I’ve just booked a one week trip to London for early October. My passport’s expiration date is April 2019, and I’m pretty sure that would be April 30th. Will I run into any issues because it expires six months and two weeks after I get home? I would like to avoid doing the renewal right now because of the crush of people trying to do the same thing. Any help/opinions would be welcome!
where i live, you can set up a passport appointment at the Department of motor vehicles. they have a smaller office which deals with only passports and other minor issues. easy to set up appointment.
If your renewing, you can do it online. no reason to go to see a person.
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To enter the United Kingdom, your passport must be valid for the the entire duration of your planned stay.. If you are planning onward travel after departing the UK, ,note that many other countries require at least six months' remaining validity on your passport to enter.Apr 25, 2018<<
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The passport should specify an exact day that it expires.
Information on entry to the UK:
https://www.gov.uk/uk-border-control/before-you-leave-for-the-uk
https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/International-Travel-Country-Information-Pages/UnitedKingdom.html
Passports have a defined expiration date. It’s right under the issue date on the photo page.
You should definitely do the renewal before the end of this summer. Just do it through the post office.
I renewed my passport last summer. I had my new passport less than two weeks after mailing (just be sure you fill the form out correctly!).
I’m in the camp that you will be totally fine and don’t need to renew before your trip. I’ve seen countries want at least 6 months on the passport before the expiration date. I have never seen any country ask for more than that. Since your trip fits within that parameter (greater than 6 months left), don’t worry about it. You’ll be fine.
Another one who says no need to rush to renew.
What if s/he has to stay past the expiry? What if she needs to make an unexpected trip to one of the many countries that requires 6 months buffer? To me the incremental cost of renewing in August or September 2018 as opposed to after May 2019 is basically nil. Unless the OP isn’t planning on renewing after expiry, only then would there be a difference.
"What if s/he has to stay past the expiry? What if she needs to make an unexpected trip to one of the many countries that requires 6 months buffer? "
Seems very unlikely to happen. If in the off chance OP does need to travel somewhere else, the OP can always pursue an expedited replacement. Even the normal process only seems to take 2 weeks or so these days although they tell you to allow for more time. If she winds up extending once she’s in the country (again unlikely), there is no issue. It’s the getting not the getting out that matters.
No need for belt and suspenders. All is good. Might as well get the extra months one pays for. 
Going to London, a place with a US Embassy. She’ll be fine.
No need to renew. If there is reason to extend the trip, the passport can be renewed through the embassy. Right now, we’re still friendly with Great Britain, so there should be no reason for concern.
You just proved my point. There is no cost to renewing early, as opposed to the oft chance of having to pay rush fees or spending all day in line at the embassy. Assuming the OP intends to renew at some point.
OP is going to London in Ocrober for 1 week. No need for suspenders (and losing a part of the passport term she paid for) if her passport is good until sometimes in April. Maybe she will not need a passport and will not pay for renewal at all.
Mr. B traveled to Sweden with 3 days left after his departure date, and the Swedes were cool with that.