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Family Packing List for London

London with kids is a rain-and-walking trip where the Underground has more stairs than you expect, most museums are free but scan your bag, and the weather changes four times before lunch.

Updated April 2026

Start with this London family checklist

Quick answer

For a 6-day London family trip, expect 5–22°C depending on season and 11–15 rainy days every single month. Pack a real waterproof shell (not just an umbrella), broken-in walking shoes, layers you can peel down to a t-shirt on the Tube, a Type G plug adapter (230V), and a soft daypack under roughly 55×40×20 cm so it passes museum bag scanners. Contactless bank card or phone wallet handles transit — no need to buy an Oyster card for a short family trip.

At a glance

Plug type:: G (230V, 50Hz)
Currency:: Pound sterling (£)
Tipping:: Often already added (12.5% service charge); otherwise round up
Tap water:: Safe and free to refill from public fountains and cafés
Transit:: Contactless card or phone wallet; daily fare cap applies automatically
Tube step-free stations:: ~94 of ~272 (roughly one-third)

Sample checklist preview

6 days · 2 adults · 2 children

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Jacket×1
Coats×1
Sweaters×1
Gloves×1
Dress Shirts×1
Dresses×1
T-shirts×2
Pants×1
Shorts×2
Socks×3
Underwear×3
Sleepwear×1

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What actually matters in London

•A proper waterproof shell beats an umbrella — London gets 11–15 rainy days every month of the year, and wind on bridges or open pavements makes umbrellas ineffective. Many museums also refuse large umbrellas at security.
•The Underground is mostly stair-access. Only about a third of Tube stations are fully step-free; older central-zone stations (Covent Garden, Leicester Square, Piccadilly Circus) require carrying a stroller up long stairs. A baby carrier usually wins; the Elizabeth line, DLR, and Overground are your step-free friends.
•Contactless pay (Apple Pay / Google Pay / any tap-enabled card) works on every Tube, bus, Overground, and Elizabeth line — and it daily-caps automatically. You do not need an Oyster card for a typical family visit.
•Major museums scan bags at entry. British Museum allows up to ~56×45×25 cm, National Gallery up to ~56×25×45 cm, Tate up to cabin size (~55×40×20 cm). A soft daypack fits all three; a hard-sided carry-on does not. Most London museums are free.
•Layer aggressively. Tube carriages in summer run 28–30°C (no AC on most older lines), and pub basements or museum cafés can feel warm even in winter. Dressing for peel-down matters more than dressing for the outdoor temperature.
•UK runs on Type G plugs at 230V. US, Canadian, and Australian devices all need an adapter; only UK residents travel with the right plug already. Most modern chargers are dual-voltage — check the label.
•Daylight is short in winter: sunset around 3:50pm in December. Reflective strips or a light clip-on for kids matters if walking or park-visiting after the school day.
•Tipping in pubs is minimal or none at the bar. Table-service restaurants often already add 12.5% service; check the bill before doubling up.

Typical weather by month

Month	Avg high	Avg low	Rainy days
Jan	8°C / 46°F	3°C / 37°F	13
Feb	9°C / 48°F	3°C / 37°F	11
Mar	12°C / 54°F	4°C / 39°F	12
Apr	15°C / 59°F	6°C / 43°F	12
May	18°C / 64°F	9°C / 48°F	12
Jun	21°C / 70°F	12°C / 54°F	11
Jul	23°C / 73°F	14°C / 57°F	12
Aug	23°C / 73°F	14°C / 57°F	12
Sep	20°C / 68°F	12°C / 54°F	13
Oct	16°C / 61°F	9°C / 48°F	14
Nov	11°C / 52°F	6°C / 43°F	15
Dec	9°C / 48°F	4°C / 39°F	14

Typical monthly averages for planning. Check a forecast closer to your trip.

Seasonal things to plan around

Dec–FebSunset around 3:50pm in December. Reflective strips or clip lights for kids if walking or parks-visiting after dark.
Jul–AugTube carriages 28–30°C on older lines (no AC). Water bottle and a fan for younger kids on transit.
Year-round11–15 rainy days every month. Plan around it rather than hoping for a dry week.

Common London packing mistakes

•Packing only an umbrella and discovering the Thames path gusts through it by Westminster Bridge. A hood beats a handle.
•Bringing a full-size stroller and then carrying it up two flights at Covent Garden. If a stroller is essential, go for the lightest one-handed fold you own.
•Treating London like a warm-weather trip in summer. Tube heat + outdoor sun + sudden rain in the same afternoon is the norm. Layer.
•Buying an Oyster card at the airport when contactless covers every journey and auto-caps. A paper Visitor Oyster rarely beats tapping your phone.
•Arriving without a UK ETA. As of 25 February 2026, US, Canadian, and Australian passport holders (including children and babies) legally need one before travel.
•Assuming museum entry is friction-free. It is usually free, but bag scanning queues at the British Museum and V&A can run 15–20 minutes at peak.

Notes by where you're traveling from

From the US

•Flight: 7–8 hours direct from East Coast hubs; longer with West Coast connections.
•UK ETA: legally required for US passport holders (including babies and children) since 25 February 2026. £20 per person, valid 2 years or until passport expiry. Apply via gov.uk/eta — decision usually within a day, allow 3 working days. No third-party site is authorized.
•Adapter: Type A/B → G. Most modern chargers are dual-voltage; check the label.
•Currency: Pound sterling. Use a no-foreign-transaction-fee card; London is almost entirely cashless.

From the UK

•Domestic trip — no ETA or adapter needed.
•Rail often beats driving into central London. LNER, Avanti, GWR, and Elizabeth line all serve central terminals directly.
•Book train tickets in advance for cheaper Advance fares; walk-up fares on the day are usually 2–3× more.
•If driving, the ULEZ / Congestion Charge applies to most of central London — check your vehicle and plan parking before you arrive.

From Canada

•Flight: roughly 6–7 hours direct from Toronto or Montreal; 9–10 from Vancouver with transit.
•UK ETA: required from 25 February 2026 for Canadian passport holders. £20, valid 2 years or passport expiry. gov.uk/eta.
•Adapter: Type A/B → G. Voltage check is the same as for US travelers.
•Currency: Pound sterling.

From Australia

•Flight: 22+ hours typically with one stop. Plan for jet lag — kids usually adjust on day 3.
•UK ETA: required from 25 February 2026 for Australian passport holders. £20, valid 2 years or passport expiry. gov.uk/eta.
•Adapter: Type I → G. Voltage compatible (230V), so no converter needed.
•Pack thinking long-haul: in-cabin essentials matter more than for short-haul travelers — meds, full change per child, entertainment kit.

Venue and attraction rules

British Museum: Bags up to ~56×45×25 cm allowed. No on-site left luggage. Free entry; bag scan queues at peak.
National Gallery: Bags up to ~56×25×45 cm allowed. Cloakroom £2 per item. Buggies, scooters, and large umbrellas can be checked.
Tate Britain / Tate Modern: Bags no larger than cabin size (~55×40×20 cm). Nearest left-luggage services are at Victoria and London Bridge stations.
Tower of London: Security screening; no large bags. Allow extra time during school holidays. Cobbled paths inside — plan shoes accordingly.
Westminster Abbey / Houses of Parliament: Strict security; no large bags. Westminster Abbey charges admission; Parliament UK tours free for UK residents and priced for visitors.
Harry Potter Studio Tour (Leavesden): About 1 hour north by train + shuttle. Lockers available at the studio for day bags. Timed entry only — book well in advance.

FAQ

Do families from the US, Canada, or Australia need a UK ETA in 2026?

Yes. Since 25 February 2026, every passport holder (including babies and children) from 85 visa-exempt countries, including the US, Canada, and Australia, legally needs a UK Electronic Travel Authorisation before boarding a flight to the UK. It costs £20 per person, is valid 2 years or until your passport expires, and allows multiple entries. Apply via gov.uk/eta — decisions usually arrive within a day. No third-party site is authorized to issue it.

Oyster card, Travelcard, or contactless for a family?

Contactless bank card or phone wallet works on all London transit and daily-caps automatically, so it is almost always the simplest option. Paper day Travelcards are still sold at National Rail stations and sometimes work out slightly cheaper with rail discount cards. An Oyster card is rarely worth the setup friction for a short visit. Kids under 11 travel free on the Tube, DLR, bus, and tram when accompanied by an adult with a valid fare.

Stroller or carrier for the Tube?

Carrier wins for daily use on older central-zone lines. Only about a third of Tube stations are fully step-free — busy stations like Covent Garden or Leicester Square have long spiral staircases. The Elizabeth line, DLR, Overground, and trams are fully step-free and buggy-friendly; planning routes via those helps a lot.

Is London really rainy every day?

Not every day, but 11–15 days a month average out to roughly one rainy day in three. Summers can go a week dry; autumn often delivers a week wet. The realistic approach is to pack a shell you can leave in the day bag and accept that at least one day of sightseeing will get damp.

How many outfits for a week-long trip?

Laundry is easy to find in rentals and some hotels. Most families do well with 3–4 core outfits that layer, one waterproof shell, one pair of walking shoes, one lighter pair, and kids with a couple of extra base layers in case of spills or rain. Fashion variety is less useful than repeat-ability.

Is London safe for families, including at night?

Yes, in the sense that violent crime is rare in central tourist areas. Pickpocketing on the Tube, at Oxford Street, and in crowded queues does happen — a zip-top crossbody worn in front on busy transit handles it. Kids walking with an adult are fine in most Zone 1 and Zone 2 areas into the evening.

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Start with this London family checklist