Carry-On Only: What I Packed for 10 Days in London & the Cotswolds in May

It can be quite the challenge to pack carry-on only, but the rewards are worth considering. Especially if you’re going abroad, moving about to different locations during your trip and navigating things like busy train stations or cobbled streets with your luggage, using one compact, roller suitcase is all the more important. Since I’m traveling solo (aka, without my husband) to London and the Cotswolds for a 10-day adventure, I wanted to get everything into a carry-on suitcase and a personal bag. Did I do it? You bet I did! Here’s how…

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About the time this blog post goes live I’ll be landing at Heathrow Airport to kick off my Walkabout trip in London and the Cotswolds. It’s true I’m going without my husband and I’ll need to handle all of my own luggage. But I will, in fact, be in the company of six other women for most of the adventure. My friend Shelly puts together concierge style European adventures for Christian women who want to travel alone but don’t want to be alone. Besides Shelly, I’ll also be with my childhood friend Candy, who I’ve traveled with before on a Walkabout tour, and four other women I’ve only met through a few Zoom video conference meetings.

I’ve actually gotten quite good at packing carry-on only, but it always feels a little tenuous when you first start putting together your packing list. And for this particular trip, which Shelly has called her Best of Town and Country Active Tour, we’re including several days of hiking in the Cotswolds. Adding in that unique activity has made packing all the more challenging since I don’t especially want to wear hiking boots in London.

But I’ve done it. I’ve gotten everything you see in the graphic above into this Bigger Carry-On Flex suitcase and this overnight bag, which fits nicely under the seat in front of me. And I even have a little room left to bring back a few well-chosen souvenirs.

I originally shared my proposed packing list for this 10-day multi venue and activity trip to Europe in this previous blog post. There I asked for input from other seasoned travelers and followers who live in England. My goodness! That turned out to be a smart idea. I got so many great pointers and ended up changing several things before packing up this last week.

What I’m Traveling In and Why

Originally I planned to travel in my soft Varley loungewear style pants and top. But then I realized I would need to continue to wear my travel outfit into Monday since I can’t get into my hotel room until mid-afternoon. I can check my bags and do a little sightseeing, but I didn’t want to go through the hassle of changing in a bathroom.

So I’m wearing the above cashmere short sleeve sweater and full length wide leg jeans. I didn’t bother with a belt, but I packed the simple silk scarf for easy access in my personal bag so I can wear it out and about for lunch and sightseeing. I have my red Ralph Lauren hooded raincoat, which should keep me dry and warm enough. (After several followers commented that they would highly recommend a hooded raincoat, I made the adjustment. Thank you!) Oh, and that Melrose crossbody is the winner after I tested about half a dozen zipper crossbodies for this trip. It should work nicely with all of my outfits.

Essential Footwear

When I begin planning my travel capsule, I always start with the essential footwear. I try to limit myself to three pairs of shoes usually. But this time, since I had room and our activities are so varied, I did travel with four, counting the pair I wore on the plane.

I searched hard to find hiking shoes that feel comfortable, look nice and pack easily. I could have worn them on the plane if necessary, but again, I’m going out sightseeing before checking into my room, so… But these Merrell Wrapt sneakers check all the boxes. They’re waterproof, low profile, lightweight and good for hiking even “the most extreme trail,” according to their specs. I’ve been breaking them in, but also I’ve been wearing my Tretorn sneakers for some daily walks to make sure they were up to handling heavy mileage days in the city. I feel confident that they are. I’ll reserve the Ally flats for dinners out and such. And I wore the Naot Dorith sandals on my last trip to London and they did very well. I don’t know if the weather will allow me to wear them, but I wanted to have them just in case. Of course the cashmere slippers are for lounging and getting ready.

Essential Jackets

The next essential that I considered was jackets. Since we’re in London and the Cotswolds during May, the weather can fluctuate wildly. I knew I needed layers, not necessarily a heavy coat. And at least one jacket needs to be waterproof. I have been set on taking my Barbour reversible raincoat, but follower input had also convinced me that it might not be substantial enough. Plus it doesn’t have a hood.

When I began packing I decided to just try packing more than one jacket. Voila! It worked. So I ended up packing the Barbour reversible raincoat, which I absolutely will wear both way, as well as my red Ralph Lauren rain jacket and my white cropped chore jacket, that is stretchy and so comfortable for travel.

Essential Sleepwear and Loungewear

I never travel without something comfortable to slip into that is simply comfortable and cozy. After a long day of sightseeing or hiking, I’ll want to dress down in something that feels good, but still looks presentable. My Varley pants and half zip will fit the bill beautifully.

I’ve also packed two pairs of pajamas, a robe and slippers. Since we’re staying in a large house at a winery a few of the nights and I’m sharing a room with my friend, I want to look presentable in my sleepwear. Plus, vacations are the perfect time to break in fresh, new pjs.

What I’m wearing in London & Oxford

I’ve created a few style inspiration boards for possible outfits in London and Oxford. But I’ll share real live photos of how I actually wear this capsule in an upcoming post after my trip concludes.

I had originally planned to either not take jeans or pack only ankle length jeans. But on the advice of several readers, I decided the weather might be a little cool yet for ankle length pants. It looks like the weather will be very similar to what we’ve been having in Cincinnati for the past week, so I feel confident that I will be warm enough in full length jeans and lightweight jackets. And I’ve packed enough tops of different fabrics and weights and sleeve lengths to cover all my bases.

When I travel, especially on a sightseeing trip to a city, I prefer not to appear too much like a tourist and instead look a little more like a local. At the same time, I do take into consideration things like having ample pockets, navigating fluctuating weather, wearing shoes that keep me comfortable over miles of walking, etc. Additionally, I want things to mix and match enough so that I can create multiple outfits and have options. So it can be kind of a fine line between not looking like a tourist but traveling well. Wouldn’t you agree?

To that end I’ve packed comfortable, but polished looking pants, modern jeans and a couple of dresses. I may not get to wear the dresses, depending on the weather. But I want to have them in case I do have the opportunity to wear them out to eat or to tea. I also packed a variety of different types of tops because I grow weary of just t-shirts real fast.

I can wear my navy, beige and white Tretorn sneakers with absolutely everything in my suitcase. They’re not power-walking shoes, for sure. But I wore them several days on my long walks around my neighborhood, and my feet never felt worse for the wear. If they get wet, I can swap to my Merrell Wrapt shoes for a day, no bother. And vice versa.

I’ve packed several scarves of different fabrics and sizes for my trip. These are essential accessories that will make my outfits a little more interesting and polished. And they will help me accomplish that goal of not looking touristy…I think. Perhaps even more importantly, they’ll keep the chill off my neck if the weather is on the cool side.

Outfits for Walking the Cotswolds

We will do just a little bit of hiking each day, not entire lengths of the Cotswolds Way. But even those few miles could be on rugged paths, across muddy fields and in wet, cool weather, so I needed to be prepared for “hiking,” not just walking. A couple of readers mentioned stinging nettles, which are weeds that grow along the paths and “sting” terribly if you brush up against them. So I switched from my original idea of wearing Athleta Endless high rise pants to packing full length hiking pants from L.L.Bean instead. Both of these are lightweight and very comfortable.

As you can see, I’ve also packed wool blend hiking socks and short sleeve moisture-wicking tops for hiking. I can wear either of my raincoats. And I have plenty of options in case we do have a wet day.

I’d love for you to follow along with me on my London and Cotswolds adventure via Instagram. All of my blog posts are lined up for the week, and I have a YouTube video for you on Wednesday, too. But I won’t be sharing anything much in my newsletter or here during the week because I didn’t pack my computer. Instead, I’m trying to unplug a little and really enjoy the moments. Thanks so much for stopping in. You can check out my full packing list below.

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