Perfect picnic spots around London

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Chiswick House

Hampstead Heath

Epping Forest

Battersea Park

Richmond Park

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When the weather picks up this summer, the capital is home to some ideal picnic spots.

CHISWICK HOUSE
The 18th century neo-Palladian style stately home, once home to the Earl of Burlington, is set in 65 acres of sprawling picnic-friendly grounds. Stroll along the river and feed your crusts to the ducks and swans after you eat or, for picnicking with a difference, there's a beautiful old tree in front of the house that more daring picnickers can scale to enjoy lunch sitting on one of the huge boughs.
Getting there: Chiswick rail

HAMPSTEAD HEATH
At the other end of the scale to the manicured lawns of Chiswick is the pleasantly overgrown Hampstead Heath. There are some shorter grass areas around the beautiful old Kenwood House for the bug-phobic, but it's much more fun to lay your rug in the longer grass of the Heath's rolling fields. Indulge in a spot of post-picnic kite flying on Parliament Hill, or take a dip in the men's, women's or mixed swimming ponds.
Getting there: Hampstead Heath Silverlink

EPPING FOREST
London's largest public open space has 6,000 acres to explore, so there's no danger of the kind of overcrowding central London parks suffer. Picnic in a sun-dappled glade and roam the forest. The more intrepid can even take a tent, a bag of logs and a guitar and camp out overnight in Debden campsite adjoining the woods.
Getting there: Epping Tube, Debden Tube

HIGHGATE CEMETRY
This cemetery, dating back to 1839, is London's most impressive. The resting place of many luminaries, including Karl Marx and George Eliot, it may seem an odd choice for a picnic, but the serene environment is unrivalled anywhere in the city. Wander through overgrown rows of antique gravestones and impressive Victorian statues and read the old-fashioned eulogies.
Getting there: Highgate Tube

BATTERSEA PARK
Hire a tandem and cycle around the park to find your picnic patch or tuck into your sarnies overlooking the river. Check out the huge smiling gold Buddha in the pavilion, visit the secluded Old English Garden or have a game of bowls on the green. On certain dates throughout summer, musicians will be performing in the bandstand, so pack some wine and stay well into the evening.
Getting there: Battersea Park rail; Sloane Square Tube then local buses

RICHMOND PARK
THE largest of London's royal parks, this vast open space is a picnicker's paradise. From the top of the grassy mounds there are unobstructed views of St Paul's Cathedral, as well as organically run woodland garden and wildlife-filled ponds. Take advantage of the cycling, horseriding and fishing on offer, or just roam the 2,500 hectares and spot one of the 650 red and fallow deer. Just leave the venison sandwiches at home.
Getting there: Richmond rail

 

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