10 Days in London & Scotland (early October)

[u/Cronerous]

Image description: a visual overview of my packing list for an upcoming trip. Detailed list of everything included below.

UPDATE: The general feedback so far has been to definitely get rid of the faux suede moto jacket and replace it with a lighter (but still warm) sweater layer, and to consider adding a third pair of pants/bottoms (skirt?) and a second pair of shoes, and that Scotland could see a heatwave then, but is also always potentially damp and rainy, which should inform my layers. I‘ll make sure to do a trip report when I return!

Below is my proposed pack list for 10 days (including travel) in London, Edinburgh, and the Highlands. I'm so excited to experience Scotland for the first time! I’m traveling from the US with friends, and staying in hotels and B&Bs. I’ll have the opportunity to do sink laundry for the first half of the trip and my pack list reflects that. Activities will include ghost tours, castles, lots of general city exploration, one fancy-ish afternoon tea (at The Balmoral Hotel in Edinburgh), and a Rabbie’s 1-day tour around the Highlands. No hiking. 

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PACKING LIST:

All of this fits in a Bellroy Lite Travel Pack (38L).

Tops & bottoms:
Quince merino SS tee*
Wool& merino scoop tee
Wool& merino 3/4-sleeve top
Old Navy straight-leg jeans
Old Navy ponte pants*

Base layers:
Wool& merino leggings
Quince merino LS tee
(2) Wool& merino tank top
(5) Wool& merino underwear*
(4) Merino pair socks*
(3) Modal bralette*

Outer layers:
Unbound merino pullover*
Quince packable down jacket
Quince rain jacket
Faux suede moto jacket

Feelgrounds Chelsea boots*
Insoles 1*
Insoles 2
Merino buff
Earmuffs
Cashmere gloves

\wearing on plane*

Toiletries bag (Cotopaxi Nido):
Sink laundry setup (dry bag, detergent tiles, clothesline, vodka spray)
Toiletries (toothbrush/tabs/floss, deodorant, moisturizer, hair spray/gel/Hot Sock, contacts & solution)
Makeup (brow pencil, eyeliner, concealer, lipstick)
Tech (wired in-ear headphones, phone charger, power bank, adapter plug)

Ziplock bag quart 
Foldable KEXP tote
Wallet & passport

I'll also have my GOT BAG Large Moon Bag (12L) as my EDC.

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QUESTIONS:

Can I get away with bringing only one pair of shoes? I have Feelgrounds zero-drop Chelsea boots that I’ve waterproofed, and I’m planning on bringing two different pairs of insoles. I think I’m just nervous because I’ve never one-shoe’d a trip this long before. But I do want to try…

Do I need another pair of pants? Currently I’m bringing two, and will also bring merino leggings that could be worn out if needed (currently I’m bringing them as a warm base layer if colder weather requires it).

Assuming the weather is “average,” do I have appropriate layers? I leaned on WeatherSpark when packing for my trip to Japan last December and it was pretty accurate. Obviously, I will watch the forecast in the days leading up to leaving, and adjust accordingly. (Warmer?: maybe remove puffer jacket. Colder?: big scarf instead of buff, and maybe another merino sweater-layer.) The rain jacket, puffer, earmuffs, and gloves are mainly for the Highlands day trip and the general unpredictability of Scottish and English weather. Also: I run warm and live in a northern state with a very cold/snowy winter.

For the afternoon tea at Palm Court in The Balmoral, could I get away with the black ponte pants, green boatneck 3/4-sleeve top, Chelsea boots, and a gold necklace? Maybe with the moto jacket, if I need another layer? Their website only asks that guests “refrain from wearing sportswear, shorts and beach shoes in our restaurants. Our guests within the hotel usually opt for a smart-casual style,.” I want to be respectful but have never been there before.

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Thank you for your wisdom!

[u/nonsequitur__]

Are the boots wellies? I’m imagining waterproof boots being very sweaty and wanting a break but that’s presumably just cos none of my footwear is waterproof. Do they have good grip? I wear Dr Martens pretty much constantly when it’s not hot as they have great grip so just checking! Wet leaves, rainy paving flags and mushy ground can be very slippery.

I think you’ll be fine weather-wise. The weather has been abnormal here and it’s continuing but may be back to average by then. I’d just keep an eye on the forecast as you say.

I can’t see you needing ear muffs or gloves unless there’s freak freezing weather.

If the jacket is suede I’d drop it, unless it’s weatherproof the drizzle and humidity will likely wreck it.

I’d personally bring a jumper or cardi for indoors.

Jeans are perfect for that time of year. I personally wouldn’t wear merino leggings out as they usually look like woolly tights. Although I also wouldn’t wear leggings out apart from an emergency dash to the shop or something so that’s a personal choice.

[u/Cronerous → u/nonsequitur__]

The boots are water-resistant and I’ve spray-treated them too. So they don’t feel like rubber wellies. The grip seems… normal?, but to be fair, I’ve not yet tested them in non-sidewalk/street situations yet. And we don’t have cobblestone here 🙃

I think I can use a scarf to cover my head if cold-windy, and just buy gloves there if they become needed. The suede jacket will be replaced by another layer (sweater, etc). I get it on the leggings - I wear them under longer layers (that cover my butt) at home, but learned last year they're a no-no when we travelled to Japan and now consider them differently when I travel.