Picnic Areas and Picnic Sites

The actor Pat Boothman had her parents staying with her from South Africa on one of London’s saddest of days - 7 July 2005 - when, on a London bus and three central London tube trains, 52 people were murdered and hundreds injured in four orchestrated terrorist attacks. The following day, as a gesture of condolence and defiance, she put on one of her prettiest sun-dresses (pictured) and, with her parents who are in their eighties, travelled all over London on whatever big red bus they could find. ‘The London bus IS London - and my pretty dress belongs to London,’ she remarked.

The anecdote is cited in Picnic Publishing’s Emigré London to be published in summer 2009 - and is relevent to a picnic, as, if you read you will find out . . .

Dress photographed for Emigre London, Copyright Jackie Norman

As soon as the area aorund Russell Square re-opened after the bombings, picnickers returned to the Square - one of the trains hit had been travelling between King’s Cross and Russell Square tube station at the time the bombs treacherously destroyed so many lives.  Russell Square, in the heart of London University land - known as the Bloomsbury campus - is a lovely space of greenery two minutes from esteemed departments of London university, including the world famous School of Oriental and African Studies. Here, countless students picnic on the grass - London’s weather permitting, of course (!) - chattering to friends in a wonderful array of languages. Others stretch out to read books in English or magical ancient script - a joyous, poignant, unaware memorial to those of every faith and none, all colours and race, who died or received life changing injuries on that desperate and most terrible day.
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Robin Hood’s Bay

Whitby/Scarborough

Yorkshire Coast

Robin Hood’s Bay is a former fishing village, now chiefly a tourist destination, between Whitby and Scarborough on the Yorkshire coast.  It is also the eastern end of the coast-to-coast walk.  Picnic author Robin Ramsay visited it regularly between 1984 and 2005 and, indeed, did quite a lot of his writing there in between drinking in The Laurel Inn and walking the many paths and trails which lead out of the village.  What is ‘the Bay’, as it is known locally, like? Well, there are four pubs in the village and in all of them dogs and walkers are welcome. ‘Nuff said?

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Address:
Snowshill, Broadway, WR12 7JU

Tel: +44 (0)1386 852410

A Cotswold manor house containing Charles Paget Wade’s extraordinary collection of craftsmanship and design, including musical instruments, clocks, toys, bicycles, weavers’ and spinners’ tools and Japanese armour. There is an intimate Arts and craft inspired garden, run on organic principles, with wonderful views across the Cotswold countryside.

Web: www.nationaltrust.org.uk


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Address:
Painswick, Stroud, GL6 6TH

Tel: +44 (0)1452 813204

Painswick Rococo Garden is a unique and fascinating insight into early to mid 18th century English garden design. The only complete Rococo garden in England it dates from a brief period (1720 – 1760) when English gardens were changing from the formal to the informal. These Rococo gardens combined formal vistas with winding woodland walks and more natural planting. However, Rococo gardens were so much more, their creators were showing off their wealth and including features that were both flamboyant and frivolous. The gardens featured buildings of unusual architectural styles, to be used as both eye catchers and viewpoints. These became almost regency playrooms, an extension of the house to be enjoyed by the owner and his guests. Here at Painswick we are restoring the garden back to how it was shown in a painting dated 1748. We have contemporary buildings, woodland walks, herbaceous boarders and a large kitchen garden all hidden away in a Charming Cotswold valley with splendid views of the surrounding countryside. A recent addition (situated outside the original garden) is the Anniversary Maze planted to celebrate the 250th birthday of the garden. We have a restaurant selling coffee light lunches and teas situated in the Coach House. These is also a gift shop and plant sales area.

Web: www.rococogarden.org.uk


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Address:
Biddenden Road, Sissinghurst, TN17 2AB

Tel: +44 (0)1580 710701

The 20th century creation of two English aristocrats, Harold Nicolson and Vita Sackville-West, set in the remains of a large Elizabethan house amidst the unspoilt Weald countryside. A late afternoon visit is highly recommended.

Web: www.nationaltrust.org.uk/sissinghurst

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