Andi_A

I will be spending 12 weeks in London from September 23 to December 18 for an internship. Besides needing nice, business-casual clothing, I'm a little unsure about what else to pack and bring with me- all I hear I keep hearing is "bring waterproof stuff" but there has to be more to the weather than that! What's the general temperatures? Is it windy? Do i need a down-jacket or is a trench-coat/jacket ok?

madamtrashheap

A trench coat-style jacket will get you through until about mid November, at which point you might need something a little heavier and warmer. Of course, layer dressing is always a good thing, so take items you can throw on under a coat or stash in your bag to use when you're out if you get cold.

Failing all of that, there are shops in London, quite a few in fact (!) so you can always pack a little and shop a lot and have items which will be appropriate to the weather as it happens. All of my favourite coats have come from London or Europe.

alanRow

Based on the past few years it could be anything from +30C to -10C, it could be dry, it could be wet, it could be so damp that it feels your soul is being sucked from you, it could be sunny, it could be cloudy, it could be windy, it could be calm. It probably won't snow - probably.

Then again it may not be any of the above or all of the above.

PatrickLondon

Depends where you're coming from and what you would wear for the weather where you are.

If you're used to warm, dry and sunny weather all year round, don't buy lots of stuff before you come, bring as much as you can wear as layers. Then you can buy what you need when you get here - once you've taken local advice on the best value places - for example, towards the end of your stay, you will probably need gloves, scarf and warm hat, but you can get those for not a lot in street markets and corner shops, or pay a fortune in swanky department stores for something you will probably not need again. Don't turn your nose up at the idea of charity shops to buy from: and you can always give them what you don't want to take home at the end.

tarquin

Yo will enjoy shopping in London. And it's Autumn.

LondonYank

You don't say whether you're male or female (not that it really matters), but layers are key. Tights, cardigans, scarves are my friend around that time of year. It doesn't really torrentially downpour here and if it does start to drizzle, you'll most likely be able to get shelter really quickly. For that reason, I wouldn't bring anything expressly water proof if you're just planning to stay in London and not ramble about in the country; a trench coat, a good umbrella and shoes you can wear if it starts to rain. I dress very similarly to how I would dress in New York or Chicago around that time of year.

Andi_A

thanks for all the help! I'm coming from st. louis, missouri where the weather can change pretty quickly too- we get really hot summers and really cold winters so I'm used to everything. I have my rain coat ready and just need to start getting everything else ready before I go!

jamikins

Definitely bring layers. We usually start wearing a light jacket in late Sept and early Oct and can get away with that with a sweater under until around mid-late Nov when we switch to our winter jackets. It can be quite chilly here in Dec.

Bring a good umbrella (or buy one here) and it helps if it fits in the bag you will be carrying so you always have it with you.

It is also common to wear a scarf as the weather gets chillier so a light one will help in Nov and into Dec.

Layers help because I find that businesses will start increasing the heating so its hot inside, but quite windy and chilly outside, so you want to be able to take off the extra layers when inside.

indy_dad

<i>Definitely bring layers. We usually start wearing a light jacket in late Sept and early Oct </i>

Or July! Who was whining about the hot UK weather awhile back anyway.

LondonYank

Seriously! I left the house today with a cardigan, boots and tights. In the past 6 hours I've alternated cardigan on and off and required both an umbrella and sunglasses on two separate errand runs.

nona1

Right now we are alternating between warm but pouring with rain, and plain hot and sunny. And it is alternating roughly every hour or so today and yesterday.

Pack a variety of stuff and look out the window before you go out. That's my approach.