Hi there!

I've been in London every day this week while my kid takes part in a summer activity. I love having an excuse for a London day out, but this week is... hot.

I feel like I've mentioned British heat waves a lot lately, but this summer has truly been one after another. This is by far the hottest year we've experienced since moving here.

Usually, my outfits in London are on the more stylish end of my wardrobe and I had been keeping to that until today. Today I feel more American than I have in ages because I am in basically head to toe athleisure.

I never thought twice about going out in leggings and a sports top in California, but the rumors of Europe staying away from that level of casual are true. Most people are coping with the heat by donning sun dresses, shorts or tank tops.

Earlier in the week I was towing the line style-wise, but today a poor night's sleep and early alarm were a step too far.

So, here's the good news for me. No one really cares what I'm wearing. London is a fantastic mix of people with sometimes wildly different fashion tastes. Everyone fits in because there is no one "London style".

I share this because I know I used to worry about what to pack when I was traveling here to visit. You can absolutely bring fun outfits and take photos you'll enjoy looking back on for years to come.

But if you want to pack it all in and just dress for comfort, you can do that too without judgment!

If you're heading to the UK soon and want to know what to pack to stay cool, check out my guide to summer packing. If you're planning an Autumn trip, don't miss my UK in the Fall packing list or my London Autumn outfit ideas for visitors.

Quick Travel Tip: London A/C spot

Most of London's biggest tourist sights are either not air conditioned at all, or only have air conditioning in a few spots. But I'm going out on a limb here and sharing one excellent place to visit that you should absolutely stop by if you're melting outside.

The British Library is home to many unique and one-of-a-kind literary artifacts, hosts excellent rotating exhibits, and has a multi-story book stack that is great for photos or generally admiring.

The best part on a scorching day? The entire building is fully air conditioned and there is ample seating to rest before you venture back out into the heat.

In the News

Inc. recently highlighted a common travel mistake when you use your credit card to pay for things abroad. The short tip is this: if you are ever asked whether you'd like to pay in US dollars or local currency, always choose local currency.

When you pay in the local currency the exchange is handled by your bank and will give you competitive rates. When you pick to pay in US dollars, the exchange is made by the payment terminal and usually charges a much worse exchange rate than your bank would give you. (Source)

That's all for now, but I'll see you next week!

Victoria

My favorite travel resources: