How to Pack Carry-On Only for 10 Days in London and Ireland
Yes, you can pack carry-on only for 10 days in London and Ireland without wearing the same exact outfit every day or feeling unprepared for the weather.
For our 10-night trip through London, York, Liverpool and Dublin, my husband and I each brought one carry-on suitcase and one backpack. We did laundry once midway through the trip, packed clothing that could be mixed and matched, and limited ourselves to three pairs of shoes.
This guide covers exactly how I packed, why specific items worked for our multi-city itinerary and what I would change next time.
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St. Mary’s Abbey, York, England
Can You Really Travel for 10 Days With Only a Carry-On?
Yes—especially if you can do laundry once. Our route included four hotels, two train journeys and a short flight from Liverpool to Dublin, so packing light mattered more to us than having a different outfit for every day.
Carry-on only meant:
No waiting at baggage claim
No checked-bag fees on our short flight
Less to lift onto trains
Easier walks through stations and between transportation
Faster packing each time we changed hotels
No concern about a checked suitcase making our connections
The only real tradeoff was doing laundry once in York. That small interruption was completely worth it because we had everything we needed without dragging large bags through four cities.
What Weather Should You Pack for in London and Ireland in August?
River Thames & London Eye, London, England
Pack for warm days, cooler mornings and evenings, and occasional rain. During our August trip, the days were generally warm. Mornings and evenings were cooler, we had one rainy morning in London, and Dublin gave us a day of scattered showers. I never needed a heavy coat. Two lightweight cardigans and one packable rain jacket gave me enough flexibility. I could remove layers as the day warmed up and carry them without adding much weight.
Weather can vary, so check the forecast for each destination shortly before leaving. The goal is not to pack for every possible weather event. It is to bring light layers that can work together.
What Size Luggage Works for Carry-On-Only Travel?
Kings Cross Train Station, London, England
Use the smallest suitcase allowed by every airline on your itinerary, not simply the allowance for your first flight.
I used the DELSEY Cruise 3.0 Carry-On for my clothing and shoes. Its two packing compartments, elastic straps and zippered divider kept everything contained, while the spinner wheels were easy to maneuver through airports and train stations. The listed exterior dimensions are 22.75 × 15 × 10 inches, including the wheels and handles. Because that is slightly larger than some airlines’ standard carry-on limits, compare its measurements with every carrier you plan to fly.
This bag worked for our trip (no airlines actually checked luggage size on this trip), but airline enforcement can vary. Always let the strictest baggage allowance on your itinerary determine what you bring.
Shop the DELSEY Cruise 3.0 Carry-On
What Should You Put in Your Personal-Item Backpack?
My travel backpack held my electronics, toiletries, travel documents and other things I wanted to access during flights and train rides. What I like most is that it holds far more than a traditional backpack while still being compact and lightweight enough to manage through airports and train stations. The main compartment opens 180 degrees like a suitcase, which makes it much easier to pack and organize than a typical top-loading backpack. It also has dedicated spaces for a laptop, shoes and wet or dirty items, so everything does not end up mixed together in one large compartment.
Shop My Favorite Travel Backpack
How Do You Organize a Carry-On for a Multi-City Trip?
Using packing cubes for carry-on only travel
Packing cubes, a hanging toiletry bag and compact laundry bags kept my suitcase from becoming chaotic every time we changed hotels. I divided clothing into categories rather than packing by individual outfit. Tops went together, bottoms went together, and undergarments had their own cube. At each hotel, I could move the cubes into a drawer or leave them organized inside the suitcase.
Hanging Toiletry Organizer
My favorite hanging toiletry bag keeps all of my toiletries together without requiring several smaller bags. It folds into a compact organizer for packing, then opens to reveal four separate zippered compartments. The built-in hook is my favorite feature because I can hang the entire bag from a towel rack, door hook or shower rod. This keeps everything visible and accessible when a hotel bathroom has very little counter space—which happened more than once as we moved between hotels.
I especially like that I can organize products by category instead of digging through one large toiletry bag. It holds a surprising amount while still folding flat enough to fit inside my carry-on and hanging it up makes packing and unpacking at each hotel much faster.
Reusable Wet Bags for Laundry
These reusable wet bags are technically designed for cloth diapers and wet clothing, but I use them as compact laundry bags when traveling. They kept worn clothing separated from everything that was still clean until we did laundry halfway through our trip in York. The set includes three lightweight bags, and each bag has two separate zippered compartments. That makes them useful for organizing more than laundry—I can keep damp items in one section and dry or clean items in the other.
What I like most is how little space they take up when empty. Unlike a bulky laundry sack, they fold flat inside my carry-on and can be used for dirty clothing, damp swimsuits, toiletries or anything else I want separated during the trip. Having three bags also makes it easy to divide items instead of letting all the worn clothing take over my suitcase.
How Many Clothes Do You Need for a 10-Day Carry-On Trip?
You do not need 10 separate outfits. Pack approximately five days of clothing that can be worn in different combinations, then do laundry once.
I centered my wardrobe around neutral pants and tops that worked together. Most days, I wore comfortable pants with a tank, then added a cardigan or rain jacket when needed.
Phone Booth, London, UK
My approximate clothing formula was:
4–5 tank tops or sleeveless tops
1–2 short-sleeve shirts
1 long-sleeve top
4 pairs of comfortable pants
1 pair of leggings
1 versatile black dress
2 lightweight cardigans
1 packable rain jacket
6 pairs of underwear
2–3 bras
5–6 pairs of socks
1–2 sets of pajamas
Four pairs of pants gave me enough variety without taking over the suitcase. I chose nicer casual pants that were comfortable for walking but still appropriate for museums, pubs and restaurants. They were all linen or lightweight fabric that cold fold easily into a compact suitcase. The leggings were for our more active day in Ireland.
Shop my favorite light weight cardigans
Shop my light weight rain jacket
What Is the Most Versatile Clothing Item to Pack?
Wearing my favorite Pact Organic Cotton Black Dress in London
For me, it was one simple black dress. I could wear my black dress with white tennis shoes and a cardigan during the day, then change into small flat sandals for a nicer dinner. It was the only dressy outfit I needed—even for afternoon tea and our anniversary plans.
How Many Pairs of Shoes Should You Pack?
Three pairs were enough: one primary walking shoe, one casual sandal and one small dressier sandal. Shoes take up a huge amount of carry-on space, so every pair needs a clear purpose. Wear the bulkiest pair on travel days and pack the smaller options. If you plan to hike and will need hiking boots, wear these on the plane.
Wearing my favorite white walking shoes in London
Comfortable Walking Shoes
My white tennis shoes were my most-used item. We walked approximately 30 miles during our three full days in London, and I wore them nearly all day, every day. They were comfortable enough for city sightseeing and still looked good with my black dress. Do not bring brand-new walking shoes. Choose a pair you have already worn for long days without blisters or pain.
Casual Sandals
I brought Birkenstocks for casual wear and to give my feet a break from tennis shoes. Any casual sandal can fill this role as long as you already know it is comfortable. If I was going now, I would pack my favorite hiking sandals that I can wear all day.
Small Dressy Sandals
My flat dressy sandals packed almost completely flat. I wore them less often, but they gave me a nicer dinner option without taking up meaningful suitcase space.
Do You Need Hiking Shoes for London and Ireland?
Howth Peninsula, Dublin, Ireland
It depends on your itinerary. For a mostly city-based trip with one light hike, you may not need a separate pair of bulky hiking boots. My white tennis shoes were comfortable enough for our outdoor day in Ireland. The problem was not support—the orange dirt trails stained them.
If I repeated this trip, I would choose a darker walking shoe that could handle both city streets and light trails. If your itinerary includes longer, wetter or more technical hikes, bring an appropriate trail shoe and reduce another footwear category if possible.
Shop lightweight walking or hiking shoes
What Electronics and Chargers Should You Bring?
Bring only the devices you expect to use, but do not underestimate how heavily you will use your phone.
We relied on our phones for directions, train information, reservations, photos and videos. My electronics list included:
Phone and charging cable
Portable power bank
Plug adapter for the United Kingdom and Ireland
Earbuds
Smartwatch and charger
Camera, Kindle or tablet, if wanted
Handheld Gimbal, if wanted
Shop a UK and Ireland plug adapter
What Kind of Day Bag Works Best for Sightseeing?
Wearing my sling bag in front of Big Ben, London
A small crossbody or sling bag keeps your essentials close without making you carry your full travel backpack around all day.
I used my sling bag every day. It fit my phone, wallet, sunglasses, portable charger and small essentials, while the adjustable strap kept my hands free for photos and navigation. I also liked that the faux-leather finish looked polished enough to work with different outfits, and the hidden back pocket helped keep valuables closer to my body.
Should You Plan to Do Laundry?
For a 10-day carry-on trip, one midway laundry stop makes packing much easier. We did laundry once in York. That allowed us to pack approximately half as many everyday clothes, and neither of us ran out of anything. Before leaving, check whether one of your hotels offers guest laundry, laundry service or a nearby laundromat. Pack a few laundry sheets or purchase detergent after arrival.
What Would I Pack Differently Next Time?
I would make only two changes. First, I would bring a darker walking shoe for Ireland’s dirt trails. My white shoes were comfortable, but the orange dirt stained them. Second, I would pack a swimsuit even without a planned swimming day. I wished I had one during our Wicklow outing, and a swimsuit would have taken up almost no room.
Shop my favorite travel swimsuit
Screenshot This Carry-On Packing List:
Clothing List
4–5 tanks or sleeveless tops
1–2 short-sleeve shirts
1 optional long-sleeve top
3 pairs of comfortable pants
1 pair of leggings or active pants
1 versatile black dress
2 lightweight cardigans
1 packable rain jacket
1 swimsuit
6 pairs of underwear
2–3 bras
5–6 pairs of socks
1–2 sets of pajamas
Shoe List
1 pair of broken-in walking shoes
1 pair of casual sandals
1 pair of small flat sandals for dinners
Optional trail shoes only for a hiking-heavy itinerary
Travel Essentials
Bags and Organizers
Carry-on suitcase
Personal-item backpack
Packing cubes
Sling or crossbody bag
Hanging toiletry organizer
Laundry or wet bags
Clear liquids bag
Toiletries and Medications
Daily toiletries in travel sizes
Skincare and sunscreen
Makeup
Hairbrush and hair accessories
Prescription medications
Preferred over-the-counter medications
Bandages and blister care
Electronics and Travel-Day Items
Phone and charger
Portable power bank
UK and Ireland plug adapter
Earbuds or headphones
Optional camera, Kindle or tablet
Passport, wallet and cards (select those without international transaction fees)
Reservation details
Reusable water bottle
Sunglasses
Optional compact umbrella
Is Carry-On Only Worth It for a Multi-City Europe Trip?
For us, absolutely.
We gave up extra outfit choices, but we gained easier transfers, quicker airport exits and far less luggage to manage through four cities. One laundry stop was a small price to pay for how much simpler it made the entire trip. The secret was not packing the fewest possible items. It was choosing pieces that worked together, limiting shoes, organizing the suitcase well and being honest about what we would actually use.
If I packed for the same trip again, I would keep almost everything the same—then add a swimsuit and choose darker walking shoes before heading onto Ireland’s dirt trails.
Read my complete 10-day England and Ireland itinerary
Save the three checklists above for your trip, and send this guide to the woman currently trying to fit 10 completely different outfits into one suitcase.
