Picnic spots near you

Packing your picnic and heading to your local canal is a great way to enjoy the outdoors. Whether it’s by the locks or at one of our 'Wonders of the Waterways', here are our favourite picnic spots.

On a sunny day, two people laugh at a picnic table in an urban area, with the canal behind them and a moored narrowboat.

Places to picnic near you

Looking up at five steep staircase locks bathed in sunlight and surrounded by vibrant greenery.

Yorkshire & North East

With rolling countryside, rugged hills and beautiful villages, there's no shortage of picnic spots

A single lock gate in front of a pound filled with moored boats, a canalside pub with outdoor seating and an old winch.

North West

Pack the sandwiches and head to our favourite canalside picnic spots in the North West

Looking over a bridge to a flight of locks with thick trees and a canalside cafe reflected in the canal.

West Midlands

Our favourite picnic spots in the West Midlands to watch the boats go by, enjoy nature or feed the ducks

A group sit on picnic blankets and a bench eating a picnic by the locks as others walk by on a sunny day.

East Midlands

From Foxton Locks to the mighty River Trent, enjoy lunch by water with our East Midlands picnic spots

Looking up at an impressively large aqueduct, carrying the canal high over a flowing river.

Wales & South West

Enjoy a picnic with the dramatic backdrop of the most impressive engineering feats

Groups in twos or more sit on grassy steps enjoying food in the sun against the backdrop of London's King's Cross.

London & South East

Whether it's the capital or the countryside, there are plenty of picnic spots to go when the sun comes out

Two people walk holding hands along a towpath lined by narrowboats.

Canal and river walks near me

Turn your picnic into a day out with our canalside walking routes

Last Edited: 11 March 2025