London in December is mild by northern European standards but often wet, and the light goes early. The challenge isn't extreme cold. It's going between drizzly streets and very warm Tubes, shops and theatres several times a day.
That makes London ideal for a light capsule: thin layers you can take off, one good waterproof coat and boots that won't mind a puddle. Everything here fits the 40 × 30 × 20 cm free bag on Ryanair and Wizz Air.
The weather in London in December
Shoulder months for comparison
| Station | November | December | January |
|---|---|---|---|
| London (St James’s Park) | 11.6 °C / 6.1 °C53 °F / 43 °F · 66 mm | 9.0 °C / 3.9 °C48 °F / 39 °F · 59 mm | 8.6 °C / 3.5 °C47 °F / 38 °F · 58 mm |
Source: WMO 1991–2020 climate normals, published by NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI accession 0253808). Stations: London (St James’s Park) (WMO 3770). Normals are long-term averages, not a forecast. Sunrise, sunset and daylight are calculated for the 15th of the month in 2026 (local time). °F and inches are converted from the metric figures. “n/a” means the station doesn’t report sunshine in this dataset.
- Mild but damp. Average highs are in high single figures and nights stay a few degrees above freezing.
- Around 11 days in a typical December get at least 1 mm of rain. Expect frequent light rain rather than downpours.
- Daylight is under 8 hours in mid-December, and the sun sets before 16:00, so evening plans start early.
This week in London
The outfit plan in this guide is built from 30-year averages for December. This panel is the real forecast for the next 7 days, turned into packing tips for your cabin baggage.
The live forecast needs JavaScript. Everything else in this guide works without it, and the climate-based plan above covers any December trip.
Weather data from MET Norway (CC BY 4.0), adapted into packing tips.
Karen’s tipWeather changes fastLayer it up
Three thin layers from your capsule beat one thick coat in London in December: add or peel them off as the day changes.
- Base · next to skin
- Long-sleeve tee or thin thermal top
- Mid · warmth
- Fine knit or cashmere crewneck
- Outer · wind and rain
- Hooded waterproof coat or trench
☀ When it warms up: Pubs, theatres and the Tube are heated: the knit can come off and the coat stays open.
🎒 Stash it: Beanie and touchscreen gloves live in the coat pockets; the compact umbrella goes in your day bag.
Check the live “This week” forecast above for big swings between morning and afternoon.
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Karen’s tip On the plane
- Wear your heaviest items on travel day: coat, knit and your bulkiest shoes. They’d take the most space and weight in your bag.
- Planes can be cold with the air con, so take a jacket on board.
- An inflatable cushion that packs into its own small, discreet pouch: a head cushion on the flight and a pillow on beach sunbeds. You choose how much air goes in, so it’s as firm or soft as you like, which a foam neck pillow can’t do.
More comfort tips for flying economy → · Is a lounge worth it? →
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What locals actually wear
Sourced tips summarise or quote the linked source; anything marked editorial is our own advice. We don’t make up “local” style tips.
- A waterproof coat, ideally hooded or a trench with a hood, is the base of a London winter wardrobe.Source [1]: Emma, That Travel (a Londoner of 12 years)
- Wear thin layers rather than one thick jumper, because the Tube gets hot.Source [1]: Emma, That Travel (a Londoner of 12 years)
- Wear waterproof boots. Avoid suede, and save heels for evenings rather than days of walking.Source [1]: Emma, That Travel (a Londoner of 12 years)
- Carry a compact but sturdy umbrella.Source [1]: Emma, That Travel (a Londoner of 12 years)
- Christmas jumpers are part of December in London. Bulky snow boots and ski jackets are overkill, and smart-casual is fine for the theatre.Source [1]: Emma, That Travel (a Londoner of 12 years)
3 outfit formulas
Your style: best fits here are Parisian chic, Quiet luxury, Relaxed sporty chic and Boho with an edge. Find your holiday style →
Sightseeing in the drizzle
- Hooded waterproof coat or trench
- Long-sleeve tee plus a fine knit
- Dark jeans
- Waterproof ankle boots
- Wool scarf
Tip: Two thin layers beat one chunky jumper when you go from rain to hot Tube carriages.
Theatre night, smart-casual
- Satin or knit midi skirt, or black trousers
- Silk-feel blouse or fine cashmere crewneck
- Black tights
- The ankle boots, polished up
- Coat and scarf
Tip: Smart-casual is plenty for the theatre, so there's no need to pack heels.
Festive day out
- A festive jumper (buy it there if you like)
- Thermal top underneath
- Jeans
- Waterproof boots
- Beanie and gloves
Tip: A Christmas jumper is a fun London souvenir, but it's bulky. Wear it home on the plane.
Swatches are a colour guide for each formula, not product photos.
Day to night in London
Same capsule, evening version: keep the base, swap one or two pieces. Every swap below stays cabin-bag friendly. How day-to-night swaps work →
01Sightseeing in the drizzle → theatre night
- Base (stays the same)
- Waterproof ankle boots (polished up)
- Hooded coat and wool scarf
- ☀ Day add-ons
- Dark jeans
- Long-sleeve tee and a fine knit
- ☾ Evening swaps
- Midi skirt or black trousers instead of jeans
- Silk-feel blouse
- Black tights
Pieces added to your bag: 0, nothing: every piece is already in the capsule.
02Festive day out → pub dinner
- Base (stays the same)
- Jeans
- Waterproof boots
- ☀ Day add-ons
- Festive jumper over a thermal
- Beanie and gloves
- ☾ Evening swaps
- Cashmere crewneck instead of the festive jumper
- Statement earrings and a small crossbody
Pieces added to your bag: 2, earrings and a small crossbody, if you want them.
Karen’s tipChange your hair, change the look
Swapping my hair from up in the day to down in the evening (or the other way round) gives the whole outfit a different look. Even one piece of jewellery I didn’t wear earlier does the same.
💡 It’s a free trick, and it saves packing extra outfits.
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Preview note: placeholder links to each shop’s normal pages, with no affiliate tracking yet.
What’s underfoot
The ground
- Mostly paved, but uneven flagstones and kerbs
- Cobbled or block-paved areas (Covent Garden Piazza and James Street; editorial: Shad Thames, parts of the City)
- Many Tube stations with stairs and long escalators
- Wet pavements and leaves in December
12,000–20,000 steps Tube changes add hidden walking.editorial estimate
Trouble spots
- Covent Garden station: no lifts to the platforms and about 193 steps. Use Leicester Square or another nearby station
- Covent Garden Piazza and James Street cobbles, which are busy and uneven
- Tube interchanges with stairs (check TfL step-free information)
☀ Day shoes
Cushioned trainers or waterproof walking shoes with grip. A water-resistant leather trainer suits rainy days.
☾ Evening shoes
Loafers, smart flats, ankle boots, or a block heel if you'll mostly travel by Tube or taxi. Leather ankle boots double for day and night.
✕ Leave at home
Thin-soled ballet flats for long walking days. Stilettos on Covent Garden cobbles.
Season notes: Damp and possibly frosty mornings, with short daylight. Waterproofing matters more than insulation.
Karen’s tipHeels and cobbles don’t mix. Check the ground before you pack heels: thin heels catch between cobbles, so a wedge or block heel is steadier for evenings.
One pair, day to night: The best space-savers are a sleek waterproof leather ankle boot (Paris, London, Vienna & Prague, Amsterdam, Rome in December), a clean minimalist leather trainer or slip-on loafer (Tokyo, London), and a low block-heel sandal (cruise). Travel day: wear the heavier pair (see On the plane). Break in shoes before the trip.
We may earn a small commission if you buy through our links, at no extra cost to you.
Sources: coventgarden.london · accessable.co.uk · tfl.gov.uk. Shoe recommendations are our own editorial advice based on these sources, checked 20 Oct 2026.
The free baggage packing list
Your bag: 40 × 30 × 20 cm
Planned for 4 nights, using a soft backpack of about 20–24 litres made to the 40 × 30 × 20 cm size. The rule that makes it work: wear your bulkiest items on the plane. The dotted outline is easyJet’s bigger free bag.
Wear on the plane worn
In the bag 13 items
Karen’s tipRoll, don’t fold. I roll my clothes, stuff socks and small bits inside my shoes, and keep socks in a clear bag that comes home full of dirty laundry or wet swimming costumes. How I pack →
Karen’s tipPack a bag in a bag.A foldable shopping bag that folds into its own little pouch, for shopping, dirty laundry and pool towels. It saves buying a bag abroad.Why, and where to get one →
- Snow boots and ski jackets
- Suede shoes
- Heels for daytime
Liquids: going vs coming home
UK airports vary. Heathrow, Gatwick, Birmingham, Bristol, Edinburgh, Belfast International, Belfast City, Bournemouth, Southend allow containers up to 2 litres; most others, including Manchester, Stansted and Luton, are still 100 ml.
- 2 litresLondon Heathrow (T2, T3, T4, T5) (LHR)
- 2 litresLondon Gatwick (North & South) (LGW)
- 100 mlLondon Stansted (STN)
- 100 mlLondon Luton (LTN)
- 100 mlLondon City (LCY)to re-check
Pack your liquids to 100 ml for the whole trip.
Karen’s tipWater bottle: keep it full through a 2-litre UK airport, or take it empty through a 100 ml one. Flying home: Heathrow: keep it; Gatwick: keep it; Stansted: empty it; Luton: empty it; City: empty it.Check your airport →
Karen’s tipDecant, don’t buy mini. I decant sun tan lotion into clear 100 ml spray bottles, and my day cream, night cream and cleanser into one squashy three-section silicone pot for trips of up to 4–5 days (separate pots if longer). Far cheaper than minis. How to do it →
Karen’s tip Check your room first
Read the hotel, Airbnb or hostel listing, or message the host, and ask whether they provide:
- Iron or steamer
- Hairdryer
- Toiletries: shampoo, shower gel (conditioner often isn’t supplied)
- Towels, plus beach or pool towels
- Washing machine or laundry service
- Plug adapters or USB sockets
- Kettle, tea and coffee
- Slippers and a robe
- A safe
Hostels often don’t provide towels or padlocks.
Karen’s tip Bring your own hair products. Most hotels supply shampoo but often not conditioner. Decant favourites into leak-proof travel bottles under 100 ml (fill them about ¾ full), or switch to solid bars, which don’t count as liquids. Amazon UK: Lericttor 100ml Silicone Travel Bottles ↗Check price · Amazon UK: Friendly Soap Travel Bar 95g (hair & body) ↗£4.72, price checked 20 Oct 2026 Every item they provide is one you don’t carry.
Karen’s tip No-iron packing
Pick fabrics that don’t crease. Woven cotton and linen crease; knits, merino, jersey and most polyester blends barely do.
- Hang creased clothes in the bathroom while you shower.
- Pack a small crease-release spray under 100 ml (it counts as a liquid).
- Roll clothes, and keep crease-prone pieces in a packing cube on top, not in a vacuum bag.
- Check whether your hotel or Airbnb has an iron.
Karen’s tip Buy it there?
Adding a checked bag typically costs around £60–80 return on a budget airline. So if your bag is full, buying bulky or liquid items when you arrive is often cheaper.
Think sun cream, full-size shampoo, insect repellent, a beach towel or flip-flops.
Yes in this destination: Anything you forget is easy to buy, at normal UK prices.
Tick items off as you pack (your ticks aren’t saved). Liquids rules depend on your departure airport and change from time to time. Check your airport’s current security rules before you decant your toiletries (see liquids rules by airport).
Flying there on Ryanair, easyJet or Wizz?
- Ryanair and Wizz Air give you 40 × 30 × 20 cm under the seat. This list fits a 24 L backpack if you wear the coat and boots.
- easyJet's free bag is 45 × 36 × 20 cm, enough for the list plus a second pair of shoes.
- Flying Jet2? Its standard allowance also includes a 10 kg hand bag of up to 56 × 45 × 25 cm, so you'll have room to spare.
Duty-free bag: Ryanair: extra bag allowed · easyJet: extra bag allowed · Wizz Air: extra bag allowed. It still has to fit under the seat or in a locker, and gate staff decide. Duty free and your free baggage →
Sizes come from each airline’s official page (see our free baggage reference for links). Rules change, so check your booking before you fly.
Baggage picks
The ticks compare each bag’s stated outer dimensions with each airline’s free-bag size. A struck-through name means the bag is too big for that airline. Soft bags squash a little; hard cases don’t. We haven’t tested these bags ourselves yet.
Want to fit more in? Compression cubes and packing cubes that store more in a free bag →
Pieces that fit the formulas
- M&S (Mountain Warehouse)Mountain Warehouse Pakka II Waterproof Hooded Jacket£32 · checked 20 Oct 2026
- Clarks UKClarks Hencroft Step Waterproof Chelsea Boots£75 · checked 20 Oct 2026
- QuinceAustralian merino wool half-zip sweater
- QuinceCotton modal relaxed long-sleeve tee
- M&SAutograph Pure Silk Stripe Shirt£90 · checked 20 Oct 2026
- M&SM&S Heatgen Maximum Thermal Crew Neck Top£22 · checked 20 Oct 2026
- M&SM&S Umbrella with Windtech£12 · checked 20 Oct 2026
- M&S (Accessorize)Accessorize Leather Faux Fur Lined Touchscreen Gloves£22 · checked 20 Oct 2026
We may earn a small commission if you buy through our links, at no extra cost to you. Prices are shown only where we confirmed them on the retailer’s page (checked 20 Oct 2026); otherwise check the current price.
Sources
- What to wear in London in winter, Emma, That Travel (a Londoner of 12 years)
Airline free-bag sizes: see the free baggage reference. Climate: see the source under the weather table. Live forecast: weather data from MET Norway (CC BY 4.0), adapted into packing tips. Photos: Unsplash, credited on each image and on the photo credits page. Last checked October 2026.
