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London & Paris City Break Packing List: Carry-On Only by Eurostar
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items One tip before you buy anything: on Eurostar you lift your own bags onto the rack, so the carry-on, weekender and layers on this list are chosen to be light enough to swing up one-handed. It is built for a fall or winter week split between London and...
The Cloud Gray shade hides scuffs far better than white, which matters after a few Tube platforms and a Eurostar rack. The spinner wheels glide over smooth station floors, though on rough Paris cobbles I tip it onto two wheels and pull it like a roll...
Away The Carry-On in Cloud Gray
Cashmere is the one splurge I will always make for a cold-weather trip because it packs small and warms like a much bulkier knit. This one is 100 percent cashmere with raglan sleeves, so it layers neatly under a trench without bunching at the shoulde...
Madewell Crewneck Sweater in Cashmere
You will walk ten miles a day between the Tower of London and Montmartre, so cushioning beats cute every time. The visible Air unit absorbs the hard stone underfoot, and the mesh upper stays breathable on heated trains. Reviewers say it runs narrow, ...
Nike Air Max Nuaxis Women's Shoes
Crowded Metro cars and Camden crowds are where a bag with zipped compartments earns its keep. Everything closes with a zip, there is a built-in leash for keys, and the strap shortens so the bag sits in front of you. It holds a phone, passport copy, c...
BEIS The Travel Crossbody in Black
A classic trench is the most London-and-Paris thing you can pack, and it handles the drizzle both cities love to throw at you. It sits easily over a sweater and still looks polished in a restaurant coat check. Fold it over the top of your carry-on on...
Maeve Heritage Trench Coat
Hotel bathrooms in old London and Paris buildings are often tiny with almost no counter space, so the hook that hangs this on a door or towel bar is a real lifesaver. The interior is wipe-clean and coated, and the mesh pockets keep travel-size bottle...
Away Hanging Toiletry Bag in Navy Blue
These are my answer to the question of what pants look dressy but feel like leggings on an eight-hour travel day. The fabric is smooth and lightweight with a little stretch, and it barely wrinkles after being rolled in a cube. Dark trousers go from s...
Athleta Pinnacle High Rise Trouser
A friendlier-priced hard-shell option if you want something that is easy to spot on a crowded carousel or train rack. At 21 by 13 by 9 inches it fits the strictest budget-airline overhead bins too, which helps if you fly into London and leave from Pa...
CALPAK Evry Carry-On Luggage
A loafer is the shoe that makes a plain jeans-and-sweater outfit look Parisian, and the stacked heel here is low enough for a day of museums. Break them in at home first so your first blister is not on the Champs-Elysees. They also slip off quickly a...
Madewell The Grayson Penny Loafer
Slide the trolley sleeve over your carry-on handle and you have one stable stack through station corridors. The soft body squishes under a Eurostar seat or onto the rack, and the bottom compartment holds a pair of shoes so they stay away from clean c...
BEIS The Weekender in Beige
This is the cozy layer I reach for on a cold train or a chilly gallery, and it is soft enough to double as a travel blanket on the Eurostar. It costs a fraction of cashmere and shrugs off being squashed in a cube. The cardigan shape means you can pee...
Aerie Sunday Soft Cardigan
The hard polycarbonate shell and wrap-around zipper make this one very hard to unzip behind your back. It is small, only about 1.5 liters, so it forces you to carry just phone, card and keys, which is a good habit in busy cities. Wipe it clean when i...
Away The Mini Crossbody in Jet Black
If you only pack one pair of jeans, make it a dark wide-leg that looks right with loafers, sneakers or boots. The high rise and slight stretch stay comfortable through long train rides and a tasting-menu dinner. Wear them on the plane so they take no...
Madewell The Perfect Vintage Wide-Leg Jean
Eurostar adds passport checks at both ends, and having your passport, tickets and boarding pass in one sleeve keeps the line moving. The hidden AirTag pocket is a cheap peace of mind if you pack a bag you will not hand over. The included pen is handy...
BEIS The Passport & Luggage Tag Set in Maple
A slim, stretchy zip jacket is the quiet hero of a carry-on, because it is the middle layer between a tee and your trench. The thumbholes keep your sleeves in place on cold platforms and the zip pockets hold a train ticket. It dries fast if you get c...
Athleta Salutation Jacket
With a carry-on only, shoes are the bulk problem, and cubes keep street grime off your sweaters. One cube holds a pair of sneakers and the other your loafers or boots. They also act as a handy bag for dirty shoes on the way home.
CALPAK Shoe Cubes, Set of 2
Sorting the carry-on into tops, bottoms, layers and underwear means you can find a clean sweater on a Eurostar rack without unpacking the whole bag. The mesh panel lets you see inside. Compressing them also frees room for a souvenir or two.
Away Packing Cubes, Set of 4 in Jet Black
The rocker sole rolls you forward and takes the strain out of long walking days, which makes this a good second shoe to rotate with your loafers. It comes in nine colors, including a clean white that goes with almost everything. Reviewers say it runs...
Nike Motiva 2 Women's Walking Shoes
These are the stretchy, wrinkle-resistant pants I would pick for the train days, with zip back pockets that are good for a ticket. The fabric gives full coverage and recovers after hours of sitting. Navy pairs with both the cashmere and the cardigan.
Athleta Venice High Rise Wide Leg Pant
Because it has a hidden back pocket, you can wear it against your body and tuck your cash or spare card where nobody can reach. It works at the waist or across the chest, depending on how crowded the Metro is. At one liter it is tiny enough to slip i...
CALPAK Luka Mini Belt Bag
Fall and winter platforms in both cities are windy, and mittens pack down to almost nothing. The brushed knit is soft and warms up quickly, and they slide into a coat pocket. Add a pair and you will not be tempted to buy a tourist version at the stat...
By Anthropologie Brushed Cozy Mittens
One adapter set covers the UK Type G plug and the French and European Type C and E/F plugs, so you do not need to buy two when you cross the Channel. It has two USB ports plus two US outlets, so a phone and a hair tool can charge together. Check your...
Ceptics 20W European Travel Plug Adapter (UK + EU)
A wide, soft scarf does double duty as a wrap on a chilly train and a pillow when you doze off. Mostly wool with a little cashmere, it is warm without the bulk. Wear it instead of packing it so it never touches your bag space.
Madewell Knit Scarf in Wool Blend
Merino resists odors, so you can wear this three days in a row and nobody will know on a week-long city break. The relaxed, dropped-shoulder fit sits well over a collared shirt. Spare pick if you want a second knit, and it comes in a dozen colors.
Madewell Merino Wool Pullover Sweater
Spare pick: a chunky cable-knit in winter white that photographs beautifully against a trench coat. It is a wool and cashmere blend, so it is soft against the neck. If you only have room for one scarf, choose the wide knit above for warmth.
Madewell Chunky Cable-Stitch Scarf