Packing for 10 Days in the UK with only a Carry-on; AM I insane?!

In a few days i'll be flying over the Big Pond to the United Kingdom. I'll be staying 4 nights in London then hopping on a train to Edinburgh Scotland for the remaining 6 nights of our trip. I'm attempting the seemingly impossible and only traveling with a carry-on.

No big bulky checked luggage for this girl.

To me; Carry-on means simplicity, less stress, ease of transport, and speed. Traveling is stressful enough already without having to worry whether or not our bags will be at our destination when we arrive.

I've done this successfully on a 7 day international beach trip in the past (and with 3 kids all in one suitcase) but never on a European excursion.

When I mentioned this to my girlfriends they were shocked to say the least, and mostly skeptical.

"How will you fit all your clothes and curling iron and flat iron? What about your makeup and hair stuff? How many shoes will you bring?"

I'll take you step by step through my process of choosing what to bring (and what to leave behind) and how I made it all fit.

1. Make a list

Before you even start you should have a plan. If you fail to plan, then you pretty much plan to fail. You can apply this to many aspects of your life,but in packing a carry-on it is essential for success. Thinking ahead will help you visualize what you'll need for each day or activity of your trip. And keep you from adding outfits "just because".

Making a list keeps me organized and feeling in control.

2. Do Your Research

Check the weather of your destination. I scoured tons of blogs and apps related to weather for London and Scotland in July. You can check weather HERE and HERE. The best resource for me however, was the advice from a friend who had actually taken this exact trip in the past! Advice from a trusted source is worth its weight in gold. Also, Check your airlines carry-on policy. I found the biggest bags within their limits.

Now that you kind of know what to expect, lets get to the fun part.

3. Picking What To Pack

Here is where your individual needs and wants come into play. Because you have a thought out itinerary or plan, this will go smoothly. Style is a personal thing that I feel is important to showcase everyday, and even more so on vacation when you want to be feeling like the best version of yourself. I personally stick to a neutral color scheme to keep it simple. But if you love color, go for it! It matters how many pieces you bring so be strict and decisive.

TOPS

I sweat like a guy so I could not get away with re-wearing a shirt. 10 shirts in my color scheme will match any of the pants I brought. Making it easy-peasy to get dressed each morning.

PANTS & GYM CLOTHES

I'm packing 5 pairs of jeans. I'll wear each one twice.

Fitness is important to me so I planned for 3 days at the gym. 2 pair of shorts and 1 legging, 3 sports bras, and 3 tank tops. I've written it into my schedule to make it a priority.

OUTERWEAR

Bring 2 jackets. Wear one on the plane and pack the other. Some people can get away with one but personally I don't want to be wearing the same jacket in every picture. ;) I'm also bringing this gray sweatshirt to layer under my jackets in case it's really cold in Scotland. I despise being cold.

Shoes

2 pairs of very comfortable sneakers for sightseeing. You will be walking a lot.

(One day in Paris my husband and I took over 24,000 steps!) I'll pack a pair and wear a pair on the plane.

1 pair of flats. For nights out and to dress up jeans when sneaks might look weird.

1 pair of heels. This was the hardest part to par down but it's safe to choose a simple black heel. Every girl should own a pair! They are classic and go with everything.

DRESSES

I'm bringing three for those special nights out. If I run into Her Majesty The Queen at Chef Ramsey's restaurant The Savoy, I want to look my best! ;)

NICKERS

Pack 3 pair of pj's. Pack 10 pair of socks for all the walking you'll be doing. Pack at least 15 pair of underwear. This may seem excessive to some, but you never know when you'll need a fresh pair. And they're so tiny they won't take up much space. Pack 2 strapless bras and 3 regular ones. With that you should be covered!

4.HOW TO PACK IT ALL

Here is where the magic happens. Time to start rolling! This is my favorite, most effective technique for fitting all of these clothes into my carry-on luggage. Fold each piece in half twice and roll as tightly as you can. Fit each piece into place snug against the other.

"They see me rollin' They hatin"

Tops

Tops and Pants

Tops, Pants, and PJ's

Utilize every ounce of space! I put socks in these sneakers.

Wrap shoes in plastic to protect clothes from dirt.

Put socks in a zip-top baggy and remove extra air. Keeps the together and easy to find.

Add undies and bras into the extra spaces

I rolled the gray sweatshirt and added it next to the shoes and socks.

This is my 20 inch carry-on luggage. It's been on a few trips so far and has held up nicely. You can check it out HERE.

You're allowed one smaller personal item to store under your seat and that is where I put my trench coat. Check back for my next post about all of the essentials needed to survive an overnight 9+ hour flight.

#travel #packing #uk #uktravel #europeantravel #london #scotland