Packing for London

Long underwear and gloves for London end May/early June?? Only if you're the type to be bundled up in bulky sweaters while everyone else is running around in shorts, I think. Or if you'll be outside for protracted periods in the middle of the night.

I just checked the weather to make sure I wasn't missing an extreme cold front. Highs are in the 60s-70s, lows in the 50s. Long underwear and gloves seems like serious overkill. If you get cold extremely easily I could see gloves but long underwear is usually used when temps are well below freezing.

Otherwise that's 3 pants, 4 shirts which seems reasonable. I'd add one more shirt, but it wouldn't be necessary. Cardigan and jackets - good idea. If by scarf you mean as a fashion accessory, great. If you mean a heavy knit for warmth...see above.

I will be there the week after you. Our packing lists sound similar except I'm not taking the silk undershirt this time (useful in March though). I'm still debating about a thin pair of gloves.

Someone on this forum once gave the excellent advice that your wardrobe layers should include one combination that you could put together for unseasonably cold weather and one combo for unseasonably warm weather. Sounds like your cardigan and jacket would accommodate a cold snap (and maybe that's why you're also taking your silks). For a warm spell, you can decide whether one of your three-quarter sleeve tops would be fine or whether you want to take a short sleeve top.

Glad you posted this question, as I'm interested in the replies you'll get. Have a great trip!

I agree that the long underwear seems unnecessary, unless you get cold very easily and plan to be stationary outdoors a lot. I don't wear it here at home unless the temperatures are well below freezing, but of course we're all different. If you are very prone to being cold, and would wear it at home in similar weather, by all means pack it. It doesn't take up much space or weight. If you don't take it, you do have plenty of layers (t shirt, cardigan, jacket with liner, scarf) so I would think you'd be okay.

I would definitely take the scarf. I usually have mine in my carry on bag on the plane, as I can get cold on the airplane and the scarf feels cosy.

Otherwise, it seems a well thought out packing list and I hope you have a fabulous time!

I would ditch the long underwear and definitely take a short-sleeved shirt. But that's me! Or keep the long underwear but still add a short-sleeved shirt!

Thanks for all your good wishes and input!

The gloves are very lightweight. I wear them if it's in the 50s here. Ditto for the silks. Last year, there was just one day where the weather was really chilly and it poured rain, and that was the day I wished for the silks. I think overall I wished I'd had the gloves more than once.

The scarf is a cotton Gudrun Sjoden one.

It's hard to say when I'll be hot or cold. I know that sounds screwy! All these layers should work.

I was whining a couple of weeks ago because I was in Paris and was cold. Well...time passed and 2 days ago I was whining because it was hot as heck in Normandie!! I would take the long sleeve, maybe one 3/4 but I would definitely add in 2 short sleeve Tees! If it is earm you may need to wash one/wear one.

Have a wonderful time!

Of course, if it gets warm enough that you're uncomfortable by June 8th, you can always buy a short-sleeved t-shirt there if you choose not to pack one.

I think the need for silk long underwear bottoms may depend on what sort of slacks you're taking. All my trips include a chunk of time in the summer, some of it spent in hot areas, so I don't take jeans or other heavy slacks. I'm glad to have the long johns for the rare cold day early or late in my trip. I've been in soutjern France since May 1, and I've already had a longjohn dsy. It wssn't terribly cold, but the predicted heavy rain materialized, and I was glad to have all my layers, which included a relatively light fleece jacket and a short waterproof jacket.

What I'm wondering about is the zip-out lining for your jacket. Those things sometimes weight quite a bit, and they can be bulky. I aldo dislike their lack of versatility: They can't be worn by themselves.

acraven--The zip-out lining came in handy a couple days in London last year. The rest of the time, I unzipped it and left it in my room. It's not a super-heavy lining or anything.
This is the jacket:
H2Off jacket

I wore it on the plane and folded it up when I needed an extra pillow!