What I’m Packing for London in March

I did something a little crazy Monday night, and that is: I packed for London! Even though we don’t leave for 2 weeks.

If you’ve been around a while, you’ll know packing is sort of my nemesis. We just don’t get along. lol. I am too indecisive, and unlike some people I know who are very laid back about clothing, I do actually care what I wear on vacation.

I don’t want to wear just the same couple of simple things on repeat, honestly. I also will feel better if I feel like I look at least relatively “cute”, and yet of course COMFORT is key, and then there’s the practical aspect of WEATHER.

On most recent trips (even our 2-weekers!) we’ve done carry-on luggage only, though, so space is limited… making it all an even bigger challenge.

So, I decided that since packing always sort of stresses me out (see above: indecisive), I would just get it over with.

Over the years I have occasionally googled “what to pack in X location in Y month” and have always found fun and often very useful packing tips and ideas. So, I thought I’d spell out what I’m planning to pack for a total of 9 days in London in March!

*Disclaimer: I am not a professional fashion OR travel blogger. I feel like the packing blog posts I have seen vacillate wildly between people who are crazy efficient, minimalist packers, and FASHIONABLE people who apparently have a lot fancier plans than we have (and they have a lot more interesting wardrobes). Some people also seem to be much more skilled than I am at putting together amazing mix-and-match outfits with very minimal pieces, while still looking super trendy and fashionable.

I think I’m somewhere in the middle? Minimalist, nope. Super fashionable and chic and wearing “statement pieces”? Also no.

My main criteria for picking my clothes for this trip:

• make sure I have enough variety of warm + cooler clothes!
• bring things that feel “fun” to me (you’ll see lots of stripes!)
• must fit in carry-on
• no more than 2 shoes
• bring some things that I can layer

Depending on the weather forecast right before the trip, I reserve the right to alter this, but here’s what I’m planning for now!

My Packing List for London in March:

Here’s EVERYTHING I’m packing, in one photo:

The breakdown:

Shoes:

• light brown ankle “sneaker boots”
• white/cream/navy sneakers

Jackets:

• tan lined rain jacket (middle row far right)
• dark green boiled wool coat

I hemmed and hawed so much about the jackets!! I could likely make do with just the rain jacket.

BUT I loooooove my green coat. It fits me perfectly, it’s so comfy, it’s super flexible and lightweight, yet warm, and I can easily fit sweaters underneath. If it’s NOT cold, I can wear a lighter layer underneath and I won’t be too warm, either. I also love how it looks on me! Since we have various evenings plans (when likely to be coldest!), I feel like it’s worth bringing. It also seems to handle getting wet without trouble, though obviously if true rain is forecasted, I’d wear the rain jacket.

Here’s my beloved green coat in Galway, Ireland. A little hard to see w/ scarf on, but you get the idea. (That is ETHAN with me exactly 3 years ago- March 16, 2022!! So little!!)

Sweaters:

Cardigan:

• tan oversized crop cardigan (top row, middle; quite warm/ cozy)

Light-weight sweaters:

• yellow zip up sweater (top row, left)
• V-neck maroon sweater (middle row, left- hard to see!)
• light tan V-neck with pink stripe at neck (middle row)

Warmer sweaters:

• blue/ tan hooded sweater (middle row, right)
• (Also my black/white plane outfit will basically also be 1st day outfit, too…)

I debated on the yellow zip up- is it too bright for Europe? 😆 But it’s the perfect weight and so cozy and would be nice for zipping on or off as needed. Anyway, it’s more of a mustard yellow… I feel like this pic makes it look brighter than it is! ALSO, I sort of reject the idea that I need to attempt to dress like a “Londoner”? I mean, is anyone going to think I’m anything besides a tourist, anyway??! lol. Highly unlikely. 😅 I used to have a cream-colored zip up like that, and I really wish I still had it. Oh well. For now the yellow one will have to do, I guess. (Or should I try and find a new one….? 🤔 Hmm.)

Also debated on the blue/tan hooded sweater, but it’s SO cute (in my opinion) and could be good for staying warm on our England football game night!

Other Long Sleeve Shirts:

• plain black V-neck long sleeved tee (bottom row)
• plain white V- neck long sleeved tee (bottom row)

*These plain long sleeves are likely to be layering pieces only!

Also:

• white/tan striped V-neck (in between a sweatshirt/long sleeved tee? middle row left)
• cream/navy striped collared (yes, somewhat similar to the other striped one but I really like both and I’m into stripes right now and they don’t take up much room, so packing both! 😬)
• red lightweight sweater (could maybe leave, but cute and if weather warmer than expected, may wear instead of the warmer sweaters?)
• light blue button down blouse

T-shirts:

I know it’s not likely to exactly be “t-shirt” weather, but I really want several tees along for layering under sweaters, or under my cardigan, etc… I just really feel like I will use at least a couple. Do I need 4? No, but #indecisive and #options.

• 4 tees: plain navy, brownish colored with rolled sleeve, white with fine grey stripes, black and white striped (my favorite).
• I also packed one “nicer” black top which is just a fave..

Pants:

I’m bringing 3 pairs of pants.

• dark straight jeans
• light loose jeans
• ankle straight black relaxed pant (wearing on plane)

Hard to see here, but black pants are folded under the white/striped sweater. Planning on that as my plane outfit: the sneakers, black pants, white striped sweater (always cold on planes!), and I’ll wear/ carry my green coat. (Jain racket folds up quite small and I’ll pack.)

I think that’s it! I may throw in my black leggings, mostly just because I’m not sure I can survive 9 days without wearing my leggings at least once, even if just for running out to get breakfast nearby or grab tea. 😂

Oh, I also have a navy blue North Face fleece in there, which I also debated on, but I can envision wearing around the apartment before bed OR layering under my raincoat if the weather is particularly dreadful….

And I have a couple scarfs laid out? Maybe? I loved shoving a scarf in my bag on my past Europe trips, and they kept me just that touch warmer sitting in a pub with no jacket on, for example. I feel like scarves are not as in style right now though? Is that right? I don’t actually know.

But overall, this is my plan. I KNOW, this is more clothes than days we have there. I could remove probably at least 1/3 easily. I know. But, I probably won’t. 😝😝

For me, the issue is always the weather. Even if I sort of “know” the weather forecast, it always seems to depend. How cold do I feel? Is it windy? Is it rainy? If so, I will be glad to have several sweaters along. If it’s sunny and 60 degrees (YES PLEASE), I will happily pull out my 4-5 t-shirt options….

Packing posts can be polarizing, so be kind! ha. It does all fit in the carry-on, too. Not exactly tons of extra space, but… it fits. 😉

Now my goal is to leave this alone and not start second-guessing myself on everything, because I’m prone to doing that, too. 😬

Daily Gratitude:

I am grateful for having the “hard part” (for me) of packing over with already.