What to pack for London in December

Lows around 39°F. Goes under the shell when the wind picks up.

Wear one, dry one. Cotton stays wet all week here.

The layer you'll wear more than any other.

Lows of 39°F and wind at 22 km/h make a beanie essential.

Bare hands go numb in 39°F air.

Check ankles and, if there's a dog, paws and ears every night.

Minor injuries need attention in a city where clinics close early.

This country runs on Type G. Get one with USB-C so you're not fighting over the single outlet.

Seven hours of daylight means your phone dies before dark.

Set it up before you land. Signal drops for long stretches outside cities.

Dark by 4:50pm. Every campsite chore after that is a two-hands job.

Overhead bins fill fast on busy December flights to London.

Museums and markets mean daypack walks every single day.

Fits the overhead on every airline that matters. Skip the checked-bag line entirely.

For the passport, the chargers, and the one dry pair of socks.

Wind chill cuts through exposed skin on the neck.

Cold feet in damp socks ruin a day of walking.

Tap water is safe, so refill bottles instead of buying plastic.

One brick charges the laptop, phone, and camera.

Hotel and cafe wifi is shared with everyone else in the building. A VPN keeps your banking and email to yourself.

Airport crowds and crowded trains make bag tracking worth it.

Damp clothes need sorting and drying in a small hotel room.

Humidity at 88% and rain on twelve days breeds mildew fast.

Lows around 39°F. One blanket that packs small covers the car, the campsite and the beach at sunset.

Twelve rain days mean wet hands and surfaces you'll touch.

One outlet in your room charges everything if you bring short cables.

International travel requires your passport within arm's reach at all times.

Luggage moves through multiple hands on the way to your hotel.

Bathroom hooks are rare and steam fogs mirrors constantly.

Train seats don't recline and hotel pillows disappoint most travelers.