Celebrate the outdoors: The Art of the Great British Picnic

The British picnic emerged as a fashionable novelty in the 18th century when aristocrats started eating elaborate meals in carefully manicured outdoor settings, essentially moving their dining rooms into carefully landscaped outdoor vistas. At this stage it was not even called a picnic.

The name ‘pic nic’ came from a large group of Francophiles escaping the French revolution and maintaining their tradition of each bringing a dish for everyone to taste and enjoy. This was actually an indoor affair – it was the burgeoning English middle classes who moved the idea outdoors.

In fact it was the Victorians who went truly overboard with their outdoor dining, transforming it into a complex social ritual complete with special paraphernalia and rigid etiquette.

The picnic became a way to display status and refinement, whilst appearing to embrace rustic simplicity. Every “spontaneous” outdoor meal required military-level planning and an army of servants!

Blitz Spirit

The two World Wars accidentally democratized and simplified the picnic. As rationing and social upheaval stripped away Victorian fussiness, outdoor eating became a practical necessity rather than a leisure pursuit. Eating outside became commonplace, whether by choice in countryside evacuations or land girls in the fields, or by circumstance in bomb shelters and factory courtyards. 

This wartime pragmatism evolved into the post-war family car picnic, where the boot became Britain's mobile pantry and the roadside verge transformed into the nation's dining room. People even used little picnic shelves for their car that slotted into the base of the car door windows so they could enjoy a sandwich and home grown tomatoes with a beautiful view in shelter and comfort.

Unique access to roam

In Britain, the opportunities to enjoy picnicking al fresco are limitless. We enjoy uniquely wide ranging access to our beautiful countryside with byways, public footpaths, bridleways and green lanes with a history before the Romans, all the way back to pre-historic times.

Organisations such as the National Trust and English Heritage provide access to our extraordinary heritage from castles to coastal routes.

Wellbeing and wild

Covid reminded everyone of the importance and joy of nature for our mental health, fitness and wellbeing. We are now truly a nation of hikers, birdwatchers, wild swimmers, fishermen, surfers, cyclists, climbers, paddleboarders and adventurers, loving our outdoor pursuits. Go anywhere in the UK now and you will find people enjoying our glorious outdoors.

Plus our cultural heritage and indomitable spirit (and famously unpredictable weather) ensures we are not a nation of fair weather picnic-ers – grab your kit and let’s go!

At British Fine Foods, we feel there is no better way to enjoy the Great British Isles than fuelled by the artisan foods created on our lands. The diverse and unique terrains, (terroir), create unique flavours and textures. 

At British Fine Foods, we feel there is no better way to enjoy the Great British Isles than fuelled by the artisan foods created on our lands. The diverse and unique terrains, (terroir), create unique flavours and textures.

Our passionate producers combine ancient techniques with innovative culinary methods, to create truly exceptional gourmet foods – perfect to enjoy on the land where produced. All our producers have exceptional welfare and sustainable farming practices and enjoying their produce means lower food miles and supporting British farmers and producers – causes we are passionate about.

Ten best picnic foods (from British Fine Foods)

All picnics are not made equal! Make sure yours is full of handmade artisan gourmet delights and remember the key to the perfect picnic lies in considering portability.

Are you eating close to a car , or planning to hike and enjoy at the top of the hill? We have included our favourite perfect portables like Scotch eggs and waxed and boxed cheeses as well as items to pop in a lovely traditional picnic hamper for the more decadent and leisurely lazy afternoon picnic like English Rose and smoked salmon.

(or in the Twickenham car park before the rugby)

Here are our finest curated ingredients for the best of British picnic:

1. Sublime Pork Pies
   Traditional hand made cold pies with free range pork farmed in Notts, crumbly rich pastry, a seam of rich jelly and seasoned to perfection. Made by award winning Country Victualler.
2. Traditional Scotch eggs
   Crispy crumb on the outside, succulent sausage meat on the inside wrapped around a perfectly cooked free range egg. Designed to be eaten on the road, they are the ultimate portable protein!
3. Cheese
   The joy of British artisan cheeses is almost limitless – so many to choose from! Our picnic classics include a great robust cheddar such as Pitchfork, creamy Organic Cotswold brie, waxed Lancashire Black Bomb or a boxed wheel of Baron Bigod or Isle of Wight Blue.
4. Alderton sliced ham
   Deliciously moist and succulently sweet world famous still made to Colonel Dickinson’s original recipe.
5. Pâtè
   Nothing beats smothering delicious pâtès on a handful of fresh baguette. Our summer seasonal favourites include Chalk Stream Smoked Trout, Mushroom, Madeira and Truffle, Lentil and Coconut cream (vg), Duck Liver, Apricot and Cointreau.
6. Fish
   Cured, smoked and potted fish are our go-to for ‘posh’ picnics, pescatarian picnic-ers and waterside picnics. Hand smoked and cured smoked fish like our Beetroot Cured Smoked Salmon, Potted shrimp and salmon and our bitesize Salmon Timbales make delicious picnic treats.
7. Charcuterie sticks
   Salamis, sticks and sliced charcuterie pack the flavour punch of the picnic and make perfect portables. Our favourites are Moon Greens Fennel Beer Sticks, Venison ‘Deer’ sticks, Beef Bresaola and Lamb and Preserved Lemon Saucisson.
8. Cream Tea
   Handmade luxury scones, slathered with lashings of clotted cream and jam. The only question is – cream or jam first?!
9. Cake Loaf
   The BEST time to enjoy cake (in our opinion) is after a long walk, a swim, a chilly surf – those times when you really appreciate the sugar. Cake loaves are the easiest to carry and share with our seasonal favourites being Clam’s Lemon Drizzle, Welsh Bara Bryth and Carrot Cake loaves.
10. Condiments
    A picnic is not complete without your favourite pickles, chutneys, piccalillis, jams or marmalades. Our current picnic obsessions are Pear Pickle, Red Onion Marmalade, Bloody Mary Chutney and Chilli jam.
11. Wet your whistle…
    This choice comes down to the type of picnic you’re planning. Are you looking for crisp Balfour Nanette English Rosé for a leisurely lunch, Hawkshead Lakeland Gold beer or Charrington’s Cryals Classic Sparkling cider for a day on the beach, or a lovely refreshing soft drink to share like Braes O-Gowrie Sparkling Elderflower or Owlet English Cherry juice from the ‘garden of England’.

Explore our pre-selected picnics to suit different pursuits and budgets and hampers or Build your Bespoke hamper here.

Explore these guides to find your perfect picnic spots around the UK

WILD guide – our favourite guides on all things wild from swimming, canoeing, hiking, cycling, rock pooling, fishing and every other way to enjoy our great outdoors.

Best picnic spots | National Trust – from amazing houses to coastal beauty spots this National Trust guide is a great way to plan a day out.

Britain’s best picnic spots – Countryfile.com  Stunning locations across the UK from the BBC Countryfile team.

Ultimate guide to summer picnic spots near you | Forestry England  Shady spots across the country, often with picnic table supplied.

Despite the busyness of the capital is has remarkable green spaces all over to get away from the crowds

The Best Picnic Places in London for Scenic Lunches

Visit | The Royal Parks

The joy of the nation’s footpaths and bridleways is that there is an extensive choice of walks to lift the spirits and take in the surroundings with amazing food

Go walking – Ramblers

Time Out Country Walks 1 – 52 walks near London

The national cycle network means you can be out in the middle of nowhere under your own steam in no time.  A perfect excuse for an energy giving picnic for the ride home

Traffic-free family rides – Sustrans.org.uk

If you want to go further off the beaten track or fancy a dip before lunch try these:

Wild picnic spots | The Wildlife Trusts

Wild swimming in the UK: the 17 best places to go in 2024 | House & Garden

Another way to connect with nature and have lunchtime treats too, is fishing and there are many opportunities to fish – here are a few to be going on with:

Britain’s best fishing locations | Countryfile.com

Map – Angling Trust

Orvis Guide to Fly Fishing Spots Trusty outdoor wear brand Orvis have created a handy guide to fly fishing spots across the UK.