Greenwich Park among Go Outdoors' best places for picnic

Whilst picnic season may still seem tranquilisingly far off, it’s never too early to plan out where to picnic as we draw closer to spring.

Go Outdoors recently revealed the top 10 UK parks, gardens and greenspaces to visit for a picnic, based on how popular they are on social media, and four south London locations made the list.

In total, eight of London’s parks and gardens were on the list, including Kew Gardens and Greenwich in South London.

Also in the list was Victoria Park in East London and Holland Park in Kensington as well as outer London parks like The Malvern Hills in Worcestershire.

Kew Gardens

First on our list, Kew Gardens in the leafy neighbourhood of Richmond was named as the number one location for a picnic in England, with over 786,000 social media posts.

This historic botanic garden is famously known as the largest in the world, boasting 326 acres of land, as well as a lake and a bunch of historic hot houses and interesting buildings to explore.

This historic botanic garden is famously known as the largest in the world, boasting 326 acres of land. (Image: Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew)

During the spring you could find a spot to picnic by the daffodils, or next to the lake with its stunning views of Temperate House, but there’s plenty of places to go inside if the weather takes a turn.

With so many areas to explore, the gardens always have something to see no matter what season you go, and currently if you visit up until March 29 you can see their stunning Orchid exhibition celebrating the region of Peru.

if you visit up until March 29 you can see their stunning Orchid exhibition celebrating the region of Peru. (Image: Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew)

Greenwich Park

Coming in in sixth place was Greenwich Park – formerly the hunting ground of King Henry VIII and popular filming spot for the Netflix series Bridgerton.

Greenwich Park boasts 182 acres of land along with a host of listed buildings like Greenwich Observatory and The Rangers House, both of which you can visit and explore.

Greenwich Park boasts 182 acres of land along with a host of listed buildings like Greenwich Observatory. (Image: National Maritime Museum, London)

On a pleasant day the hill next to the observatory offers incredible views of the park and the London skyline, or if you fancy a springtime picnic the Rangers House offers incredible views of the popular cherry blossom which flowers from late April.

If you fancy an impromptu picnic date, Greenwich Market is home to a plethora of street food vendors where you can grab something to go to enjoy at the park, which is just a 5-minute walk away.

On a pleasant day the hill next to the observatory offers incredible views of the park and the London skyline. (Image: Royal Parks)

Clapham Common

Clapham Common makes for a prime picnicking space if you like open views accessible by train from Clapham, Battersea and Balham stations.

Clapham Common is well-known as London’s largest and oldest public open space, with 85 hectares of land.

Clapham Common is well-known as London’s largest and oldest public open space, with 85 hectares of land. (Image: PA)

It’s a popular place for sports, but it also has plenty of prime picnicking spots from its trio of ponds to woodland areas, meadows and grasslands.

The common also has traces of its 19th-century heritage with its Victorian bandstand, and a prime picnic spot could be next to its community garden where you’ll find plenty of flowers during the warmer months.

It has plenty of prime picnicking spots from its trio of ponds to woodland areas, meadows and grasslands. (Image: PA)

Battersea Park

A nearby neighbour to Clapham Common, Battersea Park came in at ninth place.

This 200-acre Victorian park has plenty to offer for all the family, from the nearby zoo with over 100 animals to see, to the nearby Battersea Power Station with 150 shops, restaurants and bars to visit.

This 200-acre Victorian park has plenty to offer for all the family. (Image: Wandsworth Council)

For picnic spots you’ll find plenty to pick from, including the lake and its landscaped gardens, and the park is situated within a short walk of the river and Battersea Pier if you fancy taking a river boat into Central London.

For picnic spots you’ll find plenty to pick from, including the lake and its landscaped gardens. (Image: PA)

Bushy Park

Finally coming in at number 10 was Bushy Park in Richmond, which was recently named as the UK’s best place to live by The Sunday Times.

This Royal Park is one of London’s biggest with a whopping 1,100 acres to explore, from open fields to woodlands.

This Royal Park is one of London’s biggest with a whopping 1,100 acres to explore. (Image: PA)

The park also has free-roaming deer to see, making it an idyllic picnic spot if you enjoy being out in nature.

The park also has free-roaming deer to see, making it an idyllic picnic spot if you enjoy being out in nature. (Image: PA)

Otherwise you could visit Diana Fountain or the Waterhouse Woodland Gardens, which both make equally good picnic spots.