Whether you’re lunching in the capital or enjoying your picnic in the idyllic countryside, there are plenty of lovely spots to take your blanket and basket when the sun comes out.
And remember, whether you’re on the towpath or in a designated picnic area, please dispose of your rubbish responsibly. If there aren’t any bins around, take your litter home with you to discard.
1. Aylesbury, Grand Union Canal
The Aylesbury Arm of the Grand Union Canal is a great for family walks and to see wildlife at the water's edge.
There are some water-side benches at the basin or take a short stroll along the towpath to reach Vale Park, where you’ll find vast greenery and picnic benches.
You can park at Aylesbury Basin or in the town. Aylesbury Station is a 10-minute walk to the basin.
2. Banbury, Oxford Canal
Banbury is a historic market town famous for the Banbury Cross and Banbury cake. In the heart of Banbury is Tooley's Boatyard, which has been building and repairing narrowboats since 1790.
Enjoy a stroll along the canal, you’ll find a sculpture, a lock gate poem and a bridge named after waterways champion, Tom Rolt. By this bridge, you’ll find a lovely park with spots to enjoy your canalside picnic and a play area for the kids.
There is parking available in the Castle Quay shopping centre. Banbury Station is just a three-minute walk to the towpath.
Stock up on canal souvenirs, learn to paint roses and castles or get on the water with a boat trip.
3. Thrupp, Oxford Canal
This pretty canalside village on the Oxford Canal follows the Cherwell Valley, passing rose-covered terraces and canalside cafes.
There are plenty of idyllic places to picnic along this stretch of the beautiful Oxford. At Aubrey’s Lift Bridge, you’ll find picnic benches, a café and a kayak hire for sunnier days. The row of canal cottages here used to be called Salt Row, perhaps named for the storing the salt which was carried along the canal. You can park behind the café.
4. Oxford, Oxford Canal
The Oxford Canal is one of the most scenic waterways, and it starts right in the city centre, famous for its mediaeval history and renowned University. Make sure to explore the old buildings, colleges and museums.
There are plenty of benches lining the canal as it heads from Hythe Bridge towards Kidlington, offering a rural retreat from the busy city. The towpath is a five-minute walk from Oxford Station, or there’s a car park just off Worcester Street.
Stroll along the canal to enjoy the local wildlife and passing colourful narrowboats.
5. Camden & King’s Cross, Regent’s Canal
Take your picnic to the bustling heart of London’s canal network. At Camden Locks, you’ll find markets, pubs and street food vendors. While there aren’t picnic benches along the canal in Camden, there are plenty of outdoor eateries to enjoy the views from. Five minutes from the towpath is Castlehaven Community Park, a large green space with plenty of picnic benches.
Alternatively, if you head one mile along the towpath to King’s Cross, you’ll find several canalside picnic areas, as well as the London Canal Museum for those wanting to learn a little of the canal’s history.
There's no parking, but King’s Cross and St. Pancras stations are extremely close, and are accessible by National Rail and most Tube lines.
Enjoy a picnic in the sun at King's Cross.
6. Little Venice, Regent’s Canal
Little Venice is where the Regent’s Canal joins the Grand Union, once part of a busy trading route connecting the Midlands to the River Thames.
One of London’s most picturesque spots, Little Venice is a lovely spot for a picnic. So, take your hamper to Rembrandt Gardens or get something to eat from a floating café, while watching the boats go by.
Paddington Station is the nearest, but you can also walk from Warwick Avenue or Westbourne Park Tube Stations.
After your lunch, take a ride on one of the trip boats to explore London from the water.
7. Three Mills Island, Lee Navigation
On the banks of the River Lee, you’ll find the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, home of the 2012 Olympic Games. But the history of this site goes back to the 11th century and the old industrial mills. Over the years, the mills have ground everything from flour to gunpowder to grain for gin.
There are several picnic spots at Three Mills Island, where you can pause to watch boats navigate the locks. You’ll also find a play park on the green.
You can get to Three Mills Island by Tube to Stratford or Bromley-by-Bow, or take the DLR.
Take a tour of The House Mill, the world’s largest surviving tidal mill, and visit the Olympic Park
