I’m still over the moon. Or, rather, somewhere over the Atlantic. In my mind. Sohrab’s Christmas gift to me in 2017 was a complete surprise – something I could only dream of! – tickets to see Cursed Child in London in April! That, of course, meant that we needed to plan a trip to get there. Now that we’re so close to takeoff, it’s finally time to get down and dirty and start packing for my very first visit to the United Kingdom.
Shall we get started?
Being from Los Angeles, my wardrobe isn’t exactly equipped for cold, rainy weather. I panicked on Instagram Stories last week because there was some promise of snow (exciting, but unexpected!) but that has since changed to rain. Exclusively. Of course, we are visiting England, and as I was telling Sohrab the other day, almost every depiction of the UK that I’ve seen in books, movies, TV shows, even songs! – highlight the English rain.
Case in point: I’ve had “I Am The Walrus” by The Beatles stuck in my head for days.
Sitting in an English garden
Waiting for the sun
If the sun don’t come you get a tan
From standing in the English rain
Sorry, not sorry, if you’ve now joined me in singing that constantly. Goo goo g’joob.
Luggage
No packing list would be complete without listing the luggage I’m pulling across the airport. Am I right?! Fortunately, our Away luggage proved itself in the Amsterdam rain we experienced in September of 2017, so we know that everything we pack will stay nice and dry no matter how many times we go spelunking through British puddles. Not to mention our phones will stay charged! No luggage I’ve ever had before this would have stood up to our trip to the Netherlands and Germany, let alone be ready for round two in London.
They’ve already addressed the concerns surrounding the battery limitations that some airlines have implemented. New carry-on pieces have an easily removable battery (it pops right out!) and anyone with the older models like us will be able to send ours in to get some surgery done sometime in May. Talk about a lifetime warranty!
Not only are they the sleekest looking luggage I’ve ever come across, but they’re smart, hold a TON, come in a bunch of colors, and keep my stuff safe with their built-in combination lock and strong but flexible sides. Sohrab and I have started collecting stickers from everywhere we visit with our Away luggage to remember where we’ve gone together with them!*
#notsponsored (yet), but seriously people – you can’t go wrong with these. If you’re into traveling, get a set for yourself ASAP!
Layers
If there’s one thing that our trip to Germany (with an unexpected, very rainy 24 hours in Amsterdam!) taught us, it’s that layers are your friend. Staying warm and dry can make a rainy day fun and adventurous, and with a full itinerary ahead of us, I want to make the most of every minute! Here’s a sneak peek at the clothes I’ve packed to make sure we’re ready for the London weather:
- A thin but very warm puffy jacket with a hood (perfect size to stuff in my purse when we’re indoors!)
- Warm sweaters
- A scarf or two
- Gloves that fit my hands (no easy feat, mind you)
- Long sleeve undershirts
- Long socks
- A comfy and cute hat
- Denim!
- Wind-resistant pants (so chic)
- Waterproof, tall boots
- Waterproof spray for my tennis shoes
- A colorful, portable umbrella
I’ve often joked that I’ll just get by in the chilly, rainy, (snowy?) weather of Europe by putting on every single piece of clothing I own and roll around the continent, snug as a bug. But the reality is that I’ve had to elevate my closet from “summer wear and some sweaters” to “winter weather wary” which, I admit, is harder than it seems. I’m not good at layering because I so rarely have to do it in Los Angeles. These Europe trips are the best kind of practice.
