Four days in London with one coat, but what?

[Kayemm]

Dh and I are having 4 days in London the week before the coronation.
We are travelling by train so one small suitcase.
Doing the usual, sightseeing, Guys and Dolls at The Bridge (squeeeee!) and as it's a BIG birthday dinner at two nice restaurants.

I always get clothes wrong. I'm a 16 and tend to be a dress wearer. I also have hot flushes 😳

What will I feel good in? Not a waterproof going out at night, not a trenchcoat if I'm hot and have to carry it and not a biker/denim if it's pouring down.

Help me?

A very lightweight pack-a-mac in your bag for unexpected showers, and a light but warm coat or jacket to wear.

I think you may need to decide nearer the time based on the weather forecast!

Depends what you've got but my advice would be don't worry about rain ,take a v small umbrella .
Wear what you wear most at home .
I'd favour a waterproofish biker ( not denim ) and take gloves and a warm scarf .

Don’t take an umbrella. They’re so annoying with the crowds!! Take a warm cardigan or jumper and a waterproof mac you can keep in a bag.

The rain has been pretty bad here!!

Blazer and umbrella. You don’t need a pack a Mac unless the forecast is sustained rain - you’ll be able to be indoors when you need.

Wait until nearer the time and see what the weather is like?! Denim or biker are the obvious ones, and bring an umbrella.

I do like the idea of a blazer but not sure they work on my body.

Second this. London is very casual these days, especially for the theatre. And the Tube/area around the Bridge is packed, plus it's windy, so I find umbrellas awkward.

Wow, this question is asked a lot! Mumsnet kindly highlighted every time something similar had been asked.

Why are all us non Londoners so insecure at the thought of dressing in the capital?

You never see "What do I wear on Monday in Hull" do you?

Will depend very much on the weather but London is the home of casual/practical dressing and a lot of Londoners don't own more than one coat.

Dress for yourself and whatever you choose will be great.

Honestly, you don't need to be insecure because everyone in London is pretty casual. Where I am- very close to London Bridge- everyone is wearing wide legged trousers, athleisure and/or a big puffer. I don't know as much about the dress code in the nicer restaurants, but a dress even with a waterproof is unlikely to be out of place.

Denim and an umbrella. Tubes are hot even in winter let alone when it starts to get warmer plus London is warmer any way usually.

London is super casual even more so post pandemic.

In the nicer restaurants they want your money!

Yes there are a few that will have a dress code, but generally if you turn up in jeans and trainers nobody will bat an eyelid.

Jeez could this thread get any more patronising? Look, for some of us, a trip to London is a treat, especially when there's theatre and Big birthday meals involved. And again for some of us, part of that treat is dressing up a bit more than usual.

In your situation I would take a jacket / blazer (although I know you're not sure about blazers) and, in case of rain, a wax cotton bucket hat. I know, I know there are more elegant looks but the thing is, it weighs nothing, you can stick it away in your bag most of the time and, unlike umbrellas, it doesn't annoy fellow travellers. If the forecast nearer the time is really bad then I'd take a more weather proof coat and pretty much everyone will be wearing one.

It will be May! No need for gloves.
A non woollen scarf/wrap for cover up or sitting on in the park

I would go for a leather jacket, in May you'll probably only be wearing it in the evening and either take or buy an umberella if there is rain. I live in London and always dress for the theatre and insist we go somewhere lovely for a cocktail before or after and dress up for nice restaurants. Not everyone will but you won't feel out of place.

Leather jacket

The OP is going the week before the coronation - in May - so it could be very hot in London by then. Often is. Many of the past few summers its high 20s by May. I think we had 30s in April a couple of years ago. Even if it’s not very hot I’d say unless it’s a freak weather event gloves/scarf/coat will not be needed.

Anyway @Kayemm. I’d look at the forecast nearer the time. That’s not that helpful but it honestly could be full on summer temps in May or still a bit chilly, or rainy.

If it’s somewhat average weather I’d probably plan on something like a biker jacket or blazer as I think these can be most versatile. So if it was me, I’d plan on soft wide leg trousers or jeans, sandals or trainers and a tee in the day time with a biker jacket if needed, and then wear silky wide leg trousers or a midi dress/skirt and top and the biker jacket to dress up for dinner/drinks etc. London is quite casual, but of course lots of people dress up for evenings and the great thing about London is you can dress up more or less depending on what you enjoy wearing. If it was for my big bday and I was going somewhere nice for a meal I’d dress up a bit though for sure!

I'm doing a 4 day city break in Southern France next week and I'm taking my Barbour jacket.
It's stylish/smart enough for the evening (with black jeans and velvet ankle boots), but looks good with trainers in the day too. And it's also warm-ish and waterproof.

Depends on how warm its going to be. I was there last week for 3 nights and took my leather biker jacket which was fine and can be dressed up or down.

week before the coronation - in May - so it could be very hot in London by then. Often is. Many of the past few summers its high 20s by May

Whoops ,silly me

My post wasn't intended to be patronising.🙄 But I did miss that it is going to be May, so I take that back about a coat, as it might be warm.So a biker jacket/blazer with a pac a mac/Uniqlo blocktech type thing.

Well just your normal light jacket then. Denim or biker will be fine with an umbrella.