The Ins And Outs Of Picnics: How To Picnic In Style

Of course, you can always go with a scenic natural spot in one of the Natural Trust properties or famous British castles, or opt-in for more unique experience.

For example, why not hire a boat and enjoy a picnic while travelling downstream on the Thames. We can help you arrange this romantic ride down the river or a family day out to discover London landmarks from the water.

If the idea of having to pack a picnic and get in your car is too much hassle, why not have your very own outdoor movie picnic evening. You'll need some bean bags, cushions and blankets to get cozied up in front of Vamvo Outdoor Projector Screen for a movie night. That's a perfect format for a romantic night, kids party, family gathering, a girls-only sleepover or a hen-do.

No matter which format you choose, you'll always need a few essentials for the top-notch experience, such as picnic baskets, blankets, tableware and glassware. Carefully selecting these essentials will make your picnic stand out.

For a boat picnic, we recommend the turquoise homeware picnic collection of Fortnum & Mason or their ready-made hampers Fortnum & Mason Luxury Hampers.

For a more classy option, perfect for Glyndebourne, go for Tolly McRae's luxury picnic rugs, The Luxe Company's rangpur leather picnic trunk and J.A. Marshall & Sons' drinks case.

For a picnic like Beaulieu or Pub in the Park we recommend Not On The High Street's personalized picnic hamper and Daylesford's white and green tableware collection.

A perfect food selection is key to a successful picnic. To avoid the stress of preparing entrés, mains and desserts, you may want to hire a caterer and enjoy your picnic without the stress of cooking. We recommend Duke's Hotel especially if you want to bring along your furry friend and allow them to enjoy their very own bespoke picnic. Other options include Platter London and Daylesford.

Arrange your setup in layers, starting with the iconic English wool picnic blanket. You can find a perfect option at the F&M in neutral beige and off-white colours with a handy genuine leather handle to carry it around. Arrange your plates on top of contrasting napkins – I like fine cotton white with pink scallop napkins from Sophie Conran London - or rattan placemats, which you can find in Zara Home or Anthropologie stores. Bring food to your picnic spot in the elegant picnic basket; it gives your al fresco setting classic and contemporary vibes at the same time.

Now to the plates. To add some life to the muted natural colour palette of our blankets and placemats, we chose the Bordallo Pinheiro crockery. This fine earthenware is hand-painted by skilled artisans in Portugal, featuring detailed daisies, dahlias and roses with cheerful green, pink and yellow. Another bright accent is the eye-catching serving ware in pink and green: cake stands, large platters and small leave-shaped dishes are a perfect choice to present your cakes and canapés in a stylish and fun way. Match the plates with genuine bamboo handle cutlery and stainless steel from Sabre Paris.

What about drinks? Natural colour rattan cage pitcher and coordinated high ball from Hammett and a fresh pink swirl from Murano Italy will complete your bohemian set perfectly.