Set Summer Free London Guide
10 Delicious Picnic Spots in London
There's truly no place like home. Welcome to our summer-long series in which we visit some of the greatest picnic spots across the UK. This time, we're taking our picnic wares out into London.
At long last, summer’s on the way and we’re ready to get outside and feed our curiosity.
And with foreign trips looking a little tricky to plan right now, we’re exploring beautiful, interesting, memorable places closer to home - and packing our picnic wickers in readiness for a summer of outdoor eating.
We’ve been busy thinking of places to explore that are within easy reach by car, train or bike – and where instead of a hulking great suitcase, all you’ll need to pack for a fantastic trip is a Fortnum’s cool bag or jam-packed hamper.
With that in mind, we’re taking to the streets, the parks and the hidden little nooks of our inimitable hometown, London, and choosing a few of our favourite city-based places to pop a cork and feast al fresco. Let the adventures begin!
A Thames-side celebration of London’s culture, creativity and spirit of endless reinvention, the South Bank is home to incredible art, theatre, street food, fine dining and plenty more besides
THE BEACH
A beach? In London? Yes - Ruislip Lido has been a popular spot for sunbathing, swimming and pseudo-seaside fun since the 1950s. The beach sits on the other side of the enormous forest at Ruislip Woods National Nature reserve, but once you’ve walked your way through the ancient woodland, a scarcely-believable sandy beach awaits.
Best of all, it’s less than 15 miles from Charing Cross, so while it is a bit of adventure, it’s one that’s certainly worth taking. Even if you do end up with a little sand in your sandwiches.
THE LANDMARK
A Thames-side celebration of London’s culture, creativity and spirit of endless reinvention, the South Bank is home to incredible art, theatre, street food, fine dining and plenty more besides.
It’s also a fantastic spot for a bit of on-the-go open air eating on a sunny summer’s day - put on your walking shoes, pack a miniature picnic feast, and sip and snack your way past London landmarks (including the brutalist architecture of the South Bank Centre and the London Eye) while the capital’s famous river winds away beside you. Perfect.
Next, we’re heading across London to the Royal Botanical Gardens at Kew, where The Great Pagoda towers over the treetops – a spectacular piece of architecture in the heart of the famous gardens, with incredible views across London and 80 gilded dragon sculptures on its roof.
Inspired by the Chinese buildings which the original architect, Sir William Chambers, saw on his travels across East Asia, it’s surrounded by beautiful gardens that are perfect for a picnic.
Photos by David Loftus
THE CURIOSITY
A peaceful little oasis in the heart of London’s famous West End, the Phoenix Garden is a beautiful community garden where wildlife is left to flourish amidst the noise and clatter of the city.
Built on a World War II bomb site and first opened to the public in 1984, it’s a riot of colourful flowers, hardy plants and wildlife - and the perfect spot for a quick picnic in the city.
Just remember to keep that bottle of rosé on ice: there’s no alcohol allowed inside the park (but feel free to take a great big bite out of that Scotch Egg)...
Traversing into the heart of the City of London, St Dunstan in the East is a true London curiosity and a perfect urban picnic spot too.
An historic church that was decimated by a Second World War bomb - and subsequently abandoned because the repairs required were too extensive - nature has muscled in over the decades and created something wonderful.
Our advice? Grab a spot on one of the benches, dig into some antipasti and enjoy a peaceful little oasis right among the hustle and bustle of the city.
Over the centuries, Epping Forest has inspired works of art and literature and helped highwaymen evade the clutches of the law men on their trail
THE FAMILY FAVOURITE
A nature reserve just 15 minutes from the heart of the city, Walthamstow Wetlands is the perfect spot for a food-fuelled walking adventure with the family.
Europe’s largest urban wetland, London’s largest fishery and a great place to spot all manner of birds and butterflies (plus the occasional bat in the Wetlands’ Swift Tower), it’s a great place to stretch your legs, immerse yourself in real nature and eat your way through a portable little picnic.
THE PARK
Based just around the corner from our own home at Piccadilly, St James' Park is a beautiful patch of green space to spread your picnic rug and relax.
Ever-popular in the summer months, it’s a buzzing spot where, if you’re lucky enough to find a bit of room to lay your picnic rug, you can happily spend a lazy afternoon sipping and snacking to your heart's content.
Best of all, if you get a little low on supplies or there’s an argument brewing over the last Scotch Egg on offer, 181 Piccadilly is just a few minutes away on foot.
The second-largest of London’s eight Royal Parks – and home to enough wildlife, waterways, hidden spots and historical curiosities to keep even the most-intrepid park explorer occupied - Bushy Park is one of our favourite London picnic locations.
At more than 1000 acres, there’s certainly plenty of space for an al fresco feast. And whether you decide to spread your rug by the nearly 400-year-old, man-made Longford River, stop and spot kingfishers and kestrels at the Upper Lodge Water Gardens, or hunt for hidden traces of the park’s past history as a military camp during both World Wars, a peaceful picnic awaits. It’s also a great spot for an evening stroll with the pup and a flask of something delicious.
Keep an eye out for the roaming deer, though: if you leave your Prosecco unattended, anything could happen.
THE ADVENTURE
If your picnicking itinerary included a feast by the Thames, then Imperial Wharf is the ideal patch. Situated on the north bank of the river, it's a charming retreat from the bustle of the city.
Once the home of a hugely successful coal gas and coke company in the 19th century, it now sits alongside luxury apartment blocks, townhouses and 10 acres of landscaped parkland. Relax to the lapping water and the gentle bobbing of the boats parked nearby as you unravel your Fortnum’s picnic rug and tuck in.
A little further afield, Epping Forest is a beautiful patch of ancient woodland where any adventurous picknicker is bound to have a field day.
Over the centuries, it’s inspired works of art and literature and helped highwaymen evade the clutches of the law men on their trail – but today, it’s better-known as a great place to hop on your mountain bike, to take the dog for a long run through the tall grass, or to wile away an afternoon with a flask of something delicious and some picnic supplies in tow.