Hi. Will be traveling to London for first time in late May. I know this may seem like a stupid question, but what does one (especially men) wear so as not to draw attention to fact that you are a tourist? I have seen suggestions and/or posts that most Europeans don't wear jeans, sneakers, backpacks, etc. Any help would be greatly appreciated.<BR><BR>

Lots of posts on what to wear or not wear in Europe. Browse them at your own risk. <BR><BR>We just returned from London. It is an international city and you'll hear so many languages being spoken you'll hardly know you are in England. There are workers and tourists from all over the world there, looking and sounding like they are from all over the world. There is really nothing wrong with looking like an American tourist. We're okay. <BR><BR>If you want to look English, you'll have to pick the "type." You can wear tweed to look just so, or you can dress wild like Austin Powers and fit right in with the strange crowd. You can put an earring in your nose and dye your hair blue and you'll find your British equivalent, too. We were on a train with Scottsmen in kilts. They looked dashing!<BR><BR>Just be sure you wear comfortable shoes and that you watch your wallet and belongings as you would in any city. I often use a backpack as I prefer to stuff things in it rather than tie up my hands carrying things. I always remove it in crowds, or shoulder it, so sneaky hands can't get in. <BR><BR>Most of all, have fun!

PS My husband offers this from his travels to England for work: The English wear a lot of wool.<BR><BR>Wear a European cut suit and they'll be really confused. My husband wears a European cut suit and cabbies often speak to him initially in German!<BR><BR>He gives this tip to you: Ties with stripes in the direction from left shoulder to right foot are British. American ties run the opposite direction. <BR><BR>He says the police say sneakers and khakis are give-aways. The American embassy says sneakers and jeans, too. <BR><BR>Hubby says lots of people use back packs and that is not a give-away.<BR><BR>What does Ben Haines have to say?

I think there's an (ahem) age thing here. Teens, 20s and 30s wear much the same across the developed world. Above some undefinable age, denim, trainers and baseball caps just look odd to most Europeans. Backpacks are not an obvious marker of anything in the UK, I think, many people of all ages use them.<BR><BR>There are other obvious signs of a tourist, e.g.,<BR>(a) looking lost and consulting maps on street corners, and especially having a family argument about it<BR>(b) walking more slowly and with a more enquiring look than the natives<BR>(c) festooning yourself with camera/video equipment.

Hello<BR><BR>As a British person who lives and works in London. I would suggest to you that "anything goes". London is a cosmopolitan city. A hotbed of different people and cultures living and working in harmony. If you are coming in late May, you might actually find some sunshine! If warm, I would suggest chinos/shorts and if a bit cooler, jeans. Sneakers/trainers - call them what you like . . . nobody cares. Wear whatever you feel is comfortable. However, if you intend to go out somewhere smart for dinner (somewhere like the "Collection" in South Kensingston, you will need to wear smart shoes (smart casual look such as chinos/shirt), or you will be denied entrance by the doorman. If you intend to have breakfast at "Simpsons on the Strand", a true "ye olde English establishment" on the Strand (near Charing Cross station) then you will be expected to wear a jacket (as well as smart shoes). (But the jacket doesn?t have to be tweed or wool (us Brits have even gone European and wear linen!).<BR>Most pubs/bars/restaurants are casual and you won't stand out in American clothes (unless you look like Brad Pitt). You are not even expected to dress up for the ballet/theatre anymore (unless you want to, of course). As for shirts and things . . . the trustworthy teeshirt/shirt are all fine (bring a pullover and light jacket for the evening). As for back packs - aren't these universal? I use one to carry my laptop to work. By the end of May you should find blue skies and warm sunny weather. Have a great time!

Thank you, Suzanne. Even though I'm not the original poster, I appreciate your thorough response. My wife and I are heading your way for the last week of May. Though we have been to France, Italy, Portugal and other places, we still find ourselves interested in what people wear where we're (say that three times real fast) about to visit. We don't buy into wearing "travel" clothing and we find ourselves pretty much wearing what we'd wear at home, which is usually "smart" clothing. I've been to England before but it's been YEARS. The thing I was most concerned/interested in was what the weather will be like and how to dress for it. I am sort of expecting it to be in the 60s (we will be coming from an rea in the 80s) during the day, but will that be as cool as it sounds, i e, is it a damp cool? Should we bring more wool and less cotton? Thanks.

I will be working in an accounting office on Lambeth Palace Rd. this summer. I have heard most people working in offices wear black. I wear mostly khaki pants and nice sweaters to work here. Do I need a new wardrobe?

Anne, khakis sounds rather informal for an accounting office, but why not just wait until you get there, and see what the custom and expecations are in your particular workplace? Then you might have an excuse to do some fine London shopping -- but please don't go buying new things on speculation before you arrive.

Anne<BR>I think you'll find that offices in the summer (unless there's air-con) will be stifling so cotton clothes (trousers/skirts and tops) would be the most comfortable. Black is always acceptable but many people bring out brighter colours in the summer

to the top for Wndy

You will see all sorts of clothing in London. However what looks odd to European eyes is "mutton dressed as lamb". I'd say that demims, trainers and t-shirts have a cut-off point at 35 years and 35 inches (waist). Baseball hats are strictly for children and teenagers. For the office, why not wear a plain cotton or linen dress, or a cotton skirt and blouse.

Kim<BR>Some tourists from every nation in the world wear jeans, backpacks, sneakers and fanny packs while they are traveling. That's not what many adult<BR>Londoners (or Parisians or Romans or New Yorkers) tend to wear if they're going to work in the central business districts, or even when they are at leisure in the city's nicer restaurants. You can wear what you are comfortable with, you are on vacation. That said, khaki pants or dark trousers are much more adaptable and lighter-weight than jeans, and easy to mix and match with polo shirts or sports shirts. If you care to add a blazer, you will be dressed for most evening events as well. Few restaurants require a tie. This past Feb I was struck at how casually people were dressed for the theater in the evening.<BR>People undoubtedly know that most of us are tourists--the totebags, cameras, and fumbling with the money give us away, not to mention the accents. But the issue is whether or not you care or not to look a little more citified. As mentioned above<BR>this sort of topic generates very strong feelings, sometimes it degenerates into "snobs" vs "slobs", so read the various postings and decide for yourself. You won't be wrong in any case.<BR>Regardless of what you choose to wear, if you're planning on serious sightseeing, do wear comfortable shoes.

My wife and I fixated about this issue for months before our trip to London and surrounds two years ago. I think the key to visiting London is to remember that you are visiting a national capital, and a major financial center of the world, and that you will be rubbing elbows with people who are on their way to and from work. Dress comfortably but nicely. You will feel out of place dressed like a slob. We saw every imaginable mode of dress while in London, on people from every country imaginable. Trust me, the things you read about American tourists dressing like slobs isn’t totally true. We saw many football jerseys on people from other countries, including a jersey that misspelled the team name. The irrefutable fact is that you cannot escape being a tourist, so don't even try.

How about summer travel? Shorts, sundresses, short tops for a teen girl?<BR>

No matter how formal the restaurant I wouldn't mind sitting near a teen girl in a halter or tube top--hell, I might even pick up the check!

Are capri pants acceptable? I would wear them with nice blouse/top and sandals if visiting an American city for a day and/or weekend, but London? Edinburgh? We will be in London, touring England, then Edinburgh in mid June. Will it be warm enough for capri pants? I didn't think I would need shorts, nor would I wear them in the city, unless it was extremely hot. Thanks,

If you want to look like a Londoner, wear black! I never saw so many black suits in my life - on both men and women. I didn't wear black, but still tried not to stand out too much as a tourist. However, there are so many tourists there, that I don't think it much matters whether you wear sneakers, backpacks, etc. - you will just fit in with the rest of them.

To add to this entertaining discussion -here are some thoughts from a Londoner's perspective of what to avoid wearing if you are an American tourist in LondonBR><BR>1. Golf wear - peacock blue checked slacks and yellow cardigans are a dead give away<BR>2. Bright colours - Londoners only know black, grey (yes that's how we spell it) and navy<BR>3. Any T-shirt or baseball cap with a Union Jack on it or "Londonengland" <BR>4. White socks<BR>5. Very bright umbrellas - black will do<BR>6. Sweat tops with college football teams on them<BR>7. Sweat tops with Wimbledon Tennis Championships, Oxford or Cambridge University on them<BR>8. Expensive camera equipment that is more suited to journalism than tourism<BR>9. Ladies - go easy on makeup - the natural look is en vogue

While we're at it, why don't we learn to cook like the English, too!

&gt;While we're at it, why don't we learn &gt;to cook like the English, too!<BR><BR>This is such a sad old chestnut. It might do you good. Have you ever eaten in an English home? If you get the chance, you might just be given real food instead of a pre-prepared, fatty, over salted concoction bought in a supermarket. You forget that many of us have been to the US. There are good restaurants there if you care to look, but how many Americans actually cook?<BR>