The best place to picnic in every major UK city (including London)

Telegraph

4 days ago

July marks National Picnic Month. Eating alfresco in the UK gets a bad rap – the sad legacy of childhood outings spent battling sideways rain while eating soggy sausage rolls. But British summers deliver more than they get credit for.
There are genuinely glorious blue-sky-and-sandal days when the weather hits that sweet spot, and it's warm enough to sit out without the coleslaw curdling.
When the sun shows up (and, as we've already seen this summer, it certainly does), Britain goes feral – in the best way. Everyone floods to the nearest patch of green like it's a state of emergency.
Supermarkets are stripped of hummus, corks pop in parks and someone always forgets the bottle opener. It's cheerful, unpretentious and deeply British: from the Scotch eggs to the slightly warm rosé.
From wildflower meadows in Oxford, to highland cows in Glasgow and open-air theatre in Leeds, we've rounded up the 20 best spots to sprawl, snack and balance a paper plate on your lap. Because in the UK, a picnic isn't just lunch outdoors – it's a summer pastime powered by optimism and pork pies.
London
Best picnic spot: Primrose Hill
Hyde Park and Hampstead Heath get all the hype, but Primrose Hill quietly wins where picnics are concerned. At 63 metres high, this sloping swathe of grass delivers London's best skyline view, from the Shard to St Paul's. It even starred in the Paddington films.
Sun hits it all day, and late afternoon casts the city in shades of gold. The vibe is social but never loud, and you'll be picnicking alongside guitar strummers, dog walkers, page-turners and lovestruck couples. Head to Melrose and Morgan for homemade lemonade and picnic boxes worth the hill climb.
Where to stay
Mason & Fifth Primrose Hill is a boutique guesthouse inside a restored heritage home with private garden, yoga pavilion and studios from £150.
Birmingham
Best picnic spot: Cannon Hill Park
With more canals than Venice, expectations of an industrial Birmingham are outdated. One of its greenest spots is Cannon Hill Park, a mix of 80 acres of formal gardens and 120 acres of wild woodland woven with jogger and cyclist trails.
Families can rent swan pedal boats, try their hand at the Golden Putter mini golf course, or see the famous red pandas at the adjoining Birmingham Wildlife Conservation Park. Delicatessens are in short supply in the surrounding area, so before leaving the city centre seek out Anderson & Hill for doorstop sandwiches and a heavenly stink of cheeses.
Where to stay
Domo Boutique Hotel has designer themed suites from £220.
Leeds
Best picnic spot: Kirkstall Abbey
Leeds is one of the UK's greenest cities, with 55 woodlands forming the 'Forest of Leeds', which includes picnic hotspots Temple Newsam and Middleton Park. Our pick is the 58-acre public park set around the dramatic 12th-century ruins of Kirkstall Abbey, famously captured by painter William Turner.
The park sits beside the River Aire (perfect for cooling your ankles on a hot day) and includes tennis courts, a playground, and – in summer – an outdoor cinema and open-air Shakespeare performances. For a quick recharge, there's a café serving coffee and ice cream.
Where to stay
Outwood House is an 18 th -century stone mansion set in mature gardens with en-suite rooms from £153.
Glasgow
Best picnic spot: Pollok Country Park
Find Highland cows 20 minutes south of Glasgow city centre at Pollok Country Park. This green lung comprises 360 acres of woodlands, riverside paths with benches, and wide-open lawns perfect for a spread of sandwiches and a thermos of tea.
If you didn't bring your own, nearby Gusto & Relish (729-731 Pollokshaws Rd) sells baked goods and proper coffee. Don't forget to poke your head into Pollok House, home to the private art collection of Sir William Burrell and his wife Constance – it's considered one of the world's best.
Where to stay
Sherbrooke Castle is a red sandstone baronial home with luxury double rooms from £110.
Manchester
Best picnic spot: Mayfield Park
Set around the meandering River Medlock, Mayfield is Manchester's newest park – and the first created in over a century. Just a few minutes' walk from Piccadilly station, it's best for families thanks to an industrial-themed play park with six slides for kids at the far end, baby-changing facilities and water refill stations. Smoking is also banned. For nosh, make a detour toward Chinatown and find Fat Pat's, a tiny take-out window dispensing hefty sub sandwiches such as philly cheesesteaks and shrimp po'boys.
Where to stay
Manchester Marriott Hotel Piccadilly has a spa, steakhouse and rooms from £87.
Sheffield
Best picnic spot: Rivelin Valley
Just 15 minutes northwest of Sheffield, Rivelin Valley is a wild, green gateway to the Peak District, where moorland meets woodland and rocky crags rise above a twisting riverside trail. Wander past ancient trees, waterfalls and moss-covered mill ruins, or sprawl out by splash pools and quiet meadows off Hagg Lane. Kingfishers and herons are common, and on weekends treks with alpacas and llamas can be booked at Holly Hagg Community Farm.
Where to stay
The Florentine offers doubles from £58.
Bradford
Best picnic spot: Peel Park
Tucked just inside Bradford's ring road, Peel Park combines rolling lawns with a tranquil lake edged with grand Victorian flowerbeds. Little ones can follow the Totem and Play Trail, while teens can tear around the BMX track – with the Bradford Bandits offering practice sessions every Tuesday and Thursday night. There's also tennis, croquet and boules, and for snacks Peelers Café – run by local volunteers – serves up homemade cakes and hot drinks, with every penny going straight back into the park.
Where to stay
The Midland Hotel has yesteryear opulence a 20-minute walk from the park and doubles from £55.
Edinburgh
Best picnic spot: Princes Street Gardens
Princes Street Gardens are to Edinburgh what Central Park is to New York – it's green heart right in the middle of the city. Created in the 1820s by draining the Loch Nor marsh, this sunken valley now links the medieval Old Town and Georgian New Town with neatly trimmed lawns and postcard views of the Castle.
Split by The Mound, the eastern half is dotted with statues – don't miss author Sir Walter Scott's soaring monument or the tribute to explorer Dr David Livingstone. To the west, the Ross Bandstand hosts summer concerts beside the world's oldest floral clock. Grab picnic treats from local legend Victor Hugo Deli, which has been around since 1955.
Where to stay
Splurge on 100 Princes Street for sweeping views and bespoke tartan suites from £208.
Liverpool
Best picnic spot: Otterspool Promenade
Liverpool's seafaring legacy runs deep, so a waterside picnic is a must. Otterspool Promenade, stretching from Garston Docks to Otterspool Park, hugs the River Mersey and boasts sweeping lawns perfect for a lazy afternoon. The Trans Pennine Trail cuts through here, so expect a steady stream of joggers and cyclists. Bring a kite for the breeze, binoculars for birdwatching – and, if you're lucky, you might even spot seals lounging on the mudflats at low tide.
Where to stay
Restored Victorian villa Sefton Park Hotel offers B&B doubles from £70.
York
Best picnic spot: Rowntree Park
Stroll south along the River Ouse to reach Rowntree, a 10-hectare haven that centres around a swan- and duck-filled pond. There are squirrel-inhabited woods with a woodland story circle, a blossoming wildlife area near the orchard, and plenty of action with play parks, tennis courts (booked online), a skate park and basketball courts.
Craving calm? Slip into one of the central gated gardens (like Rosemary's Sensory Garden) for a breather. Rowntree Park Reading Café serves breakfast baps and toasties, but for posher picnic nosh seek out the nearby Good Food Shop deli.
Where to stay
The Grade II-listed Middletons offers B&B doubles from £110.
Aberdeen
Best picnic spot: Hazlehead Park
On Aberdeen's western edge, Hazlehead Park is a woodland wonderland with historic roots. Once part of the royal hunting forests of Stocket, it was gifted to the city by Robert the Bruce in 1319 – commemorated by stone cairns near the café and snack kiosk. Today, it's packed with family-friendly fun: from Scotland's oldest hedge maze (inspired by Hampton Court) to a tree-carved Gruffalo by artist David Roberts. There's crazy golf, a huge playground, two rose gardens and Hazlehead Pets Corner (open daily; adults £5.04, three-six-year-olds £1.56, under threes free) where you'll meet meerkats, alpacas, emus, and even Princess Leia the Burmese python.
Where to stay
Luxury five-star country manor Marcliffe has a spa, wine cellar, local-produce restaurant and doubles from £170.
Oxford
Dubbed Oxford's oldest monument, Port Meadow is a 140-hectare wild expanse bordered by the Thames and steeped in history, from Bronze Age burials to Iron Age grazing.
In the 10th century, King Alfred granted it to Oxford's Freemen, whose ancient right to graze livestock still stands – hence the freely wandering ponies, cattle and wildfowl. Picnic tables and BBQ spots near Godstow Road make it ideal for a laid-back lunch. Paddle in the shallows, spot lapwings and teal, or follow the floodplain trails to The Perch or Trout Inn for riverside pints. For picnic treats, hit Barefoot Bakery in Jericho for top-tier pastries.
Where to stay
The Galaxie is a characterful Victorian B&B with doubles from £125.
Bristol
Best picnic spot: Ashton Court Estate
This sprawling country estate (free entry, paid parking) is packed with wildflower meadows, wildlife-rich woods, shady ponds and ancient oaks – including the legendary, now-collapsed 700-year-old Domesday Oak. It's perfect picnic territory that we recommend for its historic deer park, where around 200 red and fallow deer roam (look, don't feed). Kids can also ride the miniature railway or swing through the treetops on Go Ape-style high ropes. Refuel at the Courtyard Café with fresh summer salads and artisan sourdough toasties.
Where to stay
The gorge-side Hotel du Vin Bristol Avon Gorge in Clifton village has B&B doubles from £129.
Brighton
Best picnic spot: Kipling Gardens
Skip the Brighton bustle and seek out Kipling Gardens in Rottingdean, just west of the city centre. Often overlooked, this Victorian walled garden once wrapped around Rudyard Kipling's old home, The Elms. He rented it from 1897 to 1902 while writing some of his Just So stories. The gardens are a tapestry of rose beds, wild corners and clipped lawns – all of them calm and crowd-free. Pick up a fat slice of quiche, cake, or a still-warm sausage roll from Sea Spray Café and claim a stone table or start a spontaneous croquet match.
Where to stay
Brighton marina's four-star Malmaison has B&B doubles from £192.
Cardiff
Best picnic spot: Bute Park
Right next to Cardiff Castle and threaded by the River Taff, Bute Park's 56 hectares are a surprise wildlife haven – all three UK woodpeckers (green, great spotted, and lesser spotted) call it home, and along the river, keep your eyes peeled for kingfishers, herons and several species of bat at dusk. Download the Bute Park Wildlife Explorer Trails via the Love Exploring app to find these hotspots.
Kids can burn off energy on the woodland play trail or at the story stops, while grown-ups unwind in the arboretum or community orchard. Hungry? The Secret Garden Café is on-site, but for something more special, swing by Cardiff Market and find Griff's Deli (griffsdeli.co.uk) – their deli boards and hand-crafted sandwiches are drool-worthy.
Where to stay
Cardiff's historic four-star, The Park Gate Hotel has B&B doubles from £164.
Southampton
Best picnic spot: The Common
An unpolished green sprawl in the city centre with wide-open meadows for lounging, games or laidback picnics, and woodland edges for dappled shade. We recommend parking yourself by the swan-dotted Ornamental Lake for prime people-watching. There's a splash park in summer, a model railway for nostalgia hits and winding trails that feel surprisingly wild. Try corner store Maurie's (mauriessandwichshop.com) for luxury stuffed focaccia sandwiches.
Where to stay
Swanky Georgian mansion-turned-boutique hotel No.4 Carlton Hotel has B&B doubles from £426.
Newcastle
Best picnic spot: Paddy Freeman's Park
Families flock to Paddy Freeman's in the city's north for its wide manicured lawns and glassy boating lake, where the century-old Model Power Boat Club still meets. Perks include two wheelchair-accessible picnic tables and that inclusivity runs through the park – with one of the two playgrounds kitted out with accessible equipment, so kids of all ages and abilities can join in. Add in a bowling green, two tennis courts, a full-size football pitch, and picnic fuel provided by the onsite Urban Green Café, and you have the ideal alfresco hangout.
Where to stay
Upscale four-star Jesmond Dene House has doubles from £125.
Cambridge
Best picnic spot: Jesus Green
Jesus Green is where Cambridge locals go when the sun's out. Lined with stately trees and edged by the River Cam, you can watch the punters glide past. You'll find free tennis courts, a playground and a skate park, but the real gem is the Victorian lido: one of the UK's longest outdoor pools and perfect for a pre-picnic dip.
There are designated BBQ stones with bins nearby, and for supplies swing by 1920s bakery Fitzbillies (fitzbillies.com) – famed for its Chelsea buns – to pick up a preordered picnic.
Where to stay
The Varsity has a rooftop bar, spa, steakhouse and doubles from £171.
Bath
Best picnic spot: Bath Skyline
Start with a grab-and-go feast from Chandos Deli (12 George St) – think stacked focaccia, loaded baguettes and top-tier sausage rolls – then head uphill to Bathwick Fields, a wildflower meadow with sweeping views over Unesco-listed Bath's honey-toned rooftops and spires. It's also the starting point for a six-mile circular walk through woodlands, hilltops and history. Elsewhere, kids will love the den-making zones in Rainbow Wood and the natural play area near Claverton Down.
Where to stay
The Bird in Bath is a vibrant 29-room art-filled boutique hotel with deluxe doubles from £279.
Nottingham
Best picnic spot: Green's Mill Park
This compact park and playground bags a spot thanks to its restored 19th-century working mill built by the father of mathematician George Green. Free to enter (Wed–Sun 10am–4pm), it's packed with kid-friendly distractions: from hands-on science exhibits exploring light and magnetism, to watching them grind the award-winning organic flour and regular bread and biscuit-making workshops. Each July, its 'Picnic in the Park' festival brings music and games. There's no café, so pick up a preordered gourmet picnic hamper (think smoked salmon-and-mascarpone sandwiches) from Delilah Fine Foods.
Where to stay
The Georgian Lace Market Hotel has an on-site pub and doubles from £87.