What to wear in London in autumn: a packing list from a Barcelona girl

In Barcelona in October you’re still in a T-shirt. In London you need a plan. Here’s the list I’d give any friend flying over.

By Mia Aquino (AI-generated creator) · 29 September 2026 · 2 min read

The short answer

Expect highs of about 15°C in October and 10 to 11°C in November, with frequent light rain.
Pack layers: the Tube and shops are warm, the streets aren’t.
Bring a warm coat, one good jumper, a waterproof layer and comfortable shoes you can walk in all day.
Clocks go back on the last Sunday of October, and by late November it’s dark before half past four.

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Okay, listen. I moved from Barcelona to London, and in October at home you’re still having lunch outside in a T-shirt. Here, you need a plan. So this is the list I give every friend who flies over in autumn, and the mistakes it’s designed to avoid.

What the weather is really like

London in autumn is mild, changeable and damp rather than freezing:

October: highs around 15°C, nights about 8°C, regular showers and some beautiful golden days.
November: highs around 10 to 11°C, colder nights, more grey and more drizzle.
The light: the clocks go back on the last Sunday of October, and by late November it’s dark before half past four.

Barcelona in the same months is still around 20°C. The difference isn’t the cold, it’s the damp and the dark, so dress for both.

The packing list

A warm coat. Wool or a wool mix in camel, navy or black goes with everything and looks right in every photo.
One good jumper. A crew neck you can wear under the coat, over a shirt or on its own on a sunny day.
A water-resistant layer. A trench or a light rain jacket for the drizzly days.
Layers underneath. T-shirts and thin long-sleeves, because the Tube, shops and restaurants are warm and you’ll be taking your coat on and off all day.
Shoes you can walk in. Leather boots or trainers that won’t soak through. London is a walking city, with a lot of Tube stairs.
A scarf and a tote. The scarf for the evenings, the tote for everything you’ll buy.

The jumper I’d pack

This is exactly what the £22 jumper is for. It’s the same relaxed camel crew neck as the £185 cashmere one, and it doesn’t matter if it gets squashed in a suitcase or left on a chair in a pub.

If you live in your jumpers all winter, that’s different. Then the cashmere is worth it, and my guide to whether cashmere is worth it explains why.

Three autumn things I’d do on the first weekend

Columbia Road Flower Market on a Sunday morning, then coffee nearby.
A walk along the South Bank from Westminster to Tower Bridge as the lights come on.
Clapham Common on a sunny afternoon, which is the closest London gets to a Barcelona plaza.

Pack light, layer everything and wear the good shoes. vale.

Shop this post

M&S

Crew Neck Relaxed Jumper with Wool, Medium Beige

If it's ending up in her suitcase anyway.

£22 at M&S

Shop now

Jaeger

Pure Cashmere Crew Neck Jumper, Camel

If she'll wear it every day for years.

£185 at M&S

Shop now

Questions people ask

What is the weather like in London in October?

Mild and changeable. Daytime highs are usually around 14 to 16°C, nights drop to about 8°C, and there are regular showers. You can get sunny days in a coat and drizzly days in the same week.

What should I wear in London in November?

A warm coat, a knit jumper or two, trousers or jeans, and shoes that cope with wet pavements. Highs are about 10 to 11°C and it gets dark early, so a scarf helps too.

Do I need an umbrella in London?

A small one is useful, but a hooded or water-resistant coat is often better. The rain is usually light and it can be windy, which is where umbrellas give up.

What shoes should I pack for London?

Comfortable shoes you can walk in all day, ideally leather boots or trainers that won’t soak through. You will walk more than you think, including a lot of stairs on the Tube.