Today I want to share my tips for what to wear in London with you. Whether you’re looking for London outfit ideas, London fashion, or London street style, this guide has it all. It will show you how to dress for London in various seasons, how to dress like a local in London, what to pack for London, and more. It’s a great resource for locals and visitors alike.
What to Wear in London
If you’re asking yourself “what do people wear in London?”, you’re not alone. Choosing the right clothing to wear in the city can be difficult, especially if you want to retain your personal style while adjusting it to local trends.
When I first moved to London I had no idea what to wear. I brought a lot of clothes with me from San Francisco that I never ended up putting on (ahem, North Face jacket), and I needed to update my wardrobe to fit in and dress like a local.
Thankfully, in over a decade of living in London I’ve learned how to dress for all weather and any occasion. I hope you benefit from my experience and that I can help give you a better understanding of what to wear in London.
1. What to Wear in London in General
Fashion in London is similar to that in many big cities around the world. Big chain shops that exist in the US and Europe abound in the UK capital, and the trends that are popular here are pretty international.
That said, there are some things that are specific to London, whether it’s because of the culture, the weather, or the geography.
One thing I learned early on is that when it comes to all things sartorial, London tends to be more formal than places like California.
While I still get good use out of my shorts and flip flops on sunny summer days, I tend to wear trousers or skirts with flats or sneakers (called “trainers” here) more often.
That’s particularly true when it comes to eating out at nicer restaurants or going to events or upscale bars. While I could get away with shorts and flip flops back home, it’s not really the done thing in London.
The same goes for outerwear. I used to live in my North Face jacket in San Francisco, but in London I’m either sporting a trench coat, a wool winter coat, or a British brand like Barbour.
2. What to Wear in London in Various Seasons
The weather plays a role in what to wear in London, too. Not only can there be a lot of variation on a typical day (four seasons in 24 hours isn’t an exaggeration here), but also over the course of a year. As such, layers are always a good idea.
Spring
When it comes to what to wear in London in spring, I’m a fan of colorful sweaters, scarves, trench coats, and sneakers. If you want to learn more, you can take a look at my spring packing list for London. It has all the details.
Summer
As far as what to wear in London in summer, I love clothing like flats, summer scarves, and light jackets. If you want to see more tips, you can head over to my summer packing list for London.
Autumn
When it comes to what to wear in London in autumn, my favorite outfits always include a coat, sweater, scarf, and boots. My autumn packing list for London has all the details.
Winter
As far as what to wear in London in winter, I’m a fan of wool coats, warm boots, thick scarves, and cozy hats. You can see the details in my winter packing list for London.
3. London Outfit Ideas
If you’re interested in London outfit ideas, you can find a lot of good inspiration on social media platforms like Instagram and visual search engines like Pinterest.
They’re packed with London fashion photos, street style pictures, ideas for how to dress for London, and tips for what to pack for London. A quick search can yield great ideas.
You can also look to style icons like the Princess of Wales. Kate Middleton is known for her fashion sense, and looking at what she’s wearing can help you decide how to dress for London.
4. Where to Shop in London
If you want to know where to shop in London, there are plenty of places. A lot depends on your personal style, so you’ll want to choose based on whether you’re more formal, casual, hipster, or somewhere in between.
From the King’s Road to Brick Lane, Oxford Street to Marylebone High Street, there’s a place to shop for any clothing style in London.
There are also famous department stores like Harrods, Harvey Nichols, Liberty London, and Selfridges. They’re all great places to pick up something new.
5. What Not to Wear in London
If you’re wondering what not to wear in London, you don’t have to worry too much. London is an incredibly diverse city with locals and visitors from all over the world. Whatever you wear, you’ll probably see others sporting similar clothing.
Add to that the fact that all London neighborhoods have their own identities, and you’ll find people wearing different clothing in different parts of the city.
For example, you’ll see a lot more trench coats and Schoffel vests in west London areas like Chelsea (the latter are even jokingly referred to as “Fulham life jackets”).
On the opposite end of the style spectrum, you’ll spot more vintage and hipster clothing in East London neighborhoods like Hackney and South London areas like Peckham.
That said, if you want to be on the safe side, it’s always a good idea to avoid stereotypical clothing from your country (Americans, ditch the big white running shoes; Europeans, forget the sandals with socks).
What to Wear in London
I hope this guide to what to wear in London has helped you figure out how to dress for the UK capital and feel comfortable fitting in while retaining your personal style. Above all, I hope it helps you stay comfortable in any weather and on every occasion.
If you want to know what to wear outside the city, you can take a look at my British country clothing guide. Happy travels!
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