Today I want to bring you my London summer packing list. If you’re visiting the UK capital in June, July, or August and you want an insider’s tips for what to put in your luggage, read on for my seasonal essentials for the warmer months. These items will help you travel light, stay cool (or warm) and dry in the whimsical British weather, and travel around the city looking like a local. I’ve included a free downloadable checklist, too.
Summer Packing List for London
The weather in London is ever-changing, and in summer it can be as unpredictable as in any other season. I grew up in sunny California, and the capricious British climate came as a surprise to me when I moved to the UK.
Throughout my first summer in London I kept getting it wrong when it came what clothes and accessories to wear. But now that I’ve lived through countless British summers, I have plenty of firsthand experience to share with you. I hope it will help you avoid the mistakes I once made.
Whether you’re new to four-seasons-in-one-day weather or just new to the British climate (it has a distinct personality), my list will help you pack like a Londoner and stay dry and comfortable during your time in the city.
If you haven’t taken a look at my general packing lists yet, I recommend starting there. They include my blog post about how to pack for London and my guide to what to wear in London. I’ve also made packing lists for autumn, winter, and spring if you want to check those out.
If you’ve never experienced a London summer, the season can last from mid-May to mid-September. Most years the city starts to warm up around the late May bank holiday (the last Monday of the month) and gets progressively hotter until autumn sets in sometime in September or October.
If you want to learn more about the city’s summer climate and monthly temperatures, you can check out my blog post about the London weather. It has lots of details about what to expect in months like June, July, and August.
1. Light Jacket
The first item on my packing list is a light jacket. As in all seasons, summer in London requires a reliable outer layer. I never know whether a sunny morning will turn into a rainy afternoon, so I rarely walk out the door without one.
I like to wear a lightweight jacket that’s small enough to fit in my bag, but warm and water-resistant enough to stand up to wind, rain, and unseasonably cold weather. If it’s cool outside, I can zip it up and wrap a summer scarf around my neck. If it’s warm, I can leave it open or pop it in my bag.
A good jacket is also a great wardrobe investment. I wear mine frequently in summer, so I always have a good quality one. If you’re in need of a jacket, you can get the one I recommend here.
2. Summer Scarf
The next item on my packing list is a scarf. Scarves are a staple of every Londoner’s wardrobe, and summer scarves are ideal for the season’s constantly-changing climate. A scarf is the perfect accessory for adding a pop of color or seasonal style to an outfit, too.
I like light, bright scarves for summer. From pink to orange, they let me show my enthusiasm for the warmer months of the year. They’re great for completing a look or dressing up a casual ensemble as well.
I have summer scarves in all knits, colors, shapes, and weights, and I love pairing them with my clothes. If you want to do the same, you can get the ones I recommend here.
3. Flats, Sandals & Sneakers
The next items on my summer packing list for London are shoes. Flats, sandals, and sneakers (say “trainers” if you want to sound British) are just the things for the season, and I like having a range on hand so I can choose the right pair for the weather.
Sneakers not only keep my feet dry when it’s raining, but they’re also ideal for walking (and you’ll probably do a lot of that in the city). Flat shoes are a must for London, particularly when I’m meandering around cobbled mews or if it’s wet.
If I’m walking shorter distances, sandals and flats can be great. They’re particularly nice when the weather is warm, or if there’s a heatwave. I even carry a lightweight pair in my bag during the day and change into them in the evening if I want to dress up my outfit.
Flats, sandals, and sneakers are versatile, comfortable, and come in all kinds of colors and styles. If you want my advice, you can get the flats I recommend here, the sandals here, and the sneakers here.
4. T-Shirts
Next on my summer packing list is T-shirts. They’re basics, and they’re essential for any time of year in London. In the warm season they’re great to wear on their own or with a light jacket or sweater on top.
Depending on the weather forecast, I wear short or long-sleeved T-shirts and carry an outer layer in my bag. It’s a good strategy for both for style and for when it’s so hot on the tube I have to de-layer as soon as I set foot on board.
If you want to take my advice, you can get the short-sleeved T-shirts I like here and the long-sleeved T-shirts I recommend here.
5. Light Sweaters
Over my T-shirt often comes a light sweater (say “jumper” if you want to sound British) or cardigan. I’m a fan of classic styles and seasonal hues, and I like bright, fun ones for summer.
London can be warm one minute and chilly the next. A sweater is just the thing to keep me warm and stylish, but not overburdened if the weather changes for the better.
On days when I don’t need a jacket, I can pop them on and know I’ll still be warm if the weather turns. If you want to see the kinds of summer sweaters I recommend, these are just the thing.
6. Dresses & Skirts
Dresses and skirts are London summer packing essentials as well. Not only are they perfect for the season, but also versatile and easy to layer.
Whether I go with monochromatic ones in seasonal shades or dresses and skirts with fun prints and patterns, I can’t go wrong. Long ones are just the thing for cooler days, and short ones are great when the mercury rises.
These items are great for when I need to smarten up a day look for the evening, too. Add a few accessories, and I’ll be ready for a night out in London. If you want my advice, you can see my recommendations for summer dresses here and skirts here.
7. Trousers, Shorts & Jeans
Next on my packing list are trousers, shorts, and jeans. Given the nature of the London weather, having a variety of styles to cover your legs will ensure you’re ready for any temperature and all forms of precipitation.
I love jeans. I wear them nearly every day, whether it’s summer or winter, sunny or rainy. And between June and August they’re the ideal clothes to wear with T-shirts and sandals.
I have other summer trousers as well. I like lightweight ones that are warm enough to withstand cooler days, durable enough to resist rain, and light enough to breathe when the temperature climbs.
Shorts are another staple in my summer wardrobe. They’re great alternatives to skirts, especially on days when I’m doing something active.
If you want my recommendations, you can get the jeans I recommend here, the trousers here, and the shorts here.
8. Sunglasses
The next item on my London summer packing list is a pair of sunglasses. As much as it can be rainy in London in summer, it can often be sunny and bright. From one day to the next (or one minute to the next), the weather might call for an umbrella followed by sunglasses.
I always have a pair on hand in summer. As with my umbrella, I keep them in my bag all the time. They’re perfect on clear days, and they can be fun accessories for styling an outfit.
My sunglasses have strong cases that withstand battering in my bag, and they have classic frames. If you you want to get a pair of your own, you can get the ones I suggest here.
9. Umbrella
Let’s face it. It rains in London. No matter when you travel to the UK capital, it’s likely you’ll get caught in a drizzle or downpour. An umbrella is one of the most important things to pack for your trip, and many locals (including myself) always carry one.
Given I have a knack for losing umbrellas, I always go for a balance of price and quality. I need one that won’t cost a fortune, but isn’t going to blow inside out when the wind decides to pick up (and it always does).
I also like buying umbrellas that are compact enough to fit in my bag. There are so many mornings when I can’t tell whether it will rain or not, so having a small one means it won’t weigh me down if I don’t need it. If you want my recommendation, you can get the one I like here.
10. Hat
It’s not just rain in London. Sun has its place, too. And it can be fierce. It’s easy to get sunburned in London, so a hat is a great accessory if you’ll be spending a lot of time outdoors.
Not only is a hat ideal if you want to protect your skin on a sunny day, but also a fun accessory to pair with an outfit or complete a look.
Whether you go with a baseball cap or a broad-brimmed number, there’s no shortage of styles to choose from. If you want my advice, you can get the one I recommend here.
11. Bag
Given there’s so much climactic unpredictability in summer, a good bag is essential. Bags are great for holding accessories like umbrellas, sunglasses, sweaters, jackets, and scarves. Oh, and a camera, which I also carry around with me.
Good bags come in all shapes, sizes, and colors, but I like a lightweight one that won’t burden me as I walk all throughout the city. I swear by the large Longchamp Le Pliage tote bag. It’s roomy, durable, light, waterproof, and above all, it folds up so small it barely takes any room in my suitcase.
This bag changed my life and travels (it’s been to over 100 countries with me). I honestly don’t know what I would do without it. If you want to take my advice, you can get one of your own get it here.
London Summer Packing Checklist
As promised, I’ve created a free downloadable London summer packing checklist. It has all the items I listed in this blog post, plus links to my general packing tips. You can get it here.
How to Pack for London in Summer
I hope you’ve found my packing list helpful, and that you’ll be all set for your trip, sun or rain (but hopefully sun).
London is an amazing place to travel at any time of year. There’s no such thing as bad weather, only the wrong clothing. If you check the forecast before you travel and bring the right mix, you’ll be prepared for anything the British weather has in store. If you found this post helpful, buy me a coffee!
New here? Join thousands of others and subscribe to the A Lady in London blog via email.
Some of the links in this blog post are affiliate links. At no cost to you, I earn a small commission when you click on them and make a purchase. It doesn’t affect the way you shop, and it’s a great way to support the A Lady in London blog.
Pin it!