UK Picnic Spots

The first in the series
of great picnic spots of the world!

(I have started to separate out the counties into their own pages.)

Trebarwith Strand, Cornwall - recommended by Valentine Warner as being truly beautiful when the tide is out. It's just five minutes from Tintagel and good for bass fishing too. When you arrive, turn right and head away from the people who picnic close to their cars - but find out about tide times before you venture too far!

Brownsea Island, Dorset - take a boat to Brownsea Island, which used to be a smugglers’ haunt but is now a nature reserve. This island is car-free so you can picnic anywhere!

Bournemouth Beach, Devon - a golden beach, stretching for more than 7 miles. The gentle incline into the sea makes it safe for swimming and an ideal UK picnic spot. It's regularly awarded Blue Flag status.

Northernhay Gardens, Exeter, Devon - one of the oldest public parks in England. It has stretches of Roman and Saxon town wall and, with views over Exeter, is a popular place to relax.

Royal Victoria Park, Bath, Somerset - a lovely municipal park overlooked by the Royal Crescent. A combination of differing landscapes including a boating pond and imaginative children's playground. Music lovers can often enjoy open-air concerts.

Picnic spots in Hampshire

Picnic spots in Sussex

Picnic spots in Surrey

Regents Park, London - visit the Diana exhibition in Kensington Palace and walk around the gardens. Sit in a deckchair by the lake and watch the swans.

Greenwich Park, London - between Greenwich and Lewisham, this is the oldest Royal Park and has an area of 183 acres. Situated on top of a hill, you can enjoy views over the Thames to St. Paul's and beyond. You might even catch sight of a celebrity - the area around the park is one of the top film locations in the UK. Harrison Ford, Pierce Brosnan, Hugh Grant and Angelina Jolie have all shot scenes there.

Bushy Park, Hampton Court Rd. - the second largest of Britain's Royal Parks. Picnic in the Woodland Gardens and look out for kingfishers.

Blenheim Palace, Woodstock, Oxfordshire - not just one of the most beautiful of UK picnic spots - Winston Churchill was born here! Enjoy a great day out visiting the historic home, pleasure gardens and park. Picnic by the lake, under an old oaktree or by the cascading water.

The Look Out Discovery Centre, Bracknell, Berkshire - 2,600 acres of woodland with cycle trails and lovely picnic areas. Lots of activities for children. Entrance fee is reasonable.

Stowe Landscape Garden, Bucks. - a lovely picnic venue - eat in a valley full of wild flowers or by the Temple of Venus, overlooking the lake.

Wendover Woods, between Wendover and Tring, Bucks. - 325 hectares of woodland offers spectacular views across the Vale of Aylesbury. For an energetic day, why not try the permanent orienteering course or the gruelling 1.5km Forest Fitness Trail? If this sounds too much like hard work, take a stroll along the 1km All Ability Hilltop Trail and stand at the highest point of the Chilterns. Barbecue stands are provided for your picnic.

Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire - huge expanse of natural beauty, offering lots of UK picnic spots.

Clumber park, Nottinghamshire - shady woods, an open heath and rolling farmland

Kedleston Hall, Derbyshire - Various walks to choose from before having your picnic in a classic British setting.

Brandon Country Park, Bury Road, Brandon, Suffolk - extensive parkland with a lake and lots of wildlife, a walled garden and an orchard.

Crook O’Lune, Lancashire - a popular beauty spot

Lyme Park, Cheshire - a breathtaking setting for a picnic. 1,400 acres in which to unfurl your rug! You might recognise it as the location for Pemberley in the BBC's adaptation of Pride and Prejudice in 1995. Don't forget to visit the setting of Colin Firth's famous lake scene!

Sewerby Hall and Gardens, East Riding of Yorkshire - has owned the prestigious title of Britain's Best Picnic Site for two years running. Visit their great website here.

Carmarthenshire has 14 picnic sites located throughout the county. Each picnic site is situated in a scenic setting, often with stunning views of the surrounding area. Go to Discover Carmarthenshire for more details.

Rhossili Bay, Gower, Wales was voted the Number One UK picnic spot by the British Guild of Travel Writers. I would therefore think that the 3 mile stretch of sandy beach and panoramic views from the cliffs must be worth a visit!

Fountains Abbey & Studley Royal Water Garden, North Yorkshire - world heritage site with ornamental lakes

Wallington, Northumberland - picnic on a selection of lawns including a central lawn where children can let off steam! Or find a more secluded spot near the pond. You’ll find a collection of dolls’houses in the house.

Linhope Spout, Northumberland - is a fabulous waterfall in the Breamish valley. If you want to jump from the top (60 ft drop) make sure you do this before your picnic lunch - and have towel and warm clothes to hand because this deep, but tiny, pool is freezing!

River Derwent at Gibside, Tyneside - access to lovely woodland walks and families can picnic in the ‘forest garden’. The estate is a site of special interest so look out for lots of wildlife.

Linlithgow Palace, West Lothian - birthplace of Mary, Queen of Scots. Stunning palace grounds and loch

Loch Insh, Inverness-shire - lots of picnic areas here as well as lovely trails and half a mile of beach

Crom Estate, Co. Fermanagh - acres of woodlands, wetlands and parklands with many paths and trails. A beautiful Irish picnic venue.

Cath Kidston's Top UK Picnic Spots are:

• Harlyn Bay, near Padstow in Cornwall
• Therfield Heath, near Royston in Hertfordshire
• Wye National Nature Reserve, near Wye in Kent
• Barley, near Pendle Hill in Lancashire
• Felbrigg Hall, near Cromer in Norfolk
• Glastonbury Tor, overlooking Glastonbury in Somerset
• Box Hill, near Dorking in Surrey
• Yorkshire Sculpture Park, Bretton, near Wakefield in West Yorkshire

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