How to Pack for 2 Weeks to England Scotland Ireland: Carryon/Neutral Capsule Wardrobe

In less than 2 weeks, we are heading to England, Scotland and Ireland with Go Ahead tours (our 3rd trip with them) and we are super excited to visit these countries that we’ve never been to before. This trip has been planned for 1.5 years, so it’s hard to believe it’s finally here! This trip is not sponsored in any way, we paid for it all. Today, I’m sharing my packing process for this trip and how I’ve learned to pack less in carryon only for trips up to 2 weeks long. In the past, I have packed colorful clothing, since I have a lot of that in my closet, but this time, I’m packing neutrals that can be mixed and matched, tops and bottoms that all coordinate together. My color palette is black, tan, creme and leopard, so I’ll show you what I’m doing and how I’m putting it all together. I’m not sharing all the specific outfits that can be made out of these pieces, but you’ll get the idea when you see everything. They can all be mixed up as needed for the 13 days we will be gone. I’ll also share the luggage and travel pieces I’m taking too, which I think will work well for me going forward. I have a travel cosmetic bag, which will hold all my makeup, toiletries and even my jewelry and I’ll link that for you. I also bought a set of travel containers that hold my toiletry items, like shampoo and conditioner, and other necessities. I know this is all not new, but it’s how I’m doing this trip and probably future trips. I’ve definitely learned to pack less these days, since dragging around heavy luggage gets tiresome very quickly.

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I didn’t have a good set of matching pieces, so I bought this set of Mossily on Amazon a few months ago. Unfortunately, this color is not available in this brand anymore, but they have pink right now. There are many brands on Amazon, so I just did some looking until I found a set that worked for me.

I bought this set because it has an expansion zipper, which helps when you’re packing light. It adds about 2″ in extra space when you zip it shut. If you don’t have an expandable piece of luggage, it really does make a difference. One of my other suitcases has that feature.

I was gifted from Bostanten this new crossbody bag, which is really cute and a little more compact than my old one by that brand, so this one will be going with me. It has a side zipper, a good sized inner compartment with slip pocket and zipper pocket inside and it has card holders built in on the outside zipper compartment, which also has RFID protection, meaning thieves can’t grab credit card info.

I was gifted this Talena cosmetic bag on Amazon last year, but this is the first time I’m using it. It is really a neat travel piece. It unfolds completely with all sorts of zippered compartments that hold everything from makeup, toiletries and even jewelry and it has a hanger so you can hang it on a hook. I’m excited to finally try this one. Take a look on Amazon and you’ll see how it folds out.

I just bought this set of travel containers to try for the first time. It has labels and all can be reused as needed. The larger ones are silicone. I may not even need all of these, but I picked this set up for $4.99 when it was 1/2 off, but now it’s back to full price.

Here’s my capsule wardrobe using neutrals as my base, all from pieces I have in my closet. I didn’t buy anything new.

I’ve labeled all the pieces, so I think it makes sense. I can take these 5 pairs of pants and mix them all up with the tops and sweaters I’m taking. I’ve been checking the weather in England, as well as Scotland and Ireland. London is running in the 70’s daytime highs right now with 60’s in the evening. Scotland and Ireland are a little chillier with 60’s in the day, but still only in the 50’s at night, so that’s really pretty mild. I tend to be on the chilly side when the sun isn’t out, so I’m bringing plenty of layers so I can add as needed. I’m taking 3 pairs of shoes, so these should serve me well. I’ll wear the black Mary Janes with a lot of things, but have the others to interchange depending on what we are doing. I’m not taking any dressy shoes, as I know we will be walking a lot.

Here’s a look at what I have in mind by capsule. I’m taking 5 pairs of pants. These stone colored jeans by Chico’s and wide leg black yoga pants can be mixed up with all the tops and sweaters. The other black pants I’m taking are by Chico’s and a nice lightweight travel material. I’ll wear one of these black pants on the plane and also carry on the black quilted jacket. The other pair of light tan pants are from Athleta and my sis gave them to me.

I love these compressions packing bags, but unfortunately they are no longer available, but I found some similar, this set of 5 and this set of 4. Compression bags are key and they make a world of difference in packing light.

This is fully expanded and then once you put everything inside, you zip the 2nd zipper and it pulls everything taut so it’s one package sitting in your luggage.

I forgot to take a picture when I did a mock packing for this trip to take these pictures, but here’s an old pic from a previous trip and this was before I got compression bags. The one pictured above is not compression, but it shows how I roll everything up to pack in bags. Roll and stuff, it really works and the clothes stay surprisingly unwrinkled when you take them out. This trip, I tried to take knits and things that would pack well without wrinkling.

I’m happy to say that every piece pictured on the collage fits in my carryon 20″ bag and the backpack. I made sure it all fits and it does. I packed the more bulky pieces in the largest one.

And the tops and lighter things in the second smallest bag. I rolled my pants and placed them on the other side of the bag.

I still have a smaller bag that I’ll add my underwear and PJ’s in and I should have room to place this on top of everything. Those things smash down pretty flat.

I tucked my 3 scarves in with everything.

Backpack packing: The only colorful thing I’m taking is this lighter weight raincoat that I got from Chico’s a few years ago. It has a hood and really packs up flat, so it’s going in my backpack, along with the makeup bag and a pair of sneakers. I still have room for more in here. I love that the large compartment in the backpack is like a mini suitcase. They said to expect some rain, so I’m taking the raincoat just in case.

The crossbody bag will go in the front zip pocket, since I have to be down to 2 items to board the plane. I’ll stow the 20″ luggage overhead and the backpack under my seat. This backpack has a stretchy bottle holder too on the side, so I love that. I’ll take my own small bottle so I can refill as needed.

It has another zippered area in the back with pockets to slip in smaller things, so it’s very roomy. This is my first time packing a backpack, but I think I’m sold now! It clips together and has a slide pocket to put over my rolling suitcase.

The very backside has mesh pockets for any incidentals too. I’ll be packing a set of converters for electrical needs (we have this one and it’s worked well for us). So, that is how I’m packing for our 13 days away to England, Scotland and Ireland. I’m getting so much better at packing, so I thought you all might enjoy seeing my process and what all I take. I’ve definitely learned that less is more. I feel confident that I have everything I’ll need for a fun adventure to Europe! We are going to make so many memories.

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