Best Picnic Spots In London

London is surprisingly green. Whilst most people think of the city as a dirty river surrounded by skyscrapers, the clawing claustrophobia of a feral rush hour, the green spaces you can find if you really try are second to none. London can be expensive, if you’re trying to spend a cheaper day in the city, then it’s a good idea to look outside instead of in. The fact of the matter is that a lot of the green spaces in the city are free and can give you a great chance to see London in a new light. From nature reserves to inner city urban renewal projects, these are some of the best picnic spots in the city. Whether with children or just stopping off during a jog, these spaces are perfect for a hearty spread.

Hampstead Heath

Based in North London this beautiful nature reserve is full to the brim with woodland areas and beautiful freshwater ponds for you to swim in. With nearby Highgate and Archway as tube stations, this fantastic nature reserve is 790 acres of idyllic beauty.

Victoria Park

Victoria Park, or the “people’s park” is an East London gem which gives you the chance to explore some of the canalside greenery of East London via beautiful hidden streamside paths. The park itself is located right next to Hackney Wick and includes a skate park, beautiful fields, lush flower beds, ponds and pagodas.

Primrose Hill

Already a brilliant picnic spot, Regent’s Park plays host to the beautiful Primrose Hill. Rolling up 213 feet, Primrose Hill gives incredible views across the city and makes for the perfect picnic spot. As a spot where many a rom com has been filmed, Primrose HIll has an extra romantic feel to it.

Telegraph Hill

Telegraph Hill is a hidden gem in South East London’s Nunhead. Perched between New Cross and Peckham, Telegraph Hill is another locals hot spot for great views and idyllic paradise pockets. With a range of great pubs and bars in the area, Telegraph Hill is a must for locals and South East London visitors alike.

Epping Forest

If you can hack the commute from the Park Grand Paddington Court or any other hotel you’re staying at, Epping Forest depe in the heart of East London is one of the most beautiful woodland reserves not only in London, but in the UK. Here you can find dense woodland mixed with deer parks and country pubs, making for the perfect weekend afternoon outing. Located at the easternmost point of the Central Line, this can be quite the trek but is well worth the tube journey.

Hyde Park

Probably the best known park in London, Hyde Park is located right next to the Park Grand London Lancaster Gate and has some of the most iconic sites in the city. With a wide range of attractions and plenty of great picnicking spots, Hyde Park is the perfect central London picnic location.

Walthamstow Wetlands

The Walthamstow Wetlands and marshes are located near Blackhorse Road on the Victoria LIne and offer up a haven of greenery in the middle of East London. Perched between Tottenham and Walthamstow, the marshlands follow the Lea River all the way to Hackney Wick, giving you plenty of locations along the way for cycling, rambling and of course picnicking. With woodlands, fields and even a cow yard, the wetlands are not to be missed.