7 Incredible Picnic Spots in London
Tranquil ponds, gorgeous rose gardens, vast grassland, wilderness parks, roaming deer, a vibrant coloured Chinese pagoda, magnificent skyline views and world-class sporting venues. Continue reading for 7 of the best picnic spots in London!
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Did you know that London is technically a forest?
We didn’t until quite recently. And who can blame us when it seems like there’s a constant stream of skyscrapers being built?! But, in fact, London is the world’s largest urban forest!
Spend a bit of time here and you’ll soon notice how many trees and green pockets there are sprawled around the concrete jungle. A perfect escape to London’s often chaotic hustle and bustle.
You’re only ever a stone’s throw away from one of the many parks in London. In this guide to incredible picnic spots in London, we’ll cover 7 of our favourite spots. Some of them you’ll probably have heard of but others are a local’s secret.
Our top tip: please please please clean up after yourself when enjoying London’s parks. If the bins are full, take your rubbish with you. There’s nothing worse than seeing empty food and drink containers scattered around these beautiful areas!
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Contents
Victoria Park
We’re going to start this guide to incredible picnic spots in London off with our hands-down favourite park in London.
Victoria Park is a tranquil haven in the heart of East London home to lakes filled with a variety of birdlife, geese and swans, rose gardens, tree-lined walkways, a vibrant-coloured Chinese pagoda and history dating back to 1845.
Victoria Park has a wonderful sense of community about it which is one reason why we love it so much. It’s a hidden treasure and not on the tourist radar as much as parks such as Hyde Park and Regent’s Park are.
It’s nicknamed the People’s Park by locals and it’s usually full of East Londoners going about their daily lives, out walking their dogs, cycling, running or making use of the many sports facilities.
To the north of the park is the quaint Victoria Park Village full of Georgian and Victorian terraced buildings housing upmarket restaurants, independent boutiques and pubs with beer gardens backing onto the park.
Closest stations: Bethnal Green, Mile End, Hackney Wick and Cambridge Heath
Regent's Park and Primrose Hill
Another of our favourite picnic spots in London is one of London’s Royal Parks; Regent’s Park and Primrose Hill.
As well as large open grassy areas ideal for picnicking with friends, Regent’s Park is scattered with beautiful gardens, sculptures, statues, an open-air theatre, The London Zoo, a boating lake and the largest outdoor sports area in Central London.
The most notable of the gardens is Queen Mary’s Rose Gardens. There are approximately 12,000 roses of 85 different varieties, making it London’s largest collection of roses.
Our Top Tip: to see the roses in their best bloom, visit Regent’s Park in the first two weeks of June.
The Avenue Gardens with tiered fountains, evergreen hedges and huge ornamental bowls overflowing with flowers are well worth a visit as is the Japanese Garden Island; a serene area with a waterfall, lake, beautiful flowers and winding paths.
One of the best things to do in Regent’s Park during the summer is to rent a boat or pedalo and explore the boating lake.
Our Top Tip: it’s cheaper to hire boats and pedalos before noon. Check prices.
After you’re done ambling around Regent’s Park, head up to Primrose Hill for amazing skyline views over the city.
Closest station: Regent’s Park, Baker Street (Chalk Farm for Primrose Hill)
Richmond Park
Another of London’s eight Royal Parks, Richmond Park covers an area of 2500 acres and is one of the best picnic spots in London. Wide-open spaces, vast grasslands, quaint gardens, lakes and deer herds make a visit to this park truly memorable.
Richmond Park has protected status as an important habitat for wildlife and is a National Nature Reserve, London’s largest Site of Special Scientific Interest and a European Special Area of Conservation.
Deer have been roaming free in the park since 1637 and have played a huge role in both the park’s history and shaping the landscape.
Our Top Tip: keep at least 50 metres away from the deer.
One of the most beautiful places in Richmond Park is the Isabella Plantation; a 40-acre woodland garden set in a Victorian woodland plantation that was planted in the 1830s. The plantation is best known for its evergreen azaleas lining the ponds and streams.
Due to its vast size, there are a wide variety of sports on offer at Richmond Park. The best way to see as much of the park as possible is on bikes which can be rented at the Roehampton Gate car park if you don’t have your own.
Another popular way to cover a lot of the park is horse riding and there are numerous local stables in the park. There’s also rugby, fishing, golf and power kiting.
For amazing views of the Thames Valley and a distant sighting of St Paul’s Cathedral, head to King Henry’s Mound.
Closest station: Richmond
Greenwich Park
Next on our list of London’s best picnic spots is Greenwich Park.
With incredible skyline views of Canary Wharf, Greenwich Park is one of the most breathtaking parks in London!
Greenwich is one of London’s best parks to visit with some gorgeous features including The Wilderness Deer Park; London’s oldest deer park and home to red and fallow deer.
The wilderness is also an essential sanctuary for other wildlife provided by its ancient trees and secluded woodland.
The Wilderness Deer Park is located in the Flower Garden which is one of the horticultural showpieces of the park.
This is a tranquil place for a stroll as dogs and ball games aren’t allowed so as to preserve the fine lawns with seasonal flowerbeds and magnificent Cedar and Tulip trees.
There’s also a charming rose garden forming the backdrop to the Ranger’s House, an elegant Georgian villa originally the Park Ranger’s residence. The garden peaks in flowering in June and July.
Greenwich Park is also where you’ll find the Royal Observatory, home of Greenwich Mean Time and the Prime Meridian.
Our favourite time of year to visit Greenwich Park is in the spring when the blossom is in full bloom. Just beyond the Royal Observatory is a path towards the Ranger’s House where the blossom creates a Japanese-style cherry blossom tunnel.
Our Top Tip: when the blossom is in full bloom, usually mid-late April, arrive as early as possible. By mid-morning, this path is crowded with people.
Closest station: Cutty Sark, Greenwich and Maze Hill
Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park
Next is another more unknown picnic spot in London, making it a true gem for anyone willing to go out of their way to visit. This is a very different park from the others as it was the site of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park is full of activity! From sporting competitions in world-class venues to festivals, boat tours along the canal, concerts, tours of the iconic London Stadium, the world’s longest and tallest tunnel slide and so much more.
Running through the park is the tranquil River Lea which is an absolute delight to walk along! If you continue walking north, you’ll reach Lee Valley, a beautiful place for a bike ride.
Surrounding the river and sporting venues are green, open parklands, fountains and various art installations making this park one of London’s most unique parks.
Closest station: Stratford International, Pudding Mill Lane and Hackney Wick
Hyde Park
When discussing the best picnic spots in London, we can’t miss the one and only Hyde Park! If this is your first visit to London, Hyde Park is an absolute must-do.
Hyde Park is set right in the heart of Central London and is another of the city’s Royal Parks. Its 350 acres have many beautiful features making it one of the best parks in London.
One of the most prominent features of the park is the Diana Memorial Fountain opened by Queen Elizabeth in 2004. The fountain is designed to reflect Diana’s life.
Another notable feature of Hyde Park is The Serpentine. The Serpentine Lido is the oldest swimming club in Britain and they swim every day between 6am and 9:30am.
Overlooking The Serpentine is the Serpentine Bar and Kitchen. Serving a wide variety of delicious hot meals, snacks, cakes fresh from the bakery and drinks, this restaurant aims to be a retreat for both Londoners and visitors.
Surrounding The Serpentine are large open grasslands, perfect for a summer picnic with friends soaking up the vibrant and friendly atmosphere.
Located on the northeast edge of Hyde Park is Speakers’ Corner which has been a traditional site of public speeches and demonstrations since the mid-1800s.
Closest station: Marble Arch, Lancaster Gate, Hyde Park Corner and Knightsbridge
Hampstead Heath
The final park on our list is Hampstead Heath. This park is truly something special and without a doubt one of the top picnic spots in London!
You can while away a whole day here walking amongst the park’s trails, swimming in the ponds and having a couple of ciders in the sun with some of the best views of the city!
Although less than 6.5 kilometres from Central London, you’d never know it. The meandering tranquil woodland and meadows will make you feel far away from a bustling city and are the perfect escape.
If you’re feeling brave, go for a wild dip in one of the swimming ponds before drying off on Parliament Hill with panoramic views of the city.
During the summer, you’ll need to book a ticket for Hampstead Heath Ponds. Tickets sell out quickly so book in advance. A single session is £4.50.
If you’ve ever wondered where C.S. Lewis’s inspiration for the Narnia Chronicles came from, this is it!!
Closest station: Hampstead Tube, Hampstead Heath Overground and Gospel Oak
So, there you have it, our favourite picnic spots in London! We hope you’ve enjoyed this post and you can experience for yourself some of London’s most beautiful parks.
We’d love to hear about your favourite picnic spots in London so feel free to leave a comment or contact us. Also, make sure you check out some of our other London guides for more information about this wonderful city we call home!
