Last Updated on 16 May 2024 by Colette
I love a good picnic – be it a full on fancy picnic basket with plates job or a flask of chilli on a cold winter’s day. Over the years I’ve saved a fortune on days out by taking our own food as much as possible – regularly buying sandwiches or hot food on days out can quickly add up when there’s four of you (or even five if Dave manages to join us!)
With a little forward planning and the right equipment a picnic can be as much of a treat as it is a money saving tip!
Picnic Kit
When it comes to picnic kit, we have quite a few bits and pieces that we fall back on depending on the time of year. We have a beautiful John Lewis picnic basket which rarely sees the light of day as it is heavy and cumbersome – it’s perfect for those picnics when you want to be really fancy but don’t have to carry your things very far from the car! Typically we use a smaller cool bag with ice blocks or frozen Capri Sun to keep our food cold.
We’ve just added a Signature XXL picnic blanket (in the gorgeous Midnight Blue colour) to our kit so will update with a review once we’ve had chance to use it!
How to carry your picnic – the best picnic kit!
The Best Picnic Blanket for Larger Families
Why not try taking a hot picnic on your next day out?
Rubbastuff PACMAT Patch – Review
Montii bottles – Review
Ion8 pod – Review
Picnic Ideas
Picnics aren’t just for hot sunny lunches, sometimes they’re for hot sunny breakfasts too! As a family, we’re also big fans of winter picnics – there’s nothing better than pulling out a hot flask of food when you’re cold on a day out!
Why not try taking a hot picnic on your next day out?
Four reasons to take the kids for a breakfast picnic!
Picnic foods
This category is a little bit lacking isn’t it – something I need to work on this year I think! (If you’re looking for vegan picnic ideas, you’ll find those here)
Great places to picnic
We take picnics with us to pretty much anywhere – we’ve been known to eat our tea in the car from a flask after Dunham Massey Christmas lights, on a park bench on a freezing cold January day or on any number of long walks, days out or parks. Obviously if you can find somewhere with a picnic table then it makes life easier – but as long as you’ve got something to sit on, you can picnic pretty much anywhere!
Below you’ll find some of our favourite places to picnic! (And Sally has a list of great picnic spots in the North West too!)
10 Reasons You’ll Love Heaton Park
Our favourite North West beaches
Ogden & Piethorne Reservoir – Walks with Kids
Entwistle Reservoir, Bolton – Walks with Kids
Dovestone Reservoir – Walks with Kids
Are you already a picnic fan? Or have I done enough to convince you that a little bit of pre-planning means a picnic can be a really nice way to save money on a day out?
If you think there’s anything missing from our guide to picnics, let me know and I’ll do what I can to add it in!
Have a look at these posts next:
Outdoor cinema in Manchester this summer (definitely one to pack a picnic for!)
Outdoor theatre in Manchester this summer
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