Shoes in Uk?

[Neodymium]

we are coming to the Uk in December (from Australia) and just wondering what are the best shoes to bring? I know it’s quite cold and rainy. We have got boots which are waterproof but we need to bring some joggers or something too. Dh said he’s just going to bring Dunlop volleys (which are made from canvas) but I think they aren’t suitable for there in winter. The kids and I have got converse (leather ones).

I live in the sticks but work in our 'local' city I wear a gortex trainer 365 days of the year, the only thing I wouldn't do in them is go scrambling over rocks or bouncing through bogs, for that I have proper decent walking boots, otherwise my trainers cope with rural muddy footpaths to urban pavements with no worries . My feet stay warm and dry in winter and warm and dry in summer!

Do you have a Kathmandu store near you? They do great stuff for the UK climate which isn't so dissimilar to South Island (NZ).

Im not too sure. Dhs family originally came from Cornwall and he’s always wanted to go there. We have a car so if there isn’t much to do we can drive elsewhere. I have only booked accomodation in London, and then in Watford the final night before we leave. So we aren’t really locked in to anything.

Bear in mind that down jackets could be too warm if the weather is mild, especially if walking around and going on the tube and generally being out and about in southern England. You could also get some waterproof but not padded jackets that you can layer with a jumper for warmer days.

UK weather is really variable. Snow is quite unlikely in London and Cornwall, but it could be around 0 C, very wet, stormy or even dry and quite mild (up to 10/12 C).

Dh said he’s just going to bring Dunlop volleys (which are made from canvas)

Not suitable at all for a European winter.

You can always buy suitable shoes when you get to London and see the weather, there are plenty of shops.

I don't own leather anything.

In the winter I wear:

• Waterproof treated Uggs

• Canvas trainers if it's dry or I will be mainly indoors.

• Waterproof walking boots - for any muddy, wet walking or trekking about if it's wet.

• Wellies for if it's super wet/muddy or for winter beach walks

Also a waterproof coat preferably a long one or you get wet legs. We also have waterproof trousers but that depends on what you are planning to do / they are good for hiking or to slip on over trousers if you only want a jacket and need something in your day bag for if it's bucketing down.

A long warm coat. I have a duvet coat. Light, very warm and long so keeps you dry. Personally I'd want a light "shell" waterproof and a warm coat if you have space in the packing. Our weather is really variable. So it could be wet and reasonably warm (especially if you are trekking about) even in winter, or freezing cold. That can sometimes change day to day!

Layers are good especially if you are in and out of places as you'll get constantly hot then cold then hot.

Wooly hat, scarves and gloves essential. My favourite are some lovely fleece lined wooly mittens. Super warm!

I don't generally carry or use an umbrella. They are awful if it's windy. And you have to hold them up which is annoying as you only have one arm free and exhausting after a while. Plus if it's crowded you'll poke someone's eye out! I just buy waterproof jackets and coats with hoods.

If you brave and planning to get in the sea in Cornwall, I'd recommend sea shoes after my DH stood on a weaver fish we don't go in the sea without them. Also an absolute life saver when it's a stony beach!

I wear canvas trainers most of the winter. They are fine if it's dry!

But if you can only bring one pair when travelling agree you need something that copes with wet and dry weather. It will probably rain at some point in December!

Hi,

You can get a child's coat from regatta. If you search for waterproof breathable you will find something good.

You need thermal vests to keep warm. You wear them under your clothes.

My ds would usually wear a t-shirt, then a long sleeved t-shirt, then a hoodie and a breathable waterproof coat on top.

I wear the same except my coat is padded so i don't need the hoodie. I wear normal trousers with over trousers on top to stop the wind going right through. It keeps me much warmer overall if my legs are warm. We all wear leather ankle books all the time. We have no other shoes except sandals for winter. We get them from Ecco.

We also need hats, scarves and gloves in the winter otherwise we wouldn't be able to leave the house. We live near London.

If you get cold at 22 then you may find it a bit of a shock to be in sub-zero temperatures, especially when jetlagged. It might be good to bring melatonin if you can buy it there.

If you can fit a hot water bottle in your luggage that will help, and if not then when you are here you can just get any plastic drinking bottle and fill it with hot water from the tap and hug it in the evening. That will make you feel warmer. I used to do that when travelling.

Good luck with your holiday.

I often carry a hand warmer in my pocket in winter. I have a rechargeable one which also acts as a phone battery pack. 1 cost me around £25 from Amazon about 2 yr ago and still going strong.

I'm unsure if you'd be able to order at home and bring in luggage or not, you'd have to check flight rules. However, many shops sell hot hands disposables if it's really cold when you get here. You'd have to Google where is nearby to you if you need them.

Just adding, my DC love the hand warmers too.

Hotwater bottle advice is good, you could easily buy those here if the weather is bad when you get here. It could be too warm for any kind of warmer/hot water bottle.

Myself and DC sometimes wear hot water bottle each in drawstring bags under or over coats on cold days here too so walks last longer. Or have them in the car for before/after a walk.

@KeepingTrying I run to cold, but what you describe makes it seem like we're in Siberia!! I get that a frost can come on quite quickly though! Average temp in London in December is 10 degrees.

It can get very windy here so a hood will be better than an unbrella

I was thinking the same, no one in my family has ever worn a thermal vest and we spent quite a bit of time outside and we'll north of Cornwall. Wearing all those clothes isn't the norm of my life at all

I'd go with the less extreme suggestions

I work in central London and live on the outskirts, and am mostly wearing ankle boots or knee high boots. A coat, scarf and gloves, but I don't have special waterproof or thermal clothes and don't feel I need them. I'd boil alive wearing thermal underwear! I use public transport and walk a lot. The underground is boiling hot!

Id say trainers are fine for most activities. Had to look up Merrells but they seem fine if walking on wet ground. Ankle boots or dress shoes if going out to the theatre/restaurant. Agree canvas might not be the best idea.
I wear trainers unless going on a muddy walk with my dogs where I wear rubber waterproof boots - but would not wear those going out in the city no matter how wet!

Although it snowed in London in the second week of December last year (no trains, so I couldn't get to work). Not too cold though, I didn't need to walk about with a hot water bottle strapped to me!

Just a thought, layers work best if you are using the underground. It can get quite stuffy even in winter.

City centres are likely to be wet/windy, but anywhere more rural it will be the mud, slippy leaves that will be the biggest challenge for footwear.

Do the kids like Harry Potter? The studios are just outside Watford, but you’d need to book.

Merrells are great, they’re definitely warm enough. Canvas I would avoid - it’s not as rainy in London as people make out but can be wet underfoot as the lack of light in December makes it hard to dry the ground out. You’d probably be fine with any plastic/leather shoes or trainers. You can always buy warmer socks if needed from Primark etc.

I'd just wing it a bit and buy some stuff in London if you need to. Could be snow ( unlikely in London and very very unlikely in Cornwall) or colluding be mild and damp. Certainly wouldn't be worrying about hand warmers, water bottles etc!

OP, I live in a similar climate as you (even hotter as it never drops below 28 degrees here) and I travel every year in January to London. What is essential for me to have is thermal underwear. As long as my core is warm, I am fine with jeans and a jumper. Regarding shoes, I often wear leather shoes or trainers. i actually prefer my Skechers over leather shoes, especially with some good socks. Be prepared that your body needs to adjust, most often it means that the size of your blatter seems to have shrunken over night. 😆. Within a day or 2 also your body should be used to the temperature adjustment.

That's what I was thinking! Tbh the only time I wear anything more than a decent waterproof coat and boots is when I am pitch side in the cold rain for hours. And I live well north of London!

For out and about in London in December, I dont think you need more than good shoes or boots, a coat and maybe gloves in your pocket.

I've never seen anyone wearing waterproof trousers to walk through Hyde Park. Tho tbf if 22 is cold for @Neodymium she may need more layers than I do.

I would leave DH to make his own mind up. It's not like we don't have any shoe shops in Britain!😁

But you do need waterproof shoes. Nothing special - but leather or plastic, depending on your ethics.

@Filamumof9 yes we have all got the uniglo heattech extra warm leggings and long sleeve tops to go underneath. I just got the middle ones as the top one was so expensive. But I could always buy another set over there if we need

@RogersOrganismicProcess yep have already booked for Harry Potter! and accomodation nearby too. Though that’s more for me than the kids.

@clary well if you see anyone in December in Hyde park wearing waterproof trousers with hot water bottles strapped to them it will probably be us 😂. I have actually bought soft shell wind proof trousers for us all as we are going on to Germany after. Today was 28 here which I find pleasant. Though I still took a jacket going to the shops as they are air conditioned to 24 so I find them abit cool.

I don’t think we will find them too warm. We took the jackets on holiday to Melbourne in winter and they were ok. Actually a few times I was still cold. They are literally the warmest ones I could get too. 600 fill goose down with 10000 waterproof.