Tips for Visiting London in Winter
Originally published December 2019
It’s no secret that London is COLD in the wintertime. As a Californian, I probably have a skewed perception of what “cold” actually is. For me, it’s anything below 65ºF. Safe to say winter in London chilled me to my bones!
London averaged 39ºF during the day and about 29ºF at night when I was there at the end of January 2019. Not only does it get cold, but it also rains often and snows on occasion.
Even though it was cold, we still had sunshine and blue skies most days! You can still get a full, fun London experience even when the weather isn’t ideal.
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Pack Accordingly For London Weather
Come prepared! Pack for the cold weather as well as for heated indoors. In other words: pack plenty of layers that you can easily shed or add on as needed.
Everyone in London has the most fashionable, cutest winter coats. You may care about cuteness and fashion now, but as soon as you’re cold and wet all of that goes out the window.
I’d recommend wearing a t-shirt, with a sweater over it, and then a raincoat of some sort on top. The raincoat can absolutely be chic, but just make sure it’s comfortable, waterproof/water resistant, and warm.
Here are a few coats that are perfect for London street style in winter:
Layers are key to a comfortable trip to London in winter! Some places really crank up the heater on cold days, which makes it pretty uncomfortable when you’re all bundled up. You’ll go from freezing to can’t-take-this-off-fast-enough hot.
I always wore a tank top or t-shirt with a sweater over it, and then my coat over that. That way, I had three levels of clothing that I could strip down to depending on the temperature.
It didn’t snow while I was there, but it rained plenty. It’s no fun staying inside all day when you’re traveling, so you might as well brave the rain. Just prepare ahead of time and you’ll be fine! Rain boots are a must to avoid Soppy Sock Syndrome.
I didn’t want to wear knee-high rain boots, so I opted for Chelsea Rain Boots. The exact ones I wore are no longer sold, but a these are few similar ones:
With any rain boot, it’s important to wear the right socks. I recommend thicker socks that go higher than the shoe for the most comfort.
The best little lifesaver on this trip was an electric hand warmer! My hands get extremely cold, even with good gloves (also a necessity). I carried the electric hand warmer in my pocket and switched it between my left and right hands to keep them warm. Having two is probably ideal!
Plan your day ahead of time
While it’s fun to stroll around and happen upon things, it isn’t quite the same when you’re shivering in the rain. Planning the first couple of places ahead of time will save you from standing outside looking/Googling for things to do.
I’ve put together a full list of free things to do in London to help you get started with your planning!
Public transportation is incredible in London so it’s easy to walk to the nearest tube station and hop on or get on the bus at the nearest stop.
Once you’re inside at your first destination, you can plan your next move from the warmth of the heated indoors.
This is me not following my own advice, standing in the cold to look up places to eat:
We ended up just eating at the pub I was standing in front of!
Stay in an area that’s close to everything
I always think about “How can I be cold for the shortest amount of time possible?” while traveling in winter. I have a friend who I stayed with that I am eternally grateful for because she was so kind to give me a place to stay the first two times I visited London.
If you don’t have someone to stay with who lives near everything you want to see, I highly recommend staying in a flat! They tend to be less expensive than hotels (especially if you’re looking in prime locations) and might be in a cool, local area.
On my third visit to London, I stayed at a lovely flat in South Kensington that I highly recommend! It was the perfect location with tons of shops, restaurants, activities, and tube/bus stations within walking distance. Just bring good earplugs as the street it’s on is a lively one every day of the week.
Some other flats in the same area:
There are so many sights to see in London, most places will be close enough to at least a couple of things you have on your itinerary and nearby tube and bus stations.
Strategically planning where you stay will limit the amount of time you spend walking around in poor weather.
Use the map below to find more places to stay. I recommend searching near Tower Bridge, St. Paul’s Cathedral, or Kensington to be nearby main attractions!
Find things to do indoors
Cold and/or rainy weather will not hold you back from seeing everything there is to see in London! There are plenty of things to do indoors and the sights outdoors don’t require much walking if you use public transport.
Free Museums
The National Gallery, Tate Britain, British Museum, Victoria and Albert Museum, and National Portrait Gallery are a few of my favorite ones. London is filled with museums and they’re (mostly) all free. We spent most of our time wandering through the museums!
Draught’s Board Game Cafe
One of the more fun places I’ve been to for dinner was Draught’s Board Game Cafe. They have a great menu and a library full of board games! We went on a particularly rainy night and it was perfect for a fun night out without dealing with the rain.
Electric Cinema
This movie theatre not only has seats with footrests and sofas, but they also have six double beds at the front! I haven’t been myself, but it’s on my list for a future trip.
Shopping at Westfield Mall
You can’t go to London without some shopping! Westfield has two locations in London, so wherever you are, you’re not too far from warm and cozy shops.
Go to a pub
If you didn’t go to a pub, did you even go to London? There’s practically one on every corner and I haven’t been to a bad one yet! A couple I can recommend from personal experience are The Barley Mow in Westminster and The Salisbury near Covent Garden.
Mr. Fogg’s Tavern is always full and I’ve heard good things, but haven’t been myself – just took photos in front of the seasonal flower display!
Ride the London Eye
Each sphere on the London Eye is completely enclosed so you’ll stay dry even on a rainy day. You’ll get amazing views of London from the comfort of your own little bubble.
Make sure you purchase your tickets ahead of time to save money and ensure a ride. It costs almost twice as much if you purchase walk-up tickets at the London Eye.
St. Paul’s Cathedral
St. Paul’s Cathedral has gorgeous architecture on the outside, is filled with history and galleries, and has a crypt on the inside! I’ve never been inside, despite multiple visits to London and St. Paul’s Cathedral. The outside is so beautiful that I only ever visit it to admire the architecture.
Ensure you book your entry ticket in advance for a discount!
Westminster Abbey
Another place full of history and beautiful architecture, you’ll have to brave the weather a bit to view the outside, but can go inside with a ticket. It can be cold inside in winter, so ensure you are bundled up!
Purchase your tickets in advance as they are popular and have a very limited number of tickets available at the door.
Order takeout or Delivery
Don’t feel guilty about staying in a few nights during your trip — it gets cold at night and sometimes just isn’t worth the trek to a restaurant. Order food for delivery (hello, Nando’s!) through Deliveroo and cozy up with a movie or classic British TV.
Warm up with a latte
Is there anything better than stepping inside a warm coffee shop and sipping a latte on a rainy day? Nope. London also has some of the best chai lattes I have ever had. Pair it with a croissant for the perfect treat.
A few of my favorite spots for a chai latte in London are:
Guillam Coffee House in Kensington.
The Hagen Project in Leadenhall Market.
COLICCI Cafe stand near Kensington Palace.
The city of London definitely was built around the weather – it is so easy to get around without having to walk too far in cold, rainy weather and most things we wanted to do were indoors, anyway!
Visiting London in the off-season is great because not only is it less crowded, but flights and accommodations are much cheaper as well. I flew round trip in and out of London from San Francisco in the winter of 2019. It was almost half the cost of flights in January/February compared to flights in the summer months.
Airbnb, VRBO, and hotels lower prices during the off-season which is a great time to visit if you’re traveling on a budget.
Hope you have an amazing trip and in case you already forgot – PACK LAYERS!
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