I arrived home from a 10-day trip to England just under a week ago. Now that I’ve somewhat adjusted to the 5-hour time difference, I thought I’d share what I wore in England for wildly fluctuating weather in May. Because we were moving around from London to the Cotswolds and then to Oxford for a short stay, I packed carry-on only in an Away bigger carry-on flex suitcase and an Away Everywhere bag. With the help of so many readers who either live in England or have traveled there during this cool, rainy season, I managed to pack just what I needed to feel comfortable and a little stylish on this active trip. Let me show you what I ended up wearing.
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Packing for the trip was a little tricky because our particular trip was an “active” one. The other five women and I joined my friend Shelly of Walkabout Tours for the best of the city and the country, with quite a bit of hiking, or as the British call it, “walking,” in the Cotswolds. I wanted to pack clothes that were comfortable but a little polished for the city, as well as hiking clothes and shoes for the Cotswolds. You can see the evolution of my packing list if you check out this first blog post, in which I shared my initial travel capsule ideas, and then this blog post with what I actually packed. And you can also visit my ShopMy page with my complete packing list for easy shopping. Finally, I just added a YouTube short that shows me packing up my wardrobe. Just click here to watch it on YouTube.
Sunday Travel & Monday in London
I don’t usually fly in blue jeans, but I decided to wear comfortable jeans for this 8-hour flight because I’d be landing on Monday morning, checking into my hotel and storing my luggage there while my friend (and roommate) Candy and I hit the streets. I had to choose jeans that would work well with my sneakers, but I also wanted them to be full length and modern. My Paige Anessas worked beautifully for the trip.
My jeans and short sleeve cashmere sweater turned out to be comfortable and perfect for the trip. I wore my raincoat onto the plane because it was my bulkiest jacket. It stored nicely in the overhead bin. And I did slip my crossbody bag into my Everywhere bag before boarding, no problem. The Everywhere bag fits very nicely under the seat in front of me.
Candy and I had booked an extra night at the Number Sixteen hotel at the front of the trip so that we could have a little time on our own to explore before the tour began on Tuesday night. We settled into the day by having an afternoon tea at the hotel. Then we strolled along the streets of South Kensington, just taking in the sights and catching up a little. Candy and I have been friends since 7th grade. In fact, I realized at the end of our trip that we are celebrating the 50th anniversary of our friendship.
We were able to get into our beautiful room at Number Sixteen at 3 in the afternoon. The staff is so amazingly gracious and professional at this Firmdale hotel. They made our stay extra special and delightful in so many ways. I showered and changed into my Nic+Zoe navy cotton bi-stretch ankle pants and flats before heading to dinner at Daphne’s, a nearby Italian restaurant. It was so fun to wear this outfit with the plaid side of my reversible Barbour rain jacket.
Tuesday in London
I only took four pieces of jewelry on this trip, all Lagos. These pieces are an investment, but they’re also very durable and secure. I wore these earrings, necklace and bracelet almost all of the time, only swapping in these slightly smaller earrings on our hiking days. Having this limited selection of jewelry made getting dressed and keeping up with things so much easier.
On Tuesday, Candy and I were on our own before meeting up with everyone else in our group for dinner that evening. We took a taxi to Liberty of London where I purchased the scarf shown below. Then we had a champagne afternoon tea at Fortnum and Mason, London’s oldest department store. Both stores are beautiful and well worth browsing.
After tea we looked around Fortnum and Mason a bit before using the CityMapper app to navigate our way by foot back to Number Sixteen. This was one of the few days we didn’t have any rain to speak of so I was fine wearing my Skyline chore jacket over my Me+Em dress, which I absolutel loved wearing. We had dinner that night at The Ivy in Chelsea.
Wednesday in London with the King
Speaking of the weather, my jacket selections all worked out perfectly for me. I enjoyed having the Barbour reversible jacket for a lighter weight option that added a little personality to some of my looks. But the red lined Lauren Ralph Lauren jacket proved to be a smart choice for the chillier, wetter days. And the white chore jacket paired nicely dresses and other looks when it wasn’t raining.
But one of the biggest wardrobe heroes in my suitcase was definitely my navy J.Crew cashmere cardigan. You’ll see that I wore it frequently – both layered over different tops and by itself. On Wednesday the weather was quite cool and it rained off and on throughout the day. We happened to have a guided walking tour of the Westminster area scheduled for this day, and it coincided with the beginning of Parliament. So we were treated to all the pomp and circumstance of a royal parade from Buckingham to the parliament building and back again. If you look carefully at the photo below you’ll see our glimpse of King Charles as he passed by very close indeed in his carriage.
I felt like my ankle length pants would fare better in the rain, so I wore those with my white ribbed polo and the navy cashmere cardigan, layered underneath my red raincoat for most of the day. I added one of my many scarves at my neck and wore my Tretorn sneakers.
I’m pleased to report that my Tretorns held up beautifully in London. We walked miles and miles each day and my feet never ached or gave me any problems. I was so glad I’d chosen these ol’ faithfuls in the end. After having lunch at a cafe in the basement of St. Martin-in-the-Fields Church, Candy and I toured the National Portrait Gallery. We wrapped up the day with dinner at Il Portico. I won’t bother to comment on every meal, but you can safely assume that everything we ate on this trip was scrumptious and beautifully presented. I highly recommend every restaurant I mention here.
Thursday in Hampstead & the Victoria & Albert Museum
Thursday our group of seven took the tube to Hampstead, an affluent, leafy village-style district in northwest London, located mainly in the London Borough of Camden. Again, we had sprinkles throughout the day. But we were all prepared for the cool and rainy weather, so we fared beautifully.
Since I knew we might do a little “walking” in the Hampstead Heath, I opted for my hiking shoes on this day. I wore them with my jeans and a merino wool top under my cashmere cardigan. I added my new Liberty London scarf and wore my Barbour jacket on the navy side.
We thoroughly enjoyed a guided walking tour of Hampstead and then had a tasty lunch at the famous Holly Bush restaurant. That afternoon we had free time to go our separate ways, so Candy and I browsed through a few of the exhibits at the Victoria and Albert Museum. We really enjoy the selection in their gift shop, too.
Since it was time to pack up for our move to the Cotswolds, we enjoyed a light dinner in our room that evening.
Friday Travel Outfit to the Cotswolds
Friday we traveled by train to Oxford, where Shelly rented a large van for the duration of our trip. I wore my navy ankle pants with my red silk/cotton M.M.LaFleur sweater and a scarf. Since the day promised a little rain, I wore my plaid Barbour rain jacket.
I enjoyed having some color in my travel wardrobe. The last time I traveled to London, I kept my capsule wardrobe more neutral, with a lot of black, grey and white. I don’t think my shift has anything to do with my sense of style or the current trends; I just had a “hankering” for more color this time around. And it was fun to play around with my navy, red, blue and white options.
We enjoyed a walking tour of Oxford, grabbed a quick lunch in the bookstore and then browsed books at famed Blackwell’s Books. Then Shelly picked us up for our drive into the Cotswolds. What a drive!
Saturday Walk on the Thames
In the Cotswolds we stayed at the Woodchester Valley House on the estate of the Woodchester Valley Vineyard. It was a luxurious and comfortable accommodation with spectacular views from our bedroom windows. It would have been wonderful to have had nicer weather so we could enjoy the scenic outdoor spaces around the house more, but the indoor gathering rooms were equally comfortable and pretty. On our first night we had a tasty meal cooked by a gourmet chef.
Saturday I wore my coastal dune hiking pants and rhubarb red hiking shirt with a large brown bandana and my hiking shoes. These shoes were another big win. They were super comfortable, waterproof and I really enjoyed walking in them. I wore them with these wool blend socks and these hiking socks, both of which worked nicely.
That day we hiked a beautiful path along the Thames and then toured Kelmscott Manor, the country home of William Morris. You may be familiar with his contribution to the arts and crafts movement and his beautiful textiles and prints. The home was charming and the gardens delightful.
Sunday Cotswolds Walk
Sunday we took an easy morning at the house with devotions and breakfast. Then we set out for the Burford Garden Company, a large, unique and charming home and garden center filled with beautiful wares and a lovely tea room. After lunch there, we drove into more villages and did a loop walk – the Eastleach walk – in Thyme, traipsing through horse pastures, sheep meadows and church yards while it rained off and on.
For this day I wore my navy hiking pants and light blue shirt with my plaid rain jacket. It was cool, but not cold. Shelly had gifted us all darling bandanas, so I wore mine on this day since it coordinated so well with my outfit.
That night we had dinner at a nearby seafood restaurant. Since it wasn’t cold, I decided to take advantage of the “good weather” and wore my second dress, a feminine cheesecloth print from Me+Em. It felt nice to put on something a little prettier than hiking clothes.
Monday Cotswolds Tour
Monday was our last full day in the Cotswolds. We traveled through a number of quaint, quintessential villages, stopping in a few for walking, having tea, shopping and touring.
I wore my coastal dune hiking pants with a grey long sleeve tee I borrowed from Candy. That is the one thing I forgot to pack that I would absolutely recommend – a long sleeve layering tee. And this one from Garnet Hill is a good one. I have no idea why I failed to pack one; it seems like such a no-brainer! But, even though Candy had offered it to me several days earlier, this was the only day I really felt like I needed it. I wore it under my navy cashmere sweater and my red raincoat.
By the way, I did like having a hood on this raincoat for just in case. But I actually much preferred wearing the rain hat. The rain hat has a wider brim, so it covers my face much better and kept me dryer while hiking. I was glad I had my sling pack with me. It’s old and not linkable, but you can find similar options at sporting goods stores, I’m sure.
If you’re a Tolkien fan, you may recognize those church doors above as the inspiration for the Doors of Durin in Lord of the Rings. I’m not familiar with the doors myself, even though I’ve “watched” the movie. But I knew the rest of my family would appreciate the photograph since they’re avid readers of the books.
And the church below is the one that appears frequently in the series Father Brown. Now that’s more my speed. I’m a big Father Brown fan, and I enjoyed seeing this familiar sight.
Tuesday in Oxford
Tuesday we said farewell to our tour group and Candy and I headed back to Oxford. We had visited Oxford on our previous England trip, and we felt like it would be a nice place to wrap up our time together. We still had a few little sprinkles, but all in all we were blessed with a nice day weatherwise. Candy and I checked in at the Old Parsonage and then set out to see more of Oxford.
I took advantage of the more springlike weather and wore my white ribbed polo top with my white chore jacket and navy ankle pants. We did quite a bit of walking, touring Magdalene College, where C.S. Lewis taught, and peeking through the gates at several of the over 40 colleges located in Oxford. We had fish and chips at Turf Tavern, a personal favorite of ours, and even attended an Evensong service at the chapel at Magdalene, where their boys choir led the service.
Wednesday Travel Home
Wednesday morning we had breakfast at the Opera Cafe just down the street from our hotel before heading to the airport. For a long day of travel I wore my jeans with my Brochu Walker Pia shirt and red raincoat. I would have loved to have worn this Oxford shirt another day, but the weather just didn’t allow for that. But it was perfect for the travel day – soft and cool and easy.
I don’t have a photo of one dinner outfit, which included this blue t-shirt. So in the end, the only thing in my suitcase that I never wore was this longsleeve top from Nic+Zoe. But I think I could have slipped it in somewhere, and I’m definitely not sorry I took it. Oh, and I didn’t get to wear my Naot sandals either. But again, I’m not sorry I took them. The weather in England at this time of year is quite fickle, so who knew. In fact, Shelly is doing another similar tour this week (focusing on gardens rather than walks) and they’re enjoying temperatures in the 80s! I could have worn those comfortable walking sandals with my dresses this week for sure.
I did wear my Varley lounge pants and quarter zip top several times in the evenings and to breakfast, but I never took a photo. And my pajamas, slippers and robe worked out beautifully, too. So all in all, I’m very pleased with my packing efforts and I thoroughly enjoyed wearing this capsule wardrobe.
You can shop any of the pieces I mentioned above in the photo captions or in the shopping widget below. Let me know if you have any questions, especially about fit, and I’ll hop in here and answer. Of course I’ll gladly answer inquiries about my trip and itinerary as well. Thanks so much for visiting today.
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Blessed for My Day
During our England trip, Shelly led devotionals that focused on John 15:1-11, where Jesus uses the analogy of the branches, the vine and the vinedresser to explain our relationship with Him and the Father. Here we learn that it is God’s “job” and desire to produce fruit through us. And we see that Jesus is the one who provides the strength, gifts and ability to be fruitful. But our job is simply to abide in Him. Apart from abiding in Him, we can do nothing of value.
That’s both a freeing and a sobering thought. It’s not always easy to abide, is it? Abiding takes both intentionality and submission. It’s a hands-off but hearts-all-in position. Part of abiding in Christ is allowing Him to also abide in you. We do that as we spend time with Him, read His Word, walk in obedience and listen for His voice. What does abiding in Christ look and feel like to you? That’s just a little something to mull over today.
“I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. 2 Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit, He prunes it so that it may bear more fruit. 3 You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. 4 Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me. 5 I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not abide in Me, he is thrown away as a branch and dries up; and they gather them, and cast them into the fire and they are burned. 7 If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples. 9 Just as the Father has loved Me, I have also loved you; abide in My love. 10 If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love; just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love. 11 These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full. ~ John 15:1-11
Your posts are so helpful Kay!I love seeing your travel outfits. I did have a question on the short sleeved cashmere red sweater, and wondered what size you are wearing in it. Thanks so much!!
Hello, Kay! I’m glad you made it home safely from your trip. I enjoyed seeing the pictures, thank you for sharing those, it looks like a lovely place to visit. It was cool you got a glimpse of King Charles passing by in his carriage! You looked great in all of your outfits too!