A trip to London had long been on my travel bucket list, but I didn’t know much about The Big Smoke other than that it was home to the Royals and there’d be lots of pubs and red buses. Recently, I traveled to London for a three-day solo trip and fell in love with the home of Big Ben, Borough Market, and Shakespere’s Globe Theatre.

From my hotel (hello, Yotelpad London Stratford!) I was just a short walk from Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, home of the 2012 Summer Olympics, and steps from the tube. I spent lots of time walking, sightseeing, shopping, and eating my way through London, and fell in love not only with the city, but with the fashion. From cozy wool sweaters — I mean, jumpers — to stylish combat boots paired with tights and mini skirts, the style vibes in London felt part ’90s fashion, part European chic — and I loved what I saw.

While there were some things I decided to pack in advance, like a trench coat and my favorite pair of Dr. Martens boots, there were lots of things I spotted that I knew I’d be adding to my online shopping cart when I returned home. Here’s my full list of everything I packed, or wish I’d packed, for my first trip to London.

Wide-leg Jeans

Old Navy Extra High-waisted Sky-hi Wide-leg Jeans

Whether paired with sneakers or boots, a pair of wide-leg jeans is all the denim you need on a trip to London. Throw them on with a sweater and some sneakers for a day of sightseeing, or dress them up in the evening with boots and a going-out top. I packed this pair from Old Navy and wore them everywhere from Tower Bridge to the tube.

Stylish Black Sneakers

Adidas Women’s Samba OG Shoes

I saw so many Londoners wearing these black Adidas sneakers that I texted my teenage daughter, “The girls in London wear these with everything — even dresses.” After seeing these stylish sneakers paired with everything from jeans to skirts, I was sold, and we both ordered a pair when I returned home. After all, what’s not to love about the intersection of comfort and style?

A Trench Coat

Rasujie Women’s Trench Coat

Another piece I packed in my own London-bound suitcase was a trench coat (thanks, TikTok!). Trench coats are a hot item in London, sold everywhere from vintage shops to malls, and I saw plenty of Londoners wearing one as I walked through the city. This Amazon find served me well throughout my trip and had a hood and waterproof fabric for spells of rain.

An Oversized Wool Sweater

Everlane The Cocoon Crew in Wool Cashmere

Soft, oversized sweaters were another clothing item I saw everywhere during my trip. Whether paired with wide-leg jeans or thrown over a dress on a chilly evening, wool jumpers were a popular item throughout town. It’s worth splurging on a soft, cashmere blend since a quality sweater can double as outerwear on a gray, London day or work as something to throw on over pajamas as a snuggly sleep addition.

Combat Boots

Dr. Martens 1467 Brush Off Leather Boots

I love my Dr. Martens lace-up combat boots for walking around cities. Comfortable and great for exploring a new town, these boots are perfect with leggings, jeans, or dresses and tights and were one of only two pairs of shoes I took on the trip. I wore my Dr. Martens boots with skirts, jeans, and leggings and my feet were always warm, dry, and comfortable. I was in good company, too, as I saw lots of Londoners wearing similar boot styles.

Sturdy Tights

Sheertex Rip-resistant Tights

I saw more boots-and-tights and sneakers-and-tights combos while walking the streets of London than I could count, and was glad that I had packed several pairs of tights for the trip. My go-to tights for travel and home are by Sheertex because they truly are rip- and snag-resistant, regardless of how hard I am on them. Perfect for long days and nights touring a new city, these run-proof black tights are worth throwing into your suitcase.

A Trendy Mini Skirt

Madewell Satin Mini Skirt

A good mini skirt goes a long way on any trip, and this satin version from Madewell would have come in handy during my trip to London. Perfect for pairing with tights and boots on a cool day or Adidas sneakers and socks when it’s a touch warmer, this mini skirt is right on par with the skirts I saw Londoners wearing during my visit. Madewell’s version of the satin mini comes in black or white, making it perfect for easy outfit pairing. 

A Lightweight Rain Jacket

Lands’ End Women’s Waterproof Hooded Packable Rain Jacket

If you’re not a trench coat girlie, another essential jacket to pack for a trip to London is a lightweight rain jacket with a hood. I saw lots of people wearing this style of jacket through the streets on drizzly days, and this Lands’ End version is a perfect travel jacket because it’s lightweight and packable. Since rain in London can come and go throughout the day, having a lightweight jacket you can fold up and toss into your bag between sprinkles is key.

Dressy Sequined Shorts

Steve Madden Twinkle Sequin Shorts

Among my favorite activities on my London itinerary was catching a show of Abba Voyage, an AI-generated Abba concert that’s a permanent fixture near the Yotelpad hotel where I stayed in Stratford. When I arrived, I was blown away by the amount of people wearing sequins to the concert and wished I’d packed some sparkle of my own to wear. These sequin shorts are a style I saw paired with tights and combat boots and, yes, with black Adidas Samba sneakers, throughout my trip.

Cozy Socks

Cozy Earth The Plush Lounge Sock 3 Pack

During a visit to London, you’ll do lots of walking, so packing the comfiest socks possible is paramount. This slouch-style, bamboo sock set from Cozy Earth was one of the best things I took on my trip, because they’re snuggly and soft and they looked just like the socks I saw many Londoners wearing with their boots and sneakers. I even set one pair in the three-pack aside to slide my tired feet into each evening at my hotel — a cozy bedtime treat that felt heavenly.

A Dressy Sweater

Cupshe Women’s Ribbed-knit Pullover Sweater

While you’ll want an oversized wool sweater to cozy up in, it’s also a good idea to pack a dressier-looking sweater for evenings out. This ribbed-knit Cupshe sweater has a stylish twist in the back and is made from a soft, chunky knit that’s perfect for taking your dinner outfit to the next level on a chilly London night. Paired with a skirt and tights or tossed over a dress, it’s a great way to copy London style while feeling extra cozy.

A Crossbody Bag

Lo & Sons Waverly 2 Crossbody Belt Bag

Not only did I see lots of Londoners wearing crossbody, fanny pack-style bags in my travels, but I also carried one of my own on the trip and was glad I did. In fact, I’d say a high-quality crossbody bag, like this one from Lo & Sons, is the only bag you need when traveling to London. Not only is a crossbody a great way to stay hands-free while traveling, but a nice, leather version also goes with any outfit and minimizes the number of bags you need to make room for in your suitcase.

Layering Tanks

Open Edit Smooth Edit Crewneck Tank

Because the weather seems to change several times during the day in London, it’s a good idea to dress in layers. Beneath those woolen jumpers and stylish trench coats, many Londoners wore a layering tank like this Open Edit version, so they could remove layers (and put them back on) as needed throughout the day. As with all layering pieces, focus on simple colors and styles; that way, you only need to pack a few tanks and can wear them under multiple outfits.

A Going-out Top

Madewell Cutout Knot-front Tank Top

At London pubs, I noticed lots of women wearing their going-out tops with skirts or wide-leg jeans. Packing a few simple but stylish tanks, like this one from Madewell, is a great idea on a trip to London, as they can pull double duty as a layering tank or a cute top to wear out in the evenings.

Comfy Black Leggings

Fanka 7/8 High-waisted Leggings

As a travel writer who’s visited cities around the world, one thing that I never travel without is a good pair of black leggings. These Fanka leggings were essential to my comfort on my trip to London, and I saw plenty of Londoners wearing similar styles. Whether I was relying on their compression on my flight or touring the city in them, these black leggings from Fanka were one of the best items I packed for my trip.

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