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With the long days here and the sun shining (some of the time at least), the arrival of the great British summertime means it’s the start of picnic season.
For Londoners and visitors to our capital, a picnic is an opportunity to enjoy some British treats and drinks in the sun.
Who’s ready for picnic season?
With royal parks and beauty spots aplenty, there are some great spots in London for picnics in the park.
To help you decide where to go, we’ve created a list of some of the best places to have picnics in the capital, so grab your picnic basket and a nice spread and head out to one of these relaxing parks for a weekend picnic with friends or family.
Here are our top 10 suggestions for where to go for picnics in London:
1. Picnics in Richmond Park
Best picnic spot for: wildlife spotting.
The largest royal park in the capital is home to countless picnic spots across its 2500 acres. Surround yourself with ancient trees, wildflowers and wildlife as you tuck into your salads and sandwiches in this national nature reserve.
As the home to over 650 deer, as well as rare bats, birds and beetles, a picnic in Richmond Park is the perfect setting to relax amongst nature.
Things to do nearby:
- Visit the Isabella Plantation. A 40-acre woodland garden home to spectacular late spring blooms.
- Fancy a spot of afternoon tea? Head to the award-winning Georgian tea rooms at Pembroke Lodge.
- Run or cycle the Tamsin Trail, a 7.35 mile trek around the park’s borders.
- Head to Petersham nurseries and treat yourself to some homeware or garden accessories.
- Visit King Henry’s Mound. This bronze age burial chamber is thought to have been used as a viewing spot for hunting and falconry by King Henry VII. Stop here for an uninterrupted view of St Paul’s cathedral, despite it being almost 10 miles away.
Nearest Station: Richmond (then hop on the number 65 or 371 bus to get to the pedestrian gate).
Richmond Park is home to over 650 deer. Take care when passing these wild animals. Photo by Jamie Street on Unsplash.
2. Picnics in Hyde Park
Best picnic spot for: a hot day.
At London’s heart, Hyde Park and Kensington gardens offer relaxing scenery in a central location. Within the 350 acres, there are views of the Serpentine, royal statues and Kensington Palace and plenty of spots to cool off from the summer heat.
You’ll be spoilt for choice when deciding where to set up your picnic!
Things to do nearby:
- Go for a paddle in the Serpentine Lido on a warm day (re-opening to the public in July 2022).
- Listen to people share their views on life at Speakers’ Corner. A site of public debates and protests since the mid-1800s.
- Dip your feet in the Princess Diana memorial fountain. Open daily from 10am.
- Rent a boat and pedal across Serpentine Lake.
- Pay a visit to Kensington Palace, the official residence of The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.
Nearest Station: Hyde Park Corner, Marble Arch, Lancaster Gate and Knightsbridge are all within a short walk of the park.