London and coats
 

We will be in london next week - the 11-15th. any idea what type of coat to wear? don't like to be cold.

I went in March one year.. and it was cold.. colder and damper then I thought it would be.. and I live somewhere cold and damp!lol

I brought a thigh length wool peacoat. which I loved.. yes they are heavier then some, but wool insulates when its wet, ,and some other types of coat materials do not, plus it didn't look too "sporty" so I could wear it out to dinner with a dress or out walking around all day in jeans and walking shoes.. note,, jeans are not that great in wet weather , they wick moisture up, and they get wet and stay wet for a long time, consider another material ..

I did not bring gloves. I regretted that, and had to buy some as it actually sleeted one day .. I also had to buy a hat.. I brought a scarf though and that saved my day before I got the hat when I had to wrap it around my head in the sleet!!

Now.. all that said.. you may hit better weather then I did.. but throwing in some gloves and a hat is not going to take up a lot of space in suitcase.

My stepmother was with me that trip, she brought a long ( knee length) down coat.. and yes it was warm enough,, but it did get sodden..

<<any idea what type of coat to wear? >>

No, I haven't checked the weather forecast. Evidently, you haven't either. Try that.

I've walked long-distance paths in England in all seasons and have settled on a reversible 2 layer raincoat with a light fleece jacket underneath. The raincoat is surprising warm because of the 2 layers and I can add or take away as the weather dictates. Since I have to carry what I bring as I walk I don't have the luxury of a lot of weight. So for normal traveling it translates to lightweight and compact without giving up anything, as far as I can see. Add scarf, gloves and knit hat (preferably cashmere for softness & lightness) and you'll be set. And an umbrella. Don't leave home without it!

gloves. hat. scarf.

Link to temperatures for London until the 21st Feb, just remember that these are PREDICTED temperatures, the reality may (and probably will) be different:

http://www.timeanddate.com/weather/uk/london/ext

In late February, I wore my peacoat, and took hat, gloves and a dressier wool scarf (instead of a wooly knit scarf).

Right now it's freezing.

Even weather.com can predict a few days in advance, I would just wear what you would usually wear for that type weather. It says upper 40s daytime, mid 30s nighttime, good chance of showers a couple days in there.

If you had a raincoat with a good zipout liner, that would be good (but a warm lining, many are not). Otherwise, a down coat of about hip length wouldn't be bad as they are lightweight and usually made of water repellent material, like nylon or poly (the shiny kind). If I were going, I'd take the latter as I don't have a raincoat with a heavy lining.

I don't like cold.

Given the forecasts (which are, in fact remarkably reliable predictors there won't be snow or temperatures much over 10 C), I'll be walking round central London in a cardigan, with a lightweight anorak in my manbag. I'll wear a scarf when tramping my local hills, which are typically a thick woollie colder than London and when in open countryside at night. Unless you're bald, it beggars belief what you might do with a hat.

I'll be undoing my cardie when indoors, and removing it in museums and art galleries. I can't imagine the poster will be spending more time outdoors, or in colder places, than me.