Summer’s getting into full swing and we’re all spending more time outside. But exactly what it takes to transform your picnic into an enchanted lunchtime escape can be hard to find. To that end, SPHERE has rounded up the best that the shelves and specialty stockists have to offer for a truly divine dining experience, ready for the summer sunshine.
Must-Haves for a Luxury London Picnic in Summer 2025
Words by
Daisy Finch
10th July 2025
There's no shortage of artisanal treats to spice up your summer picnic in 2025. With temperatures rising and the days growing longer, Londoners are flocking to the city's infamous parks. We've gathered up some of the best additions (and some ready made hampers) to make your al fresco dining a decadent affair.
Vegetarian Antipasti Hamper – The De Beauvoir Deli
Antipasti isn't just for the meat-eaters—The De Beauvoir Deli has ensured everyone can enjoy this continental favourite.
Antipasti is a picnicking favourite, so for new-and-old vegetarians alike, the De Beauvoir Deli’s Vegetarian Luxury Hamper will be a happy addition to any al fresco dining plans. As well as rennet-free artisan cheese, the hamper offers a selection of accompaniments that are packed with flavour.
From the tangy of Shedletsky’s Bread & Butter Pickles and Icontadini’s Artichokes alla Cruaiola, to twists on classic grazing staples like Brindisa’s Smoked Catalan Almonds and De Beauvoir Deli’s own Onion Marmalade—there’s an exciting range of flavours to keep all your guests happy.
The De Beauvoir Deli, from £115, find more information on their website.
Fieldbar Cool Box – The Fieldbar Co.
Fieldbar's luxury cooler gives the picnic essential a vintage twist, as seen in their 2024 collection.
Keeping things cool in the heat can get especially challenging as we enter the warmer months of the summer season. But Fieldbar has an effective and stylish solution to this dilemma with their range of cooler boxes. Their 10 litre Drinks Box is perfect for a bottle of bubbly, or if you’re spending the day away from home the Gin Trunk will fit an impressive 24 litres of your preferred tipple.
There's six colours to choose from so whatever your picnicking dream looks like, you can be sure that at least the drinks will be ice-cold.
Fieldbar, from £179, find more information here.
Portable Cocktails – NIO
NIO's flat-pack cocktails are easily slipped into the side of a well-stuffed picnic hamper.
Nothing welcomes the summer heat like a cocktail. But the bulkier cans or plastic pre-mixed bottles aren't always the easiest items to add to an already over-stuffed picnic basket. Instead, NIO have introduced a flat pack cocktail that can easily be slipped into the side of your cooler bag or hamper as an elegant surprise addition or a cheeky extra.
Their selection of tipples includes all the classics, from Cosmopolitans to Whiskey Sours, with lower-alcohol options too. Gin Proved and White Lady are highly rated and offer floral lavender notes and sweet citrus respectively—perfect for a sunny afternoon.
NIO, from £19.50 for a box of three, see their collection here.
The Henley Luncheon Hamper - Paxton & Whitfield
Pick up Paxton & Whitfield’s selection of specialty cheeses with buttermilk biscuits and a Damson & Crab Apple preserve to suit any palette. Why not pick up a bottle of something bubbly like REAL’s Peony sparkling tea and head to St James’s Park to soak in the sun?
For a truly indulgent feast, double up on the biscuits and treat yourself to a block of their exclusive Truffle Brie (£18 for 250g) and, of course, an extra box of crackers. Soft and hard cheeses aplenty, with chutneys and humous to top it all off—it's a match made in picnicking heaven.
Paxton & Whitfield, from £40, explore their collection of hampers here.
The Signature Selection Box - Cobble Lane Cured
Charming charcuteries are on offer at Cobble Lane Cured. Simply grab a loaf of bread still warm from the oven and you've got the quick makings of fine dining on the go.
Islington-based butchery Cobble Lane Cured has made a name for itself for its Italian-inspired produce and ethical sourcing. Pop into their site or, if you’ve got a bit more time, order online for a selection of some of London’s best selection of dried meats.
Highbury Fields is a good next stop to sit and enjoy your goods – pair with your favourite salsa on crackers or grab a box of seasonal fruit from Benita Bakery on your way to build your own charcuterie selection.
Cobble Lane Cured, from £40, find their range of hampers here.
Taste of Prunier Hamper - Caviar House & Prunier
Caviar House & Prunier's hampers offer the last word in luxury dining. Once you've had a caviar picnic, you'll never want to go back.
Next to Buckingham Palace, Caviar House & Prunier’s selection of hampers is a treat fit for royalty. Their ‘Taste of Prunier’ selection comes with three specialty flavours and a bottle of Caviar House Brut Champagne. Upgrade to ‘The Royal Hamper’ for a 75cl bottle and a 125g tin of Beluga caviar, with mother of pearl spoons to dial up the decadence.
Victoria Park is just a short walk away, so head for brighter pastures with a blanket rolled under your arm and your newly acquired indulgent feast. We can't imagine a better afternoon.
Caviar House & Prunier, from £350, find more information here.
Panzer's Charcuterie Board - Panzer's
Panzer's have streamlined the charcuterie experience so everything you need is neatly stored in a beautifully presented (and very portable) box.
Based in St John's Wood, Panzer's have made beautiful and equally delicious outdoor dining as easy as possible. Their charcuterie boxes come packed with cured meats, olives, seasonal berries, fresh tomatoes and humous, ready to be taken away and eaten on the day.
Order from Panzer’s for an afternoon pick up, then head with their beautifully organised array of nibbles to Primrose Hill for a similarly spectacular view.
Panzer’s, St John’s Wood, from £85, available to order here.
New York Bagels - Papo's Bagels
Just down a small alley, Papo's Bagels often has people queuing up to street level. But it's not hard to see why–headed by a couple who moved to London from New York, they wanted to bring a true taste of the Big Apple to England. Signature smears and delicate smoked salmon are generously loaded onto freshly made bagels each day, and I've got it straight from a New York native that it's the closest thing to the original you'll find.
For each filling you can pick the perfect doughy base from their selection of seasoned bagels in store, or order one of their platters for in-store pick up ahead of time. Nearby Hackney Downs makes a good spot to savour the taste of New York, if you can wait that long.
Papo's Bagels, from £9, find out more of their story and pre-order here.
Mixed Brownie Box – Cutter & Squidge
Whether you want a desert that's rich in cocoa or a light and sweet white chocolate alternative, Cutter & Squidge's mixed brownie box will cater to any chocolate palette.
Often, after preparing all the savoury snacks required of a truly luxurious picnic or planning out your pre-made selection, it can be hard to imagine you'll ever be hungry again. But the mysterious workings of an after dinner sweet mean your guests will surely have room for a small indulgent treat, especially if it's the workings of Cutter & Squidge.
The mixed brownie box is conveniently packed into a cardboard box to ensure your cocoa confectionary doesn't get, well, squidged. A variety of flavours means that guests can pick their favourite depending on their preference for white, milk, or dark and there's two of each flavour to avoid any squabbles.
Cutter & Squidge, from £18.99, browse their brownies here.
Ready-Made Event Catering – The Luxury Picnic Company
The Luxury Picnic Company's event platters make bagels, sandwiches, and fruit tarts the ideal match to any important al fresco event.
While a quick picnic in the park is a quickly organised affair, for the more ambitious picnicker al fresco dining might be the chosen event for a family get together or birthday feast. Here, we'd suggest handing catering over to the professionals at the Luxury Picnic Company.
Their event platters contain a host of treats, from the usual suspects like pre-cut bagels, crackers and a tempting selection of cheese, to platters bursting with colour, neatly cut vegetables and seasonal fruit arranged like works of art. Their bakery selection is no different: gold coated brownies, pastel macarons and flower-topped loaf cakes mark the perfect end to any occasion.
The Luxury Picnic Company, from £36pp for their picnic set up, contact them here to start arranging the all-important catering to match.
Custom Cheeseboard – Pistachio & Pickle Dairy
Pistachio & Pickle Dairy's selection of cheese, crackers and chutneys can be custom selected at their Islington home.
Hidden in Camden Passage, Pistachio & Pickle Dairy's selection of cheeses, crackers and chutneys are equally fitting for a lunch in the city centre as an early supper on a quiet village green. This spirit of sunny afternoons at the cricket is transported to Islington thanks to their friendly cheesemongers who are happy to help curate their customers' ideal selection.
Founder Steve Cooper suggests that the best picnic is one that is pre-prepared. Instead of trying to pack chopping boards and cheese knives, Cooper says it's a good idea to cut the cheese into small pieces and treat your picnic like a selection of finger food–no cutlery required.
Pistachio & Pickle Dairy, Cheese Selection from £26, find more information here.
