I’ve seen this question asked a lot on the internet “what bag should I bring with me when I visit London?” I’ve lived in London for over 11 years now, and I love exploring the city on foot. I’ve gone through my fair share of bags and I think I’m at least a little bit qualified to give advice on what to consider, as well as recommend some bags I really like to use. To preface this, I’m not really a “bag” kind of person. And what I mean by that is I don’t have many, just some that are functional and can work for different situations and environments.
So here are my tips for choosing a bag to use while visiting London, and a few of the ones that I am currently using.
5 things to consider when choosing a bag to wear while exploring London
I think most people travel around London by public transport, bike or walking and I think it’s important to consider that when choosing a bag. It’s not a case of carrying a heavy bag to your car and then dumping it on the back seat, or using a small open clutch bag because your home is only a five minute walk away. I think, especially if you’re exploring London, you need something portable but a reasonable size.
Here are some things I think you should look out for when buying a bag to wear around London.
1. Consider the fastening, and preferably choose one with a zip closure
When exploring London, it’s likely you’re going to be in crowded places, or hopping on and off public transport. I always recommend a bag with a zip closure over an open tote bag or something with just a button. It seems like it’s so much easier for a pickpocket to discreetly dip their hands into an open bag than it is for them to try and undo a zip. Also, the clumsy in me would put my bag down and have all the contents spill out in a busy area if there was nothing to hold it all in.
2. Consider a crossbody style bag

Most of my bags can be worn crossbody. I do have a backpack that’s big enough for my laptop and other items for work, but generally I carry a crossbody bag. This is for a couple of reasons. Firstly, from a safety point of view I like having my bag in front of me where I can see it. You just can’t be sure with a backpack whether someone is trying to undo the zip (even if it’s more effort).
Secondly, it’s so much easier to access something from a crossbody bag. Backpacks are more inconvenient if you need to grab your purse because you may have to take it off to properly look for things. With shoulder bags you have to perform a weird contortion with your limbs to reach inside.
Thirdly, I generally find crossbody bags a bit more comfortable compared to alternatives like shoulder bags. They seem to distribute the weight a bit better and shoulder bags always slip off which isn’t ideal when you have a lot of walking planned and you have to hold one strap up.
Lastly, wearing a crossbody bag means your hands are free. Travelling around London involves a lot of tapping phones or cards in and out of stations, gripping onto handrails, taking off layers of clothing on the Underground and holding umbrellas or coffee cups. It’s so much easier to navigate if you have both hands free and you’re not holding a clutch bag or your shoulder bag strap.
3. Consider the material of the bag
I’ve got two leather bags that I recommend but for day-to-day wear when I know I’m going to be walking a lot I use a lightweight polyester bag. I also like nylon when I’m carrying around more than just a purse and phone because then the bag’s material isn’t adding too much extra weight.
The added benefit of taking a nylon bag is that you can fold it up and store it in a suitcase when you’re travelling.
4. What size bag should you choose?
I personally carry a medium sized bag with me. It’s big enough to fit in my water bottle, phone, umbrella, purse and small toiletry bag but not too big it feels unwieldly. I recommend a bag this size if you’re going to be out of the house for a while. If you plan on doing some shopping you can always bring a fold away tote bag with you. I just know if I take a big bag with me I’ll end up packing the kitchen sink. I find bags that are too small just impractical and end up carrying a lot of things in my hand.
5. Get a bag with an adjustable strap
Bag strap length might be a small thing but it does matter. I’m tall and crossbody bags without an adjustable strap look ridiculous if it’s too short. If the straps are too long the bag bounces against my hip while I walk which is annoying and uncomfortable. I always buy a bag where I can adjust the strap to my preference and comfort. Although this isn’t a London-specific thing.
My favourite bags to use for travelling around London
As I mentioned earlier in my post, I’m not really a “bag person”. What I mean by that is I don’t have a lot of bags, collect them because they look nice, or concern myself with brands or labels. I like to think I have quite a curated collection of bags that serve a particular purpose really well. They’re all generally at an affordable price point. Here are the bags I tend to rotate between when I’m planning to have a wander around London.
Pom Pom London City Plus Bag

I love Pom Pom London bags. They’re full grain leather, can be worn cross body, and come with adjustable straps which you can change depending on the look you want to go for. The Mayfair bag is a bit small for me but the City Plus can fit everything I need for the day.
This colour is Chilli Red which I don’t think they do anymore, but they have a range of classic and fun colours on their website here. This is the most expensive bag I own, and normally retails for just under £120. Although I have found Pom Pom London have sales quite often and picked this one up for around £85 with a couple of free straps thrown in.
The structure and leather material makes it feel a bit more formal than the other bags I have in my collection. I generally use it when I’m meeting friends and am a bit more dressed up.
The FatFace Valletta Bag

I’m so excited to share this bag with you. I don’t know about you, but in the past I have overlooked FatFace as a brand. But have you ever been on their website and taken a look at the bags? There are some absolutely gorgeous hidden gems. The styles are great, the materials are top notch and the prices are unbeatable.
The Valletta is a slouchy medium size bag with two detachable straps so it can be worn on the shoulder or as a crossbody. It’s made of suede and can we take a moment to admire the navy blue? Also, CAN WE TALK ABOUT THE PRICE? Admittedly it was on sale but I got it for £27! In my humble opinion £27 for a new suede bag is an absolute bargain.
Unfortunately the navy is no longer on their website but they do have the Valetta in other colours on their website at full price. They also have other beautiful bags on sale.
I love the unstructured nature of this bag, the colour and the gold hardware. It feels so much more expensive than it is and looks so elegant. I tend to wear this on dry days to protect the suede.
Mutha Hood Dumpling Bag

I once heard the Dumpling Bag by Mutha Hood being described as the “Mary Poppins bag” and it absolutely is. It’s unstructured and lightweight and can fit a surprising amount of stuff inside, but also lies quite flat against the body when not so full. The quilted texture means it’s really soft and comfortable to wear even when packed, and the polyester material doesn’t add any extra weight.
I use the Dumpling Bag on my everyday jaunts. It’s water resistant so can survive a sudden downpour, it fits everything I need for the day easily and I love the bright colour and shape. This bag retails for £49 which makes it the cheapest on my list (at full price), but you can find a couple on sale on their website for £36.75.
They have so many pretty colours and patterns on their website, I’d recommend taking a look if you’re in the market for a lightweight, casual everyday crossbody bag. If you’re interested in this bag, you can get £10 off by using my referral code.
Well, those are my suggestions on what to consider when buying a bag for exploring London, and some of my favourite bags to use. I guess many of these considerations can be used for any big city where you’ll be in crowded areas / using public transport a lot too.
What bags do you use?
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