Packing Question: What would be considered a "heat wave" for England?

As an Australian living in Singapore, the UK concept of a 'heat wave' makes me laugh.

There will be plenty of light summer dresses and skirts, not many shorts in central London. What you're planning on will be fine. As a Texan you will be familiar with the hot weather rules of staying out of the sun and drinking plenty of water.

Having said that, it's also possible it will be grey and wet :)

And as for air-conditioning, we wouldn't have it on at those temperatures.

That’s 27C which would be considered pretty warm here but not extreme. It’s not actually often even that warm but in London it can get over 30C. However, that’s really not common- maybe a few days a year. People do say the heat in London is worse than other places, partly because we have high humidity here. But as you’ve read, 3 days in a row of warm weather is considered a special event so I really wouldn’t worry about heat!

For packing, check the forecast before you leave but I’d have thought that some lightweight trousers would be sufficient. You could put in a pair of shorts or skirt to be on the safe side. If it’s hot you will see people wearing shorts even in London.

Make sure you also bring sweaters and warm layers. It is highly unlikely/basically impossible that you’d only need a T-shirt at that time of year.

I was in London last August (I much prefer April and May or later in Sept but this was for my birthday) and the temps were around 90 for several days--I had a hotel with A/C but most shops, even large dept stores, don't use A/C quite in the way we are used to in the US. Don't even get me started on the Tube! Most journeys I was a dripping, sweaty mess, while others around me were perfectly fine. My usual wardrobe of jeans, sneakers and a short-sleeve or sleeveless top should have included shorts or a skirt...things I don't generally wear. My long, thick hair had to be bundled up off my neck. I had a packable rain jacket but never needed it--still good to have. Should I return during warm weather I will definitely bring some long skirts or dresses.

@ Simon- Thanks! I was thinking that would be the case but wanted to check with "the pros" ;) I appreciate your reply. I had heard they don't usually run the a/c because 3 days isn't worth it and that the buildings and houses were built for keeping the cold out and the heat in. That is why I think I will now look for hotels with a/c and not the historic value of the hotel. ha!

@ Helen - Thank you for the reminder! Good thinking. I was wondering whether the rain jacket would work or if a light sweater or zip up hoodie would be required. I don't wear shorts if it is under 80* here in Texas usually so light pants would work for me as long as my legs are covered, I am fine. We are 39* today and I am in 2 layers indoors and those same 2 layers outdoors with a coat (it is also raining) so I am cold natured during the day and hot when I sleep. I am going to begin booking my hotels this weekend and trying to set my schedule up for all of the things we wanted to do and it looks like I will have some North of London and some South of London with Canterbury and a few of the spots around there.

@ Christa -
Ok. Thank you! That is good to know! I will be there June 17-July 3 and was hoping to avoid the heat during those days! I hadn't even thought about the trains not being a/c! YIKES! Even in Texas, we don't turn our a/c on until it gets around 88* or so and even then, it is usually only for 77* during the day and 69* at night to sleep. I was hoping to take a pair of jeans and a pair of linen pants to wear with sneakers and switch to a pair of casual flats if we go in somewhere to eat. I am having a hard time finding a maxi dress with sleeves and no slit up to my thigh right now. I will have to wait until later in the spring, I guess. I am not "young enough" to wear those high slits anymore and above the knee skirts that are the fashion now. As cool as I would feel in them, I am afraid my wrinkly, veiny legs would shock others. ha! I was able to get to Germany for 2 weeks with all merino wool items and 2 pair of Duluth Trading pants , one lined and one not lined and carried it all in a backpack. It looks like I may have to use a pull along for summer! LOL!

The Met Office heatwave definition is really a statistical one and not relevant particularly to personal comfort or risk.

By contrast the Heat-Health Alert temperature thresholds for London are defined as:

Below 28C / 82F: -
28C - 31.9C / 82F - 89.4F : LOW
32C - 39.9C / 89.5F - 103.8F: MEDIUM
Above 40C / 104 F: HIGH

A temperature above 104F has only been recorded once (in July 2022). Temperatures in the medium range are recorded almost every year though.

I am of a certain age myself and after some keen observation of similar women, decided that a past the knee floaty pull-on skirt with a sleeveless top would both suit me and be comfortable--many have pockets as well. Nothing that clings, and absolutely no polyester or lycra. At one point I was just about to go out in my black T-shirt material knee length nightie!

Most if not all the Premier Inns in London have air conditioning. They totally lack atmosphere, but I've found Premier Inns to be very reliable.

I take nothing but full-length slacks and tops that are either long-sleeve or 3/4-length, no matter the season or the destination. I feel better with the sun not beating down on me.

I would not go to the UK at any time of year without a warm layer and a rain jacket. My warm layer is a light fleece jacket.

As for rain, I've learned it's very risky--no matter what the sky looks like in the morning--to head out for the day without rain protection. London is a large city; I don't want to have to head back to my hotel to pick up my rain jacket or umbrella.

Keep in mind that a heat wave is not the average temperature; make your packing decisions based on the weather forecast right before you go.

I was in England in late July in 2023, and it was cool enough that I was wearing a (summer-weight) jacket at some part of each day, pants, and sometimes a sweater. (This was the trip that my husband refused to go on, in part because he was worried about a heat wave in England and buildings without A/C. Obviously not an issue.) I definitely did not bring shorts, though I might have brought a casual skirt, that I probably never wore.

@ Marco - This is good to know! Thank you for this :)

@ Christa - Yes! I am always looking for shorts that are longer than my underpants, a skirt/hemline that hits below my knee and isn't slit right back up to my thigh and a blouse with short sleeves and not "flutter" or "cap" or "no" sleeves to cover up myself. The arms are more because I get cold easy but the rest are just the fact that I don't want to see my legs so I am fairly certain no one else does either. I will have to look for some maxi skirts and midi dresses for this trip for sure.

@acraven- I have heard this on more than one forum about Premier Inns there being very good. I may have to give them another look. I think if I take anything "short" it will be a maxi dress/skirt or a pair of cropped pants. I don't mind heat or the sun, but also don't want to wreak upon arrival to my destination and have everyone giving me the 6 ft distance rule. LOL! I have a packable rain jacket that I just leave in the backpack. I used it in Germany to throw over the backpack if it was more than a downpour. I did take the umbrella to Germany and ended up not wanting to fool with it, so probably won't take it to England either. I didn't want to have to retrieve it at every museum and church so just walked in and shook off on the mat and left the umbrella in the room the entire time.

@ Lexma - Yes. That would be me. I would take warm weather stuff and one or 2 cool weather pieces and end up wearing the 2 cool weather pieces the entire trip! LOL! Thanks for the tip!

I am also from Texas and will be in London June 13-15 then driving up through England into Scotland, and going to Zurich then finally Paris. I was planning to only bring long pants (I hate wearing shorts even in Texas), and short sleeved to 3/4 sleeved shirts along with a light rain jacket that folds up into a pouch so it's easy to carry everywhere in case it is needed.

If we were to plan a matinee play in the West End, what would be acceptable attire? I will have three teenagers with me.

Thanks!

West End theatres are casual dress. In the immortal words of Cole Porter, Anything Goes.

kasaggiewansnet- Whoop! ;)

I wear shorts most of the summer if I am outdoors or the capris at least, but if I am inside, pants definitely and I was thinking of doing exactly what you suggested. Dress for "Texas spring weather", meaning pants, arms covered and a light rain jacket that can serve dual purpose for rain and wind (I hope!)- so thanks for the confirmation.

I Googled your question about what to wear and according to a few answers, smart casual, is what most recommend. It say to dress based off of comfort for sitting/walking/standing in and "smart shoes"because it says that you most likely will be having done sight seeing earlier in the day so that is taken into account. I am sure someone on here would know better than me since I have never been though!

You don’t need smart shoes for the theatre. I’m nearly always in jeans and sneakers as are many other people. Some will be smarter because they’re going for a nice dinner or drinks as well, but for the theatre itself there is no need to dress up.

I’ve been to London the last three years around the end of June and beginning of July. My hotels did not have AC. It was hot. I had a fan, but it was hot. This year my hotel has AC.

Take a little hand held fan. I saw loads of women using them on the bus and tube. I now have one. It will definitely make those trips more bearable.

I pack a lot of linen clothing for London. But I also pack a light fleece and packable raincoat.

Happy travels!!

@ Helen - I think they meant "smart" shoes as in shoes you can walk around all day in as well as show up in the theater. That is how I understood it anyway.
We were planning on going to see Lion King and it said jeans and a tshirt even for the later performances so I assumed that is what they meant for this one as well. Granted, Lion King is for little kids, too but that is what I took "Smart shoes" to mean when it was followed up with "because you will have been walking all day around London doing sight seeing". That would be my shoe choice for certain if I were walking around all day. ha! I love these influencers who act like they hiked around London all day in their videos in their 3" heels carrying their $3k purse and wearing such a smart outfit that I wouldn't make it through Dallas, Texas Friday traffic at 5 pm in a car wearing. ha! ha!

@ Stacie-
Thanks for the linen suggestion and the a/c reminder.
I was wondering about that a/c in hotels. I need to be vigilant about the a/c on my hotel searches. I am ok if I am out and moving around, but to sleep, I have to have a chill on me or I can't sleep. I was raised in S. Texas in the 1970s when no one had a/c and I had no issues, but now as an aging adult, I have to have a/c.d I was thinking about the Linen pants and tops but wondered about having to iron everything? We made it 2 weeks in Germany in all merino wool stuff and was thinking I may be able to get by in my short sleeved merinos for England, but I doubt it. I know it says "temperate" but I tried to wear one of the short sleeved merino wool tee shirts from WoolX outside in Texas last summer and nearly died from the itch. I don't feel the itch if it is cool enough outside, but a little body heat and I am itchy and hot.

as a local I would call over 28 or 29 a heat wave

I need cool nights to sleep as well, so be careful of claims of ac. I stayed at a Premier Hub and while it had air, it turned off automatically when the room was left for more than a few minutes (fine) and wouldn’t go below a certain temp (not fine on hot days when the windows don’t open). I would have better off in a place with no air but operable windows so the room would be cooler at night. Just one more thing to consider. The regular Premier Inns may be better than the Hub in this regard.

@ Nigel - Thanks, Local Nigel! :)

@KC - New fear unlocked! ha!
We nearly melted in Germany in December in the hotels. The heat in all of our rooms wouldn't shut off and we would open the windows to cool the room down multiple times a night which then in turn caused the heat for the room to kick back on. We contacted the front desk of all of our hotels and they said it was on a main computer to not go below a temp. I woke up one night at 2 a.m. and thought I was running a fever. It turned out the room was just sweltering. Dear Hubby can sleep hot or cold, he travels so much for work the only thing he can't sleep through is noise in the halls or outside the hotel. I can sleep through any noise but if I get too hot, I am awake. I will keep that in mind for the Premier inns, too. So far the few that we have looked at haven't mentioned A/C now that I went back and looked so I am assuming that means "no a/c" PHooey!

We were in London September 2023 when temps were in the 90s. We stayed in a premium room at Premier Inn St. Pancras. No problems with AC, a fridge in the room for husband's Pepsi and the bartender off the lobby/check-in area was always happy ty give me 2 large glasses filled with ice when we returned to the room.

As a Texan, I don't think you have anything to fear about being too hot in London. An Aussie poster said that no one wears shorts in London, yes they definitely do when it gets hot, especially tourists and outdoor workers, maybe not city workers.