Picnic spots along the River Thames
It's free, it's fun and it's for everyone! Go with your family, a group of friends or just you and your loved one. Pack up a hamper of delicious food and head to the riverside for a long lazy day out in the fresh air and sunshine.
Can't decide where to picnic? See our list of the top picnic spots along the River Thames from pretty locks with picnic tables and tea rooms to quiet, grassy meadows and family fun riverside parks.
Picnic hotspots, Lechlade to Abingdon
The top of the Thames is characterised by beautiful scenery and quiet rolling countryside. From the river's source in Gloucestershire to the historic city of Oxford there are 14 pretty locks each with picnic areas and benches and several with picnic tables too. For open grassy areas popular with families and nature lovers head to Port Meadow in Oxford.
St John's Lock in Lechlade - a pretty rural lock at the top of the River Thames with picnic areas and benches available
Buscot Lock in Farringdon - another pretty rural lock with picnic tables available
Grafton Lock in Oxford - lock site with picnic areas and benches available
Radcot Lock in Farringdon - lock site with picnic tables available
Rushey Lock near Farringdon - lock site with picnic tables available
Shifford Lock in Bampton - lock site with picnic areas and benches available
Northmoor Lock in Abingdon - lock site with picnic areas and benches available
Pinkhill Lock in Witney - lock site with picnic areas and benches available
Eynsham Lock in Eynsham - lock site with picnic tables available
Kings Lock in Wolvercote - lock site with picnic tables available
Iffley Lock in Oxford - lock site with picnic tables available. Port Meadow in Oxford - this designated site of special scientific interest is a great open area of parkland perfect for walking, picnicking and letting the children run around.
Abingdon Lock in Abingdon - lock site with picnic tables available
Culham Lock in Abingdon - lock site with picnic tables available. Salters Steamers run 40 minute round boat trips from here.
Clifton Lock in Abingdon - lock site with picnic tables available
Picnic hotspots, Goring to Marlow
The busier middle of the river offers picnickers a choice of locks (some with tea shops run by the lock keeper) and open grassy areas in pretty villages and towns. Some spots are close to train stations making them easy to get to while others are not far from boat operators if you fancy getting afloat.
Cleeve Lock in Reading - lock site with picnic tables available
Goring in Reading - a pretty grassy area popular with picnickers and walkers. Only 10 minute walk from Goring train station
Mapledurham Lock in Reading - here you will find benches along the lockside for light snacks, a tea shop run by the lock keeper and fields either side for picnics. 20 minute walk from the train station.
Christchurch Meadows in Caversham - large open grass area with benches and a children's park. Great for families and only 10 minutes from the train station. Over the bridge at Thameside Promenade you can take a 30 minute round trip with Thames Rivercruise.
Marsh Lock in Henley - a couple of picnic tables overlooking the lock and weir.
Mill Meadows in Henley - open grassy area popular with walkers and families. There's a children's park and Hobbs of Henley run 60 minute round boat trips for near by.
Hambleden Lock in Henley - a number of benches overlooking the lock, popular with walkers taking a break for lunch. Picnickers will find meadows either side of the lock.
Cookham Lock in Cookham- lots of picnic areas and tables and camping available in the summer. The lock has a small shop which provides teas and arts and crafts.
Picnic hotspots, Maidenhead to Teddington
As the river nears London it becomes less rural than further upstream, but you can still find little grassy hidden gems away from the traffic and hustle and bustle.
Runnymede Pleasure Grounds - popular open grassy area perfect for picnics with the family.
Boulters Lock in Maidenhead - the lock site has an ice cream parlour and café and large picnic garden area on Ray Mead island next to the lock.
Penton Hook Lock near Chertsey - a popular walking area with several picnic benches around the island
Shepperton Lock in Shepperton - picnic tables and a tea room available here.
Teddington Lock in Teddington - picnic tables available at the lock site.