11 London Autumn Packing List Items You Shouldn’t Travel Without

Today I want to bring you my London autumn packing list. If you’re traveling to the city this season and you want an insider’s tips for what to bring in your luggage, read on for my seasonal essentials for the city. These items will help you travel light, stay warm in the ever-changing British weather, and get to the UK capital looking like a local. I’ve even included a free downloadable checklist.

Autumn Packing List for London

The weather in London is fickle, but in autumn it can be especially unpredictable. I was born and raised in sunny California, and Britain isn’t my native habitat. The capricious climate came as a surprise when I moved to the city.

During my first autumn in London I constantly got it wrong when it came what clothing and accessories to wear. But after living through countless autumns I have lots of firsthand advice to share with you. I hope it will help you avoid the mistakes I made.

Whether you’re not familiar with the constantly-changing weather or just new to the British climate (it has its own personality), my list will help you pack like a Londoner and stay dry, warm, and comfortable while you’re visiting the city.

If you haven’t taken a look at my general packing posts yet, I recommend starting with them. From my guide to how to pack for London to my blog post about what to wear in London, I’ve covered a lot of basics. I’ve also created packing lists for winter, spring, and summer.

If you haven’t experienced the London weather, autumn can last from mid-September to late November. Most years the city starts to cool shortly after the August bank holiday (the last Monday of the month) and gets progressively colder until winter sets in sometime in November or December.

If you want to read more about the autumn climate and monthly temperatures, you can check out my blog post about the London weather. It has additional details about what to expect in months like September, October, and November.

1. Autumn Coat

The first item on my packing list is a coat. As with all seasons, autumn in London requires a sturdy outer layer. Nothing fights the impending chill like a quality coat, and I never walk out the door without one.

I like to wear a mid-weight one with lining in the autumn. Heavier than my summer jacket but shorter than my winter coat, it offers a good balance for the season in between. If it’s cold outside, I can button it and wrap a scarf around my neck. If it’s warm, I can keep it open.

It’s also a great wardrobe investment. I wear my coat more than anything else I own in autumn. If you’re in need of one, you can get the coat I recommend here.

2. Ankle Boots

The next item on my autumn packing list for London is a good pair of ankle boots. They’re just the things for the season, as it’s usually not cold enough for calf-height (or higher) boots until November. I like to go with shorter ones before the cold sets in.

Not only do boots keep my feet warm and dry when it’s raining outside, but they’re also great for walking. Flat shoes are a must for London, particularly when you’re meandering around cobbled mews or if it’s wet or snowing (yes, it can snow in November).

I always have a pair (or two) of ankle boots in my flat. They’re versatile, comfortable, and they come in all kinds of colors and styles. If you want my advice, you can get the ones I recommend here.

3. Autumn Scarf

The next item on my packing list is a scarf. Scarves are a staple of every Londoner’s wardrobe, and autumn scarves are perfect for the season’s ever-changing weather.

A scarf is also a great accessory for adding color or seasonal style to an outfit. I like darker hued scarves for autumn. From burgundy to blue, they get me excited for the later part of the year. They’re useful for completing an outfit or dressing up a casual look, too.

I have autumn scarves in all knits, shapes, colors, and weights, and I love pairing them with my outfits. If you want to do the same, you can get the ones I recommend here.

4. Seasonal Sweaters

Under my coat and scarf comes a sweater (say jumper if you want to sound British). I’m a big fan of classic styles and seasonal colors, and I like to mix and match them with the other clothes in my wardrobe.

London can be chilly in October and November (and even late September in some years). A sweater is just the thing to keep me warm and stylish at the same time. I’m a sucker for cashmere ones, both because of their softness and because light cashmere is the perfect weight for autumn.

On days when I don’t need a coat, I can layer them (see below) and know I’ll still be toasty if the weather turns. If you want to see the kinds of sweaters I recommend, these are just the thing.

5. T-Shirts

Next on my autumn packing list is T-shirts. They’re basics, and they’re a must for any month in London. In the shoulder seasons they really come into their own as layering items.

Because the British weather is so unpredictable, it can be warm one minute and frigid the next. Layering my clothing in autumn helps me stay at an even temperature no matter how high or low the mercury reaches.

Depending on the weather forecast, I wear sweaters with short or long-sleeved T-shirts under them. It’s a good strategy for both for style and for when it’s so toasty on the tube I have to de-layer as soon as I set foot on a train.

If you want to take my advice, you can get the long-sleeved T-shirts I recommend here, and the short-sleeved T-shirts I like here.

6. Trousers and Jeans

Next on my packing list are trousers and jeans. Given the nature of the London weather, having a variety of styles to put on your legs will ensure you’re ready for any temperature and all precipitation.

I love jeans. I wear them nearly every day, whether it’s spring or autumn, snow or sun. And between September and November they’re the ideal clothes to wear with sweaters and ankle boots.

I have other autumn trousers as well. I like medium-weight ones that are warm enough to withstand the cold, durable enough to resist the rain, and light enough to breathe when the temperature rises. If you want my recommendations, you can get the jeans I recommend here and the trousers I suggest here.

7. Dresses and Skirts

Dresses and skirts are great autumn packing essentials, too. Not only are they fun for the season, but also versatile and easy to layer.

Whether you go with monochromatic ones in seasonal hues or dresses and skirts with bold prints and patterns, you’re spoiled for choice. Long ones are great for cooler days, but short ones can still be good if you wear tights underneath (see below).

Dresses and skirts are perfect for when you need to make a day look more formal for the evening, too. Add a few accessories, and you’ll be ready for a night out. If you want my advice, you can see my recommendations for autumn skirts here and dresses here.

8. Tights

Given how well they layer, tights are another autumn essential for London. Not only are they ideal if you want to wear a short dress or skirt on a chilly day, but also if you want to wear a thin layer under your trousers or jeans on a freezing night.

You can have a lot of fun playing around with autumn tights in London. From patterns to colors and textures, there’s no shortage of styles to choose from.

Given autumn brings an abundance of foliage to London’s trees, you can join in and get some in yellow, red, and orange hues. I always have a mix of classic black tights and colorful ones in my flat. If you want my advice, you can get the ones I recommend here.

9. Umbrella

It rains in London. No matter what time of year you travel to the city, it’s likely you’ll get caught out in a drizzle or a downpour. An umbrella is one of the most important things to pack for your trip, and many locals (including myself) always carry one with us.

Given I’m prone to losing umbrellas, I like to opt 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 often does).

I also love umbrellas that are small enough to fit in my bag. There are many mornings when I can’t tell whether it will rain or not, so having a compact one means it won’t weigh me down if I don’t need it. If you want my suggestion, you can get the one I recommend here.

10. Sunglasses

The next item on my packing list is a pair of sunglasses. As much as it can be rainy in London in autumn, it can be clear and bright, too. From one day to the next (or one hour to the next), the weather might call for an umbrella followed by sunglasses.

I always have a pair on hand in autumn. As with my umbrella, I keep them in my bag at all times. They’re perfect on bright days, and they can be good accessories for styling an outfit.

My sunglasses have strong cases that can withstand a bit of 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 recommend here.

11. Bag

Given there’s so much layering in autumn, a good bag is essential. It’s perfect for holding accessories like sunglasses, a sweater or jacket I’ve taken off when it gets warm, a scarf I’m keeping in case the cold comes along, and an umbrella. Oh, and my camera, which I also carry around with me.

Good bags come in all sizes, shapes, and colors, but I like a lightweight one that won’t burden me as I walk all over 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 up any room in my suitcase.

The bag changed my London 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 here.

London Autumn Packing Checklist

How to Pack for London in Autumn

I hope you’ve found my packing list helpful, and that you’ll be all set for your trip, sun or snow (but hopefully the former).

The most important thing is to check the forecast before you travel and pack accordingly. If it’s going to be scorching in September, my summer packing list can give you good ideas. If it’s going to snow in November, my winter packing list can help you plan.

Above all, London is a great place to travel at any time of year. There’s no such thing as bad weather, only the wrong clothing. If you bring the right mix, you’ll be prepared for anything the British weather has in store for you.

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