The best picnic spots in London

Victoria Park, or Vicky Park as the locals call it, is one of London's oldest parks, opened in 1845. It measures 86 hectares, making it the largest park in Tower Hamlets, meaning it has plenty of picnicking space. You'll find ample green space to lay out a blanket, or if you head near to the Hub Café inside the park you'll find picnic tables, some belonging to the café and some for public use.

Pair your picnic with picturesque views of the city at Primrose Hill. This pretty park is bordered by pastel townhouses and is a short walk from Regent's Canal, Camden and Abbey Road - for all those Beatles fans. Lay out your blanket right at the peak of the hill for the most breathtaking views of London's skyline.

Picnic surrounded by towering trees and a spectacular rose garden at the Royal Botanic Gardens. Some of the best picnic spots in town can be found within the floral-fringed park; you just have to hunt to find them. Look for the benches in Kew's woodland area or take a look at the Kew Gardens map on their website to scout out the best spots for lunch al fresco. If you don't fancy packing your picnic basket before you arrive, a few great cafés and restaurants nearby offer takeaway.

It might be mostly known for its incredible city views and iconic bathing ponds, but Hampstead Heath also makes for the ideal place to enjoy a picnic. Snack on sausage rolls and scotch eggs with panoramic views of the city from Parliament Hill Viewpoint post-pond-dip, where you can pick out several of London's legendary landmarks.

Holland Park is the largest park in Kensington and Chelsea, meaning it has ample spots for enjoying a peaceful picnic. The park is renowned for its Japanese-style Kyoto Garden, a beautifully landscaped garden with a waterfall and pond, where peacocks roam freely amongst lush greenery and woodland. There are also tennis courts, football pitches and places to play cricket and netball for some pre- or post-picnic fun.

The Grade I listed Greenwich Park, at the heart of the Greenwich Maritime World Heritage Site, is a picturesque picnic spot. It's one of the city's largest green spaces, meaning it's easy to find a place where you're not crammed up against other picnickers. Once you've finished filling your face with sandwiches, check out the National Maritime Museum, The Cutty Sark or The Royal Observatory for a hefty helping of London culture.

This bite-sized park is the perfect picnic spot for when you're in central Soho and looking for somewhere to chow down on your lunch. It's small but is a welcome patch of grass amongst the hustle and bustle of the busy city. Plus, it's close to many of London's top restaurants, many of which offer takeaway, such as Pizza Pilgrims.

There aren't many more quintessentially British picnic spots than Green Park, which happens to be the neighbour of King Charles' gaff. The park has pretty views of water fountains, statues and borders of flowers, and plenty of spots to bask in the sun during the summer months. Nearby gourmet department store Fortnum & Mason does picnic hampers in the summer, perfect for taking up the road to the park.

Clapham Common was made for having picnics and is one of London's largest and oldest public open spaces, having been around for more than 1,000 years. It consists of open land, woodland, and meadows, with the opportunity to wander through scenic avenues of trees. If you swing by during the summer months, there's a bandstand with a rotating timetable of performers so that you can snack on sarnies to the sound of a live band.

Brockwell Park is a public park and community hub, home to the famous Brockwell Lido and grade II-listed Brockwell Hall. You can pitch up pretty much anywhere since the whole park is picturesque, and there's the Brockwell Park Café and The Lido Café for those who don't want to pack their own picnic.

This Hackney hangout is a scenic space to embrace nature in the city and kick back with a picnic, enjoying all the treats you can pick up from the food stalls at neighbouring Broadway Market. If you sit in the north of the park, you can enjoy your food while watching a game of cricket at the London Fields Cricket Club.

Hyde Park is one of the most visited parks in the whole of London, so it's no surprise that there are also heaps of perfect picnic spots here. Lay your blanket out next to the 40-acre Serpentine, where you can watch swans frolic and take a post-picnic boat ride out onto the lake. There's also the Rose Garden in the southeast, where you can snack on your picnic surrounded by pretty flowers.

The Natural History Museum is a must-visit for anyone interested in the history of our planet, but the spectacular building also makes for a majestic picnic backdrop. It was designed by English architect Alfred Waterhouse, known for his eclectic Gothic Revival Style. There's an adjoining Wildlife Garden offering a tranquil oasis for plants and animals in the heart of the city. It's home to thousands of British flora and fauna, with thousands of species having been identified in the garden since it opened in 1995.

Enjoy your picnic with the pelicans at St James's Park, who have lived at the lake for almost 400 years. It borders Buckingham Palace and houses the Buckingham Palace flower beds, The Blue Bride, and The Queen Victoria Memorial. If you want to enjoy your picnic with the pelicans, swing by Duck Island Cottage between 2-3 pm every day, where you can see them being fed.

There are endless opportunities for fun in between enjoying a picnic at Battersea Park. This vast South London park is chock with things to see and do, like pedalos, a landscaped boating lake, and lush walled gardens. Enjoy stuffing your face with sandwiches, or pick something up at any of the park's three cafés before taking to the water on one of the pedalos for hire. If you want great views of the Thames, lay your blanket out north of the park close to the peace pagoda.

Telegraph Hill Park in South London offers uninterrupted views into central and is great for photo opps. Features include sports courts and an ornamental garden, plus there are lots of spots for a picnic with a view. The park's lower section is dog-free, so you can enjoy your food without worrying about a friendly pooch snaffling your sausage rolls.

Chelsea Physic Garden has a rich history and offers impressive surroundings for a picnic. The garden boasts thousands of types of plants, including rare varieties that thrive thanks to the warm microclimate. Explore this huge and diverse collection of flora and fauna before setting up your picnic on the grassy lawn area.

South London's Horniman Museum is packed with fascinating exhibits and attractions including an aquarium and thousands of musical instruments. The museum also has extensive gardens that are great for a stroll. If you're picnicking, head to the Dutch Barn, a covered area designated for picnics, or spread out around the bandstand on a sunny day.

Visit The Thames Barrier for a picnic with a unique view. The barrier is one of the world's largest moveable flood barriers and prevents the capital from being submerged in water. It's a dramatic sight and you can enjoy a picnic in the park that runs alongside it whilst you take in the view.