OK, so winter might yet be a few months away but now may be the perfect time to start investing in items that will make your trip to London during the winter, better. I’m talking about pieces of clothing and accessories that are practical and will keep you comfortable as you spend your days exploring what the great city has to offer. Here are four essential items for a winter getaway to London.
Comfortable walking shoes
The great thing about London is that it has many attractions clustered around the city centre. Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament, the London Eye and Tower Bridge are all situated by the River Thames, which in turn are only a few minutes walk away from Buckingham Palace and 10 Downing Street. This means that you can easily cover all of these in a day, without using any mode of transport other than your feet! Invest in some comfortable shoes to walk in which are soft, lightweight and breathable, and your whole body will thank you at the end of a productive day.
A reliable raincoat
While a good umbrella might also be useful, when the weather gets rough with wind and snow involved, it may be more ideal to have a raincoat that can free your hands and give you better protection from the elements. There are an abundance of raincoats available that will keep you warm and dry in any condition you’ll find yourself in London, that you may actually find it difficult to choose! A quick search of reviews of raincoats online will lead you to those available from Rains. Not only are they stylish and practical, but they are affordable considering all they have to offer. Since the London weather has a habit of changing on a whim, having one you can roll up and put in your bag when the sun comes out is definitely a plus, and Rain’s jackets fit the bill perfectly.
A fanny pack
This little bags are in fashion and rightly so; not only do they provide convenience when carrying essentials such as your mobile phone, wallet and any other small accessories, but they also make you less of a likely target for thieves. Although it is a safe city on a whole, London is a major metropolis and petty crime such as pickpocketing and minor theft is relatively common. Keeping your valuables hidden and close to your body in a fanny pack is already a big deterrent to thieves, plus during winter, it helps to keep all your stuff in one easily accessible place, so you don’t end up removing half your outfit searching for some loose change.
A portable battery pack
With so much to see and do in London, there is no doubt you will be using your phone a lot. Whether it is to use maps, find out where the best local restaurants are, or taking photos of all the attractions, your phone battery will likely take a beating. Do yourself a favour and get a portable battery pack capable of charging your devices a few times at the very least. Nowadays, these are very affordable and can be found in very compact sizes. The cold weather may have an adverse effect on your phone’s battery life and having a back up charge is always welcome.