I love a picnic. The food. The sunshine. The company. It all adds up to a good time. And while London’s weather can make planning ahead for al fresco eating difficult, I always manage to sneak in a spontaneous picnic or ten during the warmer months. In fact, I’ve done so many over the years that I’ve found some of the top places in the city. If you want to know what they are, read on for A Lady in London’s guide to the best picnic spots in London.
Picnic Spots in London
The great thing about London is that there are so many green spaces. From huge parks to little squares, lush gardens to expansive commons, the city has no shortage of places to park oneself for a picnic.
Add to that great shops and markets, and it’s easy to pick up good food for an outdoor feast.
Whether it’s prepared meals from street food vendors or mature cheddar from local cheesemongers, London has a lot of options. Some companies even cater for picnics in London.
It also helps that you’re allowed to drink alcohol in public places here, so every picnic can include wine, beer, and other drinks if you want it to.
Speaking of which, don’t forget to bring things like cups and bottle openers for your picnic (and cutlery and plates if you want them, too).
I’ve forgotten all these things on various picnics and have had to get creative with opening wine bottles and trying not to drink straight from them.
1. Green Park
Green Park is one of my favorite picnic spots in London, and I’ve had more picnics here than anywhere else in the city.
That’s partly because it’s so central that it’s easy to meet friends in the park after work.
It’s also because there’s a supermarket conveniently located next to the Green Park tube station. It has everything one could possibly need for a picnic.
I also like that everyone else seems to have the same idea. On warm, sunny days, Green Park is awash in picnics. It makes for a fun, festival-like atmosphere (and helps if you need to beg a bottle opener off the party next to you).
2. St James’s Park
St James’s Park is another of the best picnic spots in London. I had countless picnics here last summer, not least because the scenery is so beautiful. The gardens are some of the most colorful in London, and the birds are a treat to watch.
There aren’t many options for picking up food right next to the park, so it’s best to plan ahead if you’re going to picnic in St James’s Park.
3. Hampstead Heath
Hampstead Heath is not only one of my favorite places to walk in London, but also one of my top picnic spots in London. I’ve dined outdoors here a million times, and always choose a different spot.
I like having picnics in front of Kenwood House as the sun goes down, and I love eating on Parliament Hill, where the views of London are unparalleled.
I’ve also had plenty of picnics in secluded glades and grassy fields in Hampstead Heath. It’s pretty much impossible to go wrong here.
Hampstead High Street and South End Green have good delis and a few supermarkets where you can pick up food for a picnic, so it’s easy to get provisions near the tube and train stations.
4. Peckham Rye Park
In south London, Peckham Rye Park is a great place for a picnic. There’s lots of room on the common, and picnic tables dotted around the park itself. I love watching the dogs play in the fields here, and there are always a lot of them.
As an added bonus, Lordship Lane in nearby East Dulwich has cheesemongers, specialty grocers, wine shops, and a smattering of supermarkets. They’re perfect places to pick up picnic foods on your way to the park.
5. London Fields
In east London, London Fields is one of the best picnic spots in London on Saturdays. Broadway Market is right next to the park, making it easy to pick up prepared foods or a variety of fresh produce, bread, and cheese for grazing.
I love going to Broadway Market on sunny Saturdays and spending the afternoon having a picnic with all the delicious food they sell at the market. This is another place that gets packed with picnickers, so it’s a fun atmosphere.
6. Kensington Gardens
When I lived in Kensington, I had lots of picnics in Kensington Gardens. It’s hard not to enjoy an outdoor meal with a view of Kensington Palace, right? And while I always kept my eyes out for the royals, it was easier to focus on the food.
That’s partly because there’s a Whole Foods down the street. It ensures there’s no shortage of good food to enjoy on a picnic in Kensington Gardens (even if it costs a fortune to do it).
It also makes it strange that there aren’t as many picnickers out in the gardens as in places like Green Park.
7. Regent’s Park
Given its proximity to both Camden and Marylebone, Regent’s Park is one of the best picnic spots in London.
I love picking up fresh bread and cheese from the shops and markets on and around Marylebone High Street before grazing my way through it in Queen Mary’s Garden, the stunning rose garden in Regent’s Park.
If I’m coming from Camden, there’s no shortage of places to find food along Parkway (including another Whole Foods) before making my way to the northern edge of the park for a picnic near the London Zoo.
8. Hyde Park
Hyde Park is another great place for a picnic in London. I’ve spent many afternoons picnicking by the Serpentine and watching the boats go by on the water. Given its central location, it’s a convenient place to meet friends.
One of my most memorable picnics in London was when I went with a big group to picnic outside the annual summer concert venue in Hyde Park.
We were too late to get tickets, but we sat outside in the fields eating and listening to the concert until the sun went down. A lot of other people had the same idea, so it turned into a bit of a festival of its own.
9. Osterley Park
Way out west, Osterley Park is one of the most unique picnic spots in London. With the stunning backdrop of Osterley House, a National Trust property in London, it’s the perfect spot for eating an al fresco feast in beautiful surroundings.
There are plenty of picnic tables in front of the house and its surrounding buildings, so it’s easy to set up and eat. A cafe also means there’s food on site, but it’s always more fun to bring a meal of one’s own.
Best Picnic Spots London
I hope this list has inspired you to get out and see more of London while enjoying good weather and great food. The city’s climate might not always cooperate, but when it does, there’s no better place to picnic.
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