London is filled with great international cuisine options across the city, but one of the best ways to enjoy good London weather and eat like the locals is to head to the local grocer and pull together a picnic. Having grown up in a fairly rural area filled with fields, trees, and an overall abundance of nature, regular picnics for me are a must in London. Few people know that 60% of the city is actually green space, be that parks, lawns, roof gardens, etc. One way to experience the city like a local is to plan the Perfect London Picnic.
1. Choose a sunny afternoon. It doesn’t rain in London as often as many foreigners tend to claim, but needless to say have a brolly (translation: umbrella) handy just in case.
2. Stock up on delicious treats from your local Tesco, Sainsbury’s or Whole Foods. Londoners, like many city-folk, love purchasing ready-made food. This means that every grocer, corner store, and food market have ready made sandwiches and treats for take-away (translation: to-go). Need some inspiration? Remember London offers many nearby cuisines making French cheeses, Belgian chocolates, German meats and Italian gelato all available in the city.
3. Find your perfect spot. My personal favorite? Hyde Park. With bike paths lining the outside, the serpentine lake filled with swans, and immaculately kept grounds, Hyde Park is one of the best places to take a picnic. There are many benches if it recently rained and the ground is wet. But be warned, it is easy to get lost! Competitive with New York City’s Central Park, Hyde Park has acres of trees, bushes, flowers and monuments. Other great places to picnic include Richmond Park (Richmond Tube Stop, Zone 4, a bit out of the city, but filled with deer!), the courtyard in the Victoria and Albert Museum (South Kensington Tube Stop), and the small park down the street from the British Museum (Holburn Tube Stop).
4. Dig in! Picnics are a perfect way to relax midday while trying to explore the huge adventure that is London. Remember to clean up after yourself since Londoners have no tolerance for littering. Oddly enough litter bins (translation: trash cans) are few and far between, despite an incredibly clean city. During your picnic is also a great time to plan your next London adventure.
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