How to Pack and Wash for a Week in London
You don't need seven days of clothes for a week in London. Pack for about four, plan one wash in the middle, and you'll travel lighter and have less to carry on the Tube.
Pack for four days, not seven
Choose a small set of tops and bottoms that all go together. If every top works with every pair of trousers, you can mix and repeat without anyone noticing, and the suitcase stays light.
Choose fabrics that cope with travel
- Layers beat bulky items. London weather changes during the day, so a light layer you can add or remove is more useful than one heavy coat.
- Quick-drying and wrinkle-resistant fabrics are easier to live with than delicate ones.
- Keep very delicate or dry-clean-only items at home unless you really need them.
Keep dirty clothes separate from the start
Bring a spare laundry bag or use the one in your wardrobe. When worn clothes go straight into it, nothing clean gets mixed in, and the bag is ready to hand over when laundry day arrives.
Plan one wash around day three or four
Picking a day in advance stops you running out of clothes at a bad moment. Pick a day when you're out sightseeing, so nothing is waiting on you. If you book a same-day collection, you can leave the bag at reception in the morning and have everything back that evening.
Tell the laundry what matters
- Stains: point them out when you book. Stain treatment is an add-on.
- Shrinking: if something shrinks easily, ask for low-heat drying.
- Sensitive skin: non-scented detergent is available.
Leave room on the way home
Clean clothes pack more neatly than a pile of worn ones. If you'll be shopping, a wash on your last full day means you fly home with everything folded and fresh.
Same-day suitcase laundry is flat-fee per suitcase, so you can book a collection with no weighing and no counting. For prices and how it works, see our guide to same-day laundry for travellers.