Eating al fresco is a simple pleasure, but nobody is taking it for granted after weeks cooped up inside. As tentative partial lockdown lifting allows us to spend more time in the great outdoors, picnicking is a perfect way to savour the sunshine while maintaining your distance. So make the most of this new-found freedom with our edit of the best picnic kit.
Fortnum & Mason’s traditional two-person Piccadilly Stripe hamper is ideal for romance. With bone china mugs and plates, wine glasses, cotton napkins and the classic wicker hamper, it has an old-school elegance, while the mini salt and pepper mills and crucial corkscrew ensure you have everything you need for dinner à deux. Just note that a hamper this smart demands to be filled with only the finest foods – no soggy shop -bought sandwiches at this picnic…
Fortnum & Mason Piccadilly Stripe two-person picnic hamper, £275 – buy here
Harrods’ green canvas picnic bag is more practical and portable than a hamper, but just as elegant. There’s a thermal insulated compartment for keeping everything cool and a front pocket packed with all the cutlery, plates and glasses needed for a four-person feast. We particularly like the mini wooden chopping board and corkscrew, too.
Harrods Filled Picnic Bag for four, £100 – buy here
This minimalist modern take on the picnic hamper doubles up as storage when not carrying your lunch. The simple coated steel and bamboo design includes three compartments for keeping things neat, with handy carry handles. Those who don’t have the space to store a picnic hamper during the winter can repurpose it as a craft box, first-aid box, laundry caddy… anything goes.
Garden Trading Portland Hamper, £25 – buy here
If you find the wicker and gingham aesthetic of picnics a bit too twee, this minimalist black backpack is for you. The roomy, insulated design means you can lug loads of food around very comfortably. And inside there is a canvas carry case with four melamine plates and stainless steel cutlery.
VonShef Four-Person Roll-Top Picnic Backpack, £29.99 – buy here
If your main priority is a liquid lunch or a sunset toast, invest in a drinks hamper. The White Company’s handcrafted willow-woven basket holds two wine bottles, plus two acrylic glasses and a corkscrew. The insulated lining keeps your drinks crisp and cool and there’s enough space to squeeze in some ice packs and nibbles, too.
The White Company Picnic Drinks Hamper, £45 – buy here
Pack your picnic food the sustainable way with reusable beeswax wraps rather than clingfilm. The cheery designs add pizzazz to your sandwiches, while each wrap saves at least 200 pieces of single-use plastic. The natural wax coating, with organic jojoba oil and tree resin on cotton ensures food stays fresh and is easy to wipe clean after each use.
Joules Children's Earth Lover pack of four Beeswax Wraps, was £16.95, now £13.56 – buy here
What’s cooler than being cool? A Yeti cooler. A cult favourite for beach parties, festivals, tailgating and just about anywhere you’d be drinking outdoors, it’s the most reliable cooler around. The ‘ColdLock Gasket’ system ensures your drinks stay icy cold, while the ‘No Sweat’ exterior means you won’t end up with a clammy condensation.
Yeti Roadie 20 Cooler, £199 – buy here
First of all, check the regulations of your local green spaces and find one where barbecues are permitted. Then, when you’re good to grill, set up this compact portable creation, which boasts cool-to-touch chrome handles, a protective base, integrated storage and a porcelain enamel firebox. Designed by master chef Heston Blumenthal, it provides optimal heat, tenderness and charred flavours.
The Conran Shop Cube Portable Barbecue, £149 – buy here
Along with being compact and fully waterproof, this oh-so practical picnic rug is decorated with Ordnance Survey maps of London parks, so you plan your next walk while lounging on the grass.
Ordnance Survey London Parks Waterproof Picnic Rug, £39.99 – buy here
Even if you aren't planning a full-blown picnic, it's wise to take your own snacks while cafés and restaurants are still closed. These cute little cool bags are perfect for kids and the young at heart.
Sass & Belle Sunflowers lunch bag, £5 – buy here and Safari lunch bag, £7.50 – buy here
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