Packing list for London (in carry-on only!)

An epic Sweet 16 birthday trip for Miss Q is taking me back to the city that transformed my life: London. I spent two years living and working in this bustling capital city in my 20s and experienced every possible climate there year-round. And that’s why when it came to our packing list for London this May, the theme was “layers, layers, layers.”

The UK across the board is notorious for unpredictable weather, with rain a possibility all year. London, at least, has plenty of indoor attractions and the underground (subway) where it’s easy to escape gloomy weather. But it’s also such a highly walkable city that you can expect to be out in the elements more than you’re not if you don’t let Mother Nature interrupt your plans.

So, you need to prepare for anything. Don’t worry — I’ve got you.

Packing list for London (10kg in carry-on only!)

This packing list for London isn’t as bare bones as the sudoku packing method that’s trending everywhere right now, because that’s for the most streamlined minimalist packers out there who don’t care about wearing the same three shirts day and night. For a long weekend jaunt? Sure. But for a whole week in one of the world’s most-fashionable cities with potentially wildly fluctuating weather conditions? No, thank you.

PRO TIP: Speaking of weather, don’t forget to check the forecast for London a few days before your departure and tweak your capsule if need be. For example, this packing list for London may be perfect for a typical spring or fall season and a few summer days here and there, but if you’re facing a cold snap, swap the tank tops for longer sleeves and consider adding a thermal vest; on the other hand, if you hit a heat wave, swap the jeans for a jean skirt and remove the long-sleeved shirts in favour of more Ts.

Things to consider…

One of the most important things to keep in mind is which airline you’re flying to get to the UK. In North America, we’re used to flying big commercial airlines (BTW, here’s how to do a bid upgrade on Air Canada if you booked a cheaper seat) with no maximum weight limit on carry-on bags, as long as we can lift them into the overhead bins ourselves and they meet the size requirements. If, however, you’re flying a carrier based outside of Canada or the USA, it’s much more likely that you’ll have to satisfy both weight and size restrictions.

We’re flying to London on Virgin Atlantic, for example, which has a carry-on size limit very similar to Air Canada, West Jet and Air Transat but a weight limit of just 10kg (22 lbs.) for the carry-on piece; and when your luggage alone weighs a minimum of five pounds empty, you’ve gotta get really smart about what you’re taking if you want to avoid checking a bag and paying even more for your trip.

Challenge accepted!

Enter the capsule wardrobe — the most efficient way to pack for any trip. I did 32 days in Switzerland, France and Romania last summer in just a carry-on thanks to the capsule wardrobe strategy (yes, seriously; check out my packing list for Europe post to see how) and I swear you can do it, too, especially if you’re only going away for a week.

This packing list for London includes:

• One rain jacket (this is non-negotiable, you hear me?!)
• One airplane hoodie (not shown in capsule because it’s solely for air travel, but noted and pictured below)
• One purse
• One set of PJs
• One cardigan
• One scarf
• One dress
• Two pairs of shoes
• Six tops
• Three bottoms
• Travel essentials (passport, wallet, phone, earbuds, power bank, charging cords, power adaptor, glasses/sunglasses, travel pillow, etc.)
• Undergarments
• Socks
• Toiletries, makeup and hair stuff

All said and done, it amounts to less than 14 lbs. — and that’s including the weight of my suitcase. I went with an old fabric carry-on I own rather than my beloved hard-sided Monos Luggage because they’re all more than the five pounds this one totals. (Sorry, it’s old and no longer in production.)

Could I personally get away with less? Probably. But if you’re new to carry-on-only packing and capsule wardrobes, you’re not going to be happy with less than what you see here. This is a practised skill that gets easier and more intuitive every time you pack, but going too hardcore too soon may not work out well for you. I don’t want you declaring “I’m never doing this again!” I want you to look back after your trip and conclude that you’ll never pack any other way again.

You’ll see a heavy emphasis on merino pieces here, because you can wear it over and over and over again without it getting stinky or needing to be washed; it layers like a boss; is so thin and light that it’ll help keep your bag as light as possible; and it’s temperature-regulating so you won’t get too hot or too cold.

Notice that the colour scheme is pretty neutral across the board, too, to ensure you can mix and match like crazy, but if you want a bigger pop of colour than the lone blue shirt, a red T here in its place would look gorgeous.

This packing list for London makes more than 50 outfits — far more than you’ll ever need for just a week. Here are just five combinations — and you can watch my Instagram Reel to see more than 30:

What’s in my bag (in no particular order)…

• Unbound Merino sleep set — I’ve had this sleep set from Canada’s Unbound Merino for about a year and I reach for them more than any other PJs in my dresser, so I’m delighted to have an even lighter set for warmer-weather travel; you could even repurpose the top and use it as a tank during the week
• Unbound Merino Women’s Fine Knit Merino T‑Shirt — a gorgeous layering piece that’s on the border of casual and dressy
• Unbound Merino Women’s Fine Knit Merino Cardigan — an essential layer that’s light, versatile and highly packable
• Unbound Merino Women’s Merino Poplin Button‑Up — a surprisingly thin and elegant merino shirt that can be dressed down or dressed up
• Unbound Merino Women’s Rib Fitted Long Sleeve Crew — my absolute fave long-sleeved merino top EVER (the fit on this one is tighter-than-average, so consider sizing up)
• lululemon Glow Up Tank Top — where athletics meet street-wear, this tank has a built-in bra but its overall style can go with any bottom, day or night
• lululemon Daydrift High-Rise Jogger — fantastic air travel pants. Don’t let ANYONE tell you that long, wide-legged pants are flight-friendly. If you’re on a two-hour flight and won’t need the washroom, go for it, but for anything longer, you don’t want wide-legged pants hitting an airplane washroom floor. Ick! These are dressy joggers so they’ll take you from a red-eye to city attractions and even a night out with ease
• lululemon Oversized Cocoon Rain Coat — when you don’t know how many layers you’re going to need under your rain jacket, make it an oversized one like this cocoon style, so even your purse can go inside if it isn’t rain-resistant like the one I’ve linked in this post
• lululemon Women’s Cityverse Perforated Sneaker — the leather-alternative upper on these sneakers means drizzly weather won’t ruin your shoes. I slide my custom orthotics into these and they accommodate my wider-than-average foot beautifully, plus they look cute with basically everything, whether you’re rocking leggings or something dressier. They also come with an extra set of laces in a different colour if you want to change up the look, and look suuuuuper cute paired with the Unisex Power Stride Ankle Socks, which have an adorable lettuce edge to dress them up (and I liked the first pair I bought so much that I went back for an extra white pair and a black pair, too!), as well as these cutie-pie heart socks
• Longchamp Energy XS — more on this below because she’s *special*
• YOGAJeans LILY Wide-Leg Jeans (ELERA) — I took a pair of YOGAJeans with me to Europe last summer and wore them alllllllllllll the time. These are a dress-up or dress-down style that are perfect for the streets of London, crafted in the brand’s “flow” fabric that have just enough stretch to feel comfy all day long
• Encircled’s The Wanderer Wide Leg Pant with Belt — Canadian through and through, Encircled not only designs but makes every bit of their garments in Canada, even sourcing the fabric from Canada. At just 0.6 grams, they don’t add much to my suitcase weight. They’re comfy enough to wear ANYWHERE to ANYTHING. These are the only dress pants I need to bring!
• Rothy’s The Knot Point II Flats — made from recycled plastic bottles and marine-bound ocean plastic, these are my go-anywhere and wear-with-anything shoes. I’ve owned them for years and haven’t put a pair of heels on since I bought them! I can also fit my orthotics in these but the existing liner is usually just fine if I’m only in them for a few hours at night. Other than being the most comfortable dress shoes I have ever owned, it also doesn’t matter if they get wet
• COS Ribbed Cotton Tank Top — the one shown in my capsule is no longer available but the one I linked is the same style/shape
• ZARA Short-sleeved Ruched Top — my fave day-to-night T right now
• ZARA Leopard-print Scarf — leopard is a neutral and don’t let anyone tell you differently. Although mine is an older style, I’ve linked the current version of this do-everything scarf. I’ve taken it on so many trips and it never lets me down. Looking for a smaller, more luxe version? I just spotted this silk option at Aritzia last week and she is gorgeous
• And, finally, the travel dress of all travel dresses…Uniqlo’s Extra Stretch AIRism Dress — for which I don’t have a link that makes me a single penny if you buy it BUT if you want a $10 coupon for your first order at Uniqlo ($75 minimum purchase required), I’ll get $10, too, and we both win! You’ll just use “UQ-KPO0LC” in the referral code box when you download the app and create an account. This dress is magic; it weighs nothing, packs into nothing and can be paired with tennis shoes and dress shoes alike. It doesn’t wrinkle, it has pockets and the shape is super flattering. It’s seriously perfect and I hope you find something else at Uniqlo to make it to the $75 threshold!

You’ll also want to…

1. Add a COMFRT Travel Hoodie (get 10% off using this link!) to your packing list for London because this is your new travel bestie. I finally gave into the hype to see if it was worth buying and was pleasantly surprised by the thick, high-quality material and attention to detail with the zippered and hidden pockets, plus the fold-down eye mask, which will come in very handy on the overnight flight from Toronto to London. Keep in mind it’s meant to be oversized so if you’d rather have a more snug fit, size down.

2. Pack everything I put in the Dopp Kit — my carry-on-friendly toiletry bag that holds ALL of the toiletries, hair and makeup products I take with me on vacation. After a lot of practise over the years, I’m super efficient here, too, and have listed every single item I took in my post about the best personal item bag, so feel free to copy it! As toiletry bags go, it’s on the smaller side, so if you run through my list and you’re like “whoa, Nelly — I’ma need a few more things,” then I suggest you upsize this to the Monos Hanging Toiletry Case instead.

3. Add some jewelry if you wear it. I only bring what I can wear on the plane and I stick with fine metals that can be worn 24/7, including in the shower. Make no mistake, that means these are investment pieces. My Mejuri boyfriend chain is a staple (and I have a Zodiak Charm Pendant and Diamond Letter Charm hanging from it at all times, all three Mother’s Day gifts over the years). I absolutely love my Twisted Stacking Ring (from bluboho) stacked with my Mini Riva Kite Diamond Ring (from Monica Vinader) or a dainty Melanie Auld diamond band I have from its fine jewelry line. It’s taken me years to build, but these go with everything from a casual brunch to a night at the opera.

Finally, 4. You’re going to need some phone data, unless you plan extremely carefully, download offline maps and only require WiFi when you’re in your hotel or near a Starbucks. I am not that girl. I need the comfort of knowing I can search up local restaurants on a whim or call an UBER. Airalo is my e-SIM of choice. I’ve been using it for years and the app and installation is a thousand times easier than it used to be. Use the code “ANDREA6044″, which will give you a little chunk of money and I’ll get the same (it’s another win-win! ). Just download the Airalo app and follow the directions as you move through the process. 

Final thoughts…

Now that you have all your MUSTs sorted out, here are a couple things to leave off of your packing list for London. Don’t bother with:

• an umbrella. I don’t care how compact it is, if you have a rain jacket with a hood, this is totally unnecessary and will just waste valuable space that you can use for other things
• a purse that isn’t a crossbody. London is one of the best cities on this planet, but it’s the only place where I’ve been the victim of theft. (It wasn’t violent; I didn’t even know my bag was stolen, twice in two different years — they’re really stealthy across the pond.) Keep it strapped across your body at all times, including meals or if you sit down at a café. This is why I love the Longchamp Energy XS purse so much; not only does it fold flat and slide into your luggage with ease while in transit, but the crossbody strap can also quickly detach to wrap around a dining chair to secure it in the event you’d rather not leave it on while you eat. It’s also the perfect little bag for moving from day to night and despite its small footprint, it packs a surprising number of things (you can see all of the things I shoved into mine in this Reel)
• worrying about “looking like a tourist.” YOU ARE A TOURIST! London is a total hodgepodge of style and global fashion influences, densely populated with locals and immigrants alike, and overflowing with tourists from every corner of the globe. Anything and everything goes here, no matter your personal vibe

And, remember: the pics above are just a fraction of the different outfit configurations possible, so get creative and use my reel for inspo to create your own packing list for London. You don’t need to buy anything you see here if you don’t want or need new things. Think of this as a template and always shop your own closet first.

 

DISCLAIMER: Some of the links in my packing list for London are affiliates, which means I may make a small (very, very small!) commission at no cost to you when you shop this travel capsule. I only link products I have actually used and genuinely LOVE. Thank you for helping me keep this site ad-free.