The UK's five best picnic spots ahead of the May 2026 half-term
With longer days and rising temperatures, appetite for the great British picnic is growing
Box Hill
Roadside assistance experts The AA have revealed the UK’s ultimate park picnic destinations through a ‘Picnic Perfection’ index.
(Image: Getty)The UK’s five best picnic spots have been revealed. Roadside assistance experts The AA have revealed the UK’s ultimate park picnic destinations through a ‘Picnic Perfection’ index.
Analysing the top scenic locations across the country, the study considers Google search demand, review ratings, Instagram popularity, parking costs, sunshine hours and average temperatures to determine the nation’s most idyllic spots for lunching al fresco. With longer days and rising temperatures, appetite for the great British picnic is growing. Not only are there 118,300 global TikTok tags for #picnicaesthetic, but in the past three months, Google searches for 'picnic ideas’ have more than doubled in the UK, with ‘picnic’ searches forecast to peak at around 33,100 from April through to July.
1. Richmond Park, London
This came first as the best picnic destination thanks to its vast open spaces, ancient woodlands and iconic free-roaming deer. Visitors praise its peaceful atmosphere despite its city location, with plenty of secluded spots for a blanket and a basket. Its elevated viewpoints, including King Henry’s Mound, offer stunning skyline views.
(Image: Getty)2. Box Hill, Surrey
This is a perfect place for a family walk and to explore the National Landscape. Part of the North Downs, it offers views across the surrounding countryside. It's home to lots of wildlife and plants, including the Adonis blue butterfly and the bee orchid.
(Image: Getty)3. Seven Sisters Country Park, East Sussex
This haven is a unique place. It comprises 280 hectares of chalk cliffs, a meandering river valley, and open chalk grassland. It’s home to grazing sheep, rare flora and fauna and is a corridor for a large number of migrating birds, with the river Cuckmere cutting right through the area.
(Image: Getty)4. Bushy Park, London
Though it's set in a busy city, this is a haven for wildlife – from historic herds of resident deer and scores of protected anthills to ancient woodlands and winding waterways, home to kestrels, kingfishers, woodpeckers, skylarks, ducks, and insects. Its most famous landmark is the Grade I listed Diana Fountain.
(Image: Getty)5. Hampstead Heath, London
An ancient park, this park spans 320 hectares and is one of the highest points in the city. It is rambling and hilly, embracing ponds, recent and ancient woodlands, a lido, playgrounds, and a training track, and it adjoins the former stately home of Kenwood House and its estate.
(Image: Getty)