What to Pack Your Kids For a Winter Trip to England

England can be pretty damp and chilly in the winter. But, with the right gear, you can enjoy this lovely country even in the drearier months.

I usually pack pretty compactly because I am often traveling by myself with kids in tow. Packing compactly for a winter trip is extra challenging. Winter clothes are so bulky! But after spending 10 winter days in England with my young kids, there are certain items I highly recommend you prioritize fitting into your suitcase. Even if you have plenty of room to spare in your luggage for all the extras, I hope you will find this post helpful.

Little Kids Clothes

1. Merino wool long underwear/base layer

Merino wool base layers are great for cold, damp climates, like England’s. Merino wool wicks away moisture. As kids sweat while running around or get a bit damp from the elements, merino wool can help keep them warm and dry. Cotton and some other materials, on the other hand, absorb moisture and leave you feeling damp and chilled.

2. Long Sleeve Shirts

I try to stick with shirts that are not bulky. And I always include one or two dressier shirts in case we find ourselves going somewhere fancy. If I am packing a girl, I will usually add a dress with tights or tunic with leggings as a dressy option. When I am packing compactly, it’s all about the layers and quality undergarments. Even on a cold day, they don’t need a bulky sweater if they have merino wool long underwear underneath and a jacket with a wind/rain shell over the top.

3. Pants

Include at least one pair of comfortable pants for the plane ride.

4. Wool Socks and regular cotton socks

Wool socks can get pretty toasty. I usually pack a bunch of standard cotton socks and throw in a couple wool socks for really cold days.

5. Boots

Little booties or sturdy boot shoes can meet most site-seeing needs and still be comfortable enough to play in while keeping little toes dry. I like to stuff socks in boots/shoes to save space when I am packing.

6. Winter Jacket

Something warm and dressy enough to wear with nicer clothes as well.

7. Rain Suit or Rain Jacket Shell and Rain Pants

We really like Tuffo rain suits for gender neutral options that can be handed down to sibblings. The rain suit is roomy enough to zip over warm layers and heavy jackets. It works great for snow as well. Snow suits can be so much bulk for little bodies. Rain suits allow you to dress your little ones in quality, warm layers without so much bulk. Rain suits are great for a winter trip to the seaside, exploring a forest, or when you want to keep your kids’ nice city clothes dry while they play at a park. In London, we would throw on the rain gear whenever we popped into one of the city parks, like the Diana Memorial Playground in Hyde Park. The play equipment was often wet and the rain gear kept their street clothes clean.

8. Scarf, Hat, and Mittens

These make a big difference in the damp cold.

9. Pajamas

At home my kids go through pajamas almost daily – usually thanks to spilt breakfast. But when we are traveling, I don’t have space to pack a pair of pajamas for every day. I find that if they bathe before bed and we get dressed for the day before breakfast, we can push pajamas quite a while on a trip. I usually try to only pack 2 pair for a 7-10 day trip. If we find ourselves in a pinch, they can always sleep in their clothes for the next day.

What I packed for a little BOY for 10 days in England:

If you take out the clothes that he wore to the airport (see below)

That leaves you with this to pack in the bag:

I like to pack my kids’ clothes in their own packing cubes so that I can keep everyone’s items separate and organized. If they are still in the cube, they are clean. Once they are dirty, I throw them in a shared dirty clothes bag or into the main compartment of the suitcase.