If there’s one thing the British public like to get involved with, it’s a good old fashioned picnic. And with sunshine steadily becoming a more regular occurrence in London at the moment, luckily this is one city where there’s no shortage of open spaces to enjoy one. So if you’re visiting London this summer and have a sunny day at your disposal, here are four places you can spread your picnic blanket on each side of the capital. (Photo "Sunday Walk on Hampstead Heath" by tonyhall)North London: Hampstead Heath
As one of London’s oldest open spaces, Hampstead Heath has a generous 790 acres of land for you to settle down on. Once you’ve grabbed some food from the shops of nearby Hampstead High Street, you can pitch up in front of the famous Kenwood House, which you might recognize from scenes in the film Notting Hill. There’s no end of paths and woodland to explore, and you’ll even find the swimming ponds on the far side of the East Heath if you want to cool off. If it’s views of London you’re after, head to Parliament Hill first before finding a quiet spot to lay back for the afternoon.
South London: Richmond Park
If you fancy combining your day out with a bit of wildlife spotting, Richmond Park is the place to be. Over 650 wild Red and fallow deer still roam free, left over from the days when they were hunted here. There are two car parks, toilets, and cafes where you can grab a bite to eat, and 2500 acres of green to choose from. If you fancy a wander, the woodland garden, streams and ponds at the Isabella Plantation are great for bird watchers, and there’s even a golf course for sporty folk on the far side. The park was the scene of a famous YouTube video in 2011, involving a dog chasing some deer, so if you’re bringing a hound, be sure to keep it on a lead if the park’s other four legged residents are around. (Photo "Richmond Park" by jamiejohndavies)West London: Holland Park
Located in the prestigious west London neighborhood of the same name, Holland Park is a popular picnic spot often populated by residents of the upmarket surrounding streets. There’s a small supermarket near the tube station, while the shops of Kensington High Street and Notting Hill are within walking distance. With around 50 acres to play with, this isn’t one of London’s biggest parks by any stretch, but it has enough shady wooded areas in addition to the open fields to relax in, decent facilities from a children’s play area to tennis courts, and a cafe on site. There’s also the beautiful Kyoto Garden to explore, where you’ll find a snippet of Japan in the middle of one of London’s most well-heeled boroughs. (Photo "Holland Park" by Oliver Bruchez)East London: London Fields
As well as being one of the city’s most up and coming areas, the borough of Hackney has a good few picnic spots to choose from. While Victoria Park is the largest, London Fields also has to get a mention as it’s home to London’s only heated 50 meter outdoor swimming pool, known as the lido. A good time to visit this area is on a Saturday, when the nearby Broadway Market comes alive with stalls selling all different types of food and clothing, which will soon take care of any rumbling stomachs. To get a real flavor of east London, head to Cooke’s pie and mash shop, grab a portion of jellied eels, take back to the Fields and enjoy. (Photo "Broadway Market" by Bex Walton)This post was written by Jo Harris-Cooksley on behalf of our friends at Hotels4U.com.
