Weather & Clothing
The British weather is mild, wet, and unpredictable. Thanks to the Gulf Stream, temperatures are rarely extreme (winter rarely below 0 °C, summer rarely above 30 °C — although heatwaves are becoming more frequent). But: Rain can come at any time, even in midsummer. "Four seasons in one day" is no exaggeration.
Packing List Essentials
- Rain jacket: MANDATORY. A good waterproof jacket with a hood (Gore-Tex or similar) is the most important investment. Umbrellas work in England (less wind than in Ireland/Scotland), but on the mountains and coast, they are useless
- Layers: T-shirt + fleece/sweater + jacket. Morning 10 °C, afternoon 22 °C, evening 14 °C — all possible on the same day
- Hiking boots: Even for light walks — British paths are often muddy
- Sunscreen: Underestimated! In clear weather (it happens!), UV radiation is strong
- Midge spray: For the Scottish Highlands (May–September), mosquito spray is essential. Midges (tiny biting insects) are the worst plague of the Highlands — Avon Skin So Soft is the unofficial Scottish standard
What you DON'T need
- Flip-flops — except for Cornwall in August
- Formal clothing — Great Britain is casual. Clean jeans and a neat shirt are sufficient even in good restaurants
- Ski equipment — Snow sports are available in Scotland (Cairngorms), but that's a niche interest
