The Great British Picnic: Where to Savour Summer in Style

Not all UK picnic locations are created equal. Some elevate the humble hamper to an art form, with scenery that demands you stay a little longer, walk a little further, and perhaps pour one more glass of English fizz. Here’s our selection of some of the UK’s best picnic locations, each paired with a hotel that knows how to do leisure, luxury and lashings of al fresco style.

Plymouth Hoe, Devon

Few picnic backdrops can rival the seafront drama of Plymouth Hoe. With commanding views over the Sound, this historic spot has witnessed everything from Sir Francis Drake’s famous game of bowls to naval pageantry and ocean races. Find a bench beneath the iconic Smeaton’s Tower lighthouse, or simply stretch out on the manicured lawns to watch yachts and seabirds skim the waves. Time your visit with the golden hour and you’ll feel like you’ve stepped into a painting.

Stay at: Boringdon Hall, a sumptuous Elizabethan manor on the edge of Dartmoor, where indulgent spa treatments and candlelit dinners await after your salty-air afternoon.

Verulamium Park, Hertfordshire

History and horticulture collide at Verulamium Park in St Albans, a lush green expanse that overlays a former Roman city. There’s a lakeside amphitheatre for a dramatic backdrop, wildflower meadows buzzing with bees, and the odd mosaic peeking through the grass - a gentle reminder you’re picnicking over two thousand years of civilisation. The park’s perfectly kept lawns, swan-dotted lake and tranquil riverside paths make it one of the UK best picnic locations for a lazy, cultured escape.

Stay at: Sopwell House, a whitewashed Georgian estate with gorgeous garden suites and a spoiling spa, ideal for recharging after a day in Roman Britain.

Westonbirt Arboretum, Gloucestershire

When it comes to UK outdoor dining, few places are as seasonally spectacular as Westonbirt. With over 2,500 tree species from across the globe, this arboretum is a living, leafy encyclopaedia of colour and calm. In spring, the cherry blossoms rival Kyoto, and by autumn, it’s a riot of crimson and gold. Tuck into your hamper beneath a canopy of Japanese maples, or wander the STIHL treetop walkway for a lofty pre-picnic stroll.

Stay at: Calcot & Spa, a family-friendly haven with countryside-chic charm, or opt for The Painswick, a dapper Cotswolds hideaway with views as ravishing as the rhododendrons.

Cawfields Picnic Site, Northumberland

Set beside a quiet tarn along the most rugged and cinematic stretch of Hadrian’s Wall, Cawfields is remote beauty at its finest. Tumble down the hill with your rug and sandwiches and you’ll find yourself picnicking in the company of Roman legacies, curlew song and sheep-shaped silhouettes on the horizon. This is UK gourmet picnics at their wildest and most windswept. Bring a thermos of tea - or something stronger - and toast to timeless views.

Stay at: Farlam Hall, a refined country house where crackling fires and seasonal tasting menus wrap you in Cumbrian comfort.

Snape’s Point, Salcombe, Devon

This lesser-known headland is a well-kept secret among South Hams locals. Pack your hamper and follow the footpath through rolling fields and hedgerows until the landscape opens up to a painterly view across the Kingsbridge Estuary. Picnic beneath the gnarled oaks and watch the tide ease in and out like the breath of the Devon coast. With paddleboarders drifting by and the occasional egret wading in the shallows, it’s a quiet corner of paradise.

Stay at: Thurlestone Hotel, a grand jewel on the Devon coast with spa facilities, clifftop golf and sea views that rival the Mediterranean.

Bowlees Picnic Area, County Durham

In the heart of the North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, Bowlees is a hidden gem that channels a certain pastoral poetry. Picture wildflower meadows, craggy limestone gorges and rivers that gurgle over pebbles like nature’s own soundtrack. The nearby High Force Waterfall is just a stroll away and delivers the perfect pre-lunch drama. This is UK picnic locations for the adventurous soul - remote, refreshing and utterly real.

Stay at: Seaham Hall, a coastal sanctuary just over an hour’s drive away, where you can follow your rustic repast with holistic treatments and candlelit baths in one of the UK’s most atmospheric spas.

Dartmoor National Park, Devon

With its vast moorland, granite tors and wild ponies, Dartmoor is a picnic spot straight from English folklore. Hike to Bellever Forest for riverside tranquillity, or set up beside a babbling brook near Haytor with the open sky overhead and not a soul in sight. On warm days, the air smells of gorse and freedom - a rare kind of wilderness where your only company might be a sheep and the occasional hiker.

Stay at: Bovey Castle, a stately retreat right in the heart of the national park, where you can swap your walking boots for champagne and croquet come evening.

The Thames Path, Henley-on-Thames

Leafy, regal and unmistakably English, Henley-on-Thames is tailor-made for riverside lounging. The Thames Path winds through water meadows and old boathouses, perfect for a gentle amble before laying out your picnic rug near the iconic bridge. Rowers pass by in rhythmic grace, and the town’s Georgian charm hums in the background. Pick up picnic treats from the local deli or farmers’ market, and you’re all set.

Stay at: Relais Henley, an elegantly restored coaching inn right on the riverbank, with a restaurant that knows a thing or two about seasonal British flavours.