0 of 79 packed
Documents & money 0/12
Tech 0/9
Clothes for British weather 0/11
Health & toiletries 0/12
Driving 0/8
Walking & outdoors 0/10
Traveling with kids 0/6
Before you leave home 0/11
Clear every tick on this list?
What to add, month by month
The basics above work all year. This is what to add for the month you travel. Britain is rarely very hot or very cold: London highs run from about 47°F (8°C) in January to 75°F (24°C) in July, with Edinburgh a few degrees cooler. What catches Americans out is rain, wind and short winter days.
| Months | London and England | Edinburgh and Scotland | Hills, moors and coast |
|---|---|---|---|
| December to February | Warm coat, hat, gloves and waterproof shoes; highs about 47°F (8°C), dark by 4 pm | The same plus thermals; Edinburgh highs about 45°F (7°C) and about 7 hours of daylight | Winter hills need mountain skills and kit; most visitors should stick to low-level walks, with a headlamp |
| March and April | A light coat, sweater and umbrella; highs 53–59°F (12–15°C) | A warm coat, layers and a hat; snow lingers on the mountains | Full waterproofs and warm layers; paths are often muddy |
| May and June | Light layers, a light rain jacket and sunscreen; highs 65–71°F (18–22°C) | Layers, a waterproof, an eye mask for the light nights, and midge repellent from late May | Waterproof jacket and pants, warm layer, hat and gloves; tick checks after long grass |
| July and August | Summer clothes, something cool for a heat wave, a light layer for evenings | A fleece and a waterproof; Edinburgh highs about 66°F (19°C); midge repellent and a head net in the Highlands | As in June, with the most midges and the busiest trails |
| September and October | Layers, a sweater and a rain jacket; highs 61–69°F (16–20°C) | Warm layers and a waterproof; fewer midges after August | Shorter days, so a headlamp; more wind and rain in October |
| November | A warm coat, gloves and umbrella for Christmas markets and Bonfire Night | A winter coat, hat and gloves; about 8 hours of daylight | Short, wet days; plan low-level walks |
Watch out
Without an approved ETA linked to the passport you are carrying, your airline, Eurostar or ferry company will not let you board. If you renew a passport after getting an ETA, the ETA does not move to the new one, so apply again. Apply only in the official UK ETA app or on GOV.UK. See entry rules.
What to leave at home
- US hair dryers, flat irons, curling wands and travel kettles that run on 120 V only. Through an adapter they can overheat or burn out. Buy a cheap one at Boots, Argos or a supermarket for around £15–25 (about $20–33), and skip the kettle: nearly every room has one with a tea tray. See staying connected.
- Pepper spray, mace, stun guns and Tasers. They are prohibited weapons in the UK, and bringing them in can get you arrested. See safety.
- Knives and locking multitools. Carrying a knife in public without a good reason is illegal, with a narrow exception for a small folding knife. Leave pocket knives with locking blades at home.
- Cannabis and THC products in any form. Leave them at home, even if they are legal where you live.
- Meat and dairy from home. Beef jerky, salami and cheese cannot come into Great Britain from outside the UK and EU. See customs allowances.
- Pounds bought at your US bank or the airport. An ATM in the UK almost always gives a better rate, and you will need little cash. See money.
- A huge suitcase, if you are traveling by train. You carry your own bags onto trains and up station stairs, and racks fill up. See getting around.
- Large amounts of cash, unless you declare it. You must declare £10,000 (about $13,300) or more arriving in Great Britain from outside the UK.
Not sure what the weather will be? Check our month-by-month guide. For medicines and midges see health, and for the rental car see driving in the UK.