Monday 15 June 2015

National Picnic Week

National Picnic week
This week (Sat 13th- Sun 21st July) is National Picnic weekso on FoodieForce I thought I would share some of my favourite places to have a picnic in and around London. 

Picnicking is one of my favourite Summer pastimes. It is a great way to get together with friends and family to play games and share some wonderful food. 

The Royal Botanical gardens has to be one of the world's most famous gardens. For me I can easily while away a whole day wandering around the peace and tranquil gardens.
 
The Palm House is one of the largest surviving Victorian glasshouses in the world and is such an architectural masterpiece
Kew Gardens
The waterlily house has the world's largest and the smallest water lilly's in the world. 
Kew Garden's
The largest water lilly measures a hulking one meter wide. The smallest water lilly no longer exists in the wild and Kew gardens have saved it from extinction. 

I love the Chinese pagoda which stands tall in the grounds and is the perfect place to have a picnic. 

Fancy visiting? Tickets cost £15 for adults and £3.50 for children (4-16 years) www.kew.org

2. Hyde Park:
One of eight Royal Park's in London. The park covers 350 acres and houses the Princess Diana Memorial. 
Hyde Park
It is a brilliant place to have a picnic and is near Buckingham Palace, Changing of the Guards and Harrods

Fancy a foodie treat visit Harrods amazing food hall to get some yummy goodies for your picnic. 

A short walk from Crystal Palace Station, Crystal Palace park has been a love of mine for many year's, my parents used to take me there as a child. With a lovely lake to walk around, small farm and children's playground it is the perfect park for all the family. 
Crystal Palace
It even has prehistoric dinosaurs. 

Next up is Richmond Park, a National Nature Reserve and the largest of the Royal Park's in London. Lovely open spaces with free roaming beautiful herds of Red and Fallow Deer. 
Richmond Park
The park was originally created by Charles I in the 17th Century as a deer park and has great architectural and historic interest. It has many beautiful places to stop for a picnic and play ball games with friends and family. However, don't pick the mushrooms or ride your bicycles too fast or you might find yourself having a private picnic with the special park Police force.

All this talk of picnics and summer has me lusting after some new goodies for eating outdoors. Below are some of my favourites:
Picnic
I am loving the Marks and Spencer wicker picnic basket with cups, plates and cutlery £55. 

Want a cheaper option Wilkinson Amber picnic hamper £20 comes with cutlery, ceramic plates and two mugs. 

Add some pretty straws £2.99 and fun games with this vintage tin alley game £19.95. 
Outdoor eatting
The best part of eating outdoors has to be the potential BBQ opportunities. Want to brighten up the experience, look at these beauties created by Jamie Oliver £69. 
Jamie Oliver
BBQ ideas
Get the taste of summer with some foodie inspiration to make the perfect salad here

So whatever you have planned for National Picnic week make sure you enjoy the great outdoors. 

Where is your favourite place to have a picnic? 


 photo foodieforce_32.jpg

21 comments:

  1. Hey Lucy, I've spent the last few days catching up on your posts from the last few months, you've been so busy! So many delicious meals and trips away, I especially liked the look of the food a the pret a dinner night, the afternoon tea at the spa, oooh and the outdoor theatre sounded a bit magical! I love a good picnic, my favourite bplace has to be the beach, specifically one on the north east coast, or maybe in norfolk, or cornwall... any beavh really! Have a good week! xxx

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    1. Lovely to have you back I hope you are well. The beach is a lovely place to have a picnic and BBQ if it is a little more isolated. Favourites would have to be Devon and Cornwall Lucy x

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  2. I don't think I've had a proper picnic for a good few years! I think once we get a car we'll invest in a proper picnic basket and then we can go all out .... really fancy going on one now!

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    1. A picnic is a great way to enjoy the good weather. Maybe a picnic via train is the way to go in the interim. Pick a destination and pack up a picnic Lucy x

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  3. Those water lilies are incredible!! So beautiful :) I love picnic baskets they are so cute, I especially love the ones in Fortnum and Mason as the ultimate luxury but the ones you have picked out are way more in my price range! :)

    Ash | Liakada

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    1. The water lilies are beautiful. There are lots of harrods, John Lewis and Fortnam picnics that are superb. Perfect for a foodie but I thought I would be a bit more realistic. They are on the wish list though Lucy x

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  4. The last two thursday I've headed to Brockwell park near Brixton. It's such a big park so never feels crowded - it's lovely just watching people play tennis, cricket, football. So relaxing and feels a million miles away from the hustle and bustle of brixton high street!

    That Adventurer

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    1. Brockwell is a beautiful park perfect for escaping the bussle. I have been dreaming of the food recently in Brixton market really wanting champagne and fromage Lucy x

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  5. Such a lovely selection of parks, Lucy. I really like Richmond Park, Hampstead Heath and the Kyoto Garden in Holland Park

    Suze | LuxuryColumnist

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    1. Not sure I have been to Holland Park will have to add this too the list. I really enjoy London's outdoor green spaces we are very lucky to have so many Lucy x

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  6. Some beaut photos here - this makes me sooo envious for summer weekends in London! I love the pretty coloured Jamie Oliver BBQs - that green one has my name on it.

    Polly xx
    Follow Your Sunshine

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    1. The Jamie Oliver BBQs are lovely I really like the red one and would be a great addition to any picnic Lucy x

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  7. Love the beautiful BBQ shades. You have such great picnic locations in London.

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    1. We do have lots of choices the BBQs are lovely Lucy x

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  8. omg!! these are all amazing spots!! :D

    Animated Confessions

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    1. I am sure you have lovely picnic spots too Lucy x

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  9. Oooh I had no idea it was National picnic week! They are one of my favourite things to do over the Summer months too :) I definitely need to pay Kew Gardens a visit, thanks for the info! :)

    Style Sunrise☀

    :)
    x

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    1. Kew Gardens is lovely book tickets online though to save some
      money. They also do reductions if you travel by train. In the station look for the booklet that has great days out Lucy x

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  10. I'd be tempted to try and sit on one of the water lillies. Ha.

    Corinne x
    www.skinnedcartree.com

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    1. The temptation is definitely there I would like to try and hop from one side to another Lucy x

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  11. These are definitely some beautiful places to picnic. Too bad we get so few days during the year in London when picnicking is appropriate :(

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