Top Tips For Planning The Perfect Picnic In Hyde Park

There are many fantastic picnic spots in London, though arguably none offer the same appeal as Hyde Park. One of the city's foremost Royal Parks, Hyde Park joins an elite group of green spaces dotted around the city, and provides the ideal backdrop for your picnic this summer. Here's a few top tips for making the most of your trip...

Find a great picnic blanket

No picnic is truly complete without a picnic blanket, and if you're eager to keep things traditional during your stay at Hyde Park accommodations, then you're in luck – there are lots of places around the city where you can find a picnic blanket to suit your needs.

When you're making your selection, consider how many people will be joining the picnic, particularly if you don't want to be lugging around a blanket which is heavy and cumbersome.

For bargains, head to shops such as Go Outdoors, which specialise in items for outdoor living including camping and picnic kit. If you are on the hunt for something more decorative for an extra special picnic, try a trip to Selfridges, Harrods, John Lewis and London's other top historic department stores.

Organise your picnic storage

To transport (and serve) your picnic, you need the right utensils. If you're planning to stay away from plastic and be a little more eco-friendly, you might like to invest in a picnic hamper – some of the very best come equipped with plates, storage compartments for your food and even compact metal cutlery.

In addition to being a convenient way to store the things you take on your picnic, this is also a way to make the experience feel altogether more luxurious and the items you purchase can be re-used at a later date.

Pick up your picnic food

London not only provides the dream picnic location, but there are also plenty of fabulous places to pick up your food for the trip.

Whether you have specific dietary requirements you want to adhere to, or simply want to find the most indulgent treats for your picnic, at the hotel Park Grand London Hyde Park, you're close to some of the top foodie destinations in the city.

If you're on the lookout for luxury items, then head for Fortnum & Mason, a heritage grocery store in London which has the Royal seal of approval, as well as stocking everything from ornate food hampers to preserves and jams from the Highgrove Estate (the country home of Prince Charles). Alternatively, the Harrods Food Hall was first established in 1834, and provides a shopping experience every bit as delightful as the dishes you can purchase within. Much like Fortnum & Mason, the space is known for everything from wines to coffee, tea and chocolate.

At many of the city's top food stores, you will have the option of getting some of your items prepared for you in store, or can pick up some ready-made sandwiches and sweet treats if you're hoping to cut down on food prep yourself. Some outlets will even prepare your entire picnic for you, ready to be picked up on the day. This is a great option for anyone keen on making the experience as stress-free as possible.

Choose your picnic spot

Even though Hyde Park is a fantastic destination for your picnic, the park itself is vast. It's also one of the city's most popular outdoor attractions, so at various times of the year (particularly during great picnic weather) it's always wise to plan ahead.

During your stay at the hotel Park Grand London Hyde Park, you're ideally placed for reaching the park with ease, helping to create a hassle-free trip! Some of the areas in the park are too heavily populated during the day for a relaxing picnic, but if you arrive in good time you'll be able to find somewhere which suits your needs.

Check any rules or regulations

While picnics are welcome in each of the Royal Parks, they also all have distinctive regulations to help make sure the experience is pleasant for everyone in attendance. There are particularly stringent rules regarding the number of guests who can attend one gathering, and at Hyde Park the total is set to 40 guests. In addition, there are a few other rules to abide by, including:

No cooking or barbecuing in the park – this rule is designed to help preserve the active wildlife in the park, as well as preventing fire hazards and making sure the park remains a welcoming space.

No audible music – this is another rule which helps to make sure everyone in the park can enjoy a day out, so avoid bringing music which will be audible to other visitors.

No permanent/semi-permanent structures – individual groups are prohibited from bringing anything to Hyde Park which might need to be fixed into the ground or to a tree. As with so many of the rules surrounding picnics, this is to ensure that the park is preserved in the best possible condition. The rule applies to tents, marquees and any other permanent or semi-permanent structure.

Get to know the park

Last but certainly not least, as you're visiting Hyde Park, why not get to know the area a little while you plan your trip? There's so much to see and do, and a rich history which accompanies the space.

Hyde Park is today largely known for its festivals and concerts, which are regularly held on the park grounds. It covers over 360 acres, and includes a wide variety of different monuments, attractions, gardens and memorials.

For fans of the water, the Serpentine is a 40-acre lake which is sure to impress. At its northern side you'll find the famed Italian Gardens, which provide a great after-picnic walk! If you're bringing children, they'll be sure to enjoy a trip to the Diana Memorial Playground, which includes an enormous replica of a pirate ship – and if you're feeling particularly active, you can head to Kensington Palace or the adjoining Kensington Gardens to continue your day out.