Packing lists

What to pack for London in October

October in London is mild, damp and changeable. Most days sit in the high 50s, a few bright ones feel like September, and rain arrives as drizzle or quick showers more often than downpours. The evenings draw in fast, especially once the clocks go back at the end of the month.

So the list is built for four seasons in a day, at a gentle scale. A water-resistant coat with a hood, a couple of knits and shoes that shrug off a puddle cover almost everything. London is casual, so smart jeans and a good sweater will get you into nearly any pub, gallery or restaurant.

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The weather

Daytime high
59°F
15°C, cooling through the month.
Overnight low
46°F
8°C. Rarely colder, but often damp.
Wet days
~11
Mostly drizzle and passing showers.
Daylight
10–11 h
Sunset near 4:45pm after the clocks go back.

The capsule

A week, one traveler, Ivy palette. Navy and ivory, with burgundy for the evenings, and every layer fits under the coat. A capsule is a few clothes in one palette (a base color, a neutral and an accent) that all go together. The full list below adds what sits outside it.

Ivy palette · 11 pieces · 27 outfits

Layers

  • Water-resistant macWater-resistant mac
  • Quilted jacketQuilted jacket
  • V-neck cardiganV-neck cardigan

Tops

  • Striped cotton topStriped cotton top
  • Merino crewneckMerino crewneck
  • Oxford shirtOxford shirt

Bottoms

  • Dark jeansDark jeans
  • Corduroy pantsCorduroy pants
  • Pleated midi skirtPleated midi skirt

Shoes

  • Waterproofed ankle bootsWaterproofed ankle boots
  • Leather sneakersLeather sneakers

Three days from this capsule

Borough Market in drizzle
Gallery afternoon
Pub dinner after dark

Shown for one traveler. Packlier packs a capsule like this for each person on the trip.

The full list

Clothes

  • Water-resistant coat with a hood
  • Light quilted jacket or fleece for dry days
  • Two knits: a cardigan and a sweater
  • Three or four shirts and tops
  • Dark jeans
  • Pants or a skirt for a nicer dinner or the theater
  • Tights or warm socks
  • Sleepwear

Shoes

  • Waterproof boots or shoes that are comfortable for miles
  • Sneakers for dry days

Day bag

  • Compact umbrella
  • Scarf
  • Refillable water bottle
  • Crossbody bag that zips shut

Documents and tech

  • Passport
  • Travel insurance details
  • Contactless card or phone, for the Tube, buses and almost every shop
  • Type G plug adapter (230V)
  • Power bank
  • Theater and exhibition tickets, booked ahead

Toiletries

  • Moisturizer and lip balm
  • Blister bandages
  • Any prescriptions, in your carry-on

Gear worth the space

  • A hooded mac or rain coat

    An umbrella covers you on a straight walk, but a hood is what you want in a line or on a busy bridge. A mac also looks right indoors.

  • Waterproofed leather boots

    Comfortable over miles of sidewalk, dry through a wet afternoon and fine in a restaurant. Spray them with a protector before you leave.

  • A merino sweater

    Warm on a chilly walk, cool enough on a crowded Tube, and it can be worn several days without washing.

  • A compact umbrella

    Small enough to live in your bag all week. Pick one with a sturdy frame, because gusts along the river turn cheap ones inside out.

Four seasons in a day, at a gentle scale. Packlier packs your October for the drizzle, the early dark and the pub.

Tell it where, when, why, which bag and which palette, and it packs the capsule, checks it against the bag and adds everything that is not clothing. Launching this year on Android, with iOS to follow.

One email at launch, nothing else.