London — travel photo

🇬🇧 London · Winter (Dec–Feb)

What to wear in London in January

By PackTheLook · Updated 28 October 2026

Highs9°C (48°F)
Lows3°C (37°F)
Rainy days~11
Daylight8 h
CrowdsQuiet

January averages for London (Greenwich Park). Source

January is cold, damp and grey with sunset around 4:15pm, but museums are quiet and the January sales are on. Most major museums are free year-round. Warm, water-resistant coat, waterproof boots and layers you can remove indoors.

☀️ By day

Water-resistant coat, knit, dark jeans and waterproof boots.

🌙 Evening

Scarf and gloves — dark by 4:30pm and around 3°C.

What's on in January

Typical dates. Many festivals follow lunar calendars, so check this year's dates before you book.

January sales

Boxing Day through January

Big discounts on Oxford Street, Regent Street and at Selfridges. Easy layers for fitting rooms and a foldable bag.

London New Year's Day Parade

January 1

Marching bands and floats through central London. You'll stand outside for hours — thermals, hat and gloves.

January packing essentials

Your January outfit list

Also pack

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Dress code

  • No formal dress code in the city; smart-casual covers almost everything.
  • Some upscale restaurants, theatres and clubs discourage sportswear and trainers in the evening.
  • Cover shoulders for religious sites such as mosques and gurdwaras; Westminster Abbey and St Paul's are relaxed but respectful dress is expected.

Full dress code, activities and common mistakes →

Good weather elsewhere in January

All destinations →