The best cafés with outdoor seating in London

A community-minded North London café, Von Crumb is known for its golden and generously portioned schnitzels. Available in different versions, including a vegan aubergine option, they're served as standalone dishes or as sandwiches, tucked into pillowy challah buns. The café boasts ample and inviting outdoor seating, shaded by trees, with wooden planters enhancing the garden feel.

Located on Pavilion Road in Chelsea, Jason Atherton's Three Darlings is an all-day dining destination that truly excels when guests can take advantage of its lovely outdoor terrace. This sun-soaked space provides a calm and sociable atmosphere, making it the perfect spot for long, leisurely brunches that drift from morning into the afternoon, or just a quick caffeinated pick-me-up.

Towpath is widely considered a true gem, a seasonal East London café with outdoor seating right by the canal, letting patrons soak up the sun, watch joggers run past, and gaze out at the serenely flowing water. Meanwhile, the kitchen is busy preparing deceptively simple dishes that highlight produce of the highest quality, bursting with flavour. The relaxed café is a favourite of Londoners from all walks of life for a reason.

Like all great garden centres, Petersham Nurseries has its own beautiful outdoor café – when the flowers are in full bloom, it's arguably one of the more impressive venues in the capital, period. You can sip a refreshing drink or dine on seasonal lunch fare in the garden, or book the glasshouse for afternoon tea – it's about as British an experience as it gets.

Brunswick East is a popular Dalston café with a courtyard seating area where guests can enjoy an Aussie-style brunch menu all day long, complemented by high-quality coffee, natural wines, and brunch cocktails. Placing an emphasis on baking and ingredient-led cooking, the venue has its own rooftop sky farm that provides ultra-fresh produce, with occasional farm tours and tasting events hosted here as well.

This pair of sibling cafés in Richmond, located a short stroll along the Thames from each other, features some of the best outdoor seating in London. Each of them has its own spacious terrace with stunning views of the river, and you shouldn't be surprised if a quick coffee turns into a lazy afternoon spent lounging about in the sun. The cafés serve a fully vegetarian and vegan menu, including pastries, tarts, and more, accompanied by hot drinks, fresh juices, organic wines, and beers.

The Caravan coffee roasting company operates pleasant cafés across London, but it's their King's Cross branch that really stands out when it comes to outdoor seating. Not only is the outdoor terrace spacious and sunny, it looks out at Granary Square, its fountains and the surrounding Coal Drops Yard buildings making for a memorable, modern backdrop to your speciality coffee and global brunch favourites.

Park cafés are always a shout if you're looking for outdoor seating – whether the tables are full or not, you can always grab your order to go and enjoy it lying down on the grass or on a nearby bench. In Victoria Park, the best place to do that is the Pavilion café, a regular hub for the local community. Pastries, sandwiches, cakes, and other quick bites are available as a grab-and-go option, or you can tuck into a Sri Lankan-inspired dish on the café's outdoor terrace.

A frequent haunt of “Made in Chelsea” stars and other celebs, Bluebird is a trendy Chelsea landmark that runs the full hospitality gamut, from bar and café to restaurant, with service all day long. It has a stylish Art Deco interior, but it's the courtyard we're interest in for the purposes of this round-up – a sunny little haven where tasty refreshments go hand in hand with people-watching and chats.

A cherished Notting Hill fixture, The Tin Shed is a popular destination for coffee, and leisurely meals. Behind its blue storefront you'll find a modern interior, with seating options ranging from the lively pavement to a quiet, tucked-away garden. While the daytime menu focuses on traditional brunch staples, the weekend offering expands to include cocktails and supper.

A staple of the South London community, Browns of Brockley is a bright café featuring a breezy outdoor area out front and a welcoming, friendly atmosphere. The shop offers a rotating selection of espresso and filter blends from various guest roasters, alongside a tempting array of baked goods, sandwiches, and light snacks. Whether you are looking for a quiet café to sit outside or a quick pick-me-up, this local fave is just the thing.

Westminster might not seem a strong candidate when it comes to outdoor seating, especially if you'd like it with a side of greenery. But right in the very heart of the neighbourhood you can discover the Onion garden, a small, non-profit nature retreat carefully maintained with the help of the local community. It has its own glasshouse café with outdoor seating and hosts events like gigs and workshops as well.

The industrial backlot setting of The Snapery East might seem like a waste of sunshine when you're on the prowl for a nice outdoor café, what with London Fields just around the corner. But in our opinion, the decidedly urban setting works in the café's favour – it's like you've randomly stumbled upon an unexpected little secret. It's a charming spot through and through, and the fact it boasts some of the best breads and baked goods around is just another bonus.

With motorcycles – we're talking proper hogs here, not some piddly moped or twee scooter – riding the driveway that runs from street to parking right through the terrace, the Bike Shed Moto Co. offers one of the more peculiar outdoor café areas in London. Everyone is welcome to enjoy the tasty grub and drinks here, though bikers and motorcycle fans are sure to get a little bit extra from the experience.

The Dusty Knuckle Bakery integrates high-calibre artisanal baking with a social enterprise dedicated to providing career opportunities for at-risk youth. Since expanding from its original shipping container to a larger café in Dalston, the bakery has become a destination for its signature potato sourdough, creative sandwiches, and seasonal lunches. The Dalston branch has plenty of outdoor seating, set in a peaceful courtyard, away from the hustle and bustle of Dalston Junction.