Well, we’re finally headed home! For anyone just tuning in, we spent 5 days in Iceland, 5 days in Scotland, and wrapped it up with 3 days in London. Add in the travel days, and we’ve been away for just over two weeks. The London portion was a last-minute addition, and I’m so glad we did it. We both enjoyed our time there so much, but I’ll save those details for my London recap. Today I want to share what I packed for Scotland and London. Each destination felt like its own trip, but since I packed for Scotland and London together, I’m combining them into one capsule here.
I spent so much time figuring out what to pack for Iceland (don’t miss our His and Hers Travel Capsule for Iceland) that I didn’t give much thought to the Scotland/London portion until the day before we left, even though it was the longer part of our trip. Fortunately, I had a good idea of what I’d need after my 10-day trip to England last spring. (I posted what I packed and wore in England last spring, if you’re interested.)
That said, I still overpacked. After so many days in outdoorsy gear in Iceland and Scotland, I knew I’d be ready for some “fun” shoes in London. With Hamilton tickets and a couple of nice dinner reservations on the agenda, I also wanted dressier options. So when it became clear my medium checked suitcase wasn’t big enough (Iceland required very specific gear), I switched to the large one—which made it all too easy to toss in a few extras I didn’t really need. Namely, the leopard flats and a couple of extra tops (plus, not pictured, a black dress and leopard slingback pumps for our nicest dinner). In hindsight, I could have left all of that behind. I didn’t wear them enough to justify the space, but they weren’t bulky, and it was nice to have the options.
London/Scotland Travel Capsule
Let’s break it down! Here’s what I packed for this portion of our trip, and how it worked out for me.
Shoes
I always start packing by choosing shoes, since they determine which bottoms will work best and set the tone for the rest of my outfits. For this trip, we were splitting time between London, Scotland’s cities, and the rugged Highlands, so hiking shoes were non-negotiable. I also wanted a pair of walking boots that looked good with jeans and were preferably waterproof, since rain was likely in both Scotland and London. Beyond that, I planned to bring a pair of versatile sneakers for casual days, plus loafers or ballet flats for dinners and other times when I wanted something lighter. Here’s how it worked out:
Merrell Moab Speed 2 GORE-TEX // These waterproof hiking sneakers were already in my suitcase for Iceland, so they came along for Scotland too. I only wore them one day, but I really needed them that day and was so glad I had them.
Blondo Cammie Waterproof Bootie // I snagged these during the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale with this trip in mind. A Chelsea boot with a rubber sole seemed like the most practical choice for long days of walking, and they work well with different styles of jeans. While they aren’t the trendiest shoe right now, they’re a classic, and they felt just right in London, Glasgow, and Edinburgh.
VEJA Esplar // Most of my newer sneakers are suede, but I knew I needed leather for the wet U.K. weather, so I packed these old faithful VEJAs. I can walk miles in them, and they and go with all my jeans, so it was an easy choice. Since I had them with me, I even wore them a couple of times in Iceland, even though they weren’t technically part of that travel capsule. Along with the Blondo boots, these were by far my most-worn shoes on this trip.
Margaux The Demi Flat // These black flats worked well for my England trip last spring, so I packed them again. They’re comfortable enough for walking city streets and gave me a dressier option for church, the theater, and dinners out. Plus, by keeping them in the same black color family as the boots and Vejas, I was able to keep my clothing capsule aligned with black shoes. Or at least, that was the goal…
Dolce Vita Roslyn Mary Jane Ballet Flats // These were a last-minute addition, in a moment of weakness. They’re very comfortable for walking, and they pair nicely with a couple of the short-sleeve tops I wanted to bring for London, as well as my trench coat. Honestly, they were my “just for fun” pair since everything else felt so utilitarian. Sadly, I only wore them once, so they didn’t really earn their spot in my suitcase.
Sam Edelman Bianka Slingback Pumps // These also went in at the very last minute because I thought I needed them for a black dress I was packing for a nice dinner. As it turned out, they never left my suitcase. I ended up wearing the black ballet flats with my black jeans and a top to that dinner instead, so we could explore the area on foot before dinner. Oh, well! Live and learn.
Bottoms
I usually choose my bottoms along with my shoes, since they need to work well together. They can also be heavy and bulky, so I try not to bring more than I need. I almost always pack a pair of comfy pants for travel days and lounging at the hotel, plus two or three pairs of jeans, depending on the length of the trip. Because I wear jeans almost every day, I try to mix up the styles and washes so my outfits don’t all look the same. This is what I ended up with:
MOTHER Dazzler // These washed black straight ankle jeans were my most-worn jeans on last spring’s England trip, and once again, they proved to be a true workhorse across all three destinations. If I could have only brought one pair of jeans, it would have been these. They’re by far the most versatile of the three I packed.
MOTHER Outsider // I thought adding a grey pair of denim would be a good option, since they worked well with all my black boots, shoes, and sneakers. These bootcut ankle jeans are similar to the Dazzler but I felt they were different enough to justify packing, and I was glad to have the variety.
PAIGE Anessa // These wide-leg jeans were the pair I debated the most, and the main reason I packed the leopard flats. While they do work with sneakers, I knew I wouldn’t want to wear them with boots (and I never did). They weren’t a total miss, but definitely not as practical as the other pairs. Still, I was glad I had the variety, especially in London.
Athleta Glacier Bootcut Pants // These were a carry-over from my Iceland capsule, but I was glad I had them for one chilly day in Scotland. The brushed lining kept me warm, and they worked perfectly with my hiking sneakers for exploring Glencoe.
SPANX Essentials Wide Leg // I wore these on the plane to Iceland, and I pulled them on to go to the hotel lobby and work early a few of the mornings when Paul was still sleeping. If I’d been packing super minimally, they would have been the first pair to go, but I was glad I had them.
Jackets & Outerwear
I’m skipping over tops for now, since I usually choose those after I’ve figured out my outerwear. When traveling in temperate climates like the U.K., most photos end up being taken with a coat on, so outerwear feels especially important. I also like to have more than one option so my photos don’t all look the same. For this trip, I brought two, but I found myself wishing I’d packed a third. I could have used something shorter and more stylish, especially in London. But this is what I actually brought:
lululemon Rain Rebel Jacket // This black rain-proof hooded trench was a definite for this travel capsule, and it also made the cut for Iceland. It’s elevated enough for city sightseeing but practical enough for hiking and touring more remote areas. Fully waterproof and seam-sealed, it’s designed to handle even the nastiest weather if need be.
London Fog Hooded Raincoat // I brought this as an alternative to the black raincoat, just for variety’s sake. It’s water-resistant and has a hood, so it’s also both elevated and practical. The beige color was a welcome alternative to the black coat and provided a nice contrast to both the black and blue jeans in my travel capsule.
Patagonia Nano Puff Vest // I’m not sure I would have packed this if we hadn’t gone to Iceland first, but it did come in handy for a hiking day in Scotland. It was a nice extra layer to have, and I could have worn it over a sweater with jeans, although I never did.
Tops & Sweaters
When packing for a trip, I usually choose my tops last. Once I have shoes and bottoms squared away, almost any of my tops will work with them. At that point, it’s more about sticking to a color palette. And since tops don’t always show in photos, so they aren’t as important to me as the coats, but I still like to have some variety so I don’t get bored. In fact, I brought too many tops on this trip. I justified a few extras because they don’t take up much space and I wasn’t sure what the weather would be like once we got to London, but in hindsight, I could have cut back. A couple never even got worn.
I brought four long-sleeve sweaters (and picked up one more in Iceland), and I wore all of them multiple times. By the time we got to London, I was getting tired of them, but fortunately, the weather there was nice enough to break out some of the short-sleeve options I’d packed. Out of the four short-sleeve tops I brought, I wore three, and the extra blouse never left my suitcase. I’m not going to list out every single piece here because it’s a lot, but I did add notes on each in the shopping widget above.
Bags & Accessories
Like with coats, your bag shows up in almost every photo when you’re traveling, so I brought an extra option even though I really only needed two: the belt bag for casual adventuring and the black crossbody for city touring and dinners.
I also packed a scarf to add interest to my outfits and for warmth. I brought a heavier winter style, which I was glad to have, but there were a few days when I wished I had a lighter one. I ended up buying one in London, but by then it was too late for when I really needed it. At least now I have it for next time!
Once again, I won’t list every single piece here, but I’ve added notes above. I also included a few similar-for-less options, since most of mine are on the pricier side. These are the types of investment items I plan to have for years to come; in fact, the Burberry scarf and YSL sunglasses have already gone up in price significantly since I purchased mine.
What I Could Have Left Behind
Overall, I feel like I did pretty well packing for this trip, considering all the variables involved. Still, I definitely could have done with fewer short-sleeve tops, and that blouse never got worn. I also packed a dress and slingback pumps that stayed in my suitcase the whole time, which meant bringing shapewear I didn’t end up needing either. That’s the part I’m really kicking myself over. And while the leopard flats didn’t take up much room, I didn’t need those either.
What I Wore Most
No surprise here—the pieces I reached for most were the ones I already know and love. My J.Crew cashmere cardigan, MOTHER Dazzler jeans, VEJA Esplar sneakers, and Blondo Cammie boots were on constant repeat. The lululemon Rain Rebel jacket also earned MVP status, since it worked equally well for city sightseeing and hiking in the Highlands. Those five pieces alone carried me through most days of the trip.
All in all, I was happy with how I packed for this trip. A few items could have stayed home, but overall I felt well prepared for both the rugged Highlands and our time in London. The lesson learned? Lean on versatile basics you already love, and don’t overthink the rest.
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