Picnics are one of the highlights of summer. Whether it’s a big, organised affair or a spontaneous grab-and-go situation – a quicknic? – getting outdoors to enjoy some delicious food with your favourite people is always a good idea.
But is there a recipe for a perfect picnic? Are there certain foods or bits of kit that will take your alfresco outing from fine to fabulous? And what about hay fever sufferers – can they survive the pollen blast? (Slipping Beconase nasal spray into the picnic basket alongside the dips, for when hay fever symptoms occur, may help.)
We spoke to three picnic-loving writers for their top tips. Here’s how to take your summer 2025 picnics to the next level …
Lauren: journalist, author, hay fever sufferer
When it comes to picnics I’m very British in that bad weather is no barrier. I have lots of happy memories of very rainy picnics as a kid – best of all, a Boxing Day eating Christmas leftovers at the top of Salisbury Crags in Edinburgh.
Summer picnics are trickier because I can’t sit in direct sunlight and I have hay fever (I know, I’m basically a sickly Victorian child). That being said, my key picnic picks are:
A shady spot: big trees are my best friend – and I’ll be wearing my sun hat and copious amounts of suntan lotion.
All the crisps: I absolutely love to make a “crisps salad”. I get lots of different types – posh, ridged, nostalgic, all different flavours – and put them in a big bowl for a pic’n’mix type situation.
A substantial salad: I also want a real refreshing salad. My favourite is watermelon, feta and mint, which travels really well.
Nasal spray: I discovered a non-drowsy nasal spray for my hay fever a few years ago, and it’s a gamechanger. There’s nothing worse than trying to make core memories yet you can’t be fully present because you’re not feeling your best. I love that this spray helps me be on really top form.
Sonali: chef, food stylist, dip connoisseur
When it comes to picnics I want easy, I want to relax. So I’ve developed tried and tested dishes that travel well, are easy to eat alfresco and, best of all, taste delicious. My top foodie picks are:
Delicious dips: I love jazzing up shop-bought hummus by whizzing through some herbs and green chilli, and it’s instantly elevated. Spiced yoghurt dips are also super-easy. I fry cumin seeds, sliced garlic and curry leaves until crispy, leave them to cool then stir into the yoghurt.
Homemade sausage rolls: they always impress, but are no effort at all. I add in lots of flavour to make them a bit more fun. So I make a lamb kofta sausage roll with Turkish spices, or a seekh kebab one. For veggies, I just replace the meat with mushrooms – and, obviously, always shop-bought puff pastry!
Chopped salad: I cut everything up quite small, so even if all the forks have gone it’s easy to eat with a spoon. A chopped-up bean salad is nice and filling, or I do a chicken caesar. What’s really nice is that you can even eat these salads spread on bread or crackers, or in a lettuce cup.
Salt and pepper: I always pack small pots. Badly seasoned food is the worst, and the last thing you want is to be stuck in the middle of nowhere thinking: “I wish this had some salt.”
Lauren: health and wellness writer, eco-conscious picnicker
I’m big into picnic kit. Back in the day I had a traditional wicker picnic basket, which looked great but was heavy and had no insulation – very much style over substance. Now I’ve built up a much more practical set of picnic items that I can rely on year after year. My must-haves are:
Reusable crockery and cutlery: it’s worth investing in good quality reusable pieces rather than buying single-use paper and plastic – which aren’t even very nice to eat with. I have some brilliant bamboo bits – they’re lightweight, durable and BPA-free, so they’re better for you and the environment.
Cool bags: no one wants to sit down to a warm, slimy meal so a big, all-in-one cool bag is a must for me. I know some people prefer an army of smaller ones (separating drinks, fruit etc) but whichever you go for, you can never have too many ice packs!
A good quality blanket: look for the three Ws: waterproof backing, washable, wool. If it ticks all those boxes, you can’t go wrong.
A rubbish bag: I’m a big proponent of “leave no trace” – there’s nothing worse than people enjoying an idyllic nature spot then leaving it strewn with litter. If you know you’ve brought a rubbish bag, it makes the clean up as easy as it can be.
Beconase Hayfever Relief for Adults 0.05% Nasal Spray contains beclometasone dipropionate. For the treatment of hayfever in adults aged 18 and over. Always read the leaflet.
Disclaimer: the individuals featured in this article do not endorse Beconase.
