What are some of the travel essentials when traveling to London during this time of year? i.e. clothingwise, etc.

An umbrella, every time of year.

shoes

Passport, tickets, money/credit card. That's it.

Jim - I want to travel with you. The only things I double check for (regularly) passport, ticket, money/credit cards. Ain't nothin you can't survive if you have them...

Well, Janice and Jim, I agree that would be great and intend to travel exactly that way one day - probably spur of the moment. But, Pat, my advice for London is to waterproof your shoes before you go.

1)A small travel umbrella that you can carry with you at all times. You can get ones that are about 6" long and only weigh about 6 oz.at travel stores. You won't even know it's in your purse/bag. <BR> <BR>2) Visitor travelcard. You can order a pre-paid card for "the tube" here before you leave (you can't get it once you are in London). They come in various daily increments (3,5,7 days). You will save a lot of money, won't have to ever wait in line to buy tickets and can go anywhere the tube can take you. These are fantastic - I get one every time before I go to London. You can buy them online at www.britrail.com <BR> <BR>3) Fabreze - yeah the stuff that eliminates odors from clothing. You can get it any any market here. It is a godsend because EVERYONE smokes and you will be soaked through to the skin with tobacco. Every night we would thoroughly spray our clothing and hang it up. In the morning the pub odor is gone. It is especially great for items you have to wear more than once (ie: jackets) <BR> <BR>4) 2 pairs of comfortable shoes. It will rain. Your feet will get wet. I promise. You will need a change of shoes. <BR> <BR> <BR>Have a blast !!!

A good raincoat!

I have been to England at least 40 times, over the years, and I know you'll not believe this but I have only gotten soaked about 3 times! Yes it rains but not steady, heavy downpours, more misty like and off and on!I don't even carry an umbrella anymore, a good raincoat and a rainhat.We were even there this year when it was flooding and never got drenched like we do in a summer rain in Fl. Or at least what we used to have in summer, haven't seen a good rain in years here!

Two or three washcloths in zip lock bags. The London hotels I have stayed in do not provide them.

E-a-r-p-l-u-g-s!

I tell people that travel with me, make sure you have your passport, everything else you can buy over there. <BR> <BR>Definitely a good umbrella. Also maybe a sweater and/or light jacket if you tend to get cold. <BR>Take some washcloths. I don't understand it, but Europe doesn't have washcloths in their hotels. I go to K-Mart or some other discount store and buy a package of the really cheap ones and just throw them away when I've finished using them. <BR>Make sure your ATM card can be used over there and that your pin number is only 4 digits. <BR>Photocopy the picture page of your passport and the front and back of all your credit cards and leave the copies with someone you trust. <BR>I also take a roll of toilet tissue (pull out the cardboard in the middle to flatten it). The British motto is "stiff upper lip" and that stiffness extends to their toilet tissue. <BR>If you are from the U.S., don't buy videotapes or anything electric as they won't work in the States.

I always pack a rolled up duffel bag, mines a sport sac that folds into a little pouch, at the end of the trip it is filled with dirty laundry and there is room in our suitcases for purchases , of which there are ususally many. Much as I hope the airlines WILL lose that bag so far they never have!

Decongestant ( one of God's true miracles ) <BR> <BR>I know - kinda gross - but with the change in air quality, the recycled airplane air and the stress of traveling can at times play havoc with my sinuses. The only thing more irritating when tryng to fall asleep than stuffy sinuses is noise. Instead of earplugs - get a prescription for Ambient.

The weather in London was much cooler than I had anticipated, even after reading lots of weather reports. Maybe because of the rain and dampness. Even though it was late-spring/early-summer, people were dressed in dark, autumnal city clothing. I felt silly in my pastels. Bought a black sweater there and solved two problems at once!

<BR>U-n-d-e-r-w-e-a-r!

pat, I am a big fan of taking a daypack to carry wallets, umbrellas, cameras, water, city map, a journal or book etc. and still keeping your hands free.

Hello all, where does one pack all this great info to take. ie. Sheila s where to go in Scotland ,6 pages, Train and restaurant info, etc and still take only a carry on. <BR>guess I ll just have to squeeze them into the carry on, too much great info not to take along. j

Do NOT forget your prescription medications. Getting a doc to write a prescription in Europe can be hell. <BR> <BR>Take some medication for diarrhea like Pepto-Bismol.

Don't you mean Imodium? I agree, you don't want to be caught short without it should you be struck by Montezumas revenge during your holiday...