best quotes and purchase my packages from. Do not skip this – having medical coverage abroad as well as other coverage in case of missed flights, lost luggage, etc is essential. As I said, I have never gone wrong using this site .
• International debit cards without fees – do not get stuck paying extortionate foreign fees when using your card abroad (and the UK is almost all card these days). I use the Wise debit and travel card which you can apply and learn more about here .

1. Umbrella or some type of raincoat

I’m not suggesting that it rains in London every day.

In fact, I’m not suggesting that it rains in London as much as you think it might rain in London.

That being said, the weather in London doesn’t always act like it’s predicted to.

And when the rain comes, it might not be a deluge type of thunderstorm rain, but it can be a misty, constant, annoying rain.

This goes for all seasons!

With that in mind, I would suggest that one of the first things you pack for London is either a small umbrella like this one that you can pack up tightly and put in a backpack, or a waterproof coat like this one (it doesn’t have to be a dedicated raincoat).

This ensures that you’re always covered, quite literally, and you don’t have to find yourself sitting in Trafalgar Square trying to eye up where you can run for cover.

After all, the British way is to “keep calm and carry on,” and that includes when it rains.

2. Converters

When bringing electronics such as laptops, phones and cameras over to the UK, it’s important to make sure that your electronics are either capable of handling the voltage of the UK, or that you pack a converter which will convert the UK voltage into the voltage your electronics require.

There are some cases where you just shouldn’t plug an American item into a UK socket (more on that below in the What Not to Pack for London list), but for things like your laptops and camera, just do your research beforehand to figure out whether you do or do not need a converter like this one .

In today’s day and age, converters are mostly a thing of the past as most electronics are built to handle both the UK and other voltages, but like I said, do your own due diligence to double check the labels beforehand.

3. Adapters

Regardless of the voltage your electronics can take, you’re definitely going to need an adapter for everything you want to plug into a wall in the UK.

This is because UK sockets are shaped differently from sockets around the world and have their own design.

My favorite types of adapters are the ones you can use for lots of countries like this one .

The beauty of having ones like these is that you don’t have to keep buying specific adapters wherever you go.

If you take a day trip to Paris from London, boom – you’ve got the European adapter.

If you happen to buy something in the UK and then want to use it in the US, boom – you’ve got an adapter .

Remember that you’re going to need these for each plug you have to plug in, so don’t just pack 1 for a family of four – bring plenty so no one is stressed over not being able to charge their phone before leaving for the Harry Potter tour.

4. Good Walking Shoes

While London is not a “walkable” city in the same way that somewhere like Malaga or Bruges or Oxford is a walkable city (meaning you can basically walk everywhere), there is still a LOT of walking to be done in London.

In fact, it’s mostly how we get around – sure, we use public transportation, but once you get off and on at tube stops, work your way to bus stations, etc, you’re still using your feet quite a lot.

And on nice days, walking is one of the best ways to get around central London.

Sure, you might not want to walk from London’s East End to Kensington in the west (it would take hours!), but you can absolutely walk from Hyde Park to the Science Museum or from Churchill War Rooms to Southbank or from Soho to Covent Garden.

What does this mean for your packing list for London?

It means you need some EXCELLENT walking shoes .

They don’t have to be a stereotypical walking shoe, if you don’t want.

You don’t have to rock the Sketchers all the way around town (though more power to you if you do).

You simply need a shoe that feels comfortable on your feet for many miles.

You should have broken them in first before getting to London, and if possible, they should be an all-weather type of shoe like this one .

5. Underwear and socks

Back to the “essentials to put in your carry-on in London list” – um, don’t forget your underwear.

At least a couple of pairs.

What underwear you wear is not my business or problem, and I would highly recommending exploring London with clothes on, so London’s not going to care what you’ve got going on underneath either.

Just don’t forget to pack it in your carry-on, because I’ve almost done that on a ski trip before and was really contemplating how I was going to find underwear for less than like $100 on top of a mountain and it wasn’t great.

So, yeah – underwear!

What to Pack for London in the Winter

Winter in London is one of the only times that the weather is pretty much guaranteed – it’s going to be cold.

Not Arctic cold, but cold.

And probably grey.

And probably rainy.

And definitely dark because it gets dark at like 4pm in the winter and you spend your whole day begging the sunshine to come out, but it hates you in December and so just doesn’t.

Or something like that.

Anyway, your London packing list in the winter should include the essentials listed above, as well as…

6. Winter coat

You need a warm coat to visit London in the winter.

Londoners typically wear dark colors, but I say go for whatever color you prefer because life’s too short to be in all black all the time.

I prefer peacoats like this that are good for going to plays or afternoon tea in London , going to work and just general commuting and living life, but for the really cold days, consider a jacket like this that is windproof, waterproof and super warm so that you don’t feel frozen to your core.

7. Waterproof shoes

I cannot recommend a good pair of waterproof shoes enough.

Guy has some like these , and I’ve got my eye on some like these , but they seriously are a great idea for the winter when you’re more likely to encounter wet and damp.

The reason these work so well is that you don’t have to wear a separate pair of shoes or boots, like rain boots, in order to deal with the weather.

You can simply incorporate them into your existing outfit and, wallah – dry feet!

When the weather outside is frightful, the boots on your feet are so…delightful.

Packing a pair of boots for London in the winter is always advisable due to the cold and slush and general dreariness that’s possible.

You don’t need like full on hiking boots, but a pair of fur-lined boots like these are always a great idea, or possibly a fashionable pair of knee high boots for going out at night like these.

Scarves are such a fashion statement AND a practical accessory in London.

Add a loop scarf like this to your London packing list – I use kinds like these and they are super cozy around your neck and really easy to travel with because they serve as good neck pillows on trains and planes and are easy to take off and on with one hand.

If you’re more partial to a more traditional scarf, try a super soft one like this .

10. Winter Hats

Especially if you’re walking around all day, having a hat to keep your head warm in London is a real necessity.

You can opt for any style you want, though I do mean something more like a knit hat like this one as opposed to your wildest west cowboy hat.

I like a slouchy one like this , while Guy prefers tighter beanies like this one .

Whatever you choose, make sure it keeps your ears warm as the cold can be really biting, especially if you’re walking along the water.

11. Leggings

People, leggings are where it’s at.

You can wear them by themselves if you choose dark, thick pairs like these ones or these ones .

Or you can use them as extra insulation under your jeans, which I am ALL ABOUT.

Get a thinner pair like these that will keep your legs warm while also not making you feel like a bloated whale.

12. Comfortable hoodie

To be honest, while I know London is a fashionable place and most people are going to be walking around with more trendy or fashionable winter wear, there’s something about a slouchy, comfortable hoodie that really comes in handy when you’re just lounging around your accommodation or want to pop out to the store or something similar.

I love these hoodies like these with cool designs and usually get them in a size up so they’re cozy rather than fitted.

13. Vitamin D pills

If you’re coming to London for a long time in the winter, bring some Vitamin D with you!

The sun really doesn’t shine all that much, and when it does it’s not for long.

This can lead to a Vitamin D deficiency, so if you’re here for a couple of weeks or longer and prone to things like Seasonal Affective Disorder, it can’t hurt to have some on hand.

We use this kind from Amazon .

Things to Bring to London in the Spring

Spring is an interesting time to pack for London because it could snow in April or you could have an amazingly warm day in March – it’s sort of all up to the UK weather gods, and unfortunately I haven’t been able to get in touch with them yet about how to regulate the temperature better.

This means that you should come prepared for a wide variety of weather, which is easily accomplished with layers!

14. Cardigans

A cardigan is the perfect item on your Spring in London packing list due to the easy ability to put them on and take them off.

You’re not committed to wearing it the whole day if you don’t want, and you can get thin or thicker ones depending on the month in Spring you’re going (erring towards thinner ones in late April/May and thicker ones in late March/April).

I love ones like these that are chunky and cozy for the early Spring ones, and ones like these that are much lighter for the later Spring months.

Also, they can pair with loads of outfits, and they’re versatile in how you wear them so you can create multiple different outfits with the same cardigan.

That is a bonus for packing light!

15. Long sleeve t-shirts

Spring is still a great time for long sleeve shirts – they are easy to layer with adding a scarf, sweater, or cardigan, or you can just wear it on its own if the weather gets warmer.

Guy prefers more plain long sleeve shirts like this , while I go for something like this to add a bit more color while still being cute.

16. Short sleeve t-shirt

In Late Spring, short sleeve shirts will allow you to really have the ultimate wardrobe flexibility!

You can layer almost anything on top of it, or strip down to just the shirt and enjoy the sunshine.

Get a pack of moisture wicking shirts like this that will dry quickly if you are traveling for a long time and don’t have time to wash your clothes anywhere except the hotel sink.

17. Capris or Jeans

As for your bottom half, long pants like jeans are still very much worn in London in the Spring.

This isn’t a tropical climate where you’re going to be hit with incredibly warm temperatures every day.

Like I said, it has snowed in April!

If you want to prepare for a warmer spring, bring some capris to give your ankles a bit of room to breathe.

18. Light Scarf

By the time Spring is in full swing, you can leave the chunky knit scarf at home and instead opt for a light scarf like this one that will add that extra bit of oomph to any outfit.

19. Tights and dresses

You can start breaking out the lighter dresses like these ones to enjoy the spring months in London.

Dresses like these with loads of bold patterns aren’t necessarily the norm, but you can either dare to be different or keep it a bit more floral/plain with dresses like these that will help you blend in with every other Londoner on the streets.

I would recommend wearing tights with dresses all throughout Spring in London, unless you’re in a heatwave.

That being said, Brits tend to dress more formally than Americans so even in a sweltering summer, you’ll still find some people that won’t ditch the tights at all!

20. Comfortable hoodie

I tend to dress more casual, and I find that hoodies are the way to go on colder Spring nights.

Look out for a comfortable hoodie like this one for nights spent chilling on a balcony somewhere, or opt for a more dressed up look like this for a night on the town.

When Spring has sprung in London, a comfortable pair of flats in addition to your walking shoes will be a godsend given the cute dresses and jeans you’re planning on wearing.

The problem with flats, for me, is how they can really tear up your feet if you walk in them all day.

For that reason, I recommend ones like these that put comfort first, and ones like these that roll up easily so you can fit them in your suitcase without taking up all the space.

London Packing List for the Summer

Whether you’re visiting London in August , coming to London in September or visiting earlier in the summer, you’re going to be in for a wild ride of London summer weather.

Sometimes, it’s rainy and cold and you need a coat.

Sometimes, it’s so hot and there’s no air conditioning that everyone basically sleeps with their windows open and ice packs in their beds.

So, as you can imagine, putting together a London packing list for the summer can be a real struggle.

I would still recommend layers and keeping your options open, but here are some of the must-haves.

22. Short sleeve shirts

Finally, London in the summer means you can usually wear short sleeve shirts (at least underneath a cardigan or other layer if you need to).

Break out the graphic tees, break out the colorful prints, break out the skin because summer might last only a day so might as well make the most of it!

Okay, so Londoners don’t really wear shorts.

Even when it’s really hot.

However, that being said, there is also no air conditioning in most of London or England because why would they need air conditioning when the heat doesn’t last for a long time?

Except, as a visitor to London, I feel like you should embrace your favorite shorts if that’s what you want to do to stay cool – I certainly do in the summer and I have a full time job I have to go into and THANK GOD it’s casual enough that I can get away with it, because otherwise all of my skin would melt off on the Central Line.

Keep it a bit more formal with shorts like these, or rock some denim like its 1995 with shorts like these .

For another way to enjoy London in the summer, add skirts to your London packing list.

They’re great for going out in the evening when you don’t want to wear jeans or long pants, and perfect for enjoying some time in the parks while letting the breeze pass you by.

25. Dresses

Break out some adorable summer dresses like this one or this one to really embrace summer in London.

Bonus – dresses look great in Instagram shots if you’re hoping to impress all of your family and friends back home, and they give everything room to breathe (and they will also expand to fit the giant portion of fish and chips you just ate).

26. Lightweight tights

As I mentioned, Londoners often prefer to wear tights under dresses even in the summer, so if you want to fit in, get yourself a pair of sheer tights like these ones or lightweight tights like these ones that won’t make your legs sweat but will make sure you don’t have a Marilyn Monroe moment while walking over a storm grate or something.

27. Long pants

Okay, so summer in London isn’t ALL ice cream and sunshine.

There will be some colder days as well, and perhaps some colder days, so wear long pants on the plane or train as your travel clothes and then use them during your trip if you need to.

People recommend all different type of jeans like these and hiking pants like these, but I like just a pair of dark pants like these that go with a lot of outfits and aren’t too hot.

Flats are another essential part of your London summer packing list – choose a bright and colorful pair like thes e to go with your new dress, or opt for a more subtle black or brown look like these ones to pair with a more sophisticated ‘going out’ outfit.

The great thing about flats are that they’re also not bulky, so you can put them in your luggage no problem.

29. Sandals

Summer in London of 2018 was one of the hottest on record, and basically all of the fashion rules went out the window.

While I wouldn’t typically recommend sandals for walking around London, on the hottest days, you should really invest in some comfortable sandals like these that will let your feet breathe.

Like, no, you shouldn’t be wearing your favorite Mickey Mouse crocs if you want to blend in, but a more subtle sandal might be the difference between losing your mind or not on a really hot London summer’s day when the air is still and the air conditioning is nowhere to be found.

30. Sweaters for night

Again with the layers – pack a few lightweight sweaters like these ones to pair with jeans and flats if you need to in the evening or on colder, rainy, days.

What to Pack for London in the Fall

Want the ultimate London packing list for the autumn ?

Lucky for you, I’ve got a whole post on the topic you can access by just clicking here !

What Else Should You Include on Your London Packing List?

In addition to the clothing items and essential things to bring listed at the beginning of this article, there are some other things that I would make sure to include on your packing list for London to make sure you have a great, comfortable, time.

31. Travel camera

Trust me, I know phone cameras are amazing nowadays.

You can basically create works of art just from an iPhone and I am ALL for that.

That being said, if you are someone who likes to scrapbook your experiences or print pictures from your trip instead of just posting them to Instagram, don’t forget to bring a more professional camera than your phone.

My husband uses this one , and the picture he’s able to take with it with just a few changes in the settings are truly amazing – night skies with stars shining brightly, gorgeous sunset photos, and architecture photography that really captures the essence of what it means to be in London.

This isn’t something for everyone – if you’re happy taking pictures on your phone and sending them to grandma, then that’s absolutely your call – but if you do want to branch out a bit and try to get some even better photos of London, don’t forget to pack the camera!

32. Travel backpack

I don’t care who you are in London, student, businessman, the Queen – you’re probably carrying around a backpack (okay probably not the Queen but I bet she would if she were allowed).

Backpacks are the easiest way to carry your belongings around if you’re going on more than a couple hour trip.

I carry one into work every day, and take it with me wherever I go, even if I’m going out to dinner or a show or an event afterwards.

When you’re traveling, you want a backpack that you can use both as a carry-on on the plane and as a travel backpack while in London.

Because of that, I want to recommend a couple of different European travel backpacks I know and love that should not only go on your London packing list, but be an integral part of how you actually pack your things!

First up is this one – this is the one I use to take to work every single day.

I like it because there are a ton of different designs and it’s pretty cute.

It’s also small enough to not feel unwieldly when I carry it around, but large enough that I use it as a “place under the seat in front of you” carry-on just fine.

The one thing it does lack is compartments on the inside – it’s mostly just an empty cavern with a few pockets internally and then the smaller compartment on the outside like on most backpacks.

This works for me, but maybe not for you if you prefer endless pockets and zips in your backpack.

If you do want one that’s a bit more organized inside, check out this one .

33. Compartment suitcases

Packing is an art form, and packing for London when your hotel room or AirBnb is probably going to be smaller than you’re used to (what can I say, it’s a big city on a small island), you’re going to want to pack as efficiently as possible.

That’s where these compartmentalizing packing cubes come in handy!

Before I started using these, basically everytime I packed it was a real roll of the dice as to whether I’d be able to find my pajamas without throwing every single thing out of the suitcase and onto the floor.

Now, I keep separate compartments for separate types of clothes and items, which makes it way easier for me to find, gives me more space when I get to where I’m staying, and sort of just makes me feel like I have my life together.

34. Portable charger

In addition to your regular chargers and the extra adaptors you need for your phone to be charged in the UK, I would highly recommend carrying around a portable cellphone charger like this one .

Essentially, with all of the use your phone will likely get – from looking up directions to possibly taking photos to WhatsApping your friends back home to show them that you’re in front of Buckingham Palace and HA HA THEY ARE NOT – you’re going to want some extra support in keeping it charged.

These things are lifesavers when you’re running out of battery and still halfway through your day with no chance to go anywhere for a long period of time to charge your phone.

They’re easy to shove in your travel backpack, and ones like these are even small enough to keep in your pocket so you can charge your phone while it’s in your hand!

35. Passport holder and extra copy of passport

Do not forget an extra copy of your passport, in full color, on your packing list for London!

If you find that you lose your passport while here, you’ll be so grateful you have a copy as it will help you get a new one faster.

In addition to that, finding somewhere safe to keep your passport is essential, so I would recommend buying a dedicated passport holder like this one that makes it way easier to get track of and less likely to get shoved to the bottom of a bag somewhere.

There is no fear quite like the fear of losing your passport, so take note!

It goes without being said that you should include things like your toothbrush and deodorant on your London packing list, but I do want to address toiletries to let you know that you can easily find shampoo, conditioner, soap, toothpaste and other toiletries in London.

Head to somewhere like Tesco or Sainburys and boom – you’ve saved yourself having to pack your toiletries in your luggage and worry about fluid limits.

What Not to Pack for London

Certain items can and should be left at home when you’re packing for a trip to London.

I mean, basic things like: don’t actually take the kitchen sink and also you won’t really need to take your scuba diving gear with you.

But also things that you might have thought you needed and you don’t, like…

Tank tops or swimsuit

This is a very specific one, but unless you love swimming and are determined to swim while in London, there’s no point in bringing a bathing suit because you’re certainly not going to swim in the Thames – gross!

I would also leave your tank tops at home in the summer unless you use it to layer underneath other clothes.

The weather often isn’t hot enough to wear tank tops or spaghetti straps by themselves, and even when it is, it’s not the most London-suitable clothing items.

I’m not saying you don’t need a hair dryer in London, I’m just saying – DON’T BRING YOURS!

The voltage on an American hair dryer isn’t compatible with the UK voltage and you could start a fire if you plug yours in in the UK.

It’s not worth the potential damage to your life, your accommodation, or your hair dryer.

Instead, buy a cheap one there from somewhere like Boots or ask ahead to see if your accommodation has one there.

Hair straightener or curling iron

Same thing with a hair straightener as above – don’t bring yours because it could start melting after being plugged in in the UK and ain’t nobody got time for that.

Outdoorsy stuff

London is wonderful, but unless you have some day trips planned to other places, you don’t need your hiking boots and survival kit.

It’s a big city, and while the parks are beautiful and spacious, you can appreciate them in your regular clothes – fear not.

Money belts

When I first moved abroad, I was convinced that everyone was out to get me.

And of course I think you should keep your belongings safe in London , but I really wouldn’t bother with a money belt in London.

I am in London every day of the week and have not worn a money belt and have never had anything stolen.

London, like every other big city, has its own issues and of course you always need to keep an eye on your belongings, but leave the money belt at home.

Want more London travel guides? Check these out!

• Getting around London: Everything a Visitor Needs to Know
• Weather in London: a Visitor’s Guide
• The Best Time to Visit London: a Local’s Guide
• London on a Budget: How to Save Money in London
• Money in the UK: How to Pay for Things in London
• Exactly How Many Days to Spend in London: an Expert Guide
• What to Wear in London (How to Dress Like a Londoner)
• British Pub Etiquette: the must-read guide
• 49+ Expert London Travel Tips
• Visiting London with Anxiety: the ultimate guide

UK Travel Planning Guide: the FAQs

🏥 Should I buy UK travel insurance?

Absolutely yes. Basic coverage is not expensive, and as a visitor you are NOT covered under the NHS. Compare policies and prices with Travel Insurance Master here , a big name in the travel insurance business, and cross that off your list.

🔌 Do I need travel adapters for the UK?

Yes, you do, otherwise you won’t be able to plug in your electronics/phone/lifelines. I recommend this one , which is all-in-one so you can use it in other countries.

🚗 What do I need to drive in the UK?

The first thing you need to check out if you’re planning on renting a car in the UK is this guide to driving in the UK for visitors – the roads, signs, and driving experience will likely not be what you’re used to and it’s essential to prepare yourself to stay safe and aware.

🛌 What’s the best way to book hotels in the UK?

For UK hotels, Booking is the best site as it offers free cancellation on many properties. If you want an apartment, I always recommend VRBO over AirBnb.

📳 Will my phone work in the UK?

Yes – if you set it up right. Check out my guide on making your foreign phone work in the UK to ensure that you get the type of service you need.

🚿 Can I drink the water in the UK?

Yes, UK water is great and perfectly safe. But drink out of taps in any kitchen or use water fountains. Double check before drinking out of the taps in hotel bathrooms, though, as they may be on a different system. London water is safe to drink .

Heading to London? Want the best tips?

Check out my Ultimate Guide to London for Visitors. Using text, images and video, this guide is packed full of tips, tricks, safety advice, knowledge on how to get around and what to do, and more!

Moving to the UK or already an Expat?

Grab my book which covers moving to the UK, struggles I faced and that you might face too, and uplifting advice to help you along the way! Available in hard copy and on Kindle.

2 thoughts on “The Only London Packing List You’ll Ever Need: 35 Essentials”

Nice article. I just wanted to point out that dual voltage hair dryers, curling irons, flat irons, etc. are available these days on Amazon. Of course you’ll still need an adaptor for the plug which the hotel will usually provide. You can also order British plugs and hard wire them to your dual voltage appliance (my husband does this for me).

Hi Gail, thanks so much for sharing your experiences!

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Complete Packing List For London 2024: 17 Essentials + PDF

Growing up a short hop from London, I’ve taken many trips to the country’s capital and have got my packing list for London down to a work of art!

I’ve spent incredible long weekends here for all sorts of occasions, and my go-to packing list for London is narrowed down to the essentials.

With this in mind, I wanted to share exactly what I think is essential when packing for a trip to London, to save you precious time that should be spent planning your days out here rather than fussing over what to bring!

As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. We also earn from other affiliate programs. This means we may receive a small commission on products purchased through our links at no extra cost to you.

This London packing list is also perfect for visiting other cities and parts of the UK and is designed for visiting London and the UK at any time of year (I’ve made it clear the items that are more suited to summer or winter!)

The truth is that when you visit the UK you’ll probably need to be prepared for pretty much any weather, so it’s good to have the option of warm or cold weather gear at any time of year! Even if you check the weather forecast religiously before you go, you should be prepared for it to be somewhat inaccurate.

I’ve seen snow in May and a heatwave in October, so being prepared is key!

I’ve broken down my London packing list so you know why each item is essential and then I’ve included the packing list as a whole below, so check out the quick guide if you’re just interested in a particular item or want to skip to the whole list!

Skip To: London Packing List Essentials

• Clothes for London in Winter
• Clothes for London in Summer
• Toiletries / Make up
• Electronic Gear
• Photography Gear
• Luggage & Backpacks
• Miscellaneous extras

Printable London Packing Checklist

• What to pack for the rest of the UK

London Packing List Essentials

I’m assuming you’re visiting London for leisure and not work, so I’ve based my clothing list on that! People in London wear a huge variety of styles, so bring clothes you feel most comfortable in with some smartish options for meals out.

Here are a few top tips before we dive into the nitty gritty below.

• There’s a lot of talk about London being a fashion-conscious capital. While everyone loves to look great while they’re on holiday, you will fit in wearing just about anything in London as it’s such a culturally diverse, economically diverse, and just about anything diverse city.
• A tip I always follow when packing for a trip abroad is to stick to mostly neutral colours . That way, you don’t have to worry about outfits working together.
• If you plan on heading out to bars and clubs you should be aware that most places have a dress code – so no trainers or shorts in the evening!
• If you want to visit some of London’s religious buildings then make sure you dress culturally appropriately too .

#1 Packing Clothes For London In The Winter

Winter in the UK is one of my favourite times of the year. It’s also one of the coldest! You can expect it to rain at least once if you’re in London for week over the winter months, and I wouldn’t be surprised if it decided to rain all week.

Don’t let that spoil your fun though, just make sure you have the right clothes for the weather packed.

• Comfortable trousers like a pair of jeans are one of the best options for London in the winter. Or if you’re a fan of skirts and dresses like I am then bring some thick tights or leggings to pair them with!
• On the top half, think layers! It can be freezing and wet outside and then as soon as you step into a building the heating will have you almost passing out! You’ll need several long sleeve shirts or tops.
• Be prepared with a warm coat that’s easy to take on and off. Think something with a zip or cute tie .
• Hoods are great if you don’t fancy carrying around a hat (and you can’t lose a hood either!) I love this cute coat with a furry hood – looks great in pics!
• You’ll want a waterproof coat so you don’t have to pack an alternative raincoat.
• Feel free to bring an umbrella but they’re pretty annoying in London’s crowds so I never bother!

Wear a few layers so that you can ‘shed’ depending on what you’re doing and what the weather’s doing!

It doesn’t usually get icy cold in London in the winter but wind chill can make it feel a lot colder than it actually is so you’ll want to have a few warmer jumpers to hand, or even better a base layer or two .

Gloves, a hat , and a scarf are essential packing items for wintertime in London.

If you’re keen on photography then get a thinner pair of gloves like these that are designed to make it easier to work small buttons and won’t interfere with your phone screen sensitivity.

#2 Packing Clothes For London In Summer

Summer in London can be variable, so as advised above – be prepared for anything!

You’re more likely to have some sunny days thrown in here and there, and there’s every chance it will be rainy when you leave and sunny by the afternoon or vice versus, so thin, packable layers are key.

The summer months in London are all about the outdoors, so think picnics in the parks and drinks outside.

On the bottom half , I like to pack pretty much what I would for winter in London, but instead of tights, I’ll bring a pair of leggings or two that I can pair with sandals in case it gets chilly.

Instead of a winter coat, I bring a warm zip-up jacket , trench coat, or jumper that I can wear as a coat and a thin rain jacket I can fit in my bag in case the weather takes a turn.

Sunglasses and a sunhat are essential London packing list items for the summertime! Try to get polarised sunglasses that give much better protection from the sun. It’s amazing how much the windows on the buildings create glare in London.

I also pack a light scarf when visiting London. You can use it as a cover-up in the sunshine during the day, a cover when visiting religious buildings, and a shawl for the evening when the temperature dips. They also look great!

As mentioned above, if you’ll be heading out in the evening bring something a little smarter to wear . The evenings are also almost always cooler than the days, so make sure you at least bring another layer out in the evenings so you don’t get cold on walks home!

#3 London Packing List: Shoes

If you’re visiting London as a tourist then you’re going to be doing a lot of walking! The last thing you want is shoes that cause you pain or give you blisters.

I would recommend you take shoes that you can use for multiple occasions. Smart enough to pair with something nice for a meal out and comfortable enough to walk around in all day. It’s a real bonus if they’re waterproof, as we all know the UK is well known for the amount it rains!

In the summer a pair of sandals that will go with a cute summer dress is a great option.

Think boots in the winter. If you want to pack light then a pair of closed-toe pumps in a neutral colour will go with most outfits and can be worn in most weather! Avoid suede which will ruin in no time in the puddles!

Women, I know it’s tempting to go for something with a heel but in the daytime especially you might really regret it. The pavements in London aren’t always the best.

You’ll be battling with cobblestones, uneven stairs, grates, and worse. Flats really are the way to go, or a small heel if you’re confident in them. You’ll thank me for it!

#4 Toiletries / Make up In The London Packing List

The things you need to pack for a trip to London and the UK aren’t that different from what you’d pack when visiting any other country.

The great thing about London is that there’s a supermarket or pharmacy around every corner, so if you forget an essential then it’s likely you’ll be able to pick it up here!

If you’re travelling with just a carry on then you don’t need to worry about taking travel-sized products – just pick up what you need when you get here or at the airport to save yourself the hassle of carrying liquids through check-in.

The only things I would advise are some decent sunscreen (for any time of year – you really never know here!) and some good face wipes or face wash.

London isn’t the worst city for pollution but it isn’t the best either, and your face will need a good scrub at the end of the day!

Packing Electronic Gear For The UK

The UK uses a 220v three-pin syste m, so if you’re travelling from nearly anywhere else in the world you are going to need a travel adapter. We find these with USB ports the most practical, and always bring an extension cable for extra devices.

#6 Sim card

If you want the option to use your phone as you go then the best thing to do is get a sim card on arrival (if your phone is unlocked). The other option is to just use the free WIFI that’s widely available in hotels and cafes.

#7 External battery

It’s also a good idea to bring an external battery pack. We’ve got through a few cheap ones in our time but nothing compares to this Samsung charger . It lasts for absolutely ages and keeps phones and other electronics charged multiple times over. I can thoroughly recommend it!

#8 Noise cancelling headphones

Noise cancelling headphones are great for any city, and especially London. Traffic and late-night bars don’t go well with city centre hotels, so grab a decent pair of headphones to cancel out the sounds of the city when you’re having a cozy night in or need a decent night’s sleep!

They’re also great for long-haul flights!

I always travel with my Kindle , and London is a great city to have one at hand. It’s a bit of a joke that no one makes eye contact on the Tube, but it’s true!

Having a Kindle to stare at not only passes the time, but you’ll fit right in with the city commuters!

Top Tip: You should bear in mind that if you are travelling to England from the USA, which uses a 110v system, not all your equipment will work. Most laptops, phones, and cameras will be fine, but things like hair dryers and straighteners often take different voltages and won’t work in the UK.

You can check on the plug or in the manual to find out. Get yourself a dual voltage hair dryer and straightener to solve this problem! Then you can be sure they’ll work where ever you choose to travel.

#10 Packing Photography Gear For London

You’re going to want to capture all the great times you’re having here, and there are some fantastic photo opportunities in London, so even if you’re not a budding photographer London might just convert you! You’ll want a camera on you at all times, even if it’s just your phone.

If you’re hoping for quality photos then we have a comprehensive guide on the best cameras out there, but if that’s overkill for you then take a look at some of the best action cameras on the market.

These make great travel cameras as they’re so small they fit easily in your bag, and they take really decent photos and videos in all kinds of situations.

I always bring a selfie stick for nice photos of Adam and I, but these are also super useful for solo travel, especially if you’re like me and hate asking others to snap photos for you!

Don’t forget to bring a few accessories that will make life a lot easier for you. Spare batteries, spare memory cards , a  UV filter  for the lens, and a decent bag or case to keep it all safe. A waterproof one is a bonus!

If you’re on the hunt for an extra special location for some great photos then check out the best hotels in London with a view .

Packing For London: Bags

You’ll need two bags for your London trip – one for day to day use and one for your luggage.

#11 Suitcase

I prefer to carry my luggage in a backpack when travelling in London, because it’s so much easier when boarding public transport and it’s also easy to carry to your accommodation (if you travel light!)

Tortuga backpacks have tonnes of great travel features but the things I love most about them is the fact they open like a regular suitcase, so you don’t have to pack and unpack constantly while you travel.

You can opt for wheel bags but be aware you’ll probably have to travel up and down some escalators and on crowded tube platforms.

#12 Day bag

For the day time I also carry a backpack. Pick pockets are a thing in London, as with every city, but as long as you’re sensible with your more expensive belongings you should be fine! If you’re worried, use a decent quality lock that won’t damage or rust quickly.

We’ve put together a list for the best backpacks for digital nomads . They include the best backpacks for safety, and will cover most uses!

We love the Porter 30 for travel, which has multiple storage options including a padded laptop sleeve at the back of the bag, making it easy to remove at airport security. It also has a lifetime warranty, so it’s the perfect all-use bag!

The Matein travel backpack is a great budget option, and it has a safety pocket too.

You’re going to need your essentials, like your passport and phone! But there are a few essential London packing items you might not have considered.

#13 The London Pass

If you’re here as a tourist then I can highly recommend the London Pass . It gives you entry to most of London’s top attractions and includes a hop on, hop off bus tour too. If you plan on visiting more than a couple of attractions then this pass will save you a lot of time and money!

#14 Reusable water bottle

Bring a reusable water bottle for obvious reasons – less plastic and more money saved for you! Tap water in the UK is safe to drink and free at restaurants and cafes!

#15 Lonely Planet Guidebook

You’ll also want a guidebook so you don’t miss out on any of London’s highlights. It took me years to get one and I wish I’d done it earlier – even as a local I found so many top spots I’d never visited! My go to guidebook is the Lonely Planet .

You can also get a pocket version if you prefer to travel light!

#16 Audible

It isn’t something you can pack but I love it so much for travel that I have to recommend it here. Sign up to Audible and you can listen to Audiobooks on the go to prevent that travel boredom.

It’s perfect for long haul flights and tube journeys through London, and if you sign up using this link you’ll get a months free subscription!

#17 Oyster Card

Grab an oyster card and keep it on you at all times while travelling around London. These handy cards will automatically calculate your different journeys on the train lines and buses, so you never pay over what you should.

They are top-up cards so if you lose it you’ll never lose more than the amount on your card.

You can also use your debit or credit cards at the touch points for public transport, so don’t forget to pack these as well!

#18 Travel Insurance

After a nasty accident that could have resulted in a very expensive travel insurance claim, I vowed to remind people about travel insurance in all my travel-related blog articles.

Safety Wing offer travel insurance for backpackers. It’s an easy to understand system with everything you’re covered for listed in real talk (not lawyer talk!)

✅ You can get a quote here

Packing List For London In Summer

• Cute t-shirts or tank tops
• Knee length skirt
• Bright summer dresses
• Ballet pumps or sandals
• Light jacket
• Scarf for layering

What To Wear In London In The Winter

• Warm winter coat
• Pack long-sleeved layers
• Jumper dress and leggings
• Waterproof boots
• Hat, scarf, and gloves
• Thick socks
• Pack jeans or trousers
• Suncream + sunglasses (you do still get some nice bright days in the winter!)

London Packing Essentials For Spring

• Waterproof jacket
• Pack layers, the weather is really varied
• Cute dresses with optional leggings
• Sunglasses and suncream
• Waterproof boots (high or ankle)
• Pumps you can wear out or walk in if sunny

What To Wear In London In The Fall

• Pack a waterproof coat (something warm)
• A zip-up fleece or cardigan that’s easy to take on and off
• Dresses and leggings
• A hat and scarf

You can download your free London packing checklist here ! It’s a full list of everything you’ll want to bring when packing for that London vacation.

There’s also a section for you to add any specific personal items that you want so you can stay super organised in the run-up to your trip.

What To Pack For The Rest Of The UK

Most of the things you’ll need for visiting other places in the UK are the same as what you’ll be packing for your trip to London.

If you’re going to be sticking to England’s cities and towns then you probably won’t need anything extra, but if you want to explore England’s countryside (we highly recommend you do) then you’ll want to add in some hiking gear.

Visit Haworth in Yorkshire or the nearby Malham Cove for some incredible hiking opportunities. The terrain in the UK can be wet and muddy year-round, so decent waterproof hiking boots are a must, and a waterproof jacket is also essential.

Conclusion: The Best London Packing List

Thanks for reading! I really hope you found this packing list for London and the UK useful, and that you have the most amazing trip to London!

If you’re looking for the best places to stay in London then we’ve got you covered!

• Best hotels in London with a rooftop pool
• Best London hotels with a view

If you enjoyed this post then please do share on social media. And we have lots more travel inspiration and tips so join us on social media and our mailing list to be updated on our newest posts!

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Backpacking London on a budget: 39 Highlights + 13 Travel Tips!

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Keep in mind that London can be an expensive city. However, you can easily save money by sleeping in an affordable backpacking hostel in London! I already stayed in The Village Hostel directly at the London Bridge (they also have great capsule rooms!) as well as the Liverpool Street Hostel close to hip Shoreditch. Both were great places and excellent value for money!

By the way, in this video you can see some of my highlights when backpacking London:

Reasons why you should go backpacking in London

London is a great city that is worth seeing and a quick trip to London will never disappoint! Here are a few good reasons why London is perfect for a weekend break.

London is well-connected and easy to reach 

One of the main reasons why London is perfect for a weekend getaway is the cheap flights. With different airlines, you can fly from most cities in Germany directly and without problems for little money to London. If you want to be quite cheap, there are often Ryanair flights for just 10 € from Germany to London! But even if you do not like Ryanair, you can fly with, for example, Eurowings or Easyjet, often for under € 100 to London and back. The good thing is that for a London getaway you usually just need hand luggage, and can save yourself the extra cost (and time) of the case task.

By the way, note that there are several airports in and around London. If you use, for example, Ryanair, you will land in London Stansted – and thus about 70km outside of London. You can get to the city center either by train (about 25 €, takes less than an hour) or by bus (about 10 €, takes almost 1.5 hours). So keep in mind that you may still have to pay for these cheap airline tickets. Also, Gatwick Airport and Luton Airport are well out of the way and you should allow plenty of time to get from the airport to the city center (and back again).

The cheapest for a weekend trip to London is probably the Heathrow Airport. This is the largest airport in London (and one of the largest in the world!) And conveniently, London Heathrow is connected to the Tube – so you can get to the city center in less than an hour, for only 4.50 pounds. That seems like too long? Take the train to Paddington Station in 15-20 minutes (paying a bit more: 26.50 pounds). However, note that the London Heathrow Airport is huge. Therefore, you should look out for your terminal in advance and count with enough time.

You see, London is a great place for a weekend getaway – and if you choose the right airport, you can get to the city center quickly and cheaply.

You can experience a lot in a short time

Let’s be honest – a London weekend trip is not enough to see and visit the whole city. However, I was surprised by how much you can see and experience during such a short trip in London. Most of the sights are conveniently located directly in Central London. Much of it can even be explored on foot – Westminster, Buckingham Palace, St. Paul’s Cathedral, or the London Eye – most of London’s landmarks are central and often on the banks of the Thames. That’s why I recommend you explore a lot of London on your weekend trip on foot. So you can just let yourself drift through the streets without having to fumble one sight at a time.

Not only are you looking for sightseeing during your London getaway, but you want to use your weekend to get to know a few different neighborhoods in the city? Then why not visit the colorful streets of Notting Hill, the laid-back Greenwich or hip Brick Lane? If the weather is good during your London weekend trip, I also recommend going for a stroll through the city’s parks – in the vast Hyde Park, you’ll forget that you’re in one of the largest cities in the world!

Backpacking London can be done on a budget

London has a reputation for being an incredibly expensive city. Sure, living in London will cost you a lot of money, and it’s possible to spend a fortune during a London getaway. But it does not necessarily have to be that way. Because you can visit London for a little money! With a London getaway you will not spend much time in your room – so you can easily book easily a hostel! You can find some hostels in London, which are super centrally located and at very little cost. I personally have stayed at the St. Christopher’s Inn at London Bridge – a super cool experience! And for the food you do not have to spend a lot of money on your weekend trip. Sure, you can go to incredibly expensive and chic restaurants. But you can also eat cheap on the street and in food stalls. This not only saves you money, but also time – because who wants to spend their short trip in London only in restaurants?

If you want to spend little money on your short trip in London, I also recommend that you focus on the free sights. Sure, of course you can see the Tower of London, Westminster Abbey, and St. Paul’s Cathedral from the inside – but then you’ll have to dig deep into your pocket. Alternatively, you can also see all these landmarks from the outside, which is often no less beautiful. You want to have a great panorama of London, but do not want to spend 30 € for the viewing platform in “The Shard”? Then off to the Tate Modern – here you have a great view of the city, and it’s completely free. By the way, there are also many interesting museums in the city, such as the British Museum and the Natural History Museum, without admission fees.

You also save a lot of money if you get the London Pass in advance ! Current information and prices can be found here !

London’s nightlife is great

Fancy a party weekend in London? Then go ahead! Because the city is of course known for its pubs and pints. There are some nightlife attractions in London for your weekend trip, especially in Soho, Chelsea, and Shoreditch. And in London, you’ll find it all – whether you like to drink your beer in the pub or celebrate chic in trendy clubs. In addition, in London, especially on weekends, there are always plenty of offers – there are theaters, concerts, shows, and of course interesting musicals. By the way, tickets for musicals are also available in the West End on the day of the performance, and often for little money! Read more about the nightlife in London !

The city is easily accessible by public transport

London may look a bit big and dazzling at first glance – especially if you’re just in town for a quick getaway. However, much of the British capital can be seen in only a few days. The reason for this is the practical network of public transport. You can easily discover London by metro, bus, and even ferry. So you can visit and experience different districts of London in a short time.

Backpacking London is a great experience for everyone

No matter what you like and where your interests are – in London you will find what you are looking for. You like sights and culture? Then off to Westminster. You are a fan of the royal family? Be sure to visit Kensington Palace and take a trip to Windsor Castle. You like history? Off to the British Museum. Or do you just want to enjoy nature? Then walk through Hyde Park. A re you a great Harry Potter fan? Then off to the Warner Brothers Studios. There is something for every taste in London and you are completely flexible in making your short trip to London free.

Backpacking London Travel Tips

A visit to London is definitely worth it – because the metropolis has a lot to offer and thrills tourists from all over the world. Due to the sheer size of the city, as well as the numerous sights and attractions of the British capital, a trip to London can also be a bit daunting. That’s why I give you all the information and the best insider tips for your vacation – with these London insider tips and travel tips you are perfectly prepared for your city trip! Additionally, you can also find some more tips for London here !

Use your credit card and don’t take out much cash

While there are still a few shops in Germany that are opposed to accepting card payments (or only making this possible after a certain amount), London (or most countries in the world…) is way ahead of us here. You will be able to pay anywhere and without any problems with your credit card; with small amounts even a short touch with the card and a PIN is not needed. In some stores, it was even explicit that cash is not accepted. Accordingly, as a London travel tip, you should definitely bring your credit card with you and not withdraw too much cash – because you may not get rid of it in the end. Believe me – no matter what, where, and for how much you buy: you’ll be able to pay anywhere with no credit card problems. And you will notice how much more practical and easy life is with it.

Save money by staying in a cheap hostel or hotel

You want to visit London, but not spend a fortune on it? Then you should stay the night in a hostel – who needs a private room if you are going to be sightseeing all day anyway? I slept at St. Christopher’s Inn on London Bridge – in this new capsule hostel, you can even gain a unique experience and stay in a Japanese-style capsule. Super cool, and still a real insider tip in London! You would rather stay in a real hotel, live centrally and still not spend too much? Then I recommend the Point A Hotel with a convenient location right at King’s Cross Station.

Eat in cheap street stalls to save money

If you have only a few days in London, I advise you not to waste too much time and money on food. While you visit the city, you can eat incredibly cheap! Visit the Borough Market at noon, for example, or get cheap street food on Brick Lane. Here you save money and time, which you can use well for your London stay.

Visit the free attractions when backpacking London

As you can see, many of London’s most famous landmarks cost a lot of money to visit. So I’ll give you the travel guide to focus on the free sights while in London. This way, you can explore all the squares and parks without paying a penny. Also, I have to admit that I found some of the city’s landmarks even more interesting from the outside than from the inside!

Save money with the London Pass

You want to see many attractions and landmarks in London, but also want to save money? Then I can suggest you get the London Pass . Here you pay a one-time fee, but you get admission to more than 80 sights and attractions of the city. Among them are some of London’s most expensive and important landmarks (such as the Tower of London, The Shard, Westminster Abbey, and St. Paul’s Cathedral) – so you can save money here. In addition, you also save time and stress because you can avoid buying tickets and even skip the queue at some attractions. The price of the London Pass depends on how many days you use it. A London Pass for one day is available for 69 pounds, for two days 94 pounds and for three days you’re at 114 pounds. If you want to explore London very intensively, the pass is also available for 6 and 10 days. Incidentally, you have the option of booking public transport in the London Pass. Children pay less.

In general, the London Pass is worthwhile in any case, if you want to visit many attractions. As an insider tip for London, I recommend purchasing the pass for either 2 or 3 days so you can see the main attractions.

Visit the free museums in London

London is certainly not a cheap destination – but if you do it right, you can see a lot of the city for little money. For example, you should take advantage of the free entrance to the city’s museums. London has some of the most impressive and important artifacts in the world! Particularly popular is the British Museum (here you can see archaeological treasures such as the famous Rosetta stone) and the Natural History Museum. You rather like art? Then off to the free Tate Modern Gallery – where you even get a great, completely free view of London from the viewing deck.

Get an Oyster Card for public transport

Above all, if you stay in London for several days and often use public transport, it is worth buying an Oyster Card. With this handy map you can use any public transport (tube, bus, train, ferry) and you just have to hold your card to the scanner when entering or leaving. The card will charge you a certain amount in advance, which automatically deducts your travel expenses. The Oyster Card costs you a one-off payment of 5 pounds, then you can top up your desired amount and explore the city from morning to night on public transport, In addition, you can save even money, because the trips with the Oyster Card are also slightly cheaper, as if you regularly buy single tickets – and of course it is also much more practical and faster.

Differentiate the different airports in London

Attention – in or around London there are several different airports that are controlled. And that definitely makes a difference as to how fast you are in the city center. As an insider tip for your London vacation, I advise you to pay close attention to which airport you will be displayed for a certain price – because by train it can cost you another 20-30 € extra to come from there into the city. The London Stansted, for example, is preferably served by Ryanair. Note, however, that the airport is a long way (by bus almost 1.5 hours) outside of London! Also Gatwick and Luton are a bit away from the city and you have to plan enough time in any case. To get to the city center, you usually either take the train (more expensive and faster) or the bus (cheaper and slower) .If you have the choice, it is well worth it to pay a few euros to fly to London Heathrow , This airport is connected to the London Underground network and you’re in the city center for just 4.50 pounds in less than an hour – if that’s too long for you, the train will take you in 20 minutes (but for a full 26.50 pounds) to Paddington Station. In principle, you come from any airport to London – but with different durations and prices. That’s why I give you the London travel guide, to pay attention to the flight booking.

Visit London apart from the most famous sights

When thinking of London, of course, most people immediately think of the city’s most famous landmarks, such as the Big Ben, Tower Bridge, and the Tower of London. Sure, you should definitely take a look at these attractions. But that’s not all! London has so much more to offer than the well-known attractions. How about a visit to the Greenwich area, where you can visit the UNESCO World Heritage Old Royal Naval College and have a great panoramic view of London from Greenwich Park? This neighborhood is still a real London insider tip. Or do you want to stroll through the colorful streets of upscale Notting Hill, where every Saturday a huge market takes place on Portobello Road? Another London insider tip is to visit the hip Brick Lane in East London – here you’ll find graffiti and street art artwork, laid-back cafés, and the alternative Nomadic Gardens. You see – London is so much more than “just” London Eye and Big Ben!

Enjoy the free viewpoints when backpacking London

Some of the best views of London – such as the dome of St. Paul’s Cathedral, the gondolas of the London Eye, or the top of The Shard – are quite costly and entry is fast at 20-30 pounds per attraction. You do not want to spend so much money, but still have a great view of London? Then there are two observation decks that I can suggest for you as a travel guide for London. You have a great view of the city from the Tate Modern building, directly on the south side of the Thames. The building contains some art galleries and exhibitions and is completely free to visit. But even if you are not interested in art, a visit is worthwhile, because with the elevator you can get to the observation deck, from which you have a great view of London.

Another cool view of London is the “Monument to the Great Fire of London”, located just off London Bridge in the business district of the city. The column is not quite as high, for only 5 pounds but very cheap. Countless steps lead you up the spiral staircase to the (unfortunately barred) viewing platform from which you can see as far as Tower Bridge.

Get entrance tickets for the attractions in London in advance

For some of London’s most popular attractions, you’ll need a (usually not so cheap) admission ticket. For example, while you can easily visit the London Eye, St. Paul’s Cathedral and the Tower of London from the outside, you will need a ticket to see the inside of these attractions. It is often worth buying the tickets in advance on the Internet. With this insider tip for London, you can sometimes save yourself money, but in all case, you will definitely save the waiting time.

Bring an umbrella and wear layers

The weather in London can be incredibly changeable. Although I was really surprised in October, to have almost only sunshine – this can change quickly. That’s why you should definitely bring an umbrella with you in your luggage for London and also dress according to the onion principle. For example, it is incredibly hot in the subway – it’s worth wearing an easily pulled-out jacket instead of a thick wool pullover. As a travel tip for London, I suggest you bring clothes and gear for every weather and season. I hope these London tips will help you to be well prepared for your trip! I wish you much fun on your trip already – let me know in the comments how you like London!

Sometimes you’re faster by foot than by metro

Although London is a huge city where you often depend on public transport, you can nevertheless explore many areas well on foot. In Central London, you are sometimes faster than with the subway! The Tube in London is great for seeing more distant parts of the city. However, every time you have descend for several minutes with escalators in the depth and buy yourself a ticket. If you’re on foot, London’s major attractions, including Westminster with the Big Ben and Westminster Abbey, the London Eye, St. Paul’s Cathedral, and Buckingham Palace are within walking distance. I also enjoyed strolling along the Thames – so you can even walk from the London Bridge to Westminster along the river and enjoy the beautiful views along the way.

Best places to visit when backpacking London

Royal and historical attractions in london.

First and foremost, London is well known for its historic attractions, such as the Tower of London, Big Ben, and Buckingham Palace. Of course, you should not miss these attractions, especially on your first visit to London. Conveniently, most of London’s highlights are right in the center of the city, and you can even walk to some of them. Especially if you are interested in the British Crown and the Royal Family, the following London attractions will thrill you.

Save a lot of money and time by purchasing the London Pass in advance. Current information and prices can be found here !

Big Ben & Palace of Westminster

These are probably the most famous sights in London and can’t be missing here of course! These London landmarks are right on the River Thames and are hard to miss. By the way, if you walk across Westminster Bridge, you’ll have the best view. On the other side of the Thames, you can also find the London Eye directly! Since 2022, finally the construction around Big Ben came to an end and you can take that perfect picture again!

• Nearest Tube / Tube Station: Westminster • Admission: Big Ben tours currently not possible due to construction work

Westminster Abbey

Just behind the Palace of Westminster, Westminster Abbey is another London attraction you should not miss. In this more than 1000-year-old cathedral, all British kings and queens were crowned, some also even buried. For a staggering ticket price, you can see Westminster Abbey not only from the outside, but also from the inside. But look again at the  opening hours , as the cathedral closes quite early (around 15:30, sometimes even earlier) and closes completely on Saturdays. Westminster Abbey was also the only landmark in London that I actually had to queue for (about 45 minutes).

• Nearest Tube / Tube Station: Westminster • Admission: 22 pounds (cheaper if you book in advance)

Tower Bridge

The Tower Bridge over the River Thames is another landmark in London and a landmark that you should see during your trip. The two twin towers were built at the end of the 19th century and have since been considered one of London’s most remarkable monuments. If you want to learn more about the Tower Bridge, it is worth visiting the  Tower Bridge Exhibition , which is located directly in the towers. Here you also have the view of the Thames and can walk in the passage of the towers on a glass floor above the bridge.

• Nearest Tube / Tube Station: Tower Hill • Admission: Free from outside, visit the exhibition: 9.80 pounds

Tower of London

The Tower of London is located right at the beginning of the London Bridge and is also a well-known landmark in London. Here you will find several exhibitions and galleries where you can learn more about the history of London. Because this building has a busy history behind it, and was already considered a weapons warehouse, execution place, zoo, and of course as a palace for the kings! The most famous exhibit (unfortunately you cannot take pictures) are the British Crown Jewels

• Nearest Tube / Tube Station: Tower Hill • Admission: Free From Outside, Tickets: 26.80 Pounds (Online In Advance: 22.70 pounds)

Kensington Palace  

Kensington Palace is located west of Hyde Park, right by the Royal Gardens. The royal estate is already worth seeing from the outside and is one of London’s most popular sights, above all because of its historical significance for the British royal family. The palace was used extensively in the past, with figures such as Queen Victoria and Lady Di who lived here. If you are a big fan of the royal family, you should probably also look at the Kensington Palace from inside. Here you can see the different rooms of the Royals and of course a lot of pomp. Kensington Palace also hosts an exhibition on Lady Di’s fashion.

The entrance fee for the Kensington Palace is well worthwhile only for big fans of the British Royals or their history. But a visit to the Royal Gardens to see the exterior of the palace is well worth it and should be on your list of London attractions.

• Nearest Tube / Tube Station: Kensington High Street / Notting Hill Gate • Admission: 19.50 pounds

Buckingham Palace

A visit to Buckingham Palace is also a must in London. This landmark is the official residence of the British Queen, guarded by the famous watchmen (who cannot leave their faces). Of course, Buckingham Palace is closed off by a large gate in front of which enthusiastic tourists can watch the entrance of the palace. Incidentally, you can also join a tour of Buckingham Palace, where you can see the Queen’s Gallery and the state rooms at close range. Adjacent to Buckingham Palace is the beautiful St. James Park. Accordingly, you can easily reach the attraction from Westminster by walking through the park. At Buckingham Palace, you can also see another London landmark – the famous changing of the guard. This ceremony takes place daily (or every two days in winter) at 11am in front of Buckingham Palace. Remember, however, as it can get very crowded, to be sure to be there early.

• Nearest Tube / Tube Station: Victoria / St. James’s Park • Admission: Free from outside, Tickets: 23 pounds

St. Paul’s Cathedral

St. Paul’s Cathedral is arguably one of the most impressive sights in London and for me it undoubtedly is one of the greatest attractions the city has to offer. The huge cathedral looks incredibly impressive and beautiful from the outside. But it is also worth a visit inside, because it gives you access to the viewing platform on the cathedral! You’ll have to climb hundreds of narrow steps up until you’re rewarded with a great view of London. Although you are not quite as high as in “The Shard”, you are still a lot closer because St. Paul’s Cathedral is located right in the middle of London. For me, the view was accordingly spectacular. If you do not want to pay the entrance fee, you can just visit a service in the cathedral. Unfortunately, you will not be able to climb the dome. As a side note, Lady Di and Prince Charles got married in this cathedral!

• Nearest Tube / Tube Station: St. Paul’s • Admission: Free from outside, Tickets for inside: 18 pounds

Museums and exhibitions in London

If you’re interested in culture and museums, London is the place for you. The good thing is that world-class museums, such as the British Museum, are completely free! You do not like to look at relics from the past? No problem! In London, you can also conveniently watch a musical, marvel at Madame Tussaud’s Wax Museum, or visit Harry Potter’s movie studios.

The British Museum

The British Museum is probably the most famous museum in London and therefore a top attraction. Here you will find many archaeological treasures of history, sorted by continents or regions of the world. The museum is huge and a bit overwhelming in its size and abundance. Here are some of the most important treasures in the world, such as the Rosetta Stone. Incidentally, the name of the British Museum is a bit misleading here. As, in the museum, you will learn nothing directly about the history of Great Britain. Instead, the galleries and exhibitions focus on the whole world, and you can see artifacts from ancient Egypt, Greece, or Persia. Although the Museum exhibits are worth seeing, the British Museum is also very crowded. I was there on a Tuesday morning visit and had to beat my way through countless school classes and Asian travel groups. For history buffs, a visit is always worth it – but do not expect to be the only one touring this museum.

• Nearest Tube / Tube Station: Holborn (+ Short Walk) • Admission: Free

The Natural History Museum

The Natural History Museum is one of London’s most famous museums. It is definitely worth a visit, even if you are not usually the biggest museum fan. If you’re lucky, you can also take part in a very special event here:  Dino Snores for Grown-ups ! This event only takes place every few weeks, but is worth it even more. Here you can fulfill a dream and spend a night in the museum! The Museum of Natural History opens its doors in the early evening, the visitors get a sleeping mat (you must bring your own sleeping bag) and can freely choose a place to sleep – even in the entrance hall, directly under the huge skeleton of the blue whale! Several events and program events during the evening (including comedy, music, gin tasting, and insect tasting) and breakfast the next morning. In addition, of course, all galleries are open until late at night and can be explored in peace. An extraordinary experience! However, a visit to the Natural History Museum is also worthwhile (by day)! Then it’s even free.

• Nearest Tube / Tube Station: South Kensington • Admission: Free (By Day)

Warner Bros. Harry Potter Studios

If you’re a Harry Potter fanatic, you’ll love your Harry Potter Museum Tour. In the studios you can see some of the original props, costumes, and film locations of the Harry Potter movies. For example, on a tour, you’ll see the Great Hall, the Gryffindor common room, Dumbledore’s office, the Dursley House, Diagon Alley, and even walk through the Forbidden Forest. I was particularly impressed by the many small details – wherever you look, you will discover props that you know from the movies. For Harry Potter fans, this London attraction is a must!

• Nearest Tube / Tube Station: Train from Euston to Watford Junction, then the Harry Potter Bus to the Studios • Admission: 41 Pounds

Enjoy a musical when backpacking London

The city is known for its great musicals in London’s West End. Here you can show up even on the day of the performance and spontaneously buy tickets very cheap for the shows. In London you can see some of the world’s most famous musicals, such as “The Lion King”, “Mamma Mia”, “Wicked”, or “Les Miserables”. On my first visit to London a few years ago, I spontaneously visited “We Will Rock You” and was thrilled.

See the wax figures in Madame Tussauds

The famous wax museum is an indispensable part of London and is considered one of the city’s most popular sights. And a visit is indeed a lot of fun – here you can see famous people from films, music, and politics up close and personal. And the best thing – all celebrities are always ready for a photo shoot with you!

• Nearest Tube / Tube Station: Baker Street Station • Admission: 39 pounds

The coolest areas when backpacking London

Of course, London has some historical and significant sights to offer. It’s just as much fun to discover the city’s different districts! Above all, if you do not just want to check one attraction after the other, I recommend that you explore the different areas of London without a big plan. Below I describe my experiences in some of the most interesting districts of London, which are very much worth seeing.

Colorful streets of Notting Hill

The district of Notting Hill is located in the southwest of London and is easily reached by tube. Notting Hill can be described in one word: beautiful! The district is one of the upper parts of London and this is also immediately recognizable in the houses. Here you will find expensive estates, hip cafes, and brightly-colored houses. The neighborhood stretches along Portobello Road, where every Saturday a market takes place. By the way, Notting Hill has also been used as a location for a number of films and series, most notably, the famous movie Notting Hill starring Hugh Grant and Julia Roberts. The famous blue door number 280 is located right on Portobello Road, as well as several other locations, such as the Notting Hill Bookshop. If you need some rest, you can also stroll through Notting Hill’s Kyoto Garden at Holland Park. Especially noteworthy is the always colorfully decorated “The Curchill Arms” Bar. Notting Hill is known for the huge Notting Hill Carnival Festival in August – but it’s also worth a visit on another date that is far from this event.

• Nearest Tube / Tube Station: Notting Hill Gate • Admission: Free

Explore hip Greenwich

Greenwich is located in east London but is easily accessible by tube, bus, or even Central London ferry. Especially beautiful in Greenwich is the Old Royal Naval College – a UNESCO World Heritage Site that you should definitely see. Incidentally, this structure has also been used as a backdrop for some film productions, such as Pirates of the Caribbean and Les Miserables.

But that’s not all – Greenwich has more to offer, as this part of London is full of sights. Visit the National Maritime Museum, stroll through Greenwich Market, and explore the small lanes of the neighborhood. In Greenwich you will also find the zero meridian (hence the name Greenwich Meantime!). Do not miss out on a trip to Greenwich Park – this huge, green space is perfect for relaxing sightseeing in London. If you still have energy, you should hike up the hill to have a great view of London. In the middle of the park you can also visit the Royal Observatory (but this has an admission cost). North Greenwich is a lot more modern, here is, for example, the huge 02 Arena, where many world stars hold their concerts. It is also being built into a large shopping center that will open soon.

• Nearest Tube / Tube Station: Greenwich North (Attention: Here you are in the north of Greenwich and for the well-known attractions such as Old Royal Naval College and Greenwich Park you have to walk a bit, alternatively you can reach Greenwich by ferry or bus) • Admission: Free

Enjoy the streets of Mayfair

The posh Mayfair district, located between Soho and Hyde Park, is considered one of the richest and most expensive areas of the city. Here you will find expensive boutiques and beautiful buildings. With Hyde Park directly adjacent to Mayfair, you can easily connect these two attractions

• Nearest Tube / Tube Station: Bond Street • Admission: Free

Feel like you’re in Asia when visiting Chinatown

Like so many other cities in the world, London has its own Chinatown, right next to Soho. The main street is lined by a large Chinese gate and the typical lanterns. Walking through Chinatown you will find a variety of Chinese restaurants and shops

• Nearest Tube / Tube Station: Tottenham Court Road / Piccadilly Circus • Admission: Free

Explore the exciting streets of Soho

Soho is a popular nightlife district in the city and was previously considered part of “Bohemian London”. Accordingly, Soho is known for multiculturalism and openness – here you will find sex shops, LGBT bars, and countless restaurants and pubs. Soho is colorful, cosmopolitan, and definitely worth a visit.

• Nearest Tube / Tube Station: Tottenham Court Road • Admission: Free

Walk around Covent Garden

The Covent Garden district is just off Soho and Westminster, making it a popular area in London, which is full of attractions. Covent Garden is well known for the Royal Opera House and the centuries-old Covent Garden Market. If you want a fancy and typically British meal, I recommend the “Simpson’s in the Strand” restaurant. Even scenes for the series “The Crown” and “Downton Abbey” were filmed here!

• Nearest Tube / Tube Station: Covent Garden • Admission: Free

Check out hip Brick Lane in East London

The Brick Lane is probably the hippest area in London. Known a few years ago as derelict working-class neighborhoods of the lower class, these times are long gone. The area around Brick Lane and Shoreditch in East London is now considered an arts and entertainment district and is worth a visit. Here you will find countless street art and graffiti artworks, vintage stores, art galleries, street food, and vegan cafes and restaurants. Also worth a visit are the Nomadic Gardens right next to the train tracks – a community garden full of art and alternative exhibits.

• Nearest Tube / Tube Station: Aldgate East • Admission: Free

Visit Camden and its markets

Camden is a London borough and is best known for its hip and diverse street markets. The main artery through Camden is the High Street. Here you can enjoy street food, explore vintage stores, and stroll along the canal. Camden is colorful, exciting, and worth a visit.

Squares and monuments when backpacking London

In addition to London’s famous royal and historic sights, which most tourists visit first, there are many more in the city. Here you will find a selection of other interesting monuments and places that are worth seeing during your visit to London.

King’s Cross / St. Pancras Hotel  

As a Harry Potter fan, do you really want to have a photo on Track 9 ¾, but you do not have time to visit Harry Potter Studios? Then you can also shoot your souvenir photo at King’s Cross Station. Right next to King’s Cross Station is the venerable St. Pancras Hotel. This luxurious accommodation looks great from the outside and is worth seeing, and even if you do not stay overnight, it’s worth a visit. In the hotel bar you can mix a cocktail – if the opportunity arises, you can ask here if you are allowed to visit the famous staircase of the St. Pancras Hotel. This became particularly well-known when the “Wannabe” music video of the Spice Girls was filmed here.

• Nearest Tube / Tube Station: King’s Cross • Admission: Free

Piccadilly Circus

Piccadilly Circus is one of London’s busiest and most iconic squares, surrounded by shopping malls and shops. Here you can visit the Shaftesbury Memorial Fountain and you can also quickly walk to Soho, Mayfair, or Westminster. First and foremost, the Piccadilly Circus is known for its huge LED wall, where colorful advertising lights are lit day and night.

• Nearest Tube / Tube Station: Piccadilly Circus • Admission: Free

Borough Market

The Borough Market is probably the most famous market in London and is definitely worth seeing – especially at lunchtime, and you can find cheap and tasty snacks here. The market is partially covered and it’s fun to walk around and get a closer look at the stands.

• Nearest Tube / Tube Station: London Bridge • Admission: Free

Trafalgar Square

Trafalgar Square is arguably one of the city’s most famous public squares, making it an important London landmark. The square is filled with fountains and statues and lion sculptures, as well as the large Nelson Column (a memorial in honor of Admiral Nelson) in the center. If you’re interested in art, you’ll also find the National Gallery in Trafalgar Square.

• Nearest Tube / Tube Station: Charing Cross • Admission: Free

Millennium Bridge

The pedestrian bridge spans the Thames and connects the two sights of St. Paul’s Cathedral and the Tate Modern. Above all, the view of the cathedral is spectacular from the end of the bridge. The bridge was opened in 2000, but then closed due to unexpected wobble and waver, and then reopened again two years later. Fun fact: in the sixth Harry Potter movie, the Millennium Bridge (not accidentally) is shaken so much by the Death Eaters, it finally collapses.

• Next Tube / Tube Station: St. Paul’s / Blackfriars • Admission: Free

Hyde Park is a huge park right in the center of London. Here you can relax and unwind from the clatter of London sights. The park is huge and invites for a long walk, especially in good weather. You do not want to stay in the park too long? No problem, as it is surrounded by some of London’s most desirable neighborhoods and attractions – such as Mayfair to the east and Kensington (including the famous Kensington Palace and Kensington Gardens) to the west of Hyde Park.

• Nearest Tube / Tube Station: Hyde Park Corner, Lancaster Gate (whichever corner of the park you want) • Admission: Free

Leadenhall Market

This huge, covered market in the middle of London is very nice to look at and is also one of the city’s little-known sights. Already in the 14th century, the market was used, but completely destroyed and rebuilt during the big fire a few hundred years ago. Here you will find many shops, restaurants, and cafes and I recommend you to just walk through the market halls. By the way, this attraction is especially worth a visit for Harry Potter fans – the market serves as a template for Diagon Alley, and some scenes were filmed there (for example, Harry’s and Hagrid’s visit to the first film).

• Nearest Tube / Tube Station: Monument / Bank

• Admission: Free

HMS Belfast

This former warship is located directly between London Bridge and Tower Bridge. On board you can learn more about the warship and the soldiers on board, for example, during World War II in use. If you do not want to visit the ship directly, you can also admire it from the shore.

• Nearest Tube / Tube Station: London Bridge

London at night

The sights of London are worthwhile not only by day, but also at night! While London does not have a huge skyline like New York City, you should not miss the night view of the city. I recommend you just walk along the Thames after sunset – so you can enjoy the great view of the Palace of Westminster on both the London Bridge.

Viewpoints in London

Now you have explored all the sights in London as well as the most popular museums and neighborhoods. So, what else is missing? Of course, a great view of the metropolis! Here you can see the most famous sights of London from above. There are many great viewing platforms in London, here are some of the most popular ones.

Monument to the Great Fire of London

The monument, in the form of a pillar, is located directly in the business district of London at the London Bridge. For just 5 pounds, you can climb countless steps up a spiral staircase and enjoy a great view of London from above. This sight is still relatively unknown and for a relatively small amount of money you have a cool view here.

• Nearest Tube / Tube Station: Monument • Admission: 5 Pounds

Tate Modern

The Tate Modern Art Gallery is a must-see for art lovers, as this London attraction features a variety of art exhibits and is located directly on the River Thames, in the center of the city. Even if you are not a big fan of art, you should not miss the Tate Modern – because here you will find one of the most beautiful viewpoints of the city. Just take the elevator to the viewing platform. This is completely free!

• Nearest Tube / Tube Station: Southwark • Admission: Free

The Shard London

The best (and highest) view of London is from the Shard Building, just off London Bridge. The tower is over 300 meters high and from the observation decks on the top floors you can (through glass) experience a great view of London. Just because of its futuristic shape, you’ll be able to easily recognize The Shard. If you want to go to the Observation Deck, I recommend you do this in the late afternoon. Then you have the opportunity to see the sunset from above and, with a bit of patience, even catch a glimpse of London at night.

• Nearest Tube / Tube Station: London Bridge • Admission: £ 30.95 (cheaper if booking in advance)

The worth-seeing London Eye is an integral part of the city skyline and another landmark of London. The Ferris wheel is already impressive from the outside, and is the best view you have from the opposite side of the Thames (in Westminster). However, you can also enjoy a ride through the air in the giant gondolas and see London with all its sights from above. The journey takes about 30 minutes, but expect a long queue until you finally make it into the gondola. It is best to buy your ticket in advance – this will save you some money as well as stress and time. If you do not want to have to do queues, there are also “fast track” tickets to buy. By the way, the London Eye is the most visited (paid) attraction in London! 3.5 million visitors see London from the Ferris wheel every year.

• Nearest Tube / Tube Station: Waterloo • Admission: from 25.20 pounds (cheaper if booked in advance)

I have described the St. Paul’s Cathedral in more detail above. The building is huge and the interior will definitely impress you. It is especially worth seeing, however, I found the great view from the dome of the cathedral to be the most important thing. Here you have to climb some steps, but the view of London from the lookout point is a spectacular reward!

• Nearest Tube / Tube Station: St. Paul’s • Admission: Free from outside, Indoor tickets: 18 pounds

Sky Garden Viewing Deck

From this building you can also enjoy a great view of London. Here is the highest garden of the city! Note, however, that you must reserve your  visit here in advance (for free!). Unfortunately, during my visit, the Skygarden was booked out, so I haven’t been able to visit this sight in London yet.

Primrose Hill (Camden)

The beautiful green Primrose Hill Park is located near Camden and can be practically combined with a visit to the Camden Market. Here you can walk through the green area and have a great view of the skyline of London from the top of the hill. Primrose Hill is part of Regent’s Park, which moves further south and also has the London Zoo.

Best tours when backpacking London

The majority of London can be visited alone and comfortably on foot or by public transport. But now you might also want to get to know London away from the famous sights. Here I tell about some tours that I have done in London.

Visit famous places of the Beatles

If you’re a fan of The Beatles, London is where you can discover some of the most significant places in the band’s history. Best known here is probably the Abbey Road in the north of London – the famous cover of the four was taken here at the crosswalk, and in the adjacent studio, two albums were recorded. Abbey Road is London’s best-known Beatles attraction, but there’s much more to discover for real fans. I took part in a Beatles Tour with  Small Car Big City  and discovered the coolest places in a Mini Cooper – a great experience!

• Nearest tube station (Abbey Road): St. John’s Wood

A boat cruise on the Thames

You have the most beautiful view of London from the water! The city is shared by the Thames and you can see all the sights along the water on a boat trip. For example, you can take these from Greenwich, and drive along the Thames to Westminster. You can also  take a boat under the city’s countless bridges, such as Tower Bridge and London Bridge. The sight of London at sunset is especially beautiful.

Explore the filming locations of Harry Potter in London

A visit to the Warner Brothers Harry Potter Studios in London is not enough for you? Then you should take part in a  Harry Potter tour of Central London. Here you will be taken to famous sights and places where film scenes were shot. So you see the template of Leadenhall Market, the entrance to the Ministry of Magic (at Westminster), and cross the Millennium Bridge, which is destroyed by the Death Eaters in the movies. Real fans should not miss this tour!

You see – in London there is a lot to discover, and you can easily spend a few days sightseeing in the city. If you only have time for a short break, you will probably have to concentrate on the most important sights, depending on your interests. Only one visit to London is not enough for all the attractions anyway, but this gives you a great reason to visit the city again at any time!

Conclusion for backpacking London

London is one of my favorite cities in the world and although it is not a classic backpacking destination such as   Bangkok ,  Kuala Lumpur , or  Bali , it is still very much possible to travel London on a budget and to explore the city as a backpacker. If you take advantage of the free attractions and my money-saving tips, you can have an incredible time at a low cost and I highly recommend everyone to visit London. I’m sure you’ll have a great time!

Have you already been to London? How did you like it? Let me know in the comments!

Patrick Muntzinger - German Backpacker

Patrick is the founder of the bilingual travel blog "German Backpacker" and writes on this website about his adventures and experiences exploring every part of the world!

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Tips For Backpacking London

by Melissa Giroux | Last updated Aug 17, 2021 | Europe , Travel Tips , United Kingdom

What should you do when you’re trapped under a grey sky?  Perhaps, you should seek some colors.  What about a rainbow-ish treasure hunt?  It’s not because the English weather is cheeky (not to say boring) that there’s not a golden pot under all this rain – this rainbow.

8 million people are living in London.  How insane is that? Add a bunch of tourists on top of that and there you are; Busy London.  

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I think London is the kind of city that you love… or hate.  As I’m certainly not a fan of crowds, I had to avoid (or at least try to) these tourist traps or what you commonly call “tourist attractions”. You could also check these unusual things to do in London if you want to do something different.

This guide is a “Do It Yourself” kind of guide and this is ideal if you’d rather do something different, unique. There are many colorful and cool things to see in London (AKA Instagram heaven!).  There are also ways to check out the landmarks outside of the busy hours.

Please note that I visited London during the winter.  I wasn’t there for weeks, I was only there for a quick weekend.  (I’ll be back in London soon enough anyway!)   Also, note that you can see all these things for FREE.  You only need to get an “Oyster Card”, which is the public transport pass for London.  Kindly note that you cannot buy this card straight from the bus (been there, tried it and they politely sent me away!).  I didn’t manage to see everything on this list while I was there as I lost time going to some other places I wouldn’t recommend on this list.  Also, most places are scattered around the city, which means you can’t do it in one day.  But, as I’m going back soon, I’ll make sure to update this list at some point.

Heading to London soon? Here’s how you can visit London in 2 days . Make sure to read our guide to help you decide how many days you need in London .

Where to buy the Oyster Card in London

• Visitor centres;
• Ticket shops;
• Metro (tube), overground and rail stations;

You could also buy a Day Travelcard from ticket machines or from visitor centres.

Cool attraction in London #1: Shoreditch Street Art

If you’re into street art, why not consider a London street art tour.

Cool things to do in London #2: St Lukes Mews

View this post on Instagram Sneaking around some quiet #mews. 💕 #sonyA7 #ElleDoesLondon #unlimitedlondon A post shared by Lauren Ho (@elle.ho) on Dec 27, 2016 at 6:33am PST

Colorful Places in London #3: Neal’s Yard

 Cool things in London #4:  St. Dunstan in the East Church Garden

Cool things about london #5: the churchill arms.

Note: There is a special twist during the Christmas holidays!

Do something different in London #6: Sugarhouse Studios

View this post on Instagram @clarenicolson – I’ve lived in London for over 3 years now and I never stop being inspired by the colours and creativity you can find in the streets and buildings that surround us. Sugarhouse Studios is easily my favourite building in London. I wish every wall was this colourful! #fridayfeast A post shared by Stylist Magazine (@stylistmagazine) on Jul 29, 2016 at 1:29am PDT

Bywater Street

View this post on Instagram Loving #London right now 😘 A post shared by Cheeky Chest (@cheekychest) on Nov 29, 2016 at 12:18am PST

Things to see near London #7: Mayfield Lavender Farm

View this post on Instagram The #purple back drop just works for everything. Consider using #MayfieldLavender farm for #photoshoots, #filming & events… A post shared by @ mayfieldlavender on Feb 17, 2016 at 8:20am PST

Note: This farm is located outside of London, in the South.

The London Classics

View this post on Instagram London Eye by night ✨🌀 #London #UK #LondonEye #Thames #Londonbynight #lights #beautifulview #instalondon #visitlondon #pictureoftheday A post shared by Palmers Lodge Hostels (@palmerslodge.uk) on Jul 13, 2015 at 1:25am PDT

Avoid the crowd PRO tip:  Check out the area in the morning (the earlier the better), it is way less crowded than during the afternoon. Although, the view is prettier at night.

Avoid the crowd PRO tip:  Check out the area in the morning (the earlier the better), it is far less crowded than during the afternoon.  I went on a Sunday morning, and it was surprisingly quiet.  I went back later to get more shots, and I sadly abandoned the project as there were hundreds and hundreds of people.

Tower Bridge

Avoid the crowd PRO tip:  I was there during the afternoon.  Instead of going closer to the bridge where there is way too many people, I’d suggest you take the footpath next to the water.  You can find the right spot next to Saint Dunstan in the East Church Garden if you head towards the water.

Where to stay in London

I stayed in a very cool Boutique Hostel called Palmers Lodge Swiss Cottage which wasn’t in the middle of the action, but still it wasn’t too far for me (this option is also better for your wallet)!  They provide Wi-Fi, a tasty breakfast and great meals! The atmosphere is quite unique as you can really feel the English vibe.  Grab a tea or Fish’N’Chips, and book your room now !

Traveling in Europe with Busbud:

There are many different ways to travel across Europe.  Here’s why you should consider doing it by bus.

• It’s quick.  You don’t need to show up too far in advance.  It’s efficient!
• It’s budget-friendly.  Most of the time, traveling by bus is the most affordable option.
• You can stay connected. Wi-Fi is free and you can even use power sockets!
• You can travel with luggage. No need to worry about liquids, gels, or the weight of your luggage.  Pack that bag and go!
• It’s eco-friendly.   The environmental impact is minimal compared to the other transport options.

Busbud is the best way to book bus tickets as it’s all in one place.  You can search, compare and book your bus tickets from hundreds of bus companies in 10,000 cities across 63 countries. They propose 500,000 routes and that makes them the biggest bus travel booking website.  Their goal is to make travel accessible for everyone by giving travelers clear and accurate bus travel information such as schedules and fares. Find and book your perfect bus trip now!

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London Packing List: What to Pack for London and the UK at any time of year

Last updated: May 28, 2024 . Written by Laurence Norah - 29 Comments

We’ve spent a great deal of time travelling throughout the UK, plus we’ve taken many trips to London, a city we love to visit. I even lived in London for a number of years.

There’s so much to see and do in London that we find ourselves returning time and again for new adventures – everything from seeking out Harry Potter sites to hitting the Winston Churchill trail .

Based on our experiences, we wanted to put together a guide to what to pack for London, to help you when planning what to bring.

This London packing list will also work for visiting other cities and parts of the UK and is designed for visiting London and the UK any time of year, with some items being more required in winter or summer, and noted as such.

The climate does not vary too greatly across the country, although it is usually a little cooler as you get further north, especially up into northern Scotland.

The key thing with travelling in the UK is to be prepared for anything. The weather in the UK is famous for being fickle, and weather forecasts are notoriously unreliable.

So even in summer you can expect cold, grey days, whilst winter can provide unexpected sunshine and even a little warmth!

Now we’re going to go through our packing list in some detail, after which you’ll find a checklist so you don’t forget anything!

Table of Contents:

London Packing List

1. clothing.

Generally, for cities in the UK you will find that folks will tend to be fairly well dressed, so you will likely want to pack your nicer looking clothes – although you don’t need to be super dressy for most occasions.

Just bear in mind that if your travel plans include fine dining, nice bars or trips to shows like the opera or the west end then you might want to bring some smarter clothes.

I normally pack a button-up shirt and a light cotton jacket whilst Jess will pack a smart dress.

Clothes for London in Winter

When we travel to London in winter, we usually wear jeans or pants and Jess will wear layers with a warm sweater  like this on top ,  while I will usually have a shirt and a fleece .

We will also both wear a warm winter coat . A warm scarf and good gloves are also essential winter items for London!

In terms of gloves, there are a number of options on the market. These are a good pair specifically designed for photography, with a warm merino wool lining and magnetic finger caps, and are the pair that I own.

However, you’ll find plenty of gloves to choose from if you don’t need a photography specific pair. Our main suggestion is to get a pair with touchscreen capability so you don’t need to take them off to use your phone when navigating or looking up information.

For scarves, we love our cashmere scarves as they are really warm and look great, you can get them for women here and for men here . We have a guide to travel scarves here if you need some more inspiration!

If you suffer from the cold, you will also likely want a warm hat .

Clothes for London in Summer

For visiting London in summer, Jess will usually bring along a pair of pants, capris, and have a light dress with a shoulder wrap to wear depending on the weather.

I usually wear jeans, although on the odd rare hot day I can find that jeans become uncomfortably hot to walk in sometimes, so I will also pack light pants or shorts. For bright days (they do happen, we promise!), you’ll also likely want a pair of sunglasses .

The key thing for either time of year is to bring a series of clothing you can layer so you can adjust to the climate accordingly.

As mentioned at the beginning of the post, if you are doing anything more formal such as a nice afternoon tea at a nice hotel, you should definitely check the dress code in advance so you are prepared.

You are unlikely to need outdoor gear such as hiking pants or boots for your London trip, although if you are heading out to the countryside for a little while, (perhaps following one of our UK itineraries ), then a good pair of hiking pants will likely be a good addition to your UK packing list.

A decent pair of shoes can make or break a holiday. You’re going to be doing a fair bit of walking as you explore the UK and her cities, and the last thing you want is sore feet or blisters.

Recently, we’ve been loving travelling in our Allbirds shoes (see our detailed Allbirds review here ). For cool weather, we like the Allbirds Wool Runner Mizzles , and for warmer weather the Allbirds Tree Runners . The Tree Runners are the most comfortable travel shoes I’ve ever worn, even in very hot weather exploring hot European cities in summer.

Of course, sometimes you want something a little bit smarter. In that case, I have a pair of Timberland shoes that I love.

They are dressy enough for a night out or a nice meal, but also comfortable enough for walking in all day. They’re also 100% waterproof, which can be a real benefit, as rain showers can happen at any time in the UK!

For slightly more formal situations, Jess loves her versatile black Rockport shoes. Whatever shoes Jess wears though, she finds she suffers from arch pain, probably because of high arches. After a lot of research, we settled on these cool insoles , which have solved that problem.

For more shoe tips, check out our guide to the best travel shoes for men and the best travel shoes for women for tips on picking a great pair to travel in.

3. Toiletries / Make up

Naturally you’re going to want to bring your toiletries with you on your trip to London!

You don’t need much different for London and the UK than anywhere else, so just remember your essentials – toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant, moisturizer, travel razor and any make-up or sanitary products that you might need.

Of course, all these things are easily available to buy in the UK as well, although as brands might differ slightly, if there is a product you love from home it is best to bring it with you to be sure. If you are on any medication, you should definitely bring this as well.

We’d also advise sunscreen for travel in the summer months, and a good Chapstick for travel in winter as the cold winter air can very quickly dry out your lips which isn’t fun.

4. Electronic Gear

The UK uses a 220v three pin system, so if you’re travelling from nearly anywhere else in the world you are going to need a travel adapter. We normally use an adapter like this  and then pair it with an extension setup like this , which gives us all the plugs and USB ports we need to charge our all devices.

Note that if you are travelling to England from the USA, which uses a 110v system, not all your equipment will work.

Most laptops, phones and cameras will be fine, but in our experience, many hair dryers, curling irons, and hair straighteners don’t support dual voltages. You can check on the plug or in the manual to find out.

Jess has a dual voltage hair dryer and a dual voltage hair straightener  for just this reason.

See more on travel adapters and how to choose one for your trip in our guide to the best travel adapters .

You will also of course want your smartphone. If you have an unlocked phone, the cheapest way to get online will be to pick up a SIM card on arrival, or if you want to be fully prepared you can order one in advance . SIM cards are easy to come by in the UK and data is cost effective.

See our advice on getting online when you travel for tips on the best options.

If you’re thinking of a new smartphone for your trip, check our guide to the best cameras for travel , which has a section on smartphones that are good for travel and taking photos.

We would also recommend you travel with an external powerpack to keep everything charged, and a set of decent noise cancelling headphones can be a life saver if you want to watch a movie or listen to a bit of music.

If you like to read, you may also want to travel with a table or e-reader like a Kindle . For most trips you probably won’t need a laptop, but of course if you find it easier to travel with a laptop or tablet then bring one by all means!

5. Photography Gear

London is a very photogenic city (see my guide to the best photography locations here for some ideas), so you’re definitely going to want to bring some kind of photography gear with you on your trip. Even if that’s just a smartphone!

Our photography setup is likely overkill for most, but if you want to get the best photos, then we advise investing in a dedicated camera and ideally a tripod. See our guide to why you need a tripod for suggestions on the best travel tripods.

We also travel with a selfie stick to get nice photos of the two of us together if we don’t want have time or space to set up the tripod.

Don’t forget when travelling with your camera to bring a few accessories. We’d advise spare batteries, spare memory cards, a UV filter for the lens, and a decent bag or case to keep it all safe. If you don’t get a dedicated camera bag, a camera insert  that goes inside your daypack or carry-on is a wise investment.

We also travel with a number of large Ziploc bags which can be really handy to put electronics and wet clothes in should the weather turn bad.

6. Luggage & Backpacks

Picking the right luggage for you is a big decision. The right bag should last you for many years of travel, and suit your particular style – be that carry-on only or checked luggage.

We travel with a fair amount of gear, so we invariably have one checked bag each, and then one piece of hand luggage which has our high value items in. One tip I learnt from my mum’s years of travel wisdom is to split our belongings across our two checked bags – that way if one of them doesn’t make it, we still both have clothes!

For my camera and electronic gear, I currently use a Vanguard Alta Sky 49 , which works well as both a carry-on and a day pack. Prior to that, I used an Osprey day pack with a camera insert, which was also super comfortable.

Jess loves her Eagle Creek bags , and has both a carry-on sized backpack and a larger wheeled backpack that we check-in. For a long time my main checked bag was an Osprey Sojourn 60 . This travelled with me from 2013 until 2021 through multiple countries and countless baggage handlers, and never let me down.

Currently though, we travel with two main checked bags. We have a Level8 trunk bag , and a Delsey Hardside bag . We picked luggage with four spinner wheels as it’s honestly so much easier to move around, and both these bags have survived the rigours of travel very well, including a five week African safari, which is tough on any bag!

If you’re in the market for a new bag, we have no hesitation recommending Eagle Creek , Osprey , Level8 , Delsey and Vanguard as great choices.

7. Reusable Water Bottle

We highly recommend bringing a reusable bottle for water with you so you can fill it in sinks and water fountains and not need to pay for drinks or purchase bottled water. Tap water across the UK is safe to drink, so there’s no need to spend money on water.

If you need to get a water bottle for your trip, we personally like the Klean Kanteen bottles like these .

We have a few different sizes and find the anti-leak lids and easy washability make them perfect for travel. You’ll be saving money and creating less plastic waste, which is always a good thing!

8. Miscellaneous

Obviously, there are a few items you need to bring with you when travelling to the UK, such as your passport. Depending on where you are coming from, you might also need proof of onward travel, a visa, and proof of funds for your time in the UK.

Check the UK government website here to get an idea of what documentation you might need.

We’d also advise having a note of your hotel address available in non-electronic format, as you may need this during immigration proceedings.

Beyond the documentation requirements, don’t forget all the cables for your electronic devices. You are unlikely to need a towel for travel in London and the UK unless you are staying in particularly budget accommodation like backpacker hostels or some of the more budget hotel options that charge for add-ons like towels.

We would recommend you bring a  travel umbrella  or a travel poncho – these can be very useful in London and the UK as rain can happen at pretty much any time! You can also buy these at many shops in London although the quality might not stand the test of time.

If you would like to keep track of your adventures, we also recommend bringing along a travel journal. We always journal our travels so we can remember what we have seen and done. See our guide to the best travel journals for some ideas.

For London, we can also recommend the Streetwise Map , which is handy for helping you get around. We also recommend a physical guidebook, either the latest Rick Steves London guide , or the Lonely Planet London guide .

London Packing Checklist

Here’s a full list for you to use as a reminder for your trip to London. You can also download this London packing list in PDF form to print off here .

• Shirts / t-shirts
• Sweater / fleece for layering
• Jeans / Pants
• Underwear / socks
• Shoes (bring a pair that is versatile so you can travel with just one or at most two pairs)
• Swimwear (if needed, such as hotel has pool for instance)
• More formal wear (if needed, such as planned fine dining or theatre experience)
• Warm winter Coat
• Additional Sweaters/ Fleece
• Short sleeve t-shirts / tank tops
• Spring/Summer skirts/dresses
• Capris / Shorts
• Light jacket / sweater
• Sunglasses / hat
• Reusable water bottle
• Toothpaste / toothbrush
• Deodorant/Fragrance
• Moisturiser
• Medications
• Hygiene Products
• Other __________________
• Tripod / selfie-stick
•  Memory cards
• Spare batteries
• Camera accessories
• Portable power pack
• Travel adaptor
• Extension lead
• Laptop / tablet / e-reader
• Checked bag
• Carry-on bag
• Visa / proof of onward travel etc (if required)
• Travel towel (backpackers only)
• Jewelry / watch
• Travel journal / reading materials
• Cards / games
• Travel umbrella or poncho
• Other ___________________

Further Reading for your Visit to London and the UK

We have written many guides that will help you plan and prepare for your trip to London, plus we have some other go-to resources we think you will find useful.

• To help you plan your time in London effectively, check out our itineraries for 1 Day in London , 2 Days in London , 3 Days in London and 6 Days in London
• If you’re flying into London, see our post on advice on getting to London from the airport,  which includes detailed information for all six of London’s airports
• Getting around can be a bit daunting on your first visit to London. See our guide to public transport options in London , as well as our overview of how to buy and use an Oyster card to help get prepared
• We have detailed guides to visiting the Tower of London and the London Eye which includes information on planning your visit and how to save money on these popular attractions
• If you’re a Harry Potter fan, you’re going to want to take a look at our guide to the best Harry Potter locations in London
• We have a complete guide to the best food tours in London , which also details all the food and drink you might consider trying when in the capital
• We have a complete guide to where to stay in London , with over 60 recommendations across all the main areas in London we recommend.
• Fans of Winston Churchill will want to see our detailed guide to seeing all London’s Winston Churchill sights
• Military history buffs will want to check out our guide to   London’s Best Military Museums and Memorials
• London has four UNESCO world heritage sites, we have a guide to visiting all of them here
• If you want to get the best photos during your time in London, see my guide to the best Photography Locations in London
• We have a full guide to some of the best walking tours in London , which is also worth reviewing if you are interested in a walking tour while you are in the city.
• Many of London’s attractions are quite expensive, so if you plan on doing a lot of sight-seeing, you can save money with a London Pass . See our full review of the London Pass here to see if it will save you money on your trip
• If your visit to London is part of a wider trip to the UK, check out our detailed 1 week and 2 week UK itinerary posts for inspiration
• For accommodation, we recommend Booking.com. See all their London listings here
• The Eyewitness Travel Guide to London , which has all sorts of information within, including more itineraries and ideas for your trip
• Rick Steve’s London  guide, the #1 bestseller on Amazon for UK travel guides, and always an excellent source of relevant information

And that’s it for our detailed packing guide for London, which hopefully covers everything you need to know for what to pack for London and the UK in general!

As always, we’re happy to take your questions and feedback – just leave us a comment below, and we’ll get back to you as soon as we can. Safe travels!

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There are 29 comments on this post

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Prashuk says

12th September 2023 at 7:28 am

Your London packing list is incredibly helpful for travelers! Packing for varying UK weather can be a challenge, and your guide covers all the essentials. Thanks for making trip planning easier

Laurence Norah says

12th September 2023 at 9:29 am

It’s my pleasure Prashuk, have a safe trip to the UK and let me know if you have any questions!

23rd April 2022 at 3:09 pm

Thank you for your blog! We leave next week for 3 week driving tour in UK, & then 1 week in London (car-less) before returning to US. We are bringing iPad & iPhone, Roku streaming stick for evening Prime Video/Netflix/YouTubeTV in the airbnbs, & wired adapter(lightning to hdmi) to connect to bigger screens when they are available. What should we buy/bring to adapt those items for UK use? Thanks!

23rd April 2022 at 3:17 pm

So all you should need is some kind of adaptor to convert a US plug socket to a UK plug socket, also known as a travel adaptor. I have a guide to travel adaptors here , but most people opt for something simple like this .

I say should because in my experience most lower power electronics like iPads, iPhones and laptops are already capable of handling the voltage difference. As you probably know, the UK uses 220-240v power, whilst the US uses 110-120v. If you look on the plug or adaptor for the device, it should tell you what the input voltage if accepts is. If it’s in the range of 100v – 250v, or therabouts, it should be fine. However, if it’s fixed around 110 – 120v, it will not work and would in fact be dangerous to try plugging it in to a higher voltage output.

Other than the power adaptor so you can charge your devices, the rest should work fine. HDMI and USB ports are the same around the world, so that should all just work as expected.

Let me know if this makes sense or if I can help any more, and have a great trip to the UK!

Eddie Moricle says

21st April 2022 at 3:38 pm

Thanks for the Info. We are headed to London next month for 8 days!

21st April 2022 at 3:43 pm

My pleasure Eddie, have a great trip!

su Hal says

29th November 2021 at 1:47 pm

hello is it ok to bring cooked from in a container from India ie chicken curry on a flight.

29th November 2021 at 11:23 pm

This might be possible, but it will depend on the quantity of the food and also whether it is very liquid, in which case it may be classified as a liquid which has to then meet the airline requirements. If in doubt, it’s best to reach out to the airline. In addition, if you plan to bring it into the UK you will need to check the regulations in the UK as to what you are allowed to bring in.

Have a great trip to London!

vertoe says

14th November 2021 at 12:22 pm

Great blog! Thanks for sharing informative content with beautiful pictures.

14th November 2021 at 12:26 pm

My pleasure!

Elyonda Mckenzie says

30th May 2021 at 1:47 am

Hi, I’m going to London the last week of September and first week of October, how heavy of a coat should I take. I’ll be in Paris the first week of October. Thanks

31st May 2021 at 8:27 pm

Hi Elyonda! Great question. I’d say a medium size coat. At that time of year you’re looking at temperatures probably between 12C (53F) and 20C (68F). So it shouldn’t be too cold, however rain is always a possibility. So I’d recommend a waterproof coat but it shouldn’t need to be too thick 🙂

Have a great trip!

Renee Cundy says

5th December 2019 at 5:24 am

I booked a visit to London for end of summer 2020, this site is very helpful & informative, so thank you for that. I am a huge fan of the band Queen & plan to seek out any & every place associated with them that I can find while I’m there. Would love it if you could add a link among your other places of interest that would include “A guide to all things Queen related”. I don’t want to miss a thing on my once in a lifetime trip to London.

5th December 2019 at 10:35 am

Thanks very much for your comment 🙂 I do like the band Queen, but I am definitely not an expert! However, if you search for Queen locations in London, a number of helpful results come up which should help in your search 🙂

Kathy Draper says

29th June 2019 at 8:24 pm

Excellent and clear information (especially about how to handle cell phone decisions while in Britain). Thanks much!

29th June 2019 at 8:29 pm

Thanks very much Kathy – have a great trip to the UK, and do let us know if you have any questions!

Betsy Kerr says

27th March 2019 at 3:27 pm

FB Messaged you: First-time overseas travelers going to Scotland and England (Edinburgh area and London) in late July-August. Saw USA Today article regarding attire that said, “First, unless the sun shines and the temperature rises into the 80s, it’s fairly rare to find an Englishman in shorts. However, schoolboys under age 13 may wear long shorts with knee-high socks all year-round, typically as part of a school uniform.” Fine for Englishmen but what about male tourists? Or female tourists for that matter? Do they wear shorts? Thanks! Betsy Kerr

27th March 2019 at 5:18 pm

You’re welcome to wear shorts whenever you like! I’m not sure that USA Today article is exactly representative of reality today 😉 If it’s a warm day, we wear shorts over here too. It’s just not warm as often as we’d like, and shorts aren’t something you would see as business attire, but certainly, if you’re on holiday shorts are perfectly acceptable attire!

27th March 2019 at 5:22 pm

Thank you! Don’t want my hubby to stand out like a sore thumb! 🙂

Pam Heathcote says

11th January 2019 at 10:40 am

Off to London for the first time since primary school ( now in my 60s). Have found your website very helpful, not only for packing advice but also for the photography tips. Many thanks Pam

11th January 2019 at 10:57 am

Our pleasure Pam. Do let us know if you have any questions, and have a fantastic trip!

Ryan Jones says

5th January 2019 at 5:58 am

Just wondering about the travel adapter and extension. Coming from the US to the UK will I need a power converter to bring the power down from 220v to 120v or will a travel adapter and power strip work?

5th January 2019 at 10:52 am

So it really depends on your electronics. In our experience, most smaller electronics like laptops, camera chargers and so on are rated for both 110v and 220v, so all you would need is the adapter and power strip. However, you definitely need to check each device – the voltage it accepts will be written on the charger part somewhere.

Higher power devices usually are not dual voltage, in our experience this includes things like hair dryers and straightening irons. There are travel versions of these devices available which support two voltages, but it’s not a standard.

Usually a power convertor isn’t necessary, and in our experience they tend to be fairly bulky, so best avoided if possible – it’s best to get a travel version of the device instead in our opinion if one exists.

Hope this helps!

Timothy Aull says

6th November 2018 at 5:19 pm

I was fortunate enough to live in London for three months as a study abroad student while I was in college. I am now headed back to London for my honeymoon. Just wanted to say that I have found your website a great resource for planning my wife’s first trip to London. Thank you for such a wonderful source for those who love to travel and explore new things.

7th November 2018 at 4:02 pm

Hi Timothy!

What a lovely comment, thank you so much for taking the time to stop by and let us know. It’s always wonderful to hear from readers that we are able to help them, and we hope you and your wife have a wonderful trip to London (we’re actually in London as I type this, investigating all the latest attractions and ensuring our content is all up to date!)

Barbara says

17th June 2018 at 1:24 am

Thank you very much for this list – I’d forgotten ziploc bags – great item to pack!

17th June 2018 at 11:52 pm

Thanks Barbara – they are very useful for all sorts of things 😀

7th June 2018 at 1:38 pm

Thanks for taking the time to create this blog . . . headed to London next month and you have provided some information and tips!

8th June 2018 at 10:29 am

Our pleasure Peter – have a great trip!

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The Perfect London Packing List – 19 Things You Should Carry

By: Author Girl with the Passport

Posted on Last updated: January 12, 2024

Categories Europe

Having trouble packing for London? Because as a super, unstylish American, I’m right there with you and FEEL your pain. Legit, I need a London packing list JUST to make sure that I don’t stick out like a sore thumb during any trip to London.

Therefore, to save yourself from any excessive, packing for London related anxiety and just stick with this tried and true guide and you’ll be totally fine. Because I promise this London packing list will not only help you decide what to bring to London, but it will also help you create a stylish, London wardrobe that you can be proud of.  

You never know people might even start to think you’re a local…until you open your mouth. LoL. Sorry, but I can’t fix your accent.

FYI though… This checklist for traveling to London is a guideline only. So feel free to tailor these suggestions to match your own personal style.

I just like having a list of things to pack for London because inevitably, I always forget something. And it’s never anything minor like a tweezer. It’s always something insanely essential like ALL my underwear (shudders in horror).

So since this phenomenon is very unfun, I don’t want this to happen to you. Instead I want you to be MUCH better at life than me.   I want you to be able to pack seasonally appropriate London outfits that match the overall style of the city.

As a result, you’ll feel 10,000 times (obviously that’s en EXACT figure) more confident during your London trip since you’ll look less like a tourist and more like a street-savvy local who knows exactly how to create a perfect UK packing list . 

This post may contain affiliate links. Please see my disclosure for more information. As an Amazon Associate, I earn a small commission from qualifying purchases. 

But I still don’t know what to pack for London!

Take a deep breathe, namaste it up, and relax because all my packing for London secrets will be revealed. Sadly though you will have to leave those UGG boots, high top sneakers, ratty sweatpants, and half destroyed flip-flops at home.

Yeah Londoners typically exude style and confidence than their American bretheren.

Therefore you’ll want to create a packing list for London that embraces confident feminity, with a dash of edge for good measure. So think stylish and fit, with a conservative flair that is NOT overwhelmed by vibrant colors. AKA, Don’t Dress Like a Rainbow Brite.

Instead, minimize the colors in your London wardrobe, ensuring that none of your London outfits consist of more than three colors,

That’s why your checklist for traveling to London should include a dressy top that you’d feel comfortable wearing to work, and a nice pair of jeans or dark colored pants (One of my favorite packing tips is to leave the jeans at home since they are bulky and retain odors).

Pro Tip: If you CANNOT live without jeans, then the only jeans/women’s travel pants that I ever wear are Aviator Travel Jeans! WOOT WOOT! Not only are they the most comfortable pair of jeans that I’ve EVER owned (I literally could sleep in them).

But they have Grand Canyon level deep pockets (with zippers), and are insanely flexible/durable, making them amazing in basically every way possible, minus the high price tag. But totally worth $110 since they last FORVER.

The Ultimate London Packing Checklist!

1. rainjacket.

⭐️ Rating: 4.2/5 (713 Reviews) Price: $76 Details: Read more on Amazon!

Look, we all know that it rains a lot in London. I mean, locals practically do a celebratory dance when they see the sun. Therefore packing a rain jacket of some kind is a total must.

And my personal favorite? The Cole Haan packable raincoat! Not only does it neatly and easily fold up into your suitcase, but it has a removable hood and a charming belt, that when used, gives you a more customizable, feminine fit.

Plus the fabric is durable, comfortable, waterproof, and heavy enough to be worn throughout the spring and fall. Just wear a sweater underneath and you should have no problem staying warm.

However this jacket does run a bit small, especially in the back and arms, so definitely try and order a size or two up.

“Great packable raincoat. Love having detachable hood and the longer body length. Kept me dry in an absolute downpour while walking around an outdoor show. Love it!” Suzanne ( read more reviews now! )

When packing for London though always remember that the weather in London can be slightly manic and change rapidly. Therefore always check the weather forecast before you depart since there is nothing worse than being totally unprepared for the weather at your final destination.

Also pack only for the activities that you know you’ll be doing.

AKA: If you don’t plan on hiking then leave the hiking boots behind. Or, if you know that you’ll be walking the not so mean streets of London , then sacrifice that pair of Stilettos for a nice pair of walking shoes or comfortable ankle boots.

⭐️ Rating: 4.2/5 (746 Reviews) Price: $75 Details: Read more on Amazon!

Since the weather in London tends to be a bit damp and cold, packing a nice pair of warm, walking boots is a must!

My Pick? The UGG Boots! Seriously one of the BEST pair of boots that I have EVER bought! Not only are they cute AF, and mad comfortable to BOOT (get it), but they are waterproof and come with an awesome zipper that helps you quickly and easily remove them at airport security.

Plus they have a wool insole to help keep your feet warm and a rubber sole on the bottom for added traction (there are also little brown flecks in the sole that are adorable).

“Super comfy! I usually wear an 8.5 but I think an 8 would have fit perfect! Regardless they are super comfortable! Keep my feet clean and dry and even tho get good a dirty they wash right up like new with dawn dish soap and warm water!” Hanni ( read more reviews now! )

So if you’re looking for a pair of boots that hold up to the wear and tear of daily life, but still look good in the process, then these are the boots for you (these boots are also perfect for your winter London packing list).

However they do run a bit small so I would definitely consider ordering a half size up. They’re also perfect if you’re doing some London night tours .

3. Stylish Day Bag

⭐️ Rating: 4.7/5 (1,816 Reviews) Price: $45 Details: Read more on Amazon!

When shopping for a carry on bag I prefer a stylish backpack, like the Bebamour College Backpack, when I travel to London.

Personally this bag is my fave since it’s sleek, stylish, and has an awesome, wide mouth opening that allows you to see everything in your carry on bag at once (no straight up, scavenger hunts as you frantically rifle through your bag, searching for your passport).

Plus not only does it fit all of my electronics (camera, phone, laptop, tablet), without making me resemble the Hunchback of Notre Dame, but it also has two handles at the top so that I can carry it as a tote if my back gets sore.

“I used this as a work bag for 4 years and then once I and my daughter we transitioned to using it as a diaper bag. It worked perfectly for both uses so we are getting a ton of life out of this affordable bag!” Emily ( read more reviews now! )

It’s also comfortable to carry when full, even if it’s a bit snug underneath the seat of an airplane.

One down side? Apparently, it’s a diaper bag but that wasn’t a huge deal to me. I just took out the changing pad and put my USB cords in the front pocket. There’s also a HUGE laptop pocket and a zippered pocket that is perfect for all of your valuables. 

Another negative? The water bottle holder is also pretty tiny and not super functional but hey, nothing in life is perfect. Remember though if you’re carrying a backpack and traveling alone in London, you won’t be able to see behind you.

Therefore anyone could steal your stuff and you’d probably have no idea. That’s why I always put a lock on my bag and only bring enough cash with me for the day. This way if my bag does get stolen, at least I still have some cash and credit cards back at the hotel that I can use.

Pro Tip: Not sure what to pack in your carry on? Click here ! I have a ridiculously long article ALL about it!

4. Comfortable Shoes

⭐️ Rating: 4.4/5 (3,408 Reviews) Price: $70 Details: Read more on Amazon!

“I love getting blisters and making my heels bleed from way too much walking!” said no one ever.

Okay this one is kind of obvious but I think the real challenge is finding comfortable shoes that don’t make you look like a total tourist.

Because London is one massive city. So even if you take the Tube everywhere (because no one can afford to cab it all the time), you’ll still need a pair of stylish walking shoes that won’t make your feet beg for mercy.

That’s why my go-to walking shoe is definitely the Steve Madden Women’s Gills Fashion , even though I was a bit worried when I bought them.

See a while back, I had gotten a pair of  quilted, Steve Madden slip-on sneakers , and they were exactly what I was looking for. They were stylish, just as comfortable as regular sneakers, and really easy to slip on and off.

“ Most comfortable shoes I ever owned. This is my second pair. “ Linda ( read more reviews now! )

However until I broke them in, they gave me wicked AWFUL blisters. That’s why when I finally caved and got these shoes, I was a bit nervous that they might not be comfortable. But, I learned from my mistakes and diligently researched these shoes before I bought them.

That’s also why I ordered a size up as a preemptive strike against any possible blisters of doom. And I ‘m overjoyed to say that my love for all things Steve Madden has once again been restored!

In this model not only is the heel of the shoe rounded and padded, to prevent blisters: But they’re also super comfortable, last, a LONG time, look good with almost any outfit (just be sure to buy a neutral color) and are easy to get on an off.

An awesome pair of cute walking shoes for anyone who wants to feel like a total boss while walking down the streets of London.

Pro Tip: Socks look gross with these shoes so if you wear them to the airport and don’t want to step on the nasty floor in bare feet then definitely pack some no-show socks.

5. Chunky Knit Sweater

⭐️ Rating: 4.3/5 (14,542 Reviews) Price: $28 Details: Read more on Amazon!

In general London, and most of the UK really, are known for having rather damp weather. Therefore it’s always smart to bring something nice to throw on, just in case the weather changes and it gets chilly.

So instead of rocking a sweatshirt with unintended holes for your thumbs. Why not try a chunky knit sweater like this one? Not only do these sweaters keep you warm, but they really pull an outfit together without making you look like you’re trying too hard in a Hillary Clinton power suit.

“I ordered in Black and Tan as lightweight travel jackets. I loved so much I ordered 4 more in different colors! Very nice material, true to size, and extremely versatile for layering. I wear to work, use for travel, and to dress up any casual outfit. Great value for the price and packs well. Colors are beautiful and the garment washes well. Can’t recommend enough!” Janet (read more reviews now!)

Plus chunky knits help keep you warm and toasty on those over-airconditioned, long-haul flights. I happen to love this one by NewChoice since it’s soft, comfy, and drapes open in a charming way. (FYI it doesn’t have any closures which is kind of annoying).

Plus it falls just above the knees, has incredibly deep pockets, offers a flattering v neck, and fits well in all the right places.

However the stitching is a bit odd and gives it an almost terry cloth look. It also isn’t made for really cold weather, so don’t rock this sweater in the dead of winter

6. Leave the Tye Dye Behind

I didn’t get this memo my first time in London. Therefore, I looked like an overgrown pinata in my insane kaleidoscope of colors. Yeah, don’t be like me. In general locals prefer subdued colors like blue, grey or brown, especially during the winter and fall. And if they do use color, it’s typically a pop of color from a signature accessory.

But feel free to wear what you want. Just remember that if you wear a bunch of super bright colors, it’s a dead giveaway that you’re a total tourist. That’s Why I Love this Shirt!

It has a feminine, baggy fit that is still attractive. I also love the inspiring quote and the neutral color that pairs well with a colorful accessory. Plus It’s Only $11 and I’ve Worn it a Bunch of Times and It Hasn’t Worn Out. 

Not into the T-shirt Look? You can always pack a nice sweater dress too! In a nice neutral color, they look great and keep you nice and warm, like the one below.

7. Bring Sunscreen and a Scarf

What, You Haven’t Met Casper the Friendly Ghost? Yeah, that’s me, your pasty white friend with the passport. That’s why even in London, I still need to think about the sun’s effect on my skin.

Therefore I suggest packing sunscreen and a nice scarf to protect you while you’re out exploring some of my favorite, top London cafes . Typically I wear a hat since they look lovely and really enhance the quality of your photos.

“Everything it hoped it would be, just beautiful.” Elizabeth ( read more reviews now! )

Sadly though London can get pretty windy and result in the loss of your aforementioned hat. That’s why it’s probably best to pack a nice scarf and not a hat.

And this scarf is extra awesome! Not only is it incredibly light, and available in a ton of fantastic colors, but it’s also long enough to wear as a scarf, sarong or headwrap.

Making it a true carry on essential when packing for London.

8. Selfie Stick Free is the Way to Be! But Don’t Forget Your Photography Gear!

In general, I’m not a huge fan of selfie sticks. I dunno why, but they feel very self-indulgent to me. So as a solo traveler , with no Instagram husband to speak of, I suck it up and get up at the crack of dawn.

I’ll then wipe the sleep deprivation from my face, grab my tripod , and take photos while everyone else is sleeping. If this doesn’t work for you that’s totally cool. But just know that in most major cities, the selfie stick is the calling card of a naive tourist.

Therefore, Leave the Sehfie Stick at Home and prepare for that socially awkward moment when you need to ask a total stranger to take your picture.

Kidding! I hate being social so instead, I usually bring a tripod since I’m also not confident in another person’s ability to take my photo.

No, I’m Not Anal Retentive or Anything (Note the intense sarcasm). And while we’re on the subject of cameras, there are a few other photography essentials that you might want to pack as well. Because truthfully, London is an insanely photogenic city that is filled with a vast array of photo spots that you’re gonna want to take advantage of.

“I’ve used this with a number of different cameras for photography and streaming and I’ve had no problems using it with any of the cameras.” Vincent ( read more reviews now! )

That’s why you might want to pack some photography gear like spare batteries, spare memory cards, any type of lens you may need, a UV filter, and a great camera bag to keep all this expensive gear safe!

My favorite camera bag happens to be any of the amazing bags over at GATTA. Why? Well, you need a nice bag to protect your absurdly expensive camera from damage while you’re strolling through London.

But most camera bags are ugly AF and not something that you want to be seen with every single day. The Solution? GATTA bags! Seriously, they are the highest quality and most stylish camera bags that I have ever used.

Sure, they’re a bit on the pricey side, but totally worth the investment in my humble opinion. Personally I love the Rosewood Camille (above) and the Chloe Noir (smaller, chic, and black).

Both of these cameras are stylish on the outside and have a fabulous, felt like interior with an adjustable divider that cushions your camera and protects it from damage.

Pro Tip: Pack some extra Ziploc bags to put your wet clothes in or to keep your electronics dry.

9. Travel Insurance

Warning I will now channel your mom and dad and start to lecture you about travel safety, so be prepared. You ALWAYS NEED to purchase travel insurance for EVERY single trip you take!

Sure, it’s tempting to forego insurance when you’re in a major city and feel like nothing bad could happen. But don’t do it. Because truthfully no one ever expects some horrible medical tragedy to befall them or for someone to steal all their stuff.

I mean, I sure didn’t anticipate my wallet getting stolen in Barcelona or someone scamming me out of thousands of dollars, right before my trip to Norway, forcing me to cancel the trip. But this stuff does happen and that’s why you always need to be prepared.

That’s why I LOVE World Nomads Travel Insurance! Sure, they’re a little on the expensive side but so what?

Insurance is one of those things that you don’t want to skimp on. You just can’t afford to be cheap when it comes to your health and well-being (trust me, I’ve tried about a billion different companies and they are the best). 

But more importantly World Nomads travel insurance covers almost any destination that you might want to visit (besides SUPER offbeat places like Pakistan), gives you a fantastic level of coverage that includes just about any travel mishap possible, short of getting eaten by a sea monster, it’s easy to customize, and you can extend or change your travel insurance policy while you’re on the road. 

Pro Tip: If your gear is worth less than a $1000, get the basic plan. If your gear is worth more than a $1000, get the explorer plan (both have $100,000 worth of emergency medical coverage).

So heed my words and purchase travel insurance, even if it’s not with World Nomads. Because trust me the last thing you want to do is declare bankruptcy because your medical bills are insanely expensive. Okay, lecture over.

10. Lipstick-Sized Portable Charger

Raise your hand if you carry electronics with you on vacation? (This girl’s hand shoots up) I’ll admit it, I’m a tech-dependent Milennial who would probably fall down a well or get eaten by a bear if I didn’t have my GPS with me at all times.

“Didn’t need anything fancy all the bells and whistles. Just needed a phone charger on stand by. I drive for a living and could be in any different vehicle from one day to the next and you never know if the cigarette lighter is going to be working, I misplaced my first one this is my second anchor 5000 charger it works just as they said it would. would buy again.” Thestal ( read more reviews now! )

That’s why if the battery on my phone dies, it’s like a Defcon 5 level state of emergency. But never fear that’s where this handy, pint-sized portable charger comes in. So take a deep calming breath, namaste it up, and relax because this gadget will recharge multiple devices and save you a trip back to your hotel.

The Best Part Though? This little charger is tiny and can easily fit in your day bag; a fact that keeps your hopes of becoming the ultimate minimalist packer very much alive.

Pro Tip: Friendly reminder not to forget your UK power adapter! Remember, the UK uses a higher voltage than the US; a fact that will render your electronics totally useless if you plug them into an active outlet (remember that you may need to flip a switch to turn the outlet on).

So always pack a dual voltage universal adaptor that you can use all across the globe, like the one below . Plus, it has extra USB plugs so that you can charge multiple devices at one time!***

11. Electronics

Since I’m probably not the only tech-dependent millennial out there, I figured it was a good idea to add an assortment of electronics to this insanely long, London packing list. Now since the UK has a 220v, three pin system, this basically means that everyone, besides a local, will need a travel adapter (see above).

Bear in mind though if you’re traveling from the good old US of A (and my stats show that most of you are), some of your electronics might not work, even with a travel adapter. I mean most laptops, cellphones, and cameras should be totally fine, but many hair dryers, curling irons, and hair straighteners won’t be.

These electronics just don’t typically support multiple voltages and will probably fry like bacon. However there are a ton of dual voltage straighteners and hairdryers out there for you to buy. I just never use them so I’ll leave that purchase up to you.

You’ll also want to bring your smartphone. DUH. Now if you want to use the internet while you’re abroad, you can always pick up a sim card and just put it in your unlocked phone while you travel.

Me? I use T-Mobile and get unlimited data internationally for like $50 a month. Therefore I can use the WIFI on my phone pretty much all across the globe, at no extra cost.

I can also make calls and text, but that service isn’t unlimited. That’s why you might want a sim card if you make a ton of calls and texts internationally. Also don’t forget to pack a decent pair of headphones, which is the socially acceptable way to ignore people who try and talk to you.

Personally I love a good pair of noise-canceling headphones since they help drown out the ambient noise while you listen to music or watch a movie. But any pair of headphones will do. It just depends on your budget.

Also, depending on your your needs and preferences ou might also want to pack a tablet with a keyboard, a lightweight laptop, and an e-reader like a Kindle . But whatever you do choose wisely and don’t overpack!

12. Portable Charger

Since we are on the topic of electronics lets talk about portable chargers . No use having all the electronics in place if they just die out on you when you need them the most!

Okay so I know that there are always cafes where you can kick back, relax and charge your phone (assuming you’ve carried your charger!). I however highly recommend taking a portable charger around.

If you are anything like me, you will probably have a packed day. Which means you will use your phone for photographs, navigation and so much more. You just can’t afford to have it die out on you. 

I charge my phone up at night and then carry a portable charger along. I just attach the two together when I’m on the move which ensures that I always have a full battery. I don’t know about you but I really hate searching for a café or restaurant with a port. This works best for me.

13. First Aid Kit

⭐️ Rating: 4.8/5 (12,320 Reviews) Price: $50.99 Details: Read more on Amazon!

Safety first! You know how mom and dad INSIST that you buy travel insurance , even though you never actually use it? Well a travel first aid kit is kind of the same thing. Sure, it won’t get you a date on a Friday night, but it’s helpful when you’re… trapped down a well (where’s Lassie)!

Kidding! It’s much more likely that you’ll get a blister and need a band-aid. So not usually end of the world stuff but a travel first aid kit is one of those things that you should always pack because even though you probably won’t use it, if you need it and don’t have it, you’ll regret it.

“Compact light weight has what’s needed” Michael ( read more reviews now! )

Like big time. So check out this super nifty and super compact first aid kit. I love it and use it on all my trips. Not only is this bag SUPER strong (it’s made with 600D polyester but that actually means nothing to me):

But it comes with stainless steel scissors that can cut through seatbelts (obviously if you’re traveling carry on only, leave the scissors at home). Plus it comes with over a hundred essential medical items, weighs only a pound, and is waterproof.

Yup, this is some straight up MacGyver shiz. Plus, all the medical tools inside are FDA approved and organized, with labels, according to their function.

So a total travel must-have for an anxiety-ridden traveler like me who constantly thinks she’s gonna get struck down with a case of Ebola. Kidding…sort of. I mean, I saw Outbreak . I know what happens!

14. Passport Holder and Travel Document Organizer

⭐️ Rating: 4.5/5 (2,263 Reviews) Price: $20 Details: Read more on Amazon!

OMG! Cutest Passport Holder Ever Right? I mean, it doesn’t even look like a passport and document holder. It just looks like a super awesome and super cute little clutch that you can bring with you for a hot night out on the town.

“I ordered this for a trip to Europe. Held my credit cards, 2 passports, pen, cash and even my iPhone 14 with room to spare. Very well made and a nice, slim size. Not bulky at all. I love it! I bought the Rose Gold. I carried it in my backpack during the day and while on the plane – but at night I would use it as a clutch purse. I would give it 10 stars if I could!” Michelle ( read more reviews now! )

Yup an awesome clutch that just happens to hold your phone and have RFID blocking capabilities (Superhero much? LoL) It also comes in a variety of colors, has a removable strap, and costs less than $20.

Talk About Winning at Travel Life London. 

15. Reusable Water bottle

⭐️ Rating: 4.5/5 (1,175 Reviews) Price: $20.99 Details: Read more on Amazon!

I always always advise people to pack a reusable water bottle when traveling to London. Especially during the hotter months. The reason is really twofold.

One is that the water in the city is portable. This means, if you have a reusable water bottle with you, you won’t spend on bottled water which quite frankly can get expensive.

“It keeps drinks nice and cold even while out in very hot temps for a long period of time.” Ashley ( read more reviews now! )

Plus, the waste generated by the plastic bottles being discarded alone should be reason enough! And you know what how weird London can get when things get hot!

The flipside is that you really should keep hydrating yourself when outdoors. London has experienced heatwaves and carrying a water bottle alongside you could just save you from a heat stroke!

Oh and if you are still worried about the water potability, I would suggest trying the lifestraw which filters the water before you drink it!

16. Packing Cubes

⭐️ Rating: 4.6/5 (9,472 Reviews) Price: $30.99 Details: Read more on Amazon!

Back in the day I never really used packing cubes. I just thought they were for obsessive-compulsive weirdos who had nothing better to do than obsess about their upcoming trip to London.

Until I tried them and Realized that I could Never Again Live Without Them! Not only do packing cubes help organize your carry on, so that you can easily and efficiently find everything you need, but they give you more space by compressing your London travel essentials into a smaller size, allowing you to pack more.

“We bought four sets of these for a vacation. Unpacking in the hotel/cruise ship was never so easy. Pulled the color coded boxes out and finding everything was a snap, felt like Mary Poppins putting toys away.” Ashley ( read more reviews now! )

Hands down the packing cubes above are probably some of my favorites. They have a mesh top that makes it easy to find what you’re looking for, they come in several different sizes that help you pack anything and everything you need, and they are also extremely durable, so no need to worry about inconvenient rips, tears, or broken zippers (they also come in a variety of colors that you can match to your luggage).

One of Those London Packing Essentials I Can’t Leave Home Without. 

17. Toiletries ( and toiletry bag )

⭐️ Rating: 4.6/5 (457 Reviews) Price: $15.99 Details: Read more on Amazon!

This one is Homer Simpson “doh” level obvious but I put it on here because well, clearly you’ll need your toiletries when packing for London.

But truthfully you’ll want to pack the same essentials that you would bring on any other trip around the globe.

You know things like a brush, shampoo, conditioner, body wash, toothbrush, toothpaste, floss, deodarant, moisturiser, contact lens solution (if you wear contacts), medication, and any makeup or sanitary products that you can dream up.

“Absolutely love this bag! I have been using it during my several weeks of traveling the past couple of months. Has a small pocket on top that I use for face packs, nose strips and emergency female toiletries. Three pockets that I use for travel sized lotions/toothbrush/foundation. Finally, a large front pocket that can pretty much carry everything else you need from my electric toothbrush to the rest of my makeup. Could not have survived traveling without this! Also hangs very nicely in almost every hotel bathroom (some hotels dont have convenience places to hang it). Would definitely buy again and recommend for any traveling you do.” Erika ( read more reviews now! )

Clearly if you forget any of these items, don’t have a Mount Vesuvius caliber meltdown because you can get all of these things in London. Unless of course, you have some crazy level of brand loyalty that makes you incapable of using any other type of product.

But take a deep breath because even if you forget your deodorant, the world will keep spinning and everything will be just fine.

Pro Tip: PS: Just a friendly Girl with the Passport reminder to pack your sunscreen in the summer and your chapstick in the winter so that your lips don’t quickly resemble sandpaper.

18. Umbrella

⭐️ Rating: 4.4/5 (27,076 Reviews) Price: $11.99 Details: Read more on Amazon!

No Londoner in their right mind would step out without a raincoat or an umbrella. I mean the weather is so unpredictable but on an average if you were to hazard a guess, you wouldn’t be wrong to say that the weather is wet.

So if you are headed to the city, make sure that you carry an umbrella. Luckily for us, carrying an umbrella is no longer an inconvenience. You don’t have to lug around a heavy one that keeps getting trapped everywhere. The light umbrellas that are manufactured today fold down pretty small and you can easily tuck it into your bag.

“I love the cheery color and ease of use of this umbrella. It folds down small enough that it fits in the pocket on the side of my Subaru door. This keeps it handy for when it rains. I used to have to dig my umbrella out of the back of the car, getting wet in the meantime! I’m very happy with this purchase.” Debra ( read more reviews now! )

When buying an umbrella you would want to consider one of the windproof ones too. London can be so windy that it can turn your umbrella inside out. Trust me! I’ve seen it happen to the unsuspecting tourists who visit.

So save yourself the uncomfortable encounter with the rain and buy a windproof umbrella!

⭐️ Rating: 4.7/5 (2,151 Reviews) Price: $9.73 Details: Read more on Amazon!

A hat is beyond doubt one of the best accessories that you can take when you head to London. Not only does it give you an uber cool look, it is also very functional in pretty much every season. You do have to pick out a different hat depending on the season you are visiting.

In summer, you would want something with a wide brim that will keep the sun off your face. It is a great way to beat the heat while roaming the city.

“Love this style hat and how warm it is. Color is true to photo.” Rachel ( read more reviews now! )

On the other hand during winter you will need a thicker and warmer hat. Most people prefer a nice woolen beanie. The trick is to pair the color of the beanie with your jacket. Though to be honest, Londoners tend to have more than one.

I bought this Adidas beanie awhile back and have been uber happy with it. It has a large and loose knit. This makes it perfect for both men and women even though it says that it is a women’s beanie. A big bonus is that it comes in a variety of different colors.

London Packing List Winter

(Temperatures are milder throughout winter in London than in many other parts of the world. Therefore, between December and February, expect temperatures from 40°F to 50°F. Rain is also common so warm waterproof clothing is a must.)

• Warn Jacket
• Opt for Sweater Dresses with leggings
• Pack a Chunky Knit Sweater
• Waterproof booties
• Thermals for layering
• Pack Extra socks to keep your feet warm
• Wool lined leggings
• warm hat, gloves, and scarf

London Packing List Spring

(Spring in London is between March and April, with temperatures that are between 45°F to 60°F. There are not too many tourists so it’s a great time to explore London. However, the weather can vary wildly during a single day, so pack for almost any type of weather.)

• Ankle Boots
• Weather can vary so pack layers to wear under any dresses or skirts
• Pack waterproof boots , jacket, and compact umbrella (it rains a lot)
• Pack a raincoat (rainboots if you need them)
• Ballet Flats for an evening out
• Nice Cardigan

London Packing List Summer

(Summer in London lasts from June through August, with temperatures between 60°F to 75°F. It can rain but summers are mild and a great time to be outside with all the other tourists that take over London at this time of year.)

• Nice Ballet Flats
• Comfortable yet stylish summer sandals
• Leather Jacket
• Jersey Skirt and Dresses (try bright and sunny summer dressy if it will be sunny)
• Can be windy so think about layering
• Pack a light scarf and sunscreen to protect you from the sun
• Light cardigan

London Packing List Fall

(Fall is from September through November in London, with temperatures that range between 55°F and 65°F. And while there are fewer tourists at this time of year, this is also the rainiest season in London so pack accordingly.)

• Earthy tones
• Nice raincoat
• Chunky knit sweater
• warmer scarf
• Leggings under skirts or dresses

Download your free London Packing List!

There you have it, my not so little packing list for london, so, if you’re planning a trip to london, then this checklist for traveling to london will help you understand how to create a fantastic, london travel outfit for any season., a nd if you enjoyed this guide on what to pack for london, then pin this now and read it again later.

J2S Tours & Travels

Wednesday 30th of September 2020

I really loved reading your blog. It was very well authored and easy to understand. Thank you for sharing .

girlwiththepassport

Friday 2nd of October 2020

Thanks so much for reading.

Padma Holidays

What a fantastic post you shared. Thank you so much for sharing this post

Taj Trip India

Saturday 25th of April 2020

Very nice information, your blog is awesome thanks for sharing such a nice information .

Thursday 30th of April 2020

Happy to help in any way I can and so glad you enjoyed the post.

Shoaib Khan

Sunday 15th of December 2019

Superb blog thanks for sharing such an amazing post!

Thanks so much!

Map My Tours

Saturday 7th of December 2019

Your blog is awesome, i like this post,thank you so much for sharing.

Sunday 8th of December 2019

Thank you for reading and so glad you found it helpful!

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The Ultimate London Packing List

From chowing down on anything and everything at bustling Borough Market to expanding your definition of art (for free!) at the  Tate Modern , you can do it all in  London . England's capital is a melting pot of cultures and experiences just waiting to be explored, and its street style is legendary, from prim and proper (think collared shirts under sweaters— excuse us, jumpers—and classic field jackets) to plaid- and leather-heavy punk rock. So how do you pack for such a fashionable destination, one that has notoriously rainy weather?  Luckily for you, we’ve got it sorted. Read on for everything you need to know about packing for a trip to jolly old London. We'll tell you what to wear so you don't look like a tourist, what shoes to bring, and more.

See recent posts by Leanne Philip

Your suitcase packing checklist

Click items to view travel editor-approved options

Clothing cont'd

• Lightweight Raincoat
• Lightweight sweaters

Shoes & Accessories

• Walking shoes

Accessories cont'd

• Fold-down tote
• Hair accessories
• Dental floss
• Conditioner

Toiletries cont.

• Moisturizer
• Contact lenses
• Contact lens solution
• Shaving cream
• Brush and comb
• Hair styling tools
• Tampons and pads
• Hand sanitizer
• Pain relievers
• Stain remover
• Portable charger
• Tablet or E-reader
• Device chargers
• Power adaptors
• Memory card
• Selfie stick

Other Essentials

• Medical insurance card
• Water bottle (empty)
• Travel blanket or wrap
• Travel pillow
• Laundry bag

Helpful Printouts

• Emergency contacts
• Boarding pass
• Hotel and car rental reservations
• Maps and directions
• Bank and credit card contact info
• Copies of passport and ID

THE PERFECT LUGGAGE

Your packing list may be handled, but what about choosing the right luggage? If you’re stealing away to London for a long weekend, then a canvas, nylon, or leather weekender bag is all you need. Want Les Essentials’ spacious Hartsfield Weekender features durable canvas fabric and a leather base to withstand the wear and tear of overhead bins or under-the-seat storage. Plus, the adjustable strap means you can easily sling it over your shoulder or across the body—racing from the airport to the Tube to dinner with friends just got a lot simpler. Headed across the pond for a week? Try Calpak’s Wandr 20” Spinner . The compact carry-on is lightweight, roomy, and even has a padded compartment at the front for easy laptop storage. For any trips lasting two weeks or longer, we’d take a larger case, such as Samsonite’s Framelock 28″ Spinner . The scratch-resistant corrugated shell and aluminum frame protects it from even the most careless of baggage handlers, while the compartmentalized interior makes organizing your stuff a breeze.

THE 3 PAIRS OF SHOES YOU’LL NEED FOR EXPLORING LONDON

Women’s shoes.

Men’s Shoes

In a dream world, airlines would allow for you and your 25 pairs of sneakers. Not to worry, though; when in London, you really only need three shoe options. If you’re spending the day at the Natural History Museum (dinos! meteorites! cursed gemstones!) before taking the London Eye  for a spin (pro tip: buy your tickets in advance !), then you’ll want to keep those feet happy. Pounding Piccadilly and the rest of London’s pavement calls for maximum comfort, breathability, and shock absorption. Evenings, however, are a chance to slip into something fancy—dress shoes will help you start your night on the right foot, whether you’re seeing a West End show or splurging on one of the city’s 70-plus Michelin-starred restaurants . As for your third pair, that’s all you! Our choice is to pack a stylish (remember, London is known for its fashion scene) walking shoe to wear during the day. Here’s our take on the perfect footwear triple threat for men and women.

LONDON FASHION

The great thing about being in London is that when it comes to fashion, anything goes. No really, the city is known for its super-eclectic style scene. Some people love to rock the English rose look with sophisticated midis and L.K. Bennett pumps (for an delightful twist, pair a  floral tea dress with  combat boots  and safety pin earrings ) while others go full grunge and others still stick to the preppy straight and narrow. This being London, you can never go wrong rocking tartans or plaids, faded denim, and a pair of Doc Martens . Or you can look dress like you’re about to load up your Land Rover for a drive in the countryside with corduroys, tweeds, and army-green cotton field jackets . Though layering is key from a weather standpoint, the overall gist of dressing for London is to do what works for you. After all, the city is the birthplace of more global trends than we can count: punk fashion, the mod movement, all-white ensembles, trench coats…the list goes on. The Old Smoke (so named for the fog that pervaded the London sky during the 19 th and early 20 th centuries) celebrates creativity and isn’t afraid to play with fashion. So no matter what your aesthetic is, you can rest assured that in London the only real rule is to be confident and rock that outfit with pride.

London Street Style for Women

Shop the look.

Casual Oxfords

Knitted Frilled Jumper

Boyfriend Jeans

London Street Style for Men

'Berlin' Sweatshirt

Black Jeans

Black Round Sunglasses

Denim Jacket

FIVE FOOLPROOF OUTFITS FOR LONDON

1. what to wear sightseeing in london.

When running around town, you can never go wrong layering lightweight shirts and jackets over a good pair of jeans. Not only will you feel relaxed as you head from a ride on the London Eye to tours of Big Ben and the ancient  Tower of London , but you’ll also look great. Cue selfies at each spot!

Women’s London Sightseeing Outfit

Short-Sleeve Shirt

High Waist Crop Jeans

Oversized Rookie Shacket

Men’s London Sightseeing Outfit

Hooded Sweatshirt

Black Backpack

Wool Utility Jacket

2. WHAT TO WEAR TO BUCKINGHAM PALACE

While there’s no formal dress code required for a general visit to Buckingham Palace , this is one of those situations where it’s better to be safe than sorry. Plus it’s a perfect excuse to play dress up. For women, that means going the English rose route with delicate florals. Men don’t have to wear a bespoke suit from Savile Row , but a more tailored look is welcome. Straight chinos, a collared shirt (with just a hint of cheek), and a thick knit for around the shoulders should do the trick.

Women’s Buckingham Palace Outfit

Augustine Dress

Chelsea Boot

Diamond-Shaped Studs

Leather Moto Jacket

Crossbody Bag

Men’s buckingham palace outfit.

Riviera Shirt

Black Sweatshirt

Weekender Chukka

3. what to wear to the theater in london.

You can be as casual or fancy as you like when going to see a show in London . If you go a little dressier, then you can pair the performance with a fantastic dinner—the Michelin-starred Dinner by Heston Blumenthal is worth every pound. Summer months tend to be on the warmer side, so opt for something lightweight that doesn’t cling. For men, a night in the theater district is a great time to dress smartly. Pair twill pants and a slim button-up with a handsome pair of derbies, and you’re ready for a night out.

Women’s London Theater Outfit

90 Degree Earrings

Chellie Dress

Nail Lacquer

Men’s London Theater Outfit

Button Down Denim Shirt

Slim Card Case

Utility Trap Blazer

Leather Derby Boots

4. what to wear to harry potter at warner bros. studio.

If you’re spending the day touring the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Warner Bros. Studios , we suggest keeping things loose and relaxed. Our picks combine casual bottoms with more tailored tops for looks that read both comfortable and chic. For women, stretchy leggings mean you can chow down on all the peppermint toads and chocolate frogs you like. Men can pair cozy pants with supportive shoes as they be wander through the Great Hall, Diagon Alley, and the Forbidden Forest.

Women’s Harry Potter World at Warner Bros. Studio Outfit

Long-Sleeve Blouse

Mini Backpack

Smocked Zip Front Jacket

Slip-On Shoes

Men’s harry potter world at warner bros. studio outfit.

Bomber Jacket

Heavyweight Crew Tee

5. WHAT TO WEAR TO GO SHOPPING IN LONDON

Given London’s trendsetting reputation, shopping is always a popular activity. This is your chance to play with your own style and draw inspiration from the many boutiques on Oxford Street—the busiest shopping street in Europe—and beyond. Bond and Carnaby streets are your best bet if you want to explore British heritage labels and high-end designers, while the Mayfair area is home to specialist shops such as Rigby & Peller , the former lingerie supplier to the royal household.

Women’s Shopping in London Outfit

Embroidered Top

Rainbow Line Skirt

Ex-Boyfriend Trucker Jacket

Combat Boots

Men’s shopping in london outfit.

Crew Sweatshirt

Chino Pants

Low Top Sneakers

What not to pack for london.

Fun fact about London: even in summer, temperatures rarely exceed 70 degrees Fahrenheit, which means that this is one vacation where you can feel comfortable leaving your flip-flops at home. Other staples that can be omitted include a first aid kit and any other mishap-ready gear you typically pack. Flat irons and curling wands can come if you think you’ll need them, but don’t schlep your hairdryer—one will certainly be provided by your hotel or Airbnb . The brilliant thing about traveling to an urban locale is that it everything you may need is readily available. London is a big city and Boots, a popular drugstore chain, and other convenience stores are everywhere. All in all, packing for London is a great opportunity for practicing  Marie Kondo-approved minimalism .

THE *ONE THING* WTP EDITORS ALWAYS  BRING TO LONDON

£70 ($90) at Liberty London

LONDON’S WEATHER AND SEASONS

Any Londoner will tell you that the key to being prepared in England is to always plan for rain. While it doesn’t rain especially hard in the U.K., it does tend to rain often and as such having an umbrella (or brolly, as they say across the pond) or raincoat on hand is a must. Another important fact to remember is that mornings and evenings tend to be on the chilly side—even in the summer months—so layers are clutch. Not only are lightweight sweaters and cardigans a great way to double the length of an outfit, they protect you from the early morning and late night chill. Still feeling wary about packing for your trip? Not to worry! We’ve broken things down month by month to make sure you’re fully prepared for all seasons and weather.

Note: Below is a packing forecast, not a traditional forecast. A packing forecast focuses on how cold it’s likely to be in the early mornings and evenings based on historical data. We recommend using this together with a traditional forecast as you get closer to your departure date. This data comes from our friends at Weather Underground .

• Plan for day temps between 35° F and 37° F
• Temps will drop near 28° F at night and into the early mornings
• Expect 3.50 inches of precipitation in January

What to Wear in London in January:  This is typically the coldest month in London. As such, you and your outfit will want to plan for warmth! A water-repellent puffy will ward off rain and cold, and thick, soft socks will keep your toes toasty.

Recommendations: Women’s ultra-light puffer coat , merino wool socks , tech-friendly gloves .

• Plan for day temps between 22°F and 37° F
• Temps will drop near 15° F at night and into the early mornings
• Expect 2.00 inches of precipitation in February

What to Wear in London in February:  Both rain and snow are likely in February, with temps dropping very low at night. Our advice: bring on the outerwear, scarves, and hats.

Recommendations: Men’s parka , blanket scarf , knit beanie .

• Plan for day temps between 28° F and 42° F
• Temps will drop near 24° F at night and into the early mornings
• Expect 2.90 inches of precipitation in March

What to Wear in London in March:  As with January and February, temperatures are still on the chilly side in March. Grab a raincoat and warm sweater to be prepared for anything.

Recommendations:  Women’s rib-knit sweater , women’s anorak , short rain boots .

• Plan for day temps between 42° F and 51° F
• Temps will drop near 39° F at night and into the early mornings
• Expect 2.50 inches of precipitation in April

What to Wear in London in April:  Things start to warm up in April. There will still be rain, however, so pack a travel-size umbrella along with your chic trench and sunglasses.

Recommendations: Men’s navy trench , wayfarer sunglasses , travel umbrella .

• Plan for day temps between 48° F and 57° F
• Temps will drop near 37° F at night and into the early mornings
• Expect 2.60 inches of precipitation in May

What to Wear in London in May:  In addition to May showers, visitors will experience sunshine and chilly winds this month. Combat the elements with a lightweight windbreaker and cozy sweater.

Recommendations: Men’s windbreaker with packable hood , men’s fleece sweatshirt , wayfarer sunglasses .

• Plan for day temps between 54° F and 61° F
• Temps will drop near 42° F at night and into the early mornings
• Expect 2.75 inches of precipitation in June

What to Wear in London in June:  June’s sunny days are perfect for outdoor explorations. Grab a light jacket and your favorite walking shoes to wander along Regent’s Canal ; stop by Towpath Cafe if a coffee or hand-squeezed orange juice sounds like just the thing.

Recommendations:  Women’s windbreaker with hood , women’s sneakers , belt bag .

• Plan for day temps between 61° F and 68° F
• Temps will drop near 51° F at night and into the early mornings
• Expect 1.75 inches of precipitation in July

What to Wear in London in July:  Take advantage of the warmest month of the year by breaking out your shorts and dresses. Rain is at an all-time low in July, but we’d still bring a travel umbrella to be safe.

Recommendations: Denim minidress , women’s slip-on sandals , travel umbrella .

• Plan for day temps between 55° F and 64° F
• Temps will drop near 46° F at night and into the early mornings
• Expect 2.75 inches of precipitation in August

What to Wear in London in August:  Though warm during the day, temperatures cool significantly at night in August. Be ready for evening’s chill with cozy shawls and layer-friendly dusters.

Recommendations: Gauzy scarf , patterned duster , cat-eye sunglasses .

• Plan for day temps between 48° F and 58° F
• Temps will drop near 35° F at night and into the early mornings
• Expect 3.10 inches of precipitation in September

What to Wear in London in September:  The chance of rain starts to increase in September. Make sure to have a raincoat or small umbrella on hand at all times.

Recommendations: Men’s wind-resistant raincoat , unisex denim jacket , travel umbrella .

• Plan for day temps between 42° F and 53° F
• Temps will drop near 30° F at night and into the early mornings
• Expect 3.25 inches of precipitation in October

What to Wear in London in October:  London in October means gusty winds interspersed with some sun and random rainfall. A good pair of boots, plus a raincoat and cozy sweater will keep you covered through it all.

Recommendations:  Women’s anorak , open-front cardigan , women’s combat boots .

• Plan for day temps between 34° F and 47° F
• Temps will drop near 26° F at night and into the early mornings
• Expect 3.40 inches of precipitation in November

What to Wear in London in November:  With temperatures only reaching a high of 47° F, staying warm is key in November. Make sure to have a cozy hat and a good pair of gloves on hand.

Recommendations:  Men’s parka , marled beanie , men’s waterproof gloves .

• Plan for day temps between 38° F and 45° F
• Expect 3.50 inches of precipitation in December

What to Wear in London in December:  Plan on packing winter-friendly gear when visiting London in December: puffer coats, mittens, and warm hats are all essential.

Recommendations: Hooded down coat , tech-friendly gloves , wool beanie .

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT PACKING FOR LONDON

Is it true it always rains in London? How can I be prepared?

While it doesn’t always rain in London, it does rain often. In fact, you can pretty much expect some sort of rainfall any month that you visit. That being said, the best way to prepare to is carry a compact umbrella or a stowaway raincoat at all times. Something light that can easily fit into whatever bag you’re using means you’ll always be covered.

I don’t want to look like a tourist; how do people dress in London?

As noted above, style in London is really what you make of it. The city is big on experimenting with fashion, so it is one of those destinations where the closet really is your oyster. The most important thing to remember is to be comfortable, have fun, and own your look.

I’m doing a private tour of Buckingham palace, what is the dress code?

The dress code for a private tour of Buckingham Palace is pretty simple: dress nicely, no shorts or flip-flops. Think midi dress and a cardigan for women, tailored trousers with a nice shirt for men. You can always add a heavier sweater or blazer if the weather turns cool.

What do I wear to the theater in London?

Happily the days of wearing gowns and top hats to the theater—or should we say the theatre —are long behind us. Though some people do enjoy getting dressed up for an evening show (ourselves included!), what you wear is entirely up to you. Our only tip would be to stick with light, comfortable clothing if attending a show during the summer months.

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Your Perfect London Trip Packing List: 33 Items You’ll Need for Your Trip

London is a fabulous and accessible city to visit. I enjoy it each time I return as there are always new things to do and see. In this post, I’ve compiled the perfect London trip packing list to help make sure you don’t forget anything that would spoil your trip.

This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, when you click on the links and make a purchase, I earn a small commission at no cost to you.

Traveling Soon? Check Out These Travel Resources!

Travel Insurance: Insure My Trip Flights: Skyscanner Hotels: Expedia Tours & Attractions: Viator

London Trip Packing List

From suggested luggage, clothing, technology, and other travel essentials , this comprehensive packing list will help to ensure you have everything you need for your London trip. In fact, it is the list I personally use whenever I visit the city.

What Type of Luggage to Bring

1. rolling suitcase or travel backpack.

For a trip to London, you will want a durable suitcase with wheels that make it easy to haul. I prefer suitcases with four wheels as they provide options for how I pull them.

☑️ Check prices and availability on Amazon by clicking here .

2. Day Pack

Having a good day pack with security features such as being slash-proof and harder to break into is essential. I love my bag which is similar to this one. It has enough room for a bottle of water, my camera, wallet, and a map of the city.

☑️ Order yours on Amazon by clicking here .

Travel Essentials

3. travel insurance.

I won’t travel anywhere abroad without getting travel insurance first. While my health has been fairly stable, you never know when things will change and emergency health situations are often unexpected.

Insure My Trip is an aggregator I use to compare policies and prices to find the right one for my next trip. I love that they have a filter that allows you to search for policies that include pre-existing conditions. Just make sure you purchase your travel insurance within 7-14 days of the first payment for your trip!

☑️ Compare policies and prices for travel insurance by clicking here .

4. Passport

Ensure your passport is valid for at least six months beyond your planned date of departure from London. And by all means, don’t forget to pack it in your purse or carry-on! Accidentally packing it in your checked bag can lead to disaster and you won’t be allowed to board the plane.

The need for a VISA will obviously depend on what country you are from. Please check current regulations for more guidance. This includes new information about ETIAS requirements for Americans and others traveling to the UK and Europe.

6. Outlet Adapter

The UK uses a G-style outlet plug, so unless your electronics already have that type of plug, you’ll need to get an adapter. I love using this universal travel outlet adapter as it has the most common outlet types when traveling. I don’t go on any trip without it.

☑️ Check availability on Amazon by clicking here .

7. Converter

An outlet adapter and a converter are two separate things. If you are from the US, we use a 110-voltage electrical system. However, in the UK and Europe, their system is 220-240.

Make sure to check your electrical device to see if it has dual voltage capabilities. If it doesn’t, you will need to purchase a converter to take with you on your trip so you don’t blow out your device.

If you use a powered wheelchair or respiratory equipment, this is especially important. Check with your homecare company or wheelchair manufacturer to see if there is a specific converter they recommend for your device.

I know this one seems obvious, but I do know people who have forgotten to bring their wallets while on a trip. Additionally, make sure that your wallet has your driver’s license, credit cards, some cash, and other essentials in it before you leave.

9. No Foreign Transaction Fee Credit Card

When traveling abroad, it’s always important to check to see that your credit card has no foreign transaction fees as otherwise, it will lead to additional fees and expenses whenever you use your credit card abroad.

I personally really like my Chase Saphire Preferred card and my Captial One Venture X card to use for both my travel and everyday purchases. They both allow me to earn points which I can then redeem for airfare or hotel stays. Getting business class seats for only $11 on my long flight to Africa was just one of the perks I’ve enjoyed.

10. Travel-Sized Toiletries

Help protect the planet you love to explore with these TSA-approved travel-sized toiletry containers. As an added bonus, they allow you to bring your favorite products with you on your trip.

11. Sunscreen

While London can be rainy, it can also have clear sunny days. Protect your skin on your trip by using sunscreen. Don’t spoil your vacation with a nasty sunburn.

☑️ Stock up on sunscreen when you order it on Amazon by clicking here .

12. Lip Balm/Moisturizer

Travel has a way of drying out your skin and your lips. Make sure to keep both hydrated by bringing lip balm and lotion. They are small and easy to toss into your day bag or purse for easy access.

13. Hand Sanitizer

Let’s face it, travel can be dirty. Having a small bottle of hand sanitizer can often come in handy. Furthermore, using it regularly can help prevent you from getting any colds or bugs that could impact and potentially ruin your trip.

Clothing to Pack for Your London Trip

14. comfortable shoes.

Unless you’re a wheelchair user, you’re likely to do a lot of walking in London. As a result, it’s essential to have a comfortable pair of shoes that will support your feet. I personally like Mary Jane-style shoes that have memory foam because they are stylish yet comfortable.

☑️ Look at styles and sizes by clicking here .

15. Raincoat/ Poncho

As a wheelchair user, I opt for a rain poncho designed not to get caught in the wheels of my chair. However, not everyone finds them stylish or attractive.

Instead, you could use a raincoat or waterproof trench coat during your trip. No matter what you choose, however, you should bring some sort of rain protection as showers in London are common.

A coat or light jacket often comes in handy in London. I love a versatile jean jacket that can be layered over sweaters or other shirts. However, you can choose whichever coat or jacket matches your own personal style.

☑️ Check out the sizes and availability of this jean jacket by clicking here .

17. Sweater

Having a sweater on hand provides a versatile layering option to help you stay warm and comfortable throughout your visit. Whether you’re exploring outdoor attractions, taking a leisurely stroll along the Thames, or dining at a quaint cafe, a sweater offers protection against chilly winds and sudden drops in temperature that can be common in London.

Plan to pack a selection of lightweight, breathable tops such as t-shirts and blouses, which are ideal for warmer days and indoor attractions. Additionally, include a few long-sleeve shirts to layer over your tops for cooler evenings or if the weather turns unexpectedly chilly.

19. Pants/Jeans

Pants and Jeans are bottoms that are appropriate for both day and night and can easily transition an outfit depending on the occasion. Jeans, khakis, or chinos are perfect options to pack for your trip.

☑️ Check out styles and colors by clicking here .

A skirt is a fantastic option if you’re visiting London in summer or just want a little bit of an elevated look for dinner or afternoon tea. Longer skirts can also be worn in spring or fall for a comfortable outfit.

21. Nice Dress or Slacks and a Nice Shirt

London is a cosmopolitan city known for its vibrant nightlife, upscale dining establishments, and cultural events. Having a stylish outfit on hand allows you to fully immerse yourself in the city’s diverse entertainment scene, whether you’re attending a West End theater production, dining at a Michelin-starred restaurant, or enjoying a night out in one of London’s trendy neighborhoods.

22. Scarf or Pashmina

I have a tendency to get chilly or cold easily so I love traveling with a fashionable and colorful scarf. Not only does it help me dress up an outfit, but it also helps to ward off the chill in the air and keeps me a little warmer.

You’ll love how a scarf can change the look of an outfit and add a touch of sophistication to your look. It also comes in handy during spring and fall when temperatures can be cooler.

If you’re like me, the only time I take my watch off is when I shower. But, it’s still an item that can easily be overlooked or left behind on a trip. Somehow I managed to do this on one of the days of my trip and I was lost without it.

Don’t be like me, and make sure you have your watch with you when you travel.

Best Technology to Bring

You are going to want your phone for taking pictures, videos, looking up restaurants, and so much more on your trip. Don’t forget to put it in your purse or bag, but also don’t forget to bring your charging cord.

25. Portable Power Bank/Charger

Taking pictures, using apps, and relying on your phone to navigate London will definitely run down your battery. Be prepared and pack this portable power bank to help make your phone life last longer.

☑️ Pick up yours on Amazon by clicking here .

I may be old school, but I still love using a camera to take pictures. As someone with a disability, photography is much easier for me with a small point-and-shoot and a gorilla pod-like stand like the one pictured. If you’re like me, make sure to pack your favorite camera for your trip.

☑️ Check out camera options on Amazon by clicking here .

27. eSim Card

It is true that many cell phone providers offer plans for international travel when you’ll be roaming, but the costs can add up quickly. A more affordable option would be to use an eSim card.

An eSIM card provides the convenience of having a local data plan without the need to swap out physical SIM cards, saving time and hassle. To obtain an eSIM card for use in London, travelers can often purchase one online or visit a local mobile provider store upon arrival. Activating an eSIM typically involves scanning a QR code or entering a provided activation code through your device’s settings.

Additionally, eSIM cards provide the flexibility to choose from a variety of data plans based on your specific needs and duration of stay, whether it’s a short-term plan for a week or a longer-term plan for the duration of your trip.

28. Tablet/E-Reader

Inevitably you will have some downtime on your trip. Whether it’s in the evening while you’re relaxing or waiting at the airport for your flight. Why lug around large books when you can save space and bring along your tablet or E-Reader where you can have access to shows, ebooks, and more.

☑️ Check out options on Amazon by clicking here .

Other Useful Items

29. reusable water bottle.

I love using this reusable water bottle because not only does it prevent me from buying water, but it is collapsible to easily fit in my bag without taking up a lot of room. Being budget and environmentally friendly while still staying hydrated is a huge plus.

30. Travel Umbrella

Although a raincoat or poncho can help keep you dry, there are occasions when a small travel umbrella may work better. Due to their compact size, they don’t take up a lot of room and can come in handy if you get caught in a shower.

☑️ Check colors and pricing by clicking here .

31. First Aid Kit

A first aid kit can often come in handy during travel. Whether you need a Band-Aid or something to address a larger scrape, a handy and travel-sized kit is perfect for any adventure.

☑️ Be prepared for your next trip and order yours by clicking here .

32. Map/Guidebook

While it’s true that phones have Google Maps and other apps that help with navigation, solely relying on them can be a mistake (and using them can drain your battery faster). I always recommend having a good paper map to help you find your way around the city.

Not only will it help save your phone battery, but it also often contains other important information such as bus routes, tube station locations, and more that can make it easier to look at a glance and find the best way to your next destination.

33. Medications

Obviously, bring any prescribed medications with you (in your carry-on). But also bring some of your common over-the-counter meds that may make your trip easier. Things like pain relievers, antacids, benedryl, and Immodium are all common ones that can be handy if you run into the need for them.

34. (Bonus) Sink Suds

When traveling for more than a week, I always pack some sink suds. It allows me to wash a few essential items in the sink or tub and then let them air dry. I find I pack less but can still stay clean and fresh.

What to Pack for London in Winter

London in the winter can be cold, damp, and dark due to the shorter days. During this time temperatures can range from around 2°C to 8°C (36°F to 46°F). Although temperatures can occasionally drop below freezing, especially during colder spells, resulting in frost or even snowfall, significant snow accumulation is relatively rare.

Rainfall is common throughout the year in London, and winter is no exception. Expect frequent drizzle and light rain showers, particularly in December and January.

As a result of these typical weather patterns, here is my recommended London winter packing list:

• Warm Outerwear Bring a heavy coat or parka to protect against cold winds and potential rain or snow. Look for options with insulation like down or synthetic materials for maximum warmth.
• Layered Clothing Pack sweaters, long-sleeve shirts, and thermal undergarments to layer beneath your outerwear. This allows you to adjust your clothing based on fluctuating indoor and outdoor temperatures.
• Scarf, Gloves, and Hat These are essential accessories for staying warm in chilly weather. Opt for a scarf made of wool or cashmere, insulated gloves, and a beanie or thermal hat to retain heat. For wheelchair users, I also recommend a wheelchair cozy .
• Waterproof Boots Invest in sturdy, waterproof boots with good traction to navigate wet and potentially icy streets. Look for styles lined with fleece or shearling for added warmth.
• Warm Socks Pack several pairs of thick, moisture-wicking socks to keep your feet dry and insulated in cold weather.
• Comfortable Pants Choose trousers or jeans made from thicker materials like denim or wool blends to provide warmth and protection against the cold.
• Umbrella London is known for its drizzly weather, so a compact, windproof umbrella is a must-have to stay dry during your explorations.

Packing List for London in Summer

Start with a selection of lightweight tops such as t-shirts, blouses, and tank tops in breathable fabrics like cotton or linen. Pair these with comfortable bottoms such as shorts, skirts, or lightweight trousers for versatile and weather-appropriate outfits. Don’t forget to pack a few dresses, which are effortlessly chic and ideal for hot summer days.

Additionally, bring along a light sweater or jacket for cooler evenings or unexpected temperature drops. Sun protection is also crucial, so remember to pack sunscreen, sunglasses, and a wide-brimmed hat to shield yourself from the sun’s rays. Comfortable walking shoes are essential for exploring London’s sights, so opt for breathable sneakers or sandals with good arch support.

Finally, don’t forget to bring a compact umbrella or rain jacket, as summer showers are not uncommon in London.

London Trip Packing List for Spring/Fall

During Spring and Fall, it’s important to pack for the transitional weather that characterizes these seasons in the city. Start with a selection of versatile clothing pieces that can be layered to accommodate fluctuating temperatures.

Pack a variety of tops such as long-sleeve shirts, lightweight sweaters, and blouses, along with a couple of jackets or cardigans for added warmth. Pair these with trousers, jeans, or skirts made from medium-weight fabrics to keep you comfortable in the changing weather.

Don’t forget to include a waterproof jacket or trench coat to shield yourself from London’s occasional rain showers. Accessories such as scarves, hats, and gloves can also help keep you warm during chillier days.

London Trip Packing Tips

Now that you have your packing list all sorted, let’s talk about some packing tips I recommend to everyone. These are all tips I personally use during all my travels and suggest you do too.

➡️ Use Packing Cubes

There is nothing worse than digging through your suitcase trying to find something. That’s why I love how packing cubes help to keep me organized. The ones I use also have a clear window so you can see what’s inside.

As an added bonus, when I’m staying in one location for more than a day or two, I can just take the cubes out of my suitcase and put them in a drawer for easy access to everything I need. It makes unpacking a breeze!

☑️ Check prices and availability when you order your packing cubes by clicking here !

➡️ Roll Your Clothes

Once I learned that rolling your clothes can help save room in your suitcase while preventing wrinkles, I’ve never gone back to traditional folding. I use this method in combination with the packing cubes for easy organization and to save space.

Additionally, I also find that the clothes shift less and stay in place better. This way everything is right where I left them. It’s wonderful not to have to worry about unpacking to find all my clothes have wrinkled and look like they need to be laundered.

➡️ Pack a Capsule Wardrobe

A capsule wardrobe is a carefully curated collection of versatile clothing items that can be mixed and matched to create various outfits. It typically consists of essential pieces such as tops, bottoms, outerwear, and shoes, all chosen for their ability to coordinate with one another.

By packing versatile pieces that can be dressed up or down, you can adapt to different climates, cultural norms, and travel experiences with ease while saving space in your suitcase. For example, by packing 2-3 pairs of pants or bottoms, 4-5 tops, and a jacket you can create several outfit combinations for a week-long trip.

➡️ Use Accessories to Change Up Your Look

Incorporating accessories such as scarves, belts, jewelry, hats, and bags into your wardrobe, can effortlessly transform basic outfits into stylish ensembles suitable for various occasions. I love traveling with versatile scarves, and some costume jewelry to change the look of basic pieces of clothing that I can easily mix and match.

Another benefit is that accessories take up minimal space in your luggage compared to bulkier clothing items, making them ideal for maximizing outfit options without exceeding baggage allowances or overpacking.

By mixing and matching accessories with a few key clothing pieces, you can create a wide range of outfits while keeping your suitcase compact and organized. As a result, your wardrobe is stylish, and functional and doesn’t have to take up a lot of space.

➡️ Pack Medication in Your Carry-On

There are two important reasons for keeping your medication with you in your carry-on baggage. Firstly, having essential medication readily accessible in your carry-on ensures that you have immediate access to it in case of delays, lost luggage, or unexpected emergencies during your journey. Knowing where your medication is at all times will definitely lead to a less stressful trip.

Second, placing medication in your carry-on also allows you to maintain proper temperature control, especially for medications that require refrigeration or are sensitive to extreme temperatures. The cargo hold area of the plane is not like the airplane cabin and is not temperature regulated so it’s better to keep your meds with you for proper storage.

London Packing FAQs

What should i pack for 5 days in london.

By packing a mix of tops, bottoms, and other essential items, you’ll have everything you need for a comfortable and stylish 5-day stay in London without overpacking or feeling weighed down by your luggage.

Here’s what I recommend:

• 4-5 Tops Choose items that can be mixed and matched throughout your trip. Include a combination of long-sleeve shirts, sweaters, and blouses in neutral colors or classic patterns like stripes or plaid. This allows for flexibility in layering and adapting to changing weather conditions.
• 2-3 pairs of trousers or jeans Choose styles made from comfortable, wrinkle-resistant fabrics like denim or cotton twill. Consider including one dressier option, such as tailored trousers or dark jeans, for evenings out or more formal occasions.
• 6 Pairs of Underwear
• 6 Pairs of Socks
• 2 Pairs of Pajamas
• 1 Pair of Comfortable Shoes
• Dress Shoes if Going Out
• Accessories/Scarf These enhance your outfits and add variety to your wardrobe.
• Coat/Jacket

What Should I Wear for Sightseeing in London?

When sightseeing in London, it’s essential to prioritize comfort and practicality. Opt for clothing that is lightweight, breathable, and suitable for walking long distances. Also, consider wearing layers for London’s ever-changing weather.

I loved London in September. The weather was still pleasant and I was comfortable during the day while sightseeing. I layered a light jacket with a three-quartered sleeve shirt and pants.

Is There a Dress Code in London?

While there isn’t a strict dress code in London, it’s advisable to dress neatly and appropriately for the occasion. Londoners often dress stylishly yet comfortably, favoring well-fitted clothing and classic styles. In more formal settings such as fine dining restaurants, theaters, or upscale events, dressing up is a bit more customary.

What are the Best Shoes to Wear in London?

Everyone’s feet have different needs, however, in general, choose sturdy walking shoes such as sneakers, trainers, or lightweight hiking shoes with good traction, cushioning, and support for long days of exploring London’s streets, parks, and attractions. Waterproof or water-resistant options are ideal for protecting your feet from rain and puddles, especially during the city’s frequent drizzles.

I loved wearing Mary Janes as the type I wear had good cushioning and they went with almost any outfit. The downside is they don’t help in cooler weather or the rain.

What Should I Wear to the Theater in London?

While there isn’t a strict dress code, dressing slightly more formal than casual demonstrates respect for the theater and the performers.

For men, this often means wearing tailored trousers paired with a button-down shirt or a polo shirt, complemented by a blazer or sports jacket. To complete the look, polished dress shoes or loafers add a touch of refinement.

Similarly, women often choose to wear a stylish dress or a blouse paired with trousers or a skirt, accompanied by dress shoes or elegant flats. Accessories such as jewelry, scarves, or a clutch purse can enhance the overall ensemble to make it more sophisticated.

Where to Stay in London

London is a large city with many lovely neighborhoods and areas to stay. If you are a first-time visitor to the city, I recommend staying near the attractions you’d like to visit.

However, if you are traveling on a budget, staying in some of the nearby neighborhoods like Brixton, Shoreditch, or Camden can be more affordable. These locations are connected by public transportation so the London city center is still easily accessed.

Wheelchair accessible hotels in London can also be found for people with mobility problems allowing them to enjoy the city.

Holiday Inn London – Kensington High St., an IHG Hotel

Located a short walk from Kensington Palace and Hyde Park, the Holiday Inn London is a wonderful option for people looking for a clean room that is close to public transportation. Breakfast is available daily on-site to help you fuel up for a day of exploring.

Accessible rooms with roll-in showers, shower seats, and plenty of grab bars are available. While the main entrance does have stairs, there is an alternative accessible entrance available. Standard rooms are also available.

☑️ Check prices and availability for your travel dates by clicking here .

Premier Inn London Waterloo (Westminster Bridge) Hotel

Premier Inn is a UK hotel chain company that is known for its budget-friendly rates, good service, and accessible facilities. This particular hotel is in a fantastic location close to the major sights in London.

Accessible rooms have roll-in showers, grab bars near the toilet, and room for maneuvering in your wheelchair. Regular non-accessible rooms are also available if you don’t have mobility problems.

☑️ Check availability for your travel dates by clicking here .

When to Visit London

London offers something special year-round, however, there are definitely some worst times to visit London if you want to avoid the crowds, are on a budget, or just want nice weather. As a result, I recommend visiting London during the shoulder season.

The months of April, May, September, and October offer decent weather, fewer crowds, and can be more budget-friendly than the peak summer months. However, if you can only travel during summer London is still worth visiting . Just set realistic expectations for your experience.

How Long to Visit

For first-time visitors, I recommend spending at least 4 days in London to see the main sights. Although, if you would like to use the city as a base for day trips, then 5 days in London should be a minimum.

However, if you live nearby and have traveled to London before, then 2 days in London can make for a nice short break. I know I often only have a day in London before boarding a cruise and enjoy my short visits. And, with so many cruise ships leaving from Southampton, it gives me a fantastic excuse to keep returning to London.

London Travel Tips

Now that we’ve covered what to pack for London and answered your fashion questions, let’s talk about some important London travel tips that will help ensure a successful trip.

👉🏻 Plan Your Day with Attractions Close to Each Other

As I mentioned before, London is a big city. To make the most of your time, plan your days to include attractions that are close to each other. This will cut down on travel time and give you more time to explore.

Must-See Sights in London

While there are so many options for things to do in London , here are my must-see sights.

• Buckingham Palace
• Changing of the Guard
• Westminster Abbey
• Tower of London
• St. Paul’s Cathedral
• Big Ben/Elizabeth Tower
• Kensington Palace
• Hampton Court Palace

👉🏻 London Can Be a Great Base for Day Trips

London is close to some other very popular places in England. As a result, you can easily drive or take the train to reach new destinations on a day trip. Some of the most popular day trips from London include Stonehenge, Salsbury, Bath, Oxford, Windsor Castle, and a Harry Potter Experience/Tour.

👉🏻 Factor in Travel Time

When you look at a map, things may seem fairly close together, however, travel time can take longer than expected due to crowds, waiting on public transport, traffic, and more. When you have a tour booked or want to be someplace at a certain time, make sure you leave plenty of time to get there. It will help decrease stress and make your trip more enjoyable.

👉🏻 Book Tickets in Advance

Don’t waste time waiting in lines. Book your entrance and tour tickets for popular attractions in advance. This is especially important if you plan to travel during peak season (June-August).

Viator is a great resource for finding skip-the-line tickets and tours that will help you make the most of your time.

☑️ Look for tickets and tours on Viator for your trip dates by clicking here .

👉🏻 Get an Oyster Card for Public Transportation

There is no cash option on many of London’s public transport methods. As a result, you’ll need to get an Oyster Card that allows you to pay for these services. This is a smart card that is preloaded to make for convenient payments on things such as buses, Tubes, trams, DLR, London Overground, Elizabeth Line, River Bus, and most National Rail services in London.

It’s quick and easy to order online so you have it before your trip. It’s also budget-friendly as it is cheaper to use than paying for a single trip tickets. Order yours by clicking here .

Recap on for Your London Trip Packing List

Now that you have your London trip packing list as well as some other helpful bonus information, you are all set for your trip to London! I hope that you fall in love with the city like I have and enjoy a wonderful trip.

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I'm Kristin and I was born with a rare form of Muscular Dystrophy, which impacts my mobility and breathing. Despite this challenge, I have travelled across the United States and abroad and want to share my accessible travel information with others.

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The Complete Packing List for London (And the UK)

Posted on Last updated: August 12, 2024

On This packing list for London, you are going to find everything you need to put in your backpack or suitcase to take with you to London and the United Kingdom.

Packing for London is going to really depend heavily on what time of year you are planning to visit London or whether you’re planning to visit London with toddlers . For example, packing for London in the Summer is going to be very different from packing for London in the winter. One thing I would say is that if you want to look good in London without overpacking, then you need to build a capsule wardrobe .

Also, to be clear this is a packing list for  London because that’s where the majority of people are planning to visit in the UK. But it works as a general packing list for the UK. 

I do offer some general advice for packing for different places in the UK further into the article so you can plan accordingly. Packing for a walking trip to Cornwall is going to need some extra thought, whereas if you are just visiting cities like London , Bath , and Liverpool you won’t need anything extra.

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What to wear in The UK

In the UK anything goes.

That said how people dress in the UK really depends on one thing… the weather.

Even in the summer, you can’t be sure it’s not going to be cold and rainy. In the UK hope for the best, but always plan for the worst! That means you are going to need a warm coat , good shoes , jeans , and a few jumpers , no matter the time of year.

What to wear in London

Wondering what to wear in  London? London is pretty hipster, so anything goes. Jeans, dresses, funky boiler suits… wear whatever you like here! 

In London, you will find most people are either wearing business wear or smart casual clothes. London is a pretty fashionable place so if you want to fit in here then maybe leave the hiking pants and boots at home.

Wear jeans , comfy sneakers , and a cute t-shirt with a tailored coat if you want to blend in. London is 100% a city I always pack some chic edgy outfits and nice going out clothes for. 

When packing for London make sure you pack for what you are planning to do in London . If you know you are going to be doing a lot of walking and sightseeing then you are going to need to prioritize packing clothing that is comfortable but still looks good, and of course comfortable yet stylish shoes or sneakers .

If you plan on hitting the town every night then you are going to need some cute outfits. There is almost always a dress code in London bars and clubs. Often no jeans and trainers (sneakers), so do keep that in mind.

What to wear in The Rest Of The UK 

The rest of London is a bit more casual than London. But again you are going to need to think about where you are planning to visit and what you are planning to do there. Use this packing list for London as a guide, but you will need to make adjustments.

If you are visiting mostly cites in the UK then your London wardrobe will be fine. If you are planning on visiting the more rural areas then you will need to pack some more casual clothing, and probably some hiking gear .

The UK has some of the most beautiful hiking, from the Cornish Coas t to the Lake Distric t or the Yorkshire Dales . If you want to explore rural England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland for the matter then you are going to want to pack some good hiking gear and some casual clothes. Your London clothes will be no good here. This is where you need those hiking pants and boots ! 

UK Travel essentials

Does anyone actually leave home without sunglasses? I personally always travel with 2 pairs. One for day to day use that I normally just throw in my bag. Then a second pair that are a bit nicer which I wear when I want to take some nice pics for the gram. I always get my sunglasses from Blenders , Glassesshop , or Knockaround as they are good quality, have UV protection, and are really reasonably priced.

Reusable Water Bottle

Having a good reusable water bottle is essential. If you are still a little worried then get a water bottle with a filter like this for peace of mind. For a bottle with extra tech this one is self-cleaning via UVC light, is USB rechargeable, and turns any water into drinkable freshwater. It is also vacuum-insulated to keep your water cold for up to 12 hours.

Hand Sanitizer

Let’s face it, 2020 changed the way we travel, and there is no going back. Hand sanitizer is something you can no longer travel without and I’m obsessed with this hand sanitizer holder my friend designed. You can buy them in a pack of 2 and the bottles come with it so you can top them up. Not only are they super practical so they clip on your purse or luggage but you can also clip your mask on there too, save throwing it into your backpack! It’s vegan leather and you can choose the cute florals (which I have) or a brown and black combo.

I suggest getting an eco-friendly one for your body and then getting something a little more aggressive like this to spray on your clothing.

You may need to prove you have had any specific vaccines and for some places, you may need malaria pills. There are many vaccines that are strongly advised for travel depending on your location. So a few months before you travel to speak to a medical professional and make sure you were immunized with all of the suggested vaccines.

Please never take medical advice like this from a blogger! Go see a medical professional…

Luggage for UK

It is really up to you what luggage to pack for the UK are you can easily travel here with both a suitcase or a backpack. 

If you plan on covering a lot of ground then I would personally suggest a  60L backpack  and a  small daypack  that can easily be packed when traveling. 

I’ve added images and links for the luggage I have tried and tested in Europe below. 

If security is a concern for you then I highly recommend getting in  Pacsafe backpack  for added security and peace of mind. I also wrote this blog post on  the best digital nomad backpacks  and this one about  carry on luggage , just in case they are useful to you. The  KnackPack  is great for digital nomads with specific space for your tech and all your essentials.

If backpacks are not your thing,  this suitcase with a 20″ laptop pocket  will do wonders for you, and with this coupon  LEVEL8Claire10  you get a 10% discount!

You are also going to need some  packing cubes  to help keep all of your things organized (and squeeze in a few extra items of clothing). Plus a good  laundry bag ,  toiletry bag , and of course a  shopping bag . Alternatively, get a backpack with built-in packing sections like  this one . It hangs like a mini wardrobe too which can be helpful instead of using hotel storage. It’s what I’m personally traveling with these days.

Last but not least, this  travel pillow  with memory foam will be your best friend for long periods of traveling.

Other Useful Things to Pack for London

Over the years backpacking the world I’ve got packing down to a fine art and I have some essential items in my backpack that you might not think of. So here are some things you are going to need that you might not think of!

Laundry Soap and a Nail Brush – Unless you want to be doing laundry every few days, it’s best to just wash out your underwater in the shower each night. To do this I always travel with a bar of laundry soap and a nail brush . It also comes in handy to clean off marks and stains from clothes you are washing.

A Travel Washing Line – I love mine, it’s so handy and takes up no room at all.

A Sewing Kit – When you are traveling sometimes you need to make-do-and-mend.

Mini First Aid Kit – Goes without saying really! I also add in some extras like activated charcoal and other useful pharmaceuticals. 

Carabiner clips –  So useful for attaching things to your backpack!

Head torch – Equally as useful for camping as it is for reading in bed, or trying to find your way home in the dark.

Ear Plug s – If you are planning on staying in hostels you are going to need these!

A Whistle – I know many people worry about safety and want to protect themselves. I like to carry a whistle just in case I need to pull attention. It might not be as effective as pepper spray, but as that is illegal to fly with too many countries, this is a good alternative.

A Door Stop – Worried about safety in your room at night? Use the doorstop to block the door from the inside and make it harder for someone to enter the room.

Silk Sleeping Bag Liner – Another thing that doesn’t take up so much room, but will give you a lot of peace of mind if you need it. Sometimes you might either find yourself chilly or just not wanting to sleep in the bedsheets. So hopping inside a sleeping bag liner helps you get a good night’s sleep, wherever you are…

Umbrella – If you are traveling somewhere tropical it’s likely to rain, but still be hot. Having an umbrella in your bag will keep you dry without making you feel like you will collapse from heat exhaustion!

A padlock – I recommend getting one of these locks so you don’t need to worry about keys. They are TSA approved so you can use them to lock your luggage when flying as well as using it to lock your locker at the hostel.

USD – I always keep an emergency $50 USD hidden somewhere, just in case. USD is the most widely accepted currency, but you will need to ensure the notes are clean and crisp. Many places won’t accept them if they are marked at all.

Quick-dry towel – I have 2, a large one and a small hand size one that I keep clipped to my backpack.

A sarong – I never travel anywhere without at lease 2 sarongs . I use them to replace my towel, hang over my bed in a hostel for privacy. Wrap around my hair when it’s wet, sunbathe on… I could go on and on. I even make a dress out of mine when I’m at the beach.

A scarf – Another multi-use item that doesn’t take up much room. Scarfs are great for covering shoulders from the sun, or when entering churches. It will also help keep you warm, and they look cute!

Yoga Mat – I never travel without my yoga mat. I wrote a whole post to help you choose the best travel yoga mat here .

Spice Bag – If you are planning to do some cooking then I recommend making a spice bag so you don’t end up wasting lots of money or herbs and spices, or eating bland food for the whole of your trip. I put my spices into ziplock bags and then keep them in one of these clear bags . 

Ziplock Bags – I know, I know, more plastic. But they do come in really handy when traveling and you can wash and reuse them so you aren’t throwing them away.

Coffee Flask – Great for keeping hot drinks hot and cold drinks cold. It also saves you having to use disposable cups when you buy a takeaway coffee.

Aeropress – I do love my coffee, so traveling without my Aeropress is not an option haha. This is also another great portable coffeemaker/ mug if you aren’t a fan of the Aeropress. 

Clothing to Pack for London

You can see my full London, UK packing list here on Amazon. And you can also download my free UK packing list here. So I’m going to try and keep this section brief.

UK Summer Packing List

For London and travel to other UK cities, pack smart casual clothes that are lightweight and travel well. In the UK we love prints and patterns so don’t be afraid to add some color into your wardrobe!

Make sure you have some comfy shoes suitable to walk in. It’s also a good idea to pack some nice sandals as well as a pair of shoes or boots you can go out in the evening in. Many places you won’t be allowed in at night wearing sneakers.

Be sure to pack some light sweaters and/ or cardigans, plus a lightweight jacket or coat . I’d also recommend packing a scarf or shawl .

If you are planning on venturing out into the great British countryside then pack some good hiking boots or shoes, even hiking sandals could work. Plus a waterproof coat and some quick-drying hiking clothing .

Shorts , cute dresses , and lightweight trousers are all great options for the UK, no matter where you are.

Summer Packing List

• 1 nice dress
• 1 pair of hiking pants or leggings
• 2 pairs of lightweight pants
• 1 or 2 pairs of jeans (blue and black)
• a pair of denim shorts  
• a pair of quick-dry sports shorts
• Quick-dry sports top
• 2 casual t-shirts
• 4 nice tops to wear out
• Nice shorts  or skirts
• 2 bikinis/ swimsuits
• 7 pairs of underwear
• 4 pairs of socks

UK Winter Packing List

Planning a winter trip to the UK ? You brave person you! 

It’s actually not all that bad, the UK in December all lit up with Christmas lights can actually be really beautiful. When it’s not grey and raining, of course, haha.

It does mean though if you are traveling to London during the winter you will need to pack some warm and cozy layers.

For London and travel to other UK cities, you still want to pack smart casual clothes that will travel well. In the UK winter, go for more muted earthy colors, patterns are still worn a lot. You can pack the same cute dresses you might wear in summer, but just team them with leggings and a chunky cardy !

Make sure you have some , rather than shoes to walk in I was in the UK in winter and they were amazing. Waterproof, warm, and they look great with everything. I also had a pair of these cute ankle boots for going out and if I wanted something a bit smarter.  It’s also a good idea to pack some sneakers for exercising .

I mostly wore jeans , dresses with leggings or thick tights, and big jumpers with leggings. Be sure to pack some light sweaters and/ or cardigans , plus a smart warm jacket or coat. I’d also recommend packing a scarf , hat , and gloves .

If you are planning on venturing out into the great British countryside then pack some good hiking boots plus a waterproof coat , fleece jacket , thermals , quick-drying hiking clothing (lots of layers), and some warm socks .

A favorite for me is the Gamma – Graphene Heated Jacket that works in both warm and cold weather. Use the code CLAIRE10 to get a 10% discount!

Jeans and wooly jumpers are all great options for the UK, no matter where you are.

Winter Packing List

• Casual leggings or tights
• 2 pairs of jeans (blue and black)
• 3 jumpers (2 light and 1 heavy)

Toiletries to Pack for The UK

You can very all of the travel toiletries I recommend here on this Amazon list. Many things you can actually buy in Mexico easily, so I wouldn’t stress too much about buying a lot of toiletries to travel with. But there are some things that are harder to get hold of and expensive in Mexico, so I always try and travel with my own.

• Shampoo bar
• Conditioner
• A bamboo toothbrush or Quip
• Tonge Scraper
• Hand sanitizer
• Sunscreen for face
• Sunscreen for body
• Essential oils ( lavender , tea tree oil , and rosehip oil ) plus carrier .
• Menstrual cup

Technology to take to The UK

Here are some digital things I’d recommend packing for the UK.

Smart Phone  – If you don’t want to take your fancy iPhone traveling, then  this is a great phone with a very good camera for under $300 . It’s what I personally have and shoot a lot of my vlogs on.

Kindle  – Save space by  investing in a kindle  and  kindle unlimited . You will find most of the lonely planet travel guides are available to read for free with the plan. 

Lightweight laptop  and  external hard drive  – I have a  MacAir  which is perfect for traveling. After losing all of my photos a few years ago I also always travel with a  heavy-duty external harddrive .

Camera  and  Tripod  – I travel with  this DSLR  but I also have this  mirrorless camera  which I often take if I want to use something more discreet. I also love  this tripod  as I can use it with all of my cameras (even my phone), plus it’s small and light enough to fit in my daypack.

Backup charger  – I have  these two  and always keep one in my bag.

Travel adaptor  – Get a  worldwide one like this  so you can use it wherever you travel to.

Portable WiFi  – I never travel without my  TEP wireless device . If you can’t live without WiFi I recommend buying or renting one. Or another of my favorites is the  GlocalMe G4  because of its versatility.

UK Travel Guide Planning

🧳 Any recommendations on what I should pack for UK?

Yes! I have created a whole packing guide to UK which you can read  here  and you can also check out my packing list for UK on Amazon  here .

🚗 Where can I book bus or private transportation while I’m in UK?

I strongly recommend using  Bookaway . You can book almost all transport in the major tourist destinations through them online. They don’t just cover buses they also cover shuttles, ferries, and private drivers.

🎫  Where can I buy tickets for museums, attractions, and tours in UK?

I recommend either  Viator  or  GetYour Guide . They have a lot of options!

👩‍⚕️ What is the best insurance to have while traveling?

I recommend using  Heymondo  for a great value policy. The app also offers you 24/7 Dr Chat. For Digital Nomads check out  SafetyWing  digital nomad insurance.

I have also written a blog post covering all my recommended travel insurance  here

✈️ Any flight recommendations?

WayAWay  offers you cheap flights with cashback. You can use this code CLAIRE22 to get 10% off. Otherwise  Skyscanner  or  Expedia  are my go-to flight searching platforms.

📱What do you use for internet connection while traveling?

I’m a big fan of personal WiFi devices and they have saved my ass so many times when traveling. I wrote a full review of the top travel WiFi devices you can read  here . I personally use  GlocalMe  as I can either pop in a physical sim card or use their local carrier.

With regards to my phone connection, I use e-sims while traveling, so rather than having to swap out my regular sim card I can download the app and buy a virtual sim card. I recommend using either Airhub  or  Alosim . Both have great coverage of multiple countries and are very easy to use.

🛏️ What is the best platform to use for booking accommodation?

The 3 best platforms that I normally use are  Booking.com ,  Hotels.com , and  Expedia  They offer great deals and multiple options. I always check all three to be sure of the best deals.

🛅  Do you have any luggage recommendations for traveling?

I do have a complete list of the best packing and luggage products that I recommend, you can check the list  here . I’m currently traveling with  this suitcase  and  this backpack. 

What to Read in The United Kingdom

Lonely Planet's Ultimate United Kingdom Travelist

Ultimate United Kingdom Travelist is a great companion on your trip to the UK. You can get it before your trip to help you plan out all of the best places to go. It’s a go to bucket list of the not to miss places to visit in the UK.

It’s full of beautiful photography and it goes much further than just the typical tourist traps and includes everything from coastal walks, music festivals, and hidden away pubs you must visit. 

Lady in Waiting: My Extraordinary Life in the Shadow of the Crown

If you are interested in learning more about the upper echelons of the British aristocracy then this book abut the life of Anne Glenconner is a great read.

She has long been at the center of the royal circle as a life long friend of the Queen and her sister. Her father was the Earl of Leicester and controlled one of the largest estates  in England . 

Sadly Anne turned out to be “the greatest disappointment” to her father and she was unable to inherit his great estate and instead make her own way in the world while surviving the vipers of court life! And interesting read to see how the ‘other half’ live.

Victorious Century: The United Kingdom, 1800-1906 (The Penguin History of Britain Book 8)

The UK that you will see today is a product of the post WWII industrial revolution.

Nineteenth-century Britain experienced an unprecedented series of changes in the wake of the war. Cities grew fast and revolutions in transports, communication, science, and the way people lived happened in quick succession. 

Added to these changes was a growing skepticism of religion, a questioning of power resulting in political and social unrest.

In spite if these turbulent times Britain remained strong on a global level which saw it quickly rise as a global leader… this was of course before Brexit!

Bridget Jones's Diary

If you are looking for a light read to accompany yo on your UK vacation then Bridget Jones’s Diary is the perfect literary companion. Even if you have watched the movie , the book is soooo much better.

Sorry!: The English and Their Manners

Us brits are legit obsessed with manners to a fault. Seriously we love nothing more that throwing as many please and thank you’s in to a sentence as we can make fit. And don’t even get me started with our obsession with apologizing for EVERYTHING! 

But our obsession doesn’t just stop there, there is so much more to British etiquette most of which will confuse the hell out of visitors from foreign lands. 

In this book you will get an illuminating insight in to all of the social rules we are governed by, from never putting your elbows on the table to holding open doors. But this book goes deeper and shines a light on where this crazy obsession with good manners comes from. Its a interesting and quirky must read.

White Teeth: A Novel

Looking for a novel to sink your teeth into on those long cross country train journeys in the UK. White Teeth is it.

Set against London’ s racial and cultural tapestry, venturing across the former empire and into the past as it barrels toward the future, White Teeth  revels in the ecstatic hodgepodge of modern life, flirting with disaster, confounding expectations, and embracing the comedy of daily existence.

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Home » Europe » United Kingdom » Backpacking Guide

Backpacking UK Travel Guide 2024

Welcome to the United Kingdom! The land of imposing castles, dark humour, afternoon tea, rolling countryside, beautiful National Parks, buzzing cities, vivid green landscapes and … four different countries! 

Backpacking England and the United Kingdom as a whole is one of the most incredible adventures to be had across the whole of Europe and you’re in luck – I was born in England and have spent plenty of time camping, hiking, partying and exploring my motherland, so I can give you plenty of insider travel tips…

Whether you are travelling around Europe already or just planning to visit the UK, a backpacking trip through England, Wales, Scotland, and/or Northern Ireland is a truly fantastic way to spend a few weeks or a few months (or more!). The United Kingdom is very accessible to travellers, mega diverse, suuuper GREEN, full of outdoor adventure opportunities and the perfect spot for a culture vulture! 

This backpacking UK travel guide will show you the way to create an awesome budget backpacking trip across the 4 home nations! Get the low-down on where to go, travel costs, itineraries, trekking destinations, UK travel hacks, and recommendations on where to stay along the way…

The Broke Backpacker is supported by you . Clicking through our links may earn us a small affiliate commission, and that's what allows us to keep producing free content 🙂 Learn more .

Why Go Backpacking in The UK?

From the remote corners of the Scottish wilderness and the sheep-lined Welsh backroads to the imposing Northern Irish coast and the iconic English pubs that will leave you with memories to last a lifetime: a trip backpacking through the UK is full of epic surprises for the worthy adventurer.

Before we kick off – a quick geography lesson:

• England is in The UK.
• The UK is made up of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
• Great Britain is made up of England, Scotland, and Wales.

They are all one country, and separate countries at the same time. It’s confusing, I know. Even we get confused.

Just, whatever you do, don’t call us all English. If you’re travelling Scotland , Ireland, or Wales, this is a good way to get your food spit in. These countries are steeped in incredible history and unique culture in their own rights.

For every castle and well-trodden pagan path, there are incredible soaring skyscrapers and open-minded yet dark humour. Diversity filters through everything that the UK is, from the people to the different cultures, cuisines, landscapes, and things to do. If you’re coming here to see picture postcard England, sip tea in a cottage and wander through the rolling green countryside… we got that! 

But there’s more than that, we’ve got modern gritty cities, miles and miles of impressive and diverse coastline, events for all types of people every weekend and a history many outside of the British Isles might not be aware of. So, with so much to discover, it’s just about time to jump right in!

Best Travel Itineraries for Backpacking England and the UK

Looking for a UK backpacking route? Whether you have a few weeks or a few months, these UK backpacking itineraries help you make the most of your time in this diverse region. These backpacking routes can easily be combined or customised, especially with a combination of the UK’s best hostels .

Even though we’re a pretty small country, we’re also densely packed full of exciting and interesting places to visit. From hitting the coastline to hiking in the mountains, exploring cities or wandering through sleepy villages, you can cover a lot of ground in a short amount of time. But don’t underestimate the roads and how often you’ll want to stop.

1-Week Travel Itinerary for The UK : The Common Route

First up you’ll start with two days to visit London , exploring all the historical and cultural gems the capital has to offer. Be sure to tick off places like Buckingham Palace, The Tower of London and Tower Bridge, The London Eye, Westminster Abbey, St Paul’s Cathedral and Big Ben on a busy around the main tourist areas of the city. 

On your second day explore some of the other areas like Camden Town, Hyde Park, The Sky Garden and Trafalgar Square. If you have time you can also call in at one of the museums, pick from places like The British Museum, The Natural History Museum, or a personal favourite, The Victoria & Albert Museum. 

Next up it’s time for a change of pace as you grab the train from Paddington Station to the town of Chippenham in the Cotswolds . Renting a car for this and the next part of the journey would be ideal, but there are several local buses connecting each town and village. 

Spend two days wandering around the quaint villages of the area. I highly recommend Bourton-on-the-Water, Stow-on-the-Wold, Castle Combe, Bibury, Chipping Campden, and Cirencester. 

Continue south to get some coastal and beach action in Cornwall . Be sure to include both lively surfer towns like Newquay alongside sleepy fishing villages like St. Ives to get the full experience. 

Next up, catch a long train to stay in Manchester for a few days, AKA The heart of the North. Explore the history of the Industrial Revolution at the Museum of Science and Industry, be enchanted by John Rylands Museum, and be a cool kid in the Northern Quarter.

This is a great place to end your trip with its good transport connections, or if you want to extend, there’s plenty more to explore in the North and up into Scotland…

2-Week Travel Itinerary for The UK: The Real GB

This 2-week itinerary takes the 7-day tour and expands on it to include another few important destinations. 

Again, it makes sense to start in London . It’s the city with the best transport connections and the perfect introduction to the culture and history of our multicultural and multifaceted country. You’ll be right into the swing of things ticking off some of the most famous landmarks over two days. 

Now you’ll have a little more time for a road trip in The Cotswolds where you can escape the busy city and see the quiet and quaint side of the UK. Here you’ll be greeted with the England most people imagine when they dream of visiting. Two days gives you enough time to negotiate the narrow lanes and limited public transport.

You’ll see yet another change in scenery as we stay on the same track as the shorter itinerary above by heading further south to the stunning beaches and sleepy harbours of Cornwall . Having your own transport here is the best way to visit the many coves, beaches, coastal walks and seaside villages. 

Moving back northwards, it’s time to spend a couple of days visiting Bristol & Bath , two cities that are super close and yet offer such different vibes. Effortlessly cool Bristol mixes modern cafe culture with the fascinating and sometimes challenging history surrounding the harbour. Bath on the other hand is a Roman spa town where you can indulge in some relaxation! 

Crossing over into Wales the impressive and rugged coastline of Pembrokeshire is a must-visit. Here you can also visit the UK’s smallest city in St Davids and hear the rhythmic tones of the Welsh language over a wonderful couple of days.

Head to Cardiff and jump on a train to Manchester . Here you can experience the diversity and unique charms of the Northern Powerhouse with its gritty and post-industrial, yet fun and modern vibes. With travel time this will take around a day and a half to 2 days. 

Visiting York is iconic and and easy trip from Manchester. Step back in time as you spend a day exploring places like the Tudor Street of The Shambles and its almost entirely intact ancient city walls! 

Finish up your tour by crossing the border into Scotland to spend the remaining day and a half of your trip in Edinburgh . You’ll get a taste of the Scottish spirit in the beautiful capital city where you can visit places like The Royal Mile and Edinburgh Castle.

1-Month Travel Itinerary for The UK: Yes, I’ve Been to The UK

Once again we’re going to begin our journey in London as it’s the most accessible city for overseas visitors. This time give yourself an extra day and instead spend 3 days taking in the main sights as well as getting off the beaten track and discovering some lesser visited places. 

From the capital head down to the South Coast to the fun and funky city of Brighton , known for its environmentally conscious politics and being the LGBTQIA+ capital of the UK. Here you’re guaranteed to have a good time with great vibes. Spend a couple of days exploring the city and the nearby Jurassic Coast . 

From the Southeast of England head over to the Southwest and take 5 days to explore the various towns, cities, villages and beaches of The Cotswolds , Bristol , Bath , and Cornwall . This area will give you a great range of experiences both culturally and in terms of the changing geography. 

Next up it’s time to cross over into a different country, wonderful Wales. Spend the next 5 days taking in its stunning landscapes like the cliffs of Pembrokeshire , the beaches of Anglesea and the soaring mountains of Snowdonia . You might even pick up a bit of the local language. 

The next 5 days are all about the North, the real heart of the UK! Get to know the gritty and hip cities of Manchester , Liverpool , and York . As well as having the friendliest locals (God loves a scouser), obviously the football stadiums are infamous .

If you’re into hiking then also be sure to head to the incredible Lake District for a couple of days in the mountains. Continue northwards and into yet another country with a distinctive culture and independent spirit, Scotland.

Spend a couple of days in the capital of Edinburgh taking in its beautiful old streets and imposing castle. After that rent out a car and head into the Highlands where you can use the town of Glencoe as a base for hiking and exploring the many nearby lochs and mountains. 

Fly from Edinburgh over to Belfast , the capital of yet another country that makes up the UK. Here you should take a Black Cab tour and learn about the turbulent history of this small but mighty country. Whilst here finish your UK backpacking trip by heading to the incredible Causeway Coast where you can brave the Carrick-a-rede rope bridge, Game of Thrones filming locations and The Giant’s Causeway.

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Best Places To Visit in the United Kingdom

So now you know – all four countries in the country of The United Kingdom – England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland each have their own very distinct national heritage, culture, and even language (in the case of Wales and parts of Scotland), the UK is as its name suggests is a United Kingdom.

And whilst there is a (somewhat) friendly rivalry, we’re all in it together. For now, anyway…

You will find that each region has its own unique draw and charm. 

Discover some of the best hiking in all of Europe and some of the most isolated areas of the country in Scotland. Explore England’s awe-inspiring National Parks and busy cosmopolitan cities. Get off the beaten path in Wales whilst roaming the rugged coastline and beautiful small villages. Cosy up to a pint in Northern Ireland and discover the turbulent history but unwavering spirit of this often overlooked country. 

The UK is relatively small so you can take in quite a lot in a short period of time, especially if you have your own wheels. England receives a vast amount of tourism traffic every year. A vast majority of those people only visit London, Stonehenge, and a few other well-known places. There is much more to the UK than that! 

By the time you finish this UK travel guide, you will have a solid idea of what those places are all about…Now let us look at some of your itinerary options for your adventure backpacking in England and the UK.

Backpacking London

London is one big sightseeing magnet, let’s be honest! I might be a proud Northerner but I do love a trip down to the capital. People from the world over come to England just to experience London. I don’t blame them, London has some pretty impressive sights, an incredible public transport network and is so big and diverse that there’s just something for everyone to enjoy. 

However, there are two major drawbacks: tourist hordes and the cost of backpacking in London. London is one of the most expensive cities in the world to live in. Fortunately, there is a plethora of backpacker hostels in London . Also, there are millions free fun things to do within the city. 

Take in some of the beautiful historical monuments like Big Ben, Tower Bridge, The London Eye, Westminster Abbey, and the grandass fucking Buckingham Palace and say “Hi” to Charlie whilst you’re there! Sure, they’ll be a ton of tourists there no matter what time of year you visit, but there’s good reason for that and you’ve got to hit up the top spots and there’s no shame in that! 

However, once you’ve ticked off all the major spots, there are plenty of other places to see including going for a walk through Hyde Park or along the River Thames. Or how about climbing the 311 steps to the top of “The Monument” for a budget panoramic view over the city? There are some pretty incredible places to visit in London that you’ll find relatively crowd-free! 

London is also famous for its delicious and relatively cheap international cuisine. Be sure to grab an Indian curry, try some Pakistani food and indulge in authentic Jamaican Jerk during your visit. In fact, if you’re looking for some wallet-friendly digs, then some of London’s best neighbourhoods to stay in include many ethnic enclaves. 

In order to fully appreciate the city you must get off the tourist trail and see more of London off the beaten path. Check out the lesser-known pie and mash shops. Visit the biggest Hindu temple outside of India at BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir or you can even kayak the river Thames!

If you want to take a cheeky day trip from London and stay somewhere more chill, check out the wonderful Canterbury Airbnb’s , they’re mega.

Backpacking Manchester

Alright, now we’re talking! Ok, I’ll be honest, I’m from Manchester, so I might just be a teeny bit biased here, but fuck it, I’m going to say it, it’s the best city in the UK! Where do I even start, well, welcome to the “Northern Powerhouse”, the home to Oasis, the place where freaking communism was invented and the beating heart of working-class post-industrial Britain. 

Ok, London has the classic “sights” but they’re all just stuck-up suits man, Manchester has heart, it’s got Northern soul, we’re gritty, cool, feisty but friendly and we’re not afraid to show our civic pride! Best of all, whereas London is swarming with so many tourists it’s hard to figure out who is a local and what is actually authentic, Manchester is just here doing our own thing to our own rhythm. Here you’ll find plenty of space to enjoy every aspect of our wild and unique city! 

If you’re looking for history then a stop off at the Hogwart’s-esqe John Rylands Library is a must, this cathedral to literature will leave you spellbound. Next up is Chetham’s Library, where Engels and Marx got their heads together to draft their thoughts on a new idea based on the condition of the factory workers of the city: Communism! 

A trip to the Museum of Science and Industry and the imposing Castlefield Viaduct allows visitors to discover the city’s role in the industrial revolution as well as its Roman origins. A trip to the Manchester Museum and the People’s History Museum are also recommended. 

Manchester today though firmly has its head in the future with diversity, inclusivity and open-mindedness being the new beat that our drum bangs to. Meet cool travellers in Manchester’s hostels , explore areas like Chinatown or Curry Mile before having an unforgettable night out along Canal Street in the Gay Village. Hang out with the cool kids down in the trendy Northern Quarter or the recently redeveloped warehouses of Ancoats. 

We’ve even got two Premier League football teams and the biggest indoor music venue in the country (with another on the way), so there’s always a buzz in Manchester (See what I did there? The bee is the symbol of Manchester!) 

In terms of food, we’ve got it all! Recommended places include Dishoom, Northern Soul Grilled Cheese, Pieminister, Nell’s Pizza, What The Pitta (for cheap veggie eats), Tampopo, Bundobust, Tokyo Ramen, The Refuge, El Rincon de Rafa and gosh… so many more places!

Backpacking Brighton

London is fun but it can be super tiring and, if I’m honest, a bit overwhelming. Brighton might just be the coolest city you visit whilst backpacking England and that isn’t just my bias.

Spend a weekend walking around Brighton’s breezy and easy ‘city’ centre. Being set right on the coast, you can easily take a load off by the sea in one of the sunniest places in the UK!

Brighton is famous for being probably the most open-minded, accepting and modern-thinking city in the UK, all whilst retaining that classic Victorian seaside charm. It’s the LGBTQIA+ capital of the UK, which means it’s always bursting with colour, acceptance and open arms. It is also home to the only Green Party parliamentary seat in the country too. 

Here you’ll find a multitude of fun vintage shops where you can score some new threads for your travels. In addition to those, there are some excellent cafes, tattoo studios, parks, record stores, music shops, and cool concert venues. 

The old lanes are a fantastic place to shop for unique and weird things and there are plenty of cool bars to enjoy a drink – some of my favourites; The Hope and Ruin, Fishbowl, and The Old Star.

Be sure to walk around the gardens at the Royal Pavilion, this Grade I listed dates back to 1787 and was the one-time royal residence. It is built in a unique style prevalent in India during the 19th century when it was expanded to its current layout. I recommend bringing a picnic and finding a spot on the grass to eat, but you can take tours inside if you like. 

Brighton is full of characters of every shade. There is some great people-watching to be had. Find a spot near the Steine Garden to have a coffee, listen to a busker or two and just watch the colourful humans pass by.

Of course, you’ve got to spend time by the sea whilst in Brighton. Whether that be swimming and sunbathing on the pebble beach or exploring the Iconic Brighton Palace Pier which dates back to 1899 and is home to a fun amusement park. Also, be sure to keep an eye out for the eerie ruined West Pier. Thankfully there are some great hostels in Brighton if you’re looking for somewhere affordable to stay.

Backpacking Bristol & Bath

Bristol is a city straddling the River Avon in the southwest of England with a long, rich and eventful maritime history. Here ships set sail for the new world, engineering marvels were invented and the heights of Victorian ingenuity reached. It was also home to the famous pirate “Blackbeard”! 

Although it’s good to have some context on the darker side of the history if you’re staying in Bristol , specifically related to its role in the transatlantic slave trade. A fantastic, insightful, and important exhibition can be found at the M Shed which shines a light on the often overlooked victims of the rise of the British Empire. 

Modern Bristol however is all about inclusivity, hipster vibes, independent shops, cafes and restaurants as well as groundbreaking artistry (think Banksy!). The port and harbourside, though still working to this day, have also been transformed into a cultural hub with many museums exploring the local social and industrial heritage

The old warehouses around the port have been renovated and now ooze all things bohemian, fashionable, and delicious. Organic food shops, taco shacks, Indonesian fusion restaurants, farm-to-table cafes, you name it, you can find it there.

Bristol’s cathedral is also pretty impressive and when the weather turns to shit, it is a great place to be mesmerized by the unending number of detailed arches that make up the ceiling.

Bristol is a great place to spend a weekend and is also a short train ride away from the city of Bath, another wonderful place to visit on your backpacking trip to the UK. Of course, with a name like that, you won’t be surprised to find it’s famous for its natural hot spring water and Roman baths!

Backpacking Yorkshire

Ahh Yorkshire, “God’s Own County” as the locals like to say. Ok, so they might talk a bit strangely in these parts, but this massive area of the UK has some of the most incredible history, landscapes and cities to visit in the country. If you’re looking for an authentic experience, then Yorkshire is a great place to find it. 

In terms of cities, there are many to choose from, but you’ll want to head to York first. This ancient Roman city is a real sight to behold. Its imposing city walls that have been intact for almost 1000 years and give off real ‘Games of Thrones’ vibes!

A stroll down “The Shambles” a street lined with wonky timber-framed overhanging shops from the Tudor period, is not to be missed. Then there’s the imposing York Minster, one of the most important and impressive cathedrals in the entire country. 

It’s not just cities. In fact, Yorkshire is best known for its rolling countryside, imposing mountain peaks and quaint villages. From Hippy Hebden Bridge to Haworth, the home of the Bronte sisters, there are plenty of places to visit. 

I seriously recommend you bring some solid hiking boots for Ingleton Falls or the limestone cliffs of Malham Cove (calling all Harry Potter fans!). Put yourself to the test over the mountains of Whernside, Ingleborough and Pen-y-Ghent to make up the gruelling Yorkshire Three Peaks challenge. If you wanna visit The Pennines you could also stay in a lovely Airbnb in Hebden Bridge .

Being such a massive county you might be surprised to know it also includes some of the most impressive coastline too. Situated in the East of the UK, the Yorkshire Coast offers a variety of different attractions. If you’re looking for drama then the rugged white cliffs of Flamborough rise high above the crashing waves below. 

Then there’s Whitby with its ruined cathedral and tales of Dracula. Quaint seaside villages like Staiths and Robin Hoods Bay are also not to be missed. If you’re looking for some sand between your toes then head on over to Filey or find a nice Airbnb in Scarborough .

Backpacking The Peak District National Park

If you’re looking for some popular with locals, but relatively off the beaten track with tourists kinda hiking, then The Peak District is where it’s at! Located mostly in Derbyshire but scrapping areas of Cheshire, Yorkshire and Greater Manchester at the southern end of the Pennines, it’s sorta in the Midlands technically speaking but the North has pretty much laid claim to it! 

Often known as the playground of Manchester due to its close proximity to the city, it’s been known locally as an escape from the oppressive nearby cities particularly during the cruel and smog-filled Victorian era. Other nearby cities include Sheffield, Nottingham and Derby. In fact, staying in a cottage in Nottingham is a great way to visit the Peaks. 

Split into two sections, the White and the Dark Peak, it offers a unique opportunity to see some of the various different geological features of the UK in one location. The northern “Dark Peak” is so called because of its characteristic Grit Stone ridges and peaks such as the area’s highest point, Kinder Scout. The southern “White Peak” is instead known for its limestone caves, cliffs and valleys such as Dovedale and the impressive Chrome Hill which featured in the final season of Peaky Blinders. 

As you can imagine, there are plenty of amazing hikes in the Peak District and one of our favourites is Mam Tor in the village of Castleton. This short but steep hike is a classic and you’ll be rewarded with uninterrupted vistas of the region from its summit. Be sure to visit the ancient castle that gives the town its name as well as stopping off at the stunning Chatsworth house and grabbing a tart in Bramwell!

Backpacking Liverpool

As a Manc, I might get shot for saying this, but I bloody love Liverpool! This port city on the North West coast of England has a real charm all of its own. Sure, it might be better known as the home of the Beatles and 2 pretty massive football clubs, but there’s so much more it has to offer. 

There might be a few narrow-minded folks who baulk at the idea of visiting Liverpool, but let me tell you, they’ve never been and they’re living off outdated stereotypes! Their loss! Book yourself into one of the many budget-friendly hostels in Liverpool and get ready to be swept off your feet! 

The city was made the EU Capital of Culture in 2008 and underwent a massive renaissance that shows no signs of slowing down. The heart of the “tourist” area of the city is the historic Royal Albert Dock, this groundbreaking series of warehouses has been transformed into restaurants, bars, cafes and museums. 

Close by is The Beatles museum and their twice daily “Magical Mystery Tour”, for fans of the Fab 4, this is a fantastic way to learn more about the band and the city they grew up in. The Museum of Liverpool is also a great place to discover the unique history of the city. 

Whilst exploring Peir Head be sure to keep an eye out for the “Three Graces”, the Port of Liverpool Building, the Cunard Building and of course, the iconic Royal Liver Building with its two clock towers crowned by Liver Birds, the symbol of the city. 

Liverpool is buzzing every night of the week with events on and great boozers to hit the town if the feeling takes you! There are some great places to eat out too from the gritty and cool Baltic Market to the independent establishments of Bold Street, which also has some great shopping and is one of the best areas to stay in Liverpool too. 

If you fancy getting out of the city then the nearby beaches of Crosby and Formby with their massive sand dunes and colonies of native red squirrels offer a fun escape. There’s even the Sandstone Trail, a 3-day hike is neighbouring Cheshire that takes in some of the stunning local scenery. 

Backpacking The Lake District National Park

Backpacking England will bring you in touch with some of the country’s most beautiful landscapes. The scenes that make up the Lake District National Park are probably some of the most epic the UK has to offer outside of Scotland! The Lake District offers some of the UK’s most incredible hiking and is also home to the tallest mountain in England, Scafell Pike , as well as the most fun, Helvellyn ! 

As you might have guessed, the region is defined by its rugged fell mountains and its glacial ribbon lakes. There is plenty of different hiking from technical scrambles and hard rock climbing to short hill walks and gentle strolls around places like Buttermere. Not only that but you can enjoy canyoning, kayaking, mountain biking and SUP boarding too. 

In addition to more hiking than you could possibly do in a month, there are some quaint and sleepy little villages worth checking out as well. Market towns such as Kendal, Ambleside and Keswick are great places to stay in the Lake District and make perfect bases for exploring the area and are home to traditional pubs, a few hostels, and outdoor equipment shops if you are in need of any gear.

The Mosedale Horseshoe, Haystacks, Helvellyn via Striding Edge, The Old Man of Coniston, and Scafell Pike are among my favourite hikes to do in the Lake District.

Backpacking The Cotswolds

If you’re looking for that stereotypical “picture-postcard, jolly old England” then this is where you’ll find it! The gentle rolling countryside of the Cotswolds with its thatched roof cottages, quaint villages, and cute place names that Yanks will most certainly not be able to pronounce is the England of your dreams! Forget gritty city streets that challenge your perception of Blightly, this area plays right into those preconceptions and it does it well! 

Visiting The Cotswolds is to tour of a number of different villages surrounded by farmland (some of which you may have seen Jeremy Clarkson pratting around in on Amazon!) Ideally, you’ll have a car as this is the sort of place where you have to wait 3 weeks for the bus!

Your first stopping point will need to be Bourton-on-the-Water, the “Venice” of The Cotswolds. Unsurprisingly it’s set on a river and has an overwhelming surplus of low stone bridges.

If you time it right, you might just get to see the famous river football match, a ludicrous but oh so eccentrically British event. There’s also a fun and incredibly detailed model village there that’s fun for those of us who like to pretend to be Godzilla on the weekends.

Just me? welll ok then!

Other must-visit areas include the market town of Stow-on-the-Wold with views from St. Edward’s Church and its insane tree-framed doorway (search it!). Bibury with its row of 17th century weavers cottages is another popular spot as is Chipping Campden and it’s fine examples of well preserved Medival architecture. Then there’s the “capital of the Cotswolds”; Cirencester with its impressive Roman Amphitheatre and ancient Abbey.

Backpacking Cornwall & Devon

If it’s dreamy coastline and paradise-like beaches you’re looking for, then you might have thought the UK was the wrong place, well, welcome to the Southeast! Here we’ve got everything from a booming surf culture to Insta-worthy, pastel-painted harbours for your snapping pleasure. Cornwall and Devon are the domestic travel capital of the UK, but despite that, there are still plenty of areas on this sparsely populated peninsular that you can have all to yourself.

There’s an endless array of tiny inlets, deserted local beaches and tiny villages to explore when you wander around this region. If you have a car, road trips around Cornwall become insanely beautiful adventures. You’ll see things that most tourists couldn’t dream of.

St. Ives is a classic destination with clear waters, bobbing boats in the harbour and a beach to rival the Seychelles! Next up is Newquay, home to the best surfing beaches in the UK .

It’s got a more fun and youthful vibe than some of the more sleepy villages. Another of my favourite spots is the Lizard Peninsula with its rugged coastline and incredible turquoise bays.

Sitting just above Cornwall, the county of Devon offers some of the most incredible coastal regions in the entire country. This rural area however is often a little quieter than further south and has a wider range of landscapes to explore too.

The stunning Dartmoor National Park offers everything from Neolithic tombs to surreal rock formations and cliffs carved by wind and rain over millennia. There are gorgeous Airbnbs in Torquay and Torbay if staying by the beach you’re after, and Dawlish or Lyme Regis if quaint seaside towns are more your vibe.

Backpacking Wales

No backpacking trip through the UK would be complete without a visit to Wales. Though Wales has been under English control for the last 1000 years or more, Wales has maintained its unique identity and independent spirit wonderfully. 

Welsh is commonly spoken throughout the country, especially in the smaller villages in the North and so find signs in English and Welsh. Wales is home to some truly breathtaking places in the UK , impressive castles, plenty of sheep, fantastical coastal regions, and a few interesting big cities too!

You can explore a small portion of Wales in a week, and quite thoroughly in two or three. Again if you have rented a campervan, you can really cover some ground. I recommend dedicating most if not all of your time backpacking Wales to experiencing the glorious UK National Parks , doing heaps of hiking, and taking the time to stop and see a few quaint villages along the way as well as braving a dip or two in the ocean. 

Some of my favourite areas that you really should visit include the immense and rugged Pembrokeshire Coast , and the wonderful island of Anglesea with its beautiful beaches if you’re looking for a coastal experience. Then you’ve got the incredible peaks of Snowdonia National Park which includes two of my favourite scrambles, Crib Goch and Tryfan .

Backpacking Scotland

Ahh bonnie, wee Scotland. A visit over the border is the perfect way to really get off the beaten track and embrace the wild landscape of the UK. Whilst it might be better known for the highlands (we’ll get to that in a minute), Scotland has several impressive, beautiful and passion-filled cities to explore too.

Edinburgh is the perfect place to start your Scottish adventure as it’s well-connected and offers the perfect way to ease into this stunning country. Be sure to stroll along the Royal Mile, wander the imposing Edinburgh Castle and hike up an extinct volcano just above Parliament!

The nearby city of Glasgow with its grittier attitude and world-famous football derby is the perfect antidote – as travelling to Edinburgh does feel a bit too posh to be proper Scotland!

Head next to The Highlands. Stops in Fort William to tackle the UK’s tallest mountain, Ben Nevis , Glencoe for incredible waterfalls, lochs, glens, and towering peaks and the Isle of Skye for the landscape you thought only existed in Star Wars are a must.

Don’t forget the coast either: Scotland might not be a tropical paradise, but it does boast some of the most stunning white sand beaches in the entire country, even Europe! Just pack a wetsuit and you’ll be reet.

If you’ve got the time, the North Coast 500 traces the coastline through some world-class beaches, dramatic rugged cliffs, impossible-looking rock formations and centuries-old lochside castles. It’s truly a stunning trip.

Backpacking Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland makes up a small part of the country as a whole, but there are still plenty of interesting things to get into there. If you have a few extra weeks to spare on your UK trip, backpacking Ireland won’t disappoint you!

In fact, if you want to see one of the most interesting, emotive, and fascinating areas of the UK – or if you just want to go to the pub and get pissed – then Northern Ireland is perfect for you. 

I should mention, that if you don’t already know what “The Troubles” are, then I highly recommend doing some reading up just to get some context – and also, not to put your foot in it!

There are a lot more positives to this little country, but it is worth noting that it is historically divided between the Protestant Loyalists who identify as being part of the UK and the Catholic Unionists who consider themselves to be Irish. 

One of the most interesting things to do whilst staying in Belfast is taking a Black Cab tour of the murals in the different areas of the city to get a full insight into the culture and history of the country. Stormont Parliament is also another place you can take a tour of and it goes into some more of the political history and reconciliations. 

Outside of Belfast, Northern Ireland offers some of the most dramatic coastlines in the whole of the UK. The Giant’s Causeway and the surrounding Causeway Coast are UNESCO-listed, no matter the weather you’ll be left awe-inspired by this rugged and wild region. Another fun spot to visit along the way is the Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge that hangs 100ft above the crashing waves below. There are also various “Game of Thrones” filming locations in this region including Dark Hedges to visit.

Getting off the Beaten Path in England and the UK

The UK is all and all quite small and yet it’s still home to 65 million people! That said, it doesn’t take too much extra effort to ditch the crowds and experience the UK off the beaten path. I advise you to spend as much time as humanly possible exploring the remote sections of the coast in addition to the national parks.

In Scotland, the opportunities to get off the beaten path are endless. If you have the time I recommend exploring the highlands and scoping out the Scottish islands.

If you can swing it, visit the Shetlands. You won’t be disappointed that you did.

That being said there are heaps of areas in Wales, England, and especially Northern Ireland to explore too. Many of the smaller cities, towns, and villages are pretty much void of tourists and if you avoid the most popular mountains and hiking trails then you’ll likely not see another soul on your trek… well, you’ll likely come across some sheep!

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10 Top Things To Do in The UK

There are heaps of things to do across the 4 countries of the UK, from taking in the sights to hitting the trails, wandering along the coast, or discovering the mysterious history of this ancient land. So, let’s take a closer look…

1. Find hidden gems in London

Look, you already know about LDN. Many of the top things to do in London are even free, like wandering along the Thames and taking in many of the historic and iconic buildings such as The Houses of Parliament, The London Eye, and Tower Bridge.

But when you dig a little deeper in London , that’s when you’ll see something that your typical tourist doesn’t. Keep your eyes peeled, ask people for their favourite haunts, and keep a very open mind.

2. Coast to coast

Being an island – surrounded by the sea – it sometimes comes as a surprise to many visiting the British Isles that we do have some pretty epic coastline. If you’re looking for world-class beaches, then be sure to hit up Cornwall, Scotland, or Northern Wales. If you’re looking for craggy, dramatic scenes then head to Pembrokeshire or The Causeway Coast.

3. Pub crawl until you’re crawling

Few things in life are more rewarding than crushing a challenging hike only to be immediately rewarded with a tasty beer. The best pubs in the UK are the ones you find right at the end of an epic hike, your weary body with be rewarded with hearty pub grub, a roaring fire, proper ale and some good craic!

Top tips for pubs are to avoid chains like Wetherspoons, never wear football shirts unless you’re from somewhere cool like Argentina, and head for cosy local establishments in the countryside!

4. King of the castle, king of the castle

Yes, the British monarchy’s excessive power goes way back.

Step back in time and explore some of the UK’s medieval heritage in the form of epic castles. You can even stay in some of them…

If you’re looking for the best then you’ve got to get out of England and head over the border to see the castles in Ireland , Wales, and Scotland. What better way to stem English rule than building a massive fortress… (note: sarcasm).

My favourites include Conwy and Pembroke Castles in Wales, and Edinburgh and Eilean Donan Castles in Scotland. In England, I highly recommend Warwick and Lindisfarne Castle. And although it’s kinda expensive, The Tower of London’s history is mind-blowing.

5. Try typical British food: fish & chips and … chicken tikka masala…

Ok so everyone knows about Fish & Chips, but not everyone knows where to actually get the proper gear from. And I can tell you now, if you’ve only had it in some tourist pub in London, then sorry mate, but that’s not it.

In order to have a proper chippy you’ve got to leave The South. (Sorry guys!)

Then into some pretty ramshackle-looking local town. Ask for a hearty amount of salt, vinegar, mushy peas and/or gravy (curry sauce also accepted) and you’ve got it. Welcome to Britain.

Oh, one more thing! You might think that the humble chippy is the national dish of the UK, well you’d be wrong! In fact, the most popular dish amongst Brits is the Chicken Tikka Masala, we do love a good curry over here! This dish was invented by Indian immigrants to suit the British palette and it’s safe to say it’s been a hit and for me is a true celebration of multiculturalism.

6. Get to know cities outside of London

London is great and all, but it’s not actually the be-all and end-all of the UK! In fact, if you want to see a more genuine, friendly, authentic and picturesque version of the UK, then you best high tail it out of the big smoke.

There are some other pretty buzzing metropolises around the UK. As well as the obvious, Manchester, Edinburgh, Belfast, Cardiff, Liverpool… check out Leeds , Newcastle, and Bath.

All of these offer a great mix of history as well as being modern cities with great vibes of their own. Then there are some smaller cities such as Salisbury, Stirling and of course, St. Davids, the smallest city in the UK with a population of less than 2000 people!

Lincoln boasts one of the finest Airbnbs I’ve ever had the pleasure of staying in. With breathtaking views, a snug bedroom, and all the amenities you could desire, it’s a true gem not to be missed!

7. Soak in the atmosphere at a footy game!

What’s the main religion of the UK? That’s right, it’s football… (If you call it soccer then we will have no choice but to forcefully deport you.)

There’s not much else that is as sacred as the beautiful game here and picking a team is a surefire way to either stoke up some controversy or make some friends for life! Just be careful where you wear your new shirt.

Whilst watching a Premier League game will either cost you a kidney or you’ll end up watching Spurs (COYG!), catching a local game is a much more authentic experience and it’s both easier on the wallet and easier to come by. If you’re here during the football season (Aug-May) then research some local football league teams and grab yourself an experience you won’t forget.

Oh, you should also know that despite being the “United” Kingdom we are very much independent countries when it comes to football. England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland compete under different football associations…

8. Climb The Three Peaks or The Yorkshire Moors … or both

Whilst the UK might not boast mountains as high as the Alps, these peaks are not to be sniffed at let me tell you! If you’re up for the ultimate hiking challenge then you can take on the three peaks, Snowdon, Ben Nevis & Scafell Pike … the highest mountains in England, Scotland and Wales in 24 hours.

I’ve done it, and it’s not exactly a hike for beginners . But the views are epic and the scenery along the way will go some way to helping you ignore the searing pain in the rest of your body. Enjoy!

If you’re less of a sadist then you can take the sensible option and just pick one! For me, I just the scramble up Mount Snowdon via Crib Goch, but it’s for experienced hikers only, otherwise, the Pyg or Miners tracks are very accessible.

If you’re looking for something a bit more gentile and yet just as impressive, then taking a ramble through the Yorkshire Dales and along the Pennine Way (which passes on the tops right by my house!) is a great way to experience the great outdoors in Britain.

9. Get to know small villages

The cities usually get all the attention in the UK. I mean, it’s not surprising, since there are a shit ton of things to do in all of them. But the real charm of the UK lies in the smaller villages and towns. This is usually where you’ll find real local life, super friendly folk and access to some of the beautiful rural areas of the country.

England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland each boast fine small villages to explore. Settle in, have a cup of tea, and chat with some locals about what life is like there.

Whether you’re looking for seaside villages such as Staiths, Robin Hoods Bay or pretty much anywhere in Cornwall or Devon, or countryside spots like Settle, Castleton or Haworth, you’ll always find these spots super charming.

10. Visit the Scottish Isles

If you want to get into the territory of off-the-beaten-path travel, look no further than the gorgeous and far-flung Scottish Islands. This is truly where the magic happens when backpacking the UK.

Scotland is the land of myths, legends, and unintelligible ginger wildlings. It truly is a stunning part of the country that is unspoilt and uncrowded and will surprise the hell out of you.

By now you probably know about the thundering mountains of the highlands, but did you know about the white sandy beaches that look more like they belong in the Maldives than the gloomy far north of the UK? Yeah, they’re up there alright!

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These are packing cubes for the globetrotters and compression sacks for the  real adventurers – these babies are a traveller’s best kept secret. They organise yo’ packing and minimise volume too so you can pack MORE.

Or, y’know… you can stick to just chucking it all in your backpack…

Backpacker Accommodation in England and the UK

In most places in the UK, you can find some sort of budget accommodation. Prices vary but generally expect to pay between £25-50 for a dorm bed . I recognise that sometimes you just need a warm, dry place to shower and sleep, however, it has to be said that accommodation isn’t cheap here, even hostels.

It’s also worth checking out B&Bs and guest houses, especially if you’re travelling as a pair as sometimes a room can work out not much more expensive than a couple of beds in a dorm and often they come with breakfast and lovely local owners.

That said, if you bring along a good backpacking tent and sleeping bag, in addition to renting a car or van, your experience backpacking England and the UK will be far more rewarding than sleeping in a hostel every night. Plus, you’ll have some ££ too!

Renting a van allows you to sleep anywhere you want to in any sort of weather conditions. And believe me, there are some EPIC spots to park up for the night spread throughout the UK… there are also some wild weather conditions too, which can be fun in a van!

One of my favourite ways to meet locals and save some cash is to use  Couchsurfing . Couchsurfing truly is one of the best tools available to help save you money travelling. Plus you are always bound to meet interesting people!

The Best Places To Stay in the United Kingdom

Airbnb in the uk.

Airbnb is now very well established in the UK and there are listings in pretty much all cities, towns & villages. Whether you are looking for a luxury Loch Lomond cabin, a Liverpool Homestay, or a cheap London guesthouse, there is an Airbnb listing for every occasion. You’ll find one of the Broke Backpacker favourites if you’re staying in Shrewsbury .

UK Airbnb prices do vary. But sometimes, it can honestly be just as cheap to take an Airbnb as to book a hostel if you are travelling as a couple. Also, the standard of hostels in the UK is a real mixed bag but the calibre of Airbnb’s is unrivalled. To get the true, local authentic experience of life in the UK go for Airbnb!

Wild Camping in the UK

Scotland is one of the few places in Europe where they have wild camping laws! This means you can legally camp in most places free of charge and without hassle from the police. The actual law states that you may “camp on most unenclosed land”, for example, national parks, coastal areas, or any other wild places.

Camping is always my favourite way to get away from the crowds and connect with nature. As always when camping out, familiarise yourself with “ leave no trace principles ” and put them into practice. If you love being outdoors and exploring wild places, then more than likely you will be camping out at least a few nights a week whilst backpacking in the UK.

Whilst wild camping in other areas of the UK isn’t technically legal, there are plenty of places where in practice it’s never policed. But this requires a bit of common sense such as camping up on the mountains and not on a village green. Having said that, there are plenty of cheap campsites all over the National Parks.

England and the UK Backpacking Costs

Backpacking in Western Europe is always going to be more expensive than backpacking in Nepal or Vietnam for example. Staying in hostels every night, partying it up, eating out for every meal, and booking last-minute trains will certainly eat a big hole in your budget.

Backpacking England and the UK is no different. Shit can get expensive fast! A comfortable daily budget is between £60- £200 a day .

I recommend Couchsurfing as much as you possibly can. The more you Couchsurf and use public transport, the more money you can spend on wine and cheese (or beer and beans, let’s be honest.) Pure and simple. Also, having a good tent and sleeping bag in your backpack will help save you a ton of money on accommodation.

Food in the UK can be expensive, especially if you’re eating out. Getting accommodation which includes breakfast and a kitchen will go a long way to saving some dosh. Cheap supermarkets include Lidl, Aldi, and local ethnic shops. Though there isn’t much in the way of proper street food as such, chippys and local sandwich shops in smaller towns and villages are often well priced. There’s always Gregg’s too, you’ve got to give this institution a try!

A Daily Budget in the UK

Money in england and the uk.

The currency in the United Kingdom is the British pound sterling. Find out how much your money is worth today by using the up-to-date converter below.

ATMs are widely available in just about every place in the country. If you are going to remote locations on some of the Scottish islands, bring enough cash to see you through. Having said that, post-COVID cash isn’t used all that often, especially in cities.

You can easily pay with contactless or on your phone in pretty much all places. It’s mostly small businesses like fish and chip or sandwich shops where you might need to have some cash on you or have some coins when paying for parking.

Find out whether or not your bank in your home country has fee-free international withdrawals. If so, activate it for your trip or for whenever you travel abroad. Once I discovered my bank card had that option, I saved a huge amount in ATM fees! When travelling to the UK on a budget, every dollar (pound) counts right?

For all matters of finance and accounting on the road, The Broke Backpacker strongly recommends Wise ! Our favourite online platform for holding funds, transferring money, and even paying for goods, Wise is a 100% FREE platform with considerably lower fees than PayPal or traditional banks.

But the real question is… is it better than Western Union? Yes, it most certainly is.

Travel Tips – The UK on a Budget

• Camp : It’s the UK, so you’ll need a trusty, waterproof tent . But with plenty of stunning mountains, lakes, and remote coastlines in the UK, camping saves you money and can help you get off of the beaten path.
• Cook your own food: Travel with a  portable backpacking stove and save some serious cash whilst backpacking across the UK. If you plan to do some overnight hiking trips or camping having a backpacking stove will be ESSENTIAL to your success. You can also select accommodation that includes a kitchen and shop in local supermarkets.
• Couchsurf:   Solo travellers in the UK , listen up! This is a lifetime experience you won’t forget. Check out Couchsurfing to make some real friendships and see a country from the perspective of locals. When using Couchsurfing, be sure to send personalised messages to your potential host. A generic copy-and-paste message is much more likely to get turned down. Make yourself stand out.
• Use public transport: Though it’s not as cheap as in continental Europe, public transport in the UK is by far the cheapest way to get around. Try to book in advance if you can and have a look into picking up a rail card too.
• Don’t spend too much time in London: OK, I mentioned this before for other reasons, but London is so damn expensive . So once you’ve seen what you want to see, don’t hang around! Move on to somewhere cheaper.
• Take advantage of free things to do: Whilst food, accommodation and fuel are expensive here, you’ll find so many of the best things to do here are actually free. Hiking and just exploring cities on foot are perfect for a budget. There are also plenty of places like museums or libraries that are free to visit and also offer access to free Wifi.
• Budget-friendly Tours: If you do happen to go on any guided tours, then save some money by paying it off in instalments. Global Work and Travel have broke backpackers in mind with their options. You can even choose the amount per instalment! There are loads of options for the UK.

Why Should You Travel to The UK with a Water Bottle?

Plastic washes up on even the most pristine beaches… so do your part and keep the Big Blue beautiful!

You aren’t going to save the world overnight, but you might as well be part of the solution and not the problem. When you travel to some of the world’s most remote places, you come to realise the full extent of the plastic problem. And I hope you become more inspired to continue being a responsible traveller.

STOP USING SINGLE-USE PLASTIC! If you’d like some more tips on how to save the world .

Plus, now you won’t be buying overpriced bottles of water from the supermarkets either! Travel with a filtered water bottle instead and never waste a cent nor a turtle’s life again.

Drink water from ANYWHERE. The Grayl Geopress is the worlds leading filtered water bottle protecting you from all manner of waterborne nasties.

Single-use plastic bottles are a MASSIVE threat to marine life. Be a part of the solution and travel with a filter water bottle. Save money and the environment!

We’ve tested the Geopress  rigorously  from the icy heights of Pakistan to the tropical jungles of Bali, and can confirm: it’s the best water bottle you’ll ever buy!

Best Time to Travel to the UK

When the rest of Europe is cooking in its own juices, the cooler temperatures of England and the UK feel like heaven.

From May to October, you can experience “great” weather at times all across the UK. By great weather I mean, more often than not, it’s pretty mild.

However, the weather here is famously unpredictable. We can have a blistering 40°C day on Tuesday and by Wednesday morning it feels like winter is coming.

If you are trying to get the most out of the UK’s outdoor activities, I suggest coming in July or August. Again, it is a roll of the dice!

One day could be absolutely mint, only to have the next day be pissing down with no end in sight. It is important to be a bit flexible in your trekking plans due to the volatility of the weather and also pack accordingly!

One should just expect that it will be cold and rainy at some point on your trip. Hopefully, you will be lucky and get the chance to experience some of that elusive British sunshine!

That said, always have a solid rain jacket on hand. Waterproof boots are also essential for trekking in the UK.

Despite all this doom and gloom, the summer days in the UK are glorious. And on a warm day, they are hard to beat.

What to Pack for The UK

Make sure you get your travel packing list for The UK is spot on. Because whatever time of year you visit, you’ve always got to be prepared when you visit the UK! That means preparing for ALL weathers.

Here is my list of 6 essential items I would recommend bringing for your trip.

Snoring dorm-mates can ruin your nights rest and seriously damage the hostel experience. This is why I always travel with a pack of decent ear plugs.

Hanging Laundry Bag

Trust us, this is an absolute game changer. Super compact, a hanging mesh laundry bag stops your dirty clothes from stinking, you don’t know how much you need one of these… so just get it, thank us later.

Sea To Summit Micro Towel

Hostel towels are scummy and take forever to dry. Microfibre towels dry quickly, are compact, lightweight, and can be used as a blanket or yoga mat if need be.

Monopoly Deal

Forget about Poker! Monopoly Deal is the single best travel card game that we have ever played. Works with 2-5 players and guarantees happy days.

Grayl Geopress Water Bottle

Always travel with a water bottle! They save you money and reduce your plastic footprint on our planet. The Grayl Geopress acts as a purifier AND temperature regulator. Boom!

Staying Safe in The UK

Certainly, there are rough neighbourhoods in every major city in the UK. That said, backpackers are rarely the target of violence or attacks.

Follow your standard travel safety protocol and don’t go wandering into unknown areas, especially at night. Another bit of useful advice is to be careful where you wear football shirts because people take this shit seriously!

Your biggest threat as far as personal safety will be the weather. In Scotland and the Lake District, the weather can be extreme – even in the summer.

Snow can fall any time of year in the mountains. Always check the weather before setting off on a hike, and pack the appropriate gear, food, and a water treatment device. If possible hike with one other person at least and let someone know where you’re headed and when you’re due back.

Another thing to be aware of while visiting the UK is the unusual tides in some areas of the country. These can be pretty extreme with the water going out for over 2 miles in places like Southport or Morecambe Bay.

The tides around the country are all different and many come in several times a day and an alarming rate! Be aware of being cut off on islands and sandbanks and always check before venturing out.

I strongly recommend travelling with a headtorch whilst backpacking in the UK (or anywhere really – every backpacker should have a good headtorch !). Especially if you’re hiking or camping, it’s an essential item.

Sex, Drugs, and Rock ‘n’ Roll in The UK

The British are famous the world over for their tendency to knock a few back. If you have done a fair bit of backpacking then you have seen that group of British backpackers with matching haircuts chugging beers shirtless and chanting some catchy tune they learned on a football game.

You may or may not encounter that type of dickhead individual. though luckily Brits tend to be a bit more reserved once on their home soil. Point is, if you are looking for a rowdy party, it shouldn’t be too hard to find.

If you keep your eyes and nose open, it shouldn’t be too hard to find a cheeky smoke, though expect to shell out some cash for anything over a gram. For more advanced happy-making pills, hit up the clubs and music festivals and you are bound to run across whatever it is you are after. Sadly, cocaine use is also at problematic levels across the country.

Dating in the UK

The UK is a pretty liberated place in terms of dating. The country leads the world in terms of multicultural relationships and it’s a great place for LGBTQIA+ travellers .

The British do have a reputation for being pretty direct and forward when it comes to dating (though funnily enough, not in pretty much any other way!) which is semi-justified. Basically, if you are looking to park your bike in the UK, your chances are as good as anywhere!

Of course, you can use Tinder whilst travelling . But why not try your luck at the good old pub? Whilst it’s generally a safe scene, you should be aware of your surroundings as drink spiking is on the rise.

Getting Insured BEFORE Visiting The UK

Whilst we do have the trusty NHS in the UK, they don’t cover everything. Travel insurance for backpackers is essential. So whether you’re hiking up Ben Nevis or having a messy night on the town.

ALWAYS sort out your backpacker insurance before your trip. There’s plenty to choose from in that department, but a good place to start is Safety Wing .

They offer month-to-month payments, no lock-in contracts, and require absolutely no itineraries: that’s the exact kind of insurance long-term travellers and digital nomads need.

SafetyWing is cheap, easy, and admin-free: just sign up lickety-split so you can get back to it!

Click the button below to learn more about SafetyWing’s setup or read our insider review for the full tasty scoop.

How To Get into The UK

The UK is home to a few major international airports including London Heathrow, Manchester, Glasgow, and Edinburgh. You can usually score budget flights to London or Manchester from other major European capitals.

Heathrow and Manchester in particular have some awesome long-haul options as well as flying to great hubs for connecting flights such as Singapore, Dubai, and New York. You can also grab a Ryanair flight to a nearby hub like Frankfurt, Paris, or Amsterdam for sometimes less than £20!

An alternative to flying is to take the ferry across the English Channel from France, this is a fun way to arrive in the UK and it means if you’ve got your own transport then your car or van can come along too. You can take the ferry from down south in Dover as well as up north in Hull, though southern connections are more popular. It’s also possible to get the ferry over to Ireland from Liverpool.

London is also connected to the mainland European continent via the Eurostar train which has direct trains to Paris, Brussels and Amsterdam. From here you can pretty much get yourself anywhere in western Europe on the train!

Entry Requirements for England and the UK

Tourist visas for citizens of many countries can be easily obtained on arrival at all of the ferry ports and airports. After Brexit (booooo) EU citizens no longer have the right to freedom of movement. However, they can visit for 6 months without a visa .

There are 58 countries outside of the European Union that have a visa reciprocity agreement with the UK. This means that citizens of those countries – depending on which one you are from – can receive 3-6 months of visa-free travel (tourist travel) in the UK. If you are from a country not on the reciprocity list, you will need to apply for a visa through the British embassy in your home country.

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How To Get Around the UK

Renting a car is a good option if you intend to see a wide swath of the country, especially some of the more remote areas.

You can sort your car rental in just a few minutes. Booking in advance is the best way to ensure you score the lowest price and your choice of vehicle. Often, you can find the best car rental prices when you pick up the rental from the airport.

You can also purchase a RentalCover.com policy to cover your vehicle against any common damages such as tires, windscreens, theft, and more at a fraction of the price you would pay at the rental desk.

Travelling in the UK by Public Transport

Public transport in the UK is amongst the worst in Western Europe. Train travel is generally expensive and unreliable, although it can be much cheaper if you book ahead. Having said that, if you grab a Railcard and book ahead of time then it’s a pretty effective way to move between major cities and towns and even to some more remote villages.

There are 2 major private bus/coach companies in the UK (National Express/Megabus) that cover most of the country. These can work out very affordable if you book ahead – although journey times can be tediously long.

It is important to note that bus connections in rural areas/the start of treks are far fewer than in cities. These need to be thoroughly researched ahead of time and asking your guesthouse or a local is the perfect way to get that info. In some remote places buses are very infrequent.

If you want to explore the National Parks to their fullest then having your own transport is highly recommended, unfortunately.

Campervan Hire in the UK

Especially in Scotland and Wales (where finding a parking spot if way easier) living the van life in the UK is extraordinary! It isn’t the cheapest endeavour, but if you are travelling as a couple or with several mates you can split the expense. The price of the campervan rental depends on the time of year.

These are the campervan rental averages:

• November – February  £70/day
• March – April, September – October  £110/day
• May-August  £120/day

If you can swing it, you will enjoy the hell out of your time exploring the UK by campervan. It will give you access to some of the best treks as well as well as providing you with some awesome budget accommodation.

Hitchhiking in the UK

While it is easy to find local buses for short distances, your best bet for saving some money will be hitchhiking .

The UK is a world-class road trip destination and its roads are never empty of potential rides. So many awesome campervans in the UK! Even on some lonely stretches of highway, a ride can be scored if you are patient.

Really, I think the rainy weather plays on people’s sympathies in the UK. Folks are always keen to stop and give you a lift if you’re hitchhiking in the rain!

That being said, in cities, hitchhiking isn’t all that common and might be met with an element of suspicion. It is generally more common in more rural hiking destinations.

Onwards Travel from the UK

If you are on an extended European backpacking tour good for you! Cheap flights from London, Manchester, Glasgow, or Edinburgh can take you to your next backpacking destination without breaking the bank. Most major European capitals are only an hour or two flight away and (if you’re flexible) can cost almost nothing!

The ferry across the English Channel from Dover to France can be a good way to get to Europe. Though it can be pricey, especially last minute or if you have a vehicle.

There are two ferry routes operating between Northern Ireland and Scotland offering a combined total of 84 sailings per week. P&O Irish Sea operates 1 route, Larne to Cairnryan which runs 7 times daily. Stena Line operates 1 route, Belfast to Cairnryan which runs 5 times daily.

As I previously mentioned, the Eurostar train connects London to a few major European cities but again, can be quite pricy compared to flying to top destinations with Ryanair or Easyjet.

• Backpacking Spain 
• Backpacking France
• Backpacking Germany
• Backpacking Italy

Working in the UK

The UK has a long history of migrant workers arriving at its shores in the hopes of a better life. A traditionally strong currency makes it an attractive destination for migrant workers from Asia, the Commonwealth, and Eastern Europe. However, as a backpacker, you might find it slim pickings unless you can get some hush-hush cash-in-hand work with a local doing something like labouring, bar work, or waiting-on.

Following Brexit, working in the UK is growing increasingly difficult and now pretty much anybody from outside the UK & Ireland will need a visa to work in the UK and they do not come cheaply or easily.

Furthermore, the country is on the cusp of entering a recession. The cost of living in the UK is going up and jobs are hardly in abundance. Strugs!

If you do have your heart set on working in the UK, going with Global Work and Travel may make it easier. They offer internships, working holidays, or Au Pairing options complete with VISA guidance and a great support system throughout your stay.

A new country, a new contract, a new piece of plastic – booooring. Instead, buy an eSIM!

An eSIM works just like an app: you buy it, you download it, and BOOM! You’re connected the minute you land. It’s that easy.

Is your phone eSIM ready? Read about how e-Sims work or click below to see one of the top eSIM providers on the market and  ditch the plastic .

Volunteering in the UK

Volunteering overseas is a great way to experience a culture whilst doing some good in the world. There are lots of different volunteer projects in the UK that you can join ranging from teaching to animal care, to agriculture to pretty much anything!

Now, the United Kingdom doesn’t need as much volunteer power as less-developed nations, but opportunities are still available. Most gigs you’ll find are in hospitality or farmwork and usually provide free lodging in return! You may need a T5 (short-term work) visa depending on the work you do, so make sure to double-check.

If you want to find volunteering opportunities in the UK, then I recommend volunteer programs run through reputable work exchange programs like Worldpackers and Workaway . They aren’t perfect (what is?) but they are a great way to get on the ladder and start building a volunteering community.

Culture in The UK

The UK is full of wonderful human beings. In each region, the humour is slightly different, the jokes slighter dryer than the last, and the people all have one thing in common: each region of the UK makes fun of the others! In fact, if a British person is taking the piss out of you, then it means they like you! So don’t take it to heart!

Every time I have traveled around the UK I have been shown kindness whether or not I was in need. If you show people respect and kindness you can expect the same in return. Whilst people in London do have a bit of a reputation as being a bit cold, the rest of the country is generally very warm and welcoming.

In terms of religion, whilst the UK is technically a Christian country, we are very much agnostic on the whole. Whilst there are many religions freely practised across the country, it’s not something we generally worry too much about!

Useful Travel Phrases for The UK

Whilst you might not need to learn a new language when you visit the UK, we do have some unique phrases that might confuse a few visitors!

• Fancy a cuppa/brew? – Do you want a hot drink? 
• Alright? – Less of a question and more of a greeting.
• Pissed – Really drunk or annoyed.
• I’m knackered/Cream crackered  – I’m tired
• Half past –  Us Brits tend to refer to the time in a way that can be sometimes confusing: instead of saying “six-thirty” we say, “half past six”.
• Hank Marvin – An obscure British musician… his name now mean “Starving!”
• Innit – Short for “isn’t it” , often used when seeking confirmation or as a filler!
• Breakfast, dinner, tea! – In the north, we confuse the rest of the world!

What to Eat in The UK

The UK generally has a pretty poor culinary reputation. However, the old stereotypes about English food are now well outdated and you will dine very well in the UK, especially in places like London and Manchester.

In addition to modern English cuisine, there is an astounding number of ethnic options available everywhere you turn in the UK. From Pakistani to Eritrean to Peruvian, good food is everywhere. Personally, I think food in the UK fucking rocks.

As we’ve mentioned earlier, the UK is truly a mixing pot and it’s reflected in both our cuisine and the dining habits of modern Brits. You’d be hard-pressed to find locals who eat just one type of food day day out.

Monday it might be a curry, Tuesday… bring me the tacos, baby. Wednesday we’re having Italian and Thursday we’re busting the Thai out. Of course, Friday is chippy tea and on the weekend we’re headed into town for some Peking duck, NYC-style pizza, and an Aussie brekkie before reeling things back in with a Sunday roast.

Must-Try Dishes in The UK

Having said that, we’ve got some bangin’ “proper” British food you’ve just got to try. Here are a few of my favourite dishes native to the UK:

• Bangers and Mash – Now a staple in backpacker hostels from Bali to Argentina, Bangers and Mash is the original hangover cure. The dish is made up of mashed potatoes and sausages, sometimes served with onion gravy or fried onions.
• Pork Pie – Delicious, cheap, savoury pastries filled with minced pork. Now ubiquitous in Real Ale pubs and available in vegan varieties!
• Sunday Roast – The roast is a traditional British main meal that is typically served on Sunday, consisting of roasted meat, roast potatoes, and accompaniments such as Yorkshire pudding, stuffing, vegetables and gravy. Vegetables such as roast parsnips, Brussels sprouts, peas, carrots and broccoli are included and can be cooked in different styles. A classic from the days of yore and not to dissimilar to Christmas dinner!
• Beans on Toast – A classic student meal it is the perfect comfort food. Elevate it with a bit of paprika and BBQ sauce in the beans, some fancy bread and a sprinkle of cheese and you’ve basically got yourself a Michelin star meal! Don’t knock it till you’ve tried it!
• Toad-in-the-hole – Sausages in Yorkshire pudding batter, usually served with onion gravy and vegetables. Historically, the dish has also been prepared using other meats, such as rump steak and lamb’s kidney.
• Cullen Skink  – Those cold days got you chilled to the bone? A Scottish classic, Cullen skink is a delicious soup made from smoked haddock, potatoes and onions. The perfect meal for traveling to Scotland on a budget!
• Scouse – Native to Liverpool, this is a thick stew made from meat, potatoes, and root veg. Perfect for cold days.
• Fish & chips – We’ve mentioned these bad boys before on this post, but it’s worth reiterating, don’t try them in a tacky touristy pub in London! Get yourself to a proper chippy in a rundown northern town and you’ve got the real deal. Extra points for gravy, mushy peas, curry sauce or a Hollands cheese & onion pie! Wash it down with some Dandelion and Burdock!
• Chicken Tikka Masala/ Curry – Again, I’ve mentioned this earlier on, but we’re a nation of curry lovers and the Chicken Tikka Masala is in fact, our national dish! We just can’t get enough of it and it’s a true symbol of multicultural Britain!

A Brief History of the UK

After World War Two rocked all of Europe, Great Britain emerged as a clear victor. Britain was a winner in the war, but it lost India in 1947 and gracefully gave up the majority of its foreign colonies by 1960. The British Empire suddenly ceased to exist… And the world was suddenly a little less efficient.

The UK debated its role in world affairs and joined the United Nations in 1945, NATO in 1949, where it became a close ally of the United States. Prosperity returned in the 1950s and London remained a world centre of finance and culture, but the nation was no longer a major world power. In 1973, after a long debate and initial rejection, it joined the European Union.

As the country headed into the 1950s, rebuilding continued and a number of immigrants from the remaining British Empire, mostly the Caribbean and the Indian subcontinent, were invited to help the rebuilding effort. As the 1950s wore on, Britain lost its place as a superpower and could no longer maintain its large Empire. This led to decolonization and a withdrawal from almost all of its colonies by 1970.

The Suez Crisis, Hippies, and Rock Music

Events such as the Suez Crisis showed that the UK’s status had fallen in the world. The 1950s and 1960s were, however, relatively prosperous times after the Second World War, and saw the beginning of a modernization of the UK, with the construction of its first motorways for example, and also during the 1960s a great cultural movement began which expanded across the world. Hippies! Some of the best music ever produced was made in England throughout the sixties! Think The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, etc…

Unemployment was relatively low during this period and the standard of living continued to rise with more new private and council housing developments taking place and the number of slum properties diminishing.

Modern-Day United Kingdom Politics

In September 2014 a referendum was held in order to decide whether or not Scotland would gain independence from the rest of the UK. The vote did not pass and to the objection of many Scottish people, it remains part of the UK.

On June 23rd 2016, the UK voted to leave the European Union in a move now coined “Brexit”. When I say we voted, the racist fuckwits who read the Daily Mail and vote for the bloody Tories did. Most sane, young people didn’t! In fact, the margin was ridiculously tight and in the end, 17.4 million people spoke for almost 66 million!

Since that dark day it’s become pretty clear it’s a complete fucking disaster and if you can’t already see, I’m still raging! At the moment our politicians, media and many of those who voted out are pretty much in denial of the obvious… but we live in hope that one day our freedom to move around our continent and the economic benefits that result will return.

Things go wrong on the road ALL THE TIME. Be prepared for what life throws at you.

Buy an AMK Travel Medical Kit before you head out on your next adventure – don’t be daft!

FAQs About Backpacking The UK

Still got a few burning questions before your backpacking trip around the UK. Hopefully, these common inquiries will hold the answer.

How long does it take to backpack the UK?

The highlights can be done in 2 weeks. Despite being a small country when it comes to physical size, there’s actually a shit ton to do. Don’t underestimate travel time either. So to truly experience it, I suggest at least a month.

What is the easiest way to travel the UK?

The best way to reach all those remote coastlines and rural hiking trails is to hire a campervan or car. However, the trains are a great way to explore using public transport despite being expensive in relation to the continent.

What time of year is the cheapest to go to the UK?

January, February, and November are considered the “off-season” but places like London are pretty popular year-round. This time of year, the weather is the shittest coldest and wettest. But if you prepare well, it can also be a beautiful time to see the snowcovered mountains of the National Parks.

Does it always rain in the UK?

Yes, mate. It always rains. It rains every minute of every day. Actually, it rains so much that we just live underwater. Busted predicted the year 3000 but here we are living it now.

Final Advice Before Visiting England and the UK

Well, there you have it amigos. I hope you have thoroughly enjoyed my UK travel guide! Despite all my galavanting across the globe and the recent politics of my homeland, I am still a proud Brit (though, I’m a Manc first of course) and think this little quirky collection of countries has some truly breathtaking and fascinating places to see. In fact, I just love showing all my travel buddies from across the globe around when they visit!

So, what is my parting advice? Well, I’ll continue here I began … get the FUCK out of London! No offence, because I truly do love an occasional trip to the capital and my younger more naive self did want to live there before I came to my senses! But London isn’t the UK and in many ways, it can feel like it’s on another planet to the rest of us! It’s kinda an entity in its own right!

In order to properly experience the UK, you’ve got to explore the North, visit the coastal villages, hike a mountain or two, get drunk in some random post-industrial town and have some banter with the locals. Sure, jolly old England can look like the postcards, but modern Britain is a bit more complicated and rough around the edges than that… and I bloody love it just for that reason!

I hope you are able to get into plenty of fun adventures (and a little debauchery) during your time backpacking around this beautiful land. Best of luck on your journey and yeah, get up to Manchester, ya knob ‘ed!

• Best eco lodges in the UK
• Best destinations for winter in Europe
• Where to stay in Scotland
• How to find cheap accommodation anywhere

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A couple of you lovely readers suggested we set up a tip jar for direct support as an alternative to booking through our links. So we created one!

You can now buy The Broke Backpacker a coffee . If you like and use our content to plan your trips, it’s a much appreciated way to show appreciation 🙂

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Great article. I always recommend the Scottish Highlands and Islands: the Outer Hebrides are well off the beaten track and so peaceful with stunning beaches. Back on the mainland north of Ullapool you barely see a soul. Would add only that Snowdon is the 57th highest peak in the UK, not the second highest, but it is the highest outside Scotland. Snowdonia itself is truly magical and well worth a visit: you can take in all the peaks over three days.

i would like to go backpaking in England for 2 weeks

Amazing article. So much valuable information in one article. Thank you.

I love it!!! Cheers from Los Angeles.

Hi Chris I stumbled across your site when looking for ‘The alternative guide to England and Wales, a hippy bible if ever there was one, including instructions on how to reconnect your chosen squat to the national grid/mains. I’ve only glanced at your site and shall look at it again when I have more time, I am pleased that you have included Rye and Lewes in your ‘itinerary’, beautiful places that they both are though might I point out that are towns not villages. If you like railways then the Leeds-Settle-Carlisle line is very good though even that takes second place to the West Highland Line. This will take you up from Glasgow to either Mallaig or Fort William, the Glennfinan viaduct is spectacular. If you are in London and like walking then the Saturday walkers club is worth a look, you pitch up at the relevant train station, meet the other walkers and walks are usually about 8-12 miles long with a pub lunch in the middle. You’ll see a side of English life that most visitors miss and membership is not required. Good luck with your endeavours and let me know what you think, regards, Dave https://www.walkingclub.org.uk/swc/this-weeks-walks.shtml

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What to Wear in London to Avoid Looking Like a Tourist

Published April 19, 2022

Written by:

Nick Hilden

Pacific Northwest native Nick Hilden is a travel and culture writer whose work has appeared in Afar, the Daily Beast,...

Jenn Sutherland-Miller

Jenn raised 4 children while traveling full-time for more than a decade– it’s called worldschooling and it’s awesome. Jenn has...

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At Tortuga, our mission is to make travel easier. Our advice and recommendations are based on years of travel experience. We only recommend products that we use on our own travels.

Table of Contents

London is one of those cosmopolitan cities that is a world unto itself, with so many overlapping cultural influences that it’s nearly impossible to spot where one ends and the next begins. Consequently, if you’re wondering what to wear in London, the answer is complicated.

From the Canary Wharf tailored suit banker, to the Afro-Caribbean Brixton hipster, to the Chalk Farm smoothie-drinking yogi, and beyond, every neighborhood is like its own world within the city. In other words, the definition of London fashion can change dramatically between districts and residents. London is more than just one thing, so while you can certainly dress your best, you won’t receive unwelcoming stares for staying casual. 

If there was something that Londoners agreed on, though, it’s dressing for the weather. London isn’t the rainiest city in the world, let alone within the UK. However, it does rain quite a bit, and the temperatures can reach scorching highs. Sometimes both on the same day.

With all this in mind, let’s take a look at how to dress in London.

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The Best Travel Backpack for London

Before we look at what to wear in London, let’s discuss the right bag for carrying your wardrobe over the pond.

I’m a huge proponent of going 100% carry on . This avoids the hassle of checking and retrieving bags, which is particularly important if you’re going to be flying in and out of multiple European cities. I suggest using a carry-on-sized travel backpack like the Tortuga Travel Backpack .

From my experience, there are several advantages to carrying the Travel Backpack . While it’s designed to fit within airline carry on size restrictions , the Tortuga Travel Backpack also allows you to use each and every square inch allowed to you. In other words, I’ve found no other bag that is capable of holding so much within the limitations of a carry on bag. That’s important when you need to carry on plenty of clothes to suit different weather conditions, as you should when visiting London.

What’s more, the Travel Backpack by Tortuga is water-resistant , which is especially important if you’re visiting London during one of its famous rainy spells.

What to Wear: Shoes for London

First up on our London style guide, let’s talk footwear.

I need to emphasize that comfortable shoes are essential to navigating London.

London doesn’t have an “off-peak” season. The city is constantly busy and can be packed to the point of suffocation in the most touristy areas, like Piccadilly Circus and Parliament.

If you want to get in and out of places quickly and comfortably, walk.

If you’re dressing up for a show in the West End then dress shoes and heels are appropriate.

I’d recommend wearing leather ankle boots with sturdy soles during the spring, summer, and autumn. Wear leather shin-height boots during the winter when you’re trying to get from A to B quickly and comfortably.

Do not wear wellies (knee-high rain boots). Wellies are reserved solely for the countryside. Avoid heels unless you’re going out or attending a formal function. Leave the flip-flops and sneakers back home.

What to Wear in London in Autumn

Personally, I love London’s autumn. There’s nothing like walking down a tree-canopied street lined with Georgian houses with a cup of tea in hand.

Fall is the time of the year to start layering. Ladies, go for jeans and a button-down top. A dress with leggings plus a sweater and light jacket is also a great choice. Gentlemen, try a sweater over a button-down with a pair of fitted jeans or trousers .

The weather can be rainy with temperatures around 50-60 degrees Fahrenheit from September to November. In other words, autumn kicks off the 9-10 month rainy season until summer hits. Tossing an umbrella into your daypack is a must if you’re not wearing a raincoat.

What to Wear in London in Winter

I’ve always found London’s winters to be confusing. Sometimes it feels like a spring day and other times it feels like a winter wonderland.

November tends to kick off winter with light to heavy rain. Snow falls more regularly in January and February. Remember that the Gulf Stream keeps Great Britain warmer than you might expect. Expect milder temperatures in the 40s and 50s during the winter months.

That being said, layers are your friend once again. Have an insulated coat with gloves and a hat at the ready as temperatures can fluctuate throughout the day. A sweater with a blouse or shirt underneath worn with fitted pants should keep you cozy. You can always shed the sweater in case you get toasty at the local pub.  

What to Wear in London in Spring

Whatever you do, please do not wear shorts at the first sight of the sun. London’s spring weather will be cold enough to demand pants, plus it’s likely to change mid-day.

In Spring, expect rain. Make it a rule to always carry a raincoat or umbrella with you no matter how sunny it is in the morning.

Towards April and May, you can begin to turn in your winter layers for lighter ones. Late spring is time for lighter jackets and sweaters.

Ladies, can think about dresses again. But don’t forget about a sweater or shawl for the cooler evenings. Men, you can likely get away with a short-sleeved shirt, a sweatshirt in hand, and lighter pants.

What to Wear in London in Summer

Despite common expectations, London summers can be absolutely scorching. Everyone will be taking advantage of the heat to wear as little as possible, given that the majority of the year is spent layering.

For women , colorful summer dresses, hats, shorts, and blouses will be on show, especially if you’re lounging around the parks. For men, a button-down shirt and some pastel shorts would be a typical summer outfit.

Be sure to bring a pair of sunglasses and wear some sunscreen as you may not always find adequate shade on London’s busy sidewalks.

Conclusion: What to Wear in London

Let’s summarize what we’ve learned about what to wear in London.

• Go carry-on-only with an appropriately sized travel backpack .
• Unless you’re visiting during the heat of summer, layers are essential.
• Be prepared for weather changes by having an umbrella or rain jacket in your daypack .
• You don’t need to splurge on top designer brands, but looking neat and well-composed is advisable.
• Don’t forget a comfortable pair of shoes.

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Pacific Northwest native Nick Hilden is a travel and culture writer whose work has appeared in Afar, the Daily Beast, the Los Angeles Times, Men’s Health, Fodor’s, Popular Science, Scientific American, Thrillist, Vice, Runner’s World, and many, many more. He’s carried a Tortuga Outbreaker through year after year of traveling to places like Turkey, Tunisia, Thailand, Vietnam, Spain, Serbia, France, Italy, Greece, Mexico, all across the U.S., and beyond. You can follow his travels via Instagram @nick.hilden.

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10 STEPS TO PACKING FOR LONDON

To help simplify the packing process, we’ve created this 10 step packing guide for a trip to London.   Make this your first stop when planning your next trip.  And don’t forget to  download your free packing checklist !

I’m Going to London and Have No Idea What to Pack!

Planning a trip to London can be the dream of a lifetime until you realize you need to plan what to wear. Don’t stress! We’ve put together all the best tips from the entire blog so you can easily access everything in one easy location. Follow these tips for stress free packing for your dream trip:

Start by reading this guide on what to pack for London , which is a five part guide offering general packing information for London along with what to wear in spring, summer, autumn, and winter.

If you’re traveling between June-August, you’ll love this post on  what to wear in London in the summer .

What to pack for London has everything to do with the weather.  British fashion is partly defined by the country’s infamous grey skies. It’s unpredictable and changeable, but here’s a rule of thumb: when the weather forecast tells you that it will be sunny all week,  be prepared for rain anyway.

For even more fashion tips, take a look at how to put together the perfect wardrobe for the top things to do in London .

If you’re traveling to other destinations in Europe in addition to London, use the guidelines explained in this  Europe Packing Guide .

You might be surprised to learn that it is possible to travel carryon only even to a place with unpredictable and changeable weather like London. All you need is a strategic capsule wardrobe!

A  capsule wardrobe is an essential concept to understand in order to create a minimal yet highly functional (and fashionable) travel wardrobe. Read this  packing ebook  to help you create the perfect travel wardrobe for your trip.

If you feel extremely overwhelmed at the idea of packing light or have a complicated itinerary, review this  packing course  which shows you specific techniques to plan around limited clothing choices, varying climates, and other unexpected life situations.

Use the  England Packing List  to find clothing ideas to dress appropriately for your trip then use the guidelines from TFG’s  Signature Packing Lists  to help you customize your travel wardrobe.

If you don’t see the information you’re looking for, post a question on  TFG’s Facebook Group .

Check  weather.com’s  extended forecast in advance and 3 days before you leave.  Think about how many days you will be in warm vs cold weather.

If you have a 10 day trip to London and will be spending 7 days in the cold and 3 days in warm weather, plan for 70% of your travel wardrobe to be for the cold and 30% to be for the heat.

If you are only spending a short amount of time in cold weather or if you’re unsure if you will encounter cold weather on your trip, pack only the essentials: two outerwear PLUS two additional items: long sleeve top and leggings.

If your trip shows both cool and warm weather, please read  this packing guide for mixed weather trips .

I’ve created this easy three part guide on  how to pack for cold weather  to help you stay warm while packing light.

Knowing how to pack for cold weather travel can be quite daunting especially if you want to pack light. If you’re traveling in winter, bundle up! 

There is one major difference between being at home in the winter and traveling when it’s cold: the amount of time you’ll spend outdoors. When you’re traveling, you’ll likely spend extended periods of time outdoors sightseeing. Don’t be unprepared. Consider layering lightweight clothing such as the ones featured in this  winter packing list  to minimize the need for bulky sweaters and coats.

Avoid bringing a thick heavy coat when possible and opt for a  packable down jacket  instead. Thermals  are also key to keeping you warm without having to pack thick sweaters. Don’t skip these!

You can even wear  leggings or tights under jeans or pants for extra warmth. If you’re not used to the climate, add additional layers until you feel warm. Don’t forget essential winter accessories like a scarf, hat, and gloves!

Picking the best shoes for travel to London will be one of your biggest challenges so start by   reading this 10 step guide to packing the  best travel shoes  for any trip.

One unexpected issue that many travelers discover once they get to European cities are the cobblestone streets. While great to look at, stone streets aren’t always the easiest to walk on and can make for sore feet even if you don’t normally have discomfort. Depending on the city, these streets can also be hilly, slippery when wet, and uneven. Find out how to choose the best shoes for London  here .

My biggest piece of advice is to choose function over fashion. Really? Yes! The last thing you want is to allow pulsing, injured, or tired feet prevent you from enjoying the trip of a lifetime.

Bring no more than three pairs opting for shoes that match all your clothing. Pack one pair for sightseeing (walking), one pair of any special activities you have planned, and then a third pair to either dress up your outfits or one that’s appropriate for a change in weather.

These are the best  shoes for sightseeing in the cold  and these are the best  shoes for sightseeing in the heat . Black ankle boots like  these  are the most recommended shoes for London when dealing with either cold or mixed weather.

Please read these posts for more Europe travel shoe inspiration:

• The Best Shoes for Ireland
• The Best Shoes for Paris
• The Best Shoes for Italy

Please note: ballet flats are a popular travel shoe option when you want a dressier look but they are NOT recommended for long hours on your feet sightseeing.

Choose one of these  cute and comfortable walking shoes  instead – they’re the options most recommended by our readers!

British fashion isn’t quite as chic as the French , and it isn’t always as slouchy as American fashion or as zany as Australian fashion. It can be edgy or  conservative. But one thing’s for sure: just like the rest of Europe, a good fit is key. And when in doubt, choose dressy over casual.

In general, day-to-day European style is more dressy than American style. This DOES NOT mean business clothing. Think dressy top (or the type of top you’d wear to work) plus nice jeans (dark colors are always a good choice).

When it comes to jeans, a slim or  skinny jean style  is preferred to a bootcut. An ankle length pant is the perfect length; no longer, no shorter. If you’re not a pants person, black tights paired with skirts or dresses is perfectly acceptable.

Like anywhere, pack for the environment. Are you spending your time café crawling in the cities or getting lost in the wilderness? As with most destinations, practical sense applies. Leave the beachwear on the beach because it doesn’t translate well to streetwear in the city.

The same goes for gym wear; unless you’re actually headed to the gym, don’t dress in your gym attire.

There are many misconceptions about what should and shouldn’t be worn in Europe. To clarify a couple of the most common myths: you DON’T need to wear slacks or business clothing to sightsee and locals DO wear athletic shoes especially these – they just tend to wear them with a fashionable outfit.

One of the most important aspects about packing efficiently is using  luggage organizers .

Watch this packing video to learn  how to use packing cubes  to maximize space and never check a bag again. These are the top 12 reasons why I prefer  packing cubes  to other organizers. We recommend  these  packing cubes – they’re ours!

Start with luggage.  If you don’t already own a suitcase, choose one wisely. Read these tips on  how to pick a suitcase  and consider one of these  top brands . Make your life easy with our  best suitcase recommendations .

There are times when  backpacks are better than wheeled bags . If you’re going on an adventurous trip, learn  how to choose the best travel backpack .

Use packing organizers.  Do you want to know the ultimate tool to travel in a carryon?  PACKING CUBES ! They changed everything for me and thousands of other travelers. See  my packing tutorial  on how to use them! Trust me, they are a must!

Use tried and tested packing strategies.  For a summary, read our top  75 packing tips .

I’ve recently taken on a few extreme packing challenges to show you that packing carry-on only is possible for any trip. If I can pack like an ultra-minimalist (with style of course) then you can pack more comfortably in a regular carry-on. Watch these packing videos to learn more:

• Luggage Free Travel: One Week in My Favorite Purse
• What’s in My Bag: 4 Weeks Carry-on Only

Watch all my packing videos  here !

The biggest mistake travelers make with toiletries is not considering how much product they actually use. There are five key steps when it comes to downsizing your toiletries properly for a trip:

• Find combination items . You can find two-in-one shampoos and conditioners, body cleanser that can double as shave gel, a foldable brush with a mirror attached on the handle, and  multi-use makeup products .
• Purchase empty containers  of various shapes and sizes and DO NOT default to choosing “travel size 100ml or 3oz” options. These are the  best travel containers .
• Stick to the basics . Simplify your skincare and pampering routine and bring a  capsule makeup collection . It’s only temporary.
• Replace liquid beauty products with solids.  While  solid toiletries  may not help you downsize they will help you meet the carryon  3-1-1 liquids rule .
• Choose the right toiletry bag.  These are the  best toiletry bags  and these are the  best  hanging  toiletry bags .

For useful tips such as downsizing toiletries and choosing the best travel makeup, read our  Ultimate Guide to Packing Toiletries . It includes a free printable checklist!

Don’t forget about safety:  Be cautious about where you stash your cash. The safest place for your passport is locked in your accommodation. Carry a photocopy or other ID when you’re sightseeing or are out at night.

Keep your valuables safe with these anti-theft products:

• Money Belts and Anti-theft Accessories
• Best Anti-theft Bags for Women
• 6 Tools to Protect Your From Pickpockets in Europe
• 10 Tried and Tested Tips to Avoid Theft While Traveling

Read these tips on  how to keep your passport safe  when you travel!

Sign up for Travel Fashion Girl’s monthly  newsletter  and get instant access to free packing templates, downloadable checklists, ebooks, and more!

BONUS SECTION: TRAVEL TIPS

Aside from reading Wikitravel and travel blogs, we still believe in a good old-fashioned travel guide for maps, suggested itineraries, local history, basic language phrases, and other practicalities.

Your can download any of the below guides as ebooks or buy the print copies.

These are a few popular London guidebooks:

• Lonely Planet London
• Rick Steves London 2017
• Rick Steves Pocket London

Transportation

The Tube is a popular option to visit the site’s in London. Make sure to purchase an Oyster Card for £5 and top up with just the amount you need for the duration of your trip. Your Tube rides will be less expensive and you can return the Oyster Card at the end of your trip to get your £5 reimbursed.

Tip: the city is very walkable! All the major sites are within walking distance so don’t rely on the Tube too much! Take a  free walking tour  when you arrive to London so you can get oriented with the city.

Accommodation

For accommodation, we love  Airbnb  for accommodation in London and other parts of Europe.  Sign up here  for a free $40 credit!

I prefer to to book “the entire home” instead of opting for shared accommodation on Airbnb. Aside from safety, I also like to feel like I’m living in the destination. It’s a small taste of local life plus you get more amenities than you would at a hotel such as a kitchen and washing machine.

Read these  Airbnb tips  for more info!

If you prefer the convenience and comfort of a hotel room, I like using both  Agoda.com  and  Hotels.com . Tip: Hotels.com gives you a free night for every ten nights you book!

For flights, I like booking through  Travelocity  or  Cheapoair  (whichever one’s cheapest). Although I prefer Travelocity because they have a 24 hour money back guarantee.

To maximize your vacation time, fly into the city where you’re starting your trip and out of the city where your trip ends. Many times it’s the same price and saves you from having to spend extra time and money to go back to where you started your trip.

For hostels, we recommend  Hostelworld  and  Hostelbookers . Always read the reviews before booking to get the best idea if the hostel is right for you. Some are quiet and family friendly while others are known for their party atmosphere.

As a personal tip, if you’re backpacking, instead of booking all your nights in advance, maybe just book one or two so you can first get a feel for the place without overcommitting. Of course, should you be traveling during a special event or holiday, book in advance.

Not sure about staying at a hostel?  Read this.

In the US it’s common to eat everyday meals with a fork. In London, however, it’s generally customary to use a knife and fork even if you’re eating in a casual restaurant. This small tip might help you blend in a little more than your clothing.

Travel Insurance

For travel, I recommend  Travel Guard , which saved me over $800 in hospital bills on my round-the-world trip. As a scuba diver, I also recommend using DAN, which helped me rearrange my flights at no extra cost when I had a dive incident.

London Tours

One of my favorite type of tours to do when I travel are food tours. In London, I received a complimentary tour by  Eating London  and it was awesome. 

They also hosted me in Rome where I received a  complimentary Twilight Trastevere Tour and a Cooking Class with Nina. TFG readers and I both loved their tours! Read my reviews  here  and  here .

For more city tours,  New Europe  has excellent tours and the best part? They’re free! All you have to do is tip your guide.

Suggested Travel Resources

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UK flight chaos continues with dozens more cancellations at Gatwick and Heathrow

Exclusive: british airways and easyjet have grounded dozens more flights as ryanair demands the resignation of air-traffic control boss, article bookmarked.

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For a fourth day, thousands of passengers flying to and from the UK have had their flights cancelled after a combination of bad weather and air-traffic control staff shortage led to hundreds of flights being axed .

Around 3,500 passengers expecting to fly to or from London Gatwick on 20 flights on Monday morning have been grounded. Most are booked on easyJet , which cancelled its first flight of the day, to Ibiza, and six others including links to Naples and Nice.

Passengers were told the cause was “air-traffic control restrictions” and outside the airline’s control.

The cancellations are in addition to 64 flights grounded by easyJet on Sunday due to short-notice staff shortage in Gatwick’s control tower .

At least 100 flights were cancelled on Sunday evening at Gatwick, and others ran extremely late – such as the Wizz Air flight to Rome that was due to arrive soon after midnight but actually arrived in the Italian capital shortly before 6am, and an easyJet departure to Lyon that ran four hours behind schedule.

It was the third incident of mass cancellations due to staff shortage in the Gatwick control tower in less than a year.

The tower is run by the air-navigation provider Nats , which said on Sunday night it was trying to “keep disruption to a minimum”.

A spokesperson said:“Temporary air-traffic restrictions are currently in place at London Gatwick Airport in order to maintain safety. These restrictions are due to short-notice staff absence at the air traffic control tower and in addition to existing restrictions already in place due to adverse weather across UK and Europe.

“We expect all restrictions to be lifted by the end of the day.”

But as cancellations continued into Monday, Ryanair once again called for the resignation of Martin Rolfe, chief executive of Nats. A spokesperson for Europe’s biggest budget airline said: “This is the latest in a long line of cock-ups by UK Nats, which has yet again disrupted multiple flights and thousands of passengers at Gatwick.”

The Independent has contacted Nats for a response.

EasyJet said on Sunday evening that it was “extremely disappointed that customers are once again being impacted by this”.

A former Labour cabinet minister and acting chair of the Transport Select Committee has called for a “change of leadership” at the Sussex airport.

Ben Bradshaw said: “This is a complete disgrace that’s been for going on for years.

“Gatwick needs a change in leadership. In the mean time I recommend Luton airport – many of the same destinations and minimal delays.”

The Sussex hub is the busiest single-runway airport in the world, with 800 or more flight movements each day.

A Gatwick spokesperson said: “ Nats operate the London Gatwick air-traffic control tower and they have successfully increased the number of air traffic controllers over recent months.

“So far this year (2024) London Gatwick has safely handled more than 170,000 flights through Nats, a four per cent increase on last year.

“The Nats service has been fully available more than 99.6 per cent of the time, operating 24 hours a day.”

“We will continue to work closely with the NATS leadership team to provide passengers and airlines with a good service. London Gatwick would like to apologise to any passengers who experienced disruption yesterday.

In terms of the sheer scale of disruption over one of the busiest weekends of the year, British Airways passengers trying to fly to or from London Heathrow have been worst affected.

Between Friday and Sunday BA cancelled 240 flights , affecting around 40,000 passengers. On Monday the airline had grounded a further eight departures and arrivals at Heathrow, plus six at Gatwick.

One passenger, Mike C, wrote on X: “This morning BA cancelled 1pm flight at 4.15am. Helpline not open till 6am. Had to get refund and book with another carrier – cash flow.”

A spokesperson for British Airways said: “We operate hundreds of flights every day without disruption, successfully getting tens of thousands of our customers to where they need to be.

“Along with other airlines, we’ve had to make some small adjustments to our schedule because of air traffic control restrictions caused by adverse weather.

“Whilst the vast majority of our customers will be unaffected, we apologise for any inconvenience caused and our teams are working hard to help get journeys back on track.”

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MLB's travel plans for '24: Seoul, Mexico City, London, D.R.

David Adler

The MLB World Tour is coming to four international destinations in 2024: London, Mexico City, Seoul and Santo Domingo. 

The Seoul Series will be the opener of the 2024 MLB regular season -- and will mark the first MLB regular-season games ever played in Korea. 

Major League Baseball and the MLB Players Association announced the full plans for the four series on Wednesday.

• Seoul Series: Dodgers vs. Padres, March 20-21 (MLB season opener) • Mexico City Series: Astros vs. Rockies, April 27-28 • London Series: Mets vs. Phillies, June 8-9 • Dominican Republic Series: Red Sox vs. Rays, March 9-10 (Spring Training)

• MLB international

"Major League Baseball is incredibly excited for this extensive slate of international games in 2024," Commissioner Rob Manfred said. "Our recent efforts have produced strong enthusiasm around the globe, and we look forward to building on that foundation with returns to Mexico City and London, while also opening the season in Korea for the first time. In addition, we can’t wait to celebrate the tradition of the sport in the Dominican Republic with our visit to Santo Domingo next March. We are thrilled that our fans across four different countries outside the United States and Canada will have the opportunity to see the game’s stars."

The MLB World Tour schedule for next year includes the return of games to the United Kingdom and Mexico for a second consecutive season, after the 2023 London Series between the Cubs and Cardinals and Mexico City Series between the Giants and Padres, in addition to new stops in Korea and the Dominican Republic.

“Players have a deep interest in growing baseball around the world. No matter where they come from, players are linked by a passion for our game that transcends different languages, cultures, and nationalities,” said Tony Clark, the executive director of the MLB Players Association. “The series announced today will allow fans around the globe to gain a first-hand appreciation for the unmatched skill and infectious enthusiasm players display every time they go to work. We are excited to expand our international presence in new communities and celebrate the game we all love.”

Here's a look at each of the four international series in 2024.

Seoul Series

The Dodgers and Padres will open up the 2024 season with two games in Korea from March 20-21.  

The Seoul Series will mark the ninth time that the MLB season has opened outside the 50 U.S. states and Canada, and the first time in five years. Previous international openers include:

• 1999 -- Monterrey, Mexico (Rockies vs. Padres) • 2000 -- Tokyo, Japan (Mets vs. Cubs) • 2001 -- San Juan, Puerto Rico (Rangers vs. Blue Jays) • 2004 -- Tokyo, Japan (Rays vs. Yankees) • 2008 -- Tokyo, Japan (Red Sox vs. A's) • 2012 -- Tokyo, Japan (A's vs. Mariners) • 2014 -- Sydney, Australia (Dodgers vs. D-backs) • 2019 -- Tokyo, Japan (A's vs. Mariners)

It will be the Dodgers' first international games since they played the Padres in Mexico in 2018, and their second Opening Day abroad after the 2014 season opener in Australia.

"The Dodgers have a long and proud history of helping to grow the game abroad, highlighted by our trips to Mexico, China and Australia. It's very exciting to add Korea to the list," Dodgers president Stan Kasten said. "I know our players are thrilled to put their talents on display in a country so rich with baseball tradition and talent, including former Dodgers Chan Ho Park, Hee-Seop Choi and Hyun Jin Ryu."

The Padres will be playing internationally for a second straight season, but in a new country, going from the 2023 Mexico City Series to the 2024 Seoul Series. Like the Dodgers, they've also played abroad on Opening Day before, in the inaugural international season opener back in 1999. 

"Korea is a great baseball country with a rich tradition, passionate fans, and talented players, including current Padre and San Diego fan favorite Ha-Seong Kim," Padres CEO Erik Greupner said. "The Padres are proud to serve alongside the Dodgers as global ambassadors for the game of baseball with our historic 2024 Korea Series."

Mexico City Series

The second Mexico City Series will feature the Astros and Rockies for a pair of games on April 27 and 28, almost exactly a year after this season's inaugural Mexico City Series.

Both Houston and Colorado last played internationally in Mexico, but in Monterrey, not Mexico City. The Astros played two regular-season games against the Angels there in 2019, and the Rockies played an exhibition series against the D-backs that same year.  

The Astros have played exhibition games in Mexico City before, in 2016 against the Padres and 2004 against the Marlins.

• 2023 Mexico City Series

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London Series

The London Series returns for its third edition overall, with the Mets and Phillies facing off at London Stadium on June 8 and 9.

The Mets will be playing abroad for the first time since 2010, when they faced the Marlins in Puerto Rico. But they're no stranger to international games, having participated in both MLB's first-ever international regular season games in 1996 in Mexico and MLB's first-ever regular-season games in Japan in 2000.

• 2024 London Series will feature NL East rivalry in Mets-Phils

"Interest in baseball is growing all over the world, and to bring the Mets' 'never-say-die' attitude to sports fans in London is a tremendous honor," Mets owner Steve Cohen said. "Our Queens family is ready to show London a great time with exciting baseball and amazing experiences that create new fans and build the Mets community throughout the United Kingdom." 

The Phillies have never played regular-season games internationally, and have left the U.S. and Canada only once, over 50 years ago, for a pair of exhibition games against the Pirates in San Juan in 1977.

"Major League Baseball has done an excellent job of expanding its footprint internationally, and we are honored to play a role in that effort as part of the 2024 London Series," Phillies managing partner John Middleton said. "This will be a wonderful opportunity to showcase our players' talents and highlight the excitement that comes with a Phillies-Mets matchup for our fans in the UK and for those who have never attended a baseball game."

Dominican Republic Series

In addition to the three international regular-season series planned for in 2024, the Red Sox and Rays will play a Spring Training series in Santo Domingo at Estadio Quisqueya from March 9-10.

"This unique opportunity builds on our long-standing connection to the Dominican Republic and allows us to celebrate the remarkable talents and rich cultural heritage of a country whose passion for the game has distinctly shaped our organization," Red Sox president Sam Kennedy said. "From the players who have passed through our Dominican Republic Academy to those who have helped us win championships, we have been fortunate to witness the profound impact of Dominican players within our game, and we are thrilled to be able to bring Red Sox baseball to such a vibrant baseball community next year."

Exhibition games are also a key part of the MLB World Tour, which includes up to 16 exhibition games being played internationally between 2023 and ‘26, as well as up to 24 regular-season games spanning Asia, Europe and Latin America.