International Picnic Day 2023

By Carrie Larwood, June 16, 2023

It’s National Picnic Week from the 17^th – 25^th June and International Picnic Day 2023 on June 18^th!

There are so many beautiful parks and open spaces in London and surrounding areas, why not take the chance to spend some time with family and friends in the great outdoors.

If you only have an hour or so, fill up a picnic basket, grab a blanket, and go to a nearby park for lunch. If you’re lucky enough to have all day, hold a full-blown picnic, with food, fun, and games.

Not sure what food to pack? Most of the big supermarkets have some great ideas.

The origins of this lovely event are said to have started in France back in the mid-1800’s. After the French Revolution, royal parks began to re-open, and communities would enjoy these beautiful areas with outdoor dining.

Here are a few fun facts about the event:

The word picnic is actually French. It comes from the word ‘Pique-nique’.
In the first half of the 19th century, there was a picnic society in London. They would meet on Oxford Street in London!
In the year 2000, the French organised a 600-mile-long picnic to celebrate the first Bastille Day of the new millennium. Who would have fancied cleaning that up?!
The famous song The Teddy Bear’s Picnic was created and composed back in 1907.

There are hundreds of places in London and surrounding areas to enjoy a picnic. Please note that there are specific guidelines that you must follow. Also bear in mind that barbeques are not allowed in most open air spaces.

Holding-Picnics-in-the-Royal-Parks

Bushy Park – 20 guests
Hyde Park – 40 guests
The Green Park – 20 guests
Greenwich Park – 25 guests
Kensington Gardens – 30 guests
The Regent’s Park – 40 guests
Richmond Park – 40 guests
St James’s Park – 60 guests

There are also wonderful spaces such as the Horniman Museum Gardens. If you can get out of London RHS Wisley Gardens is just a short drive away.

If you are outside of London, the National Trust have some beautiful open spaces in their properties across the country. For example Gunby Estate in Lincolnshire are hosting a special event. Bring a blanket and picnic, they’ll provide the outdoor games which will include egg and spoon racing, skittles and hoops. Times are from 10am to 4pm. There will be hundreds more events like these on around the UK, so you are bound to find one near you.

Happy Picknicking!