A guide to the best ready-made picnic hampers
It's summer, the sun is (mostly) out, and there's no better way to spend an afternoon than taking to the park with some friends, some food, and a bottle of wine. But the making and transporting of a picnic can be a labour-intensive thing - tupperware lids vanish, the salad wilts, and everyone is looking a bit dubious about the ham. In such situations, we recommend ordering a ready-made picnic hamper from the professionals. Choose what you want, have it delivered, efficiently packaged and nicely chilled on the day, and the entire al-fresco experience becomes hassle-free. We've gathered together our favourite London and online-based purveyors of the ready-made picnic, from the seriously opulent to the quietly chic, to make your summer dining a little easier.
We've tried and tested the very best picnic hampers, so that we can recommend only the finest. Below, are our picks.
All products are independently selected by our editors. If you buy something, we may earn an affiliate commission.
- Made in Oldstead</a>","brand":{"name":""},"id":"66bcc23bb5ba99ee40ac5338","index":0,"contentType":"photo","offers":[],"component":"gallery_slide_component"}" data-testid="GallerySlideWrapper">
1/9Made in Oldstead
Trust a chef to completely nail the picnic brief – Tommy Banks, the chef behind a few of the best restaurants in the north of England, has done just that with his brimming picnic hamper from his Made in Olstead brand. There's everything you want, and more, included his own label canned wine, beers, sangria and then a delightful array of food.
The Spanish ham melts in the mouth while a smoked salami packs a wonderful punch. There's cured salmon, chicken liver parfait, pork pies and seasonal cheese, alongside bread, butter, a brilliant array of chutneys and relishes and then sweet treats to finish it off. If you're after a hamper that does it all, this is absolutely that.
- Gail's</a>","brand":{"name":""},"id":"61893fa0f4c358180440ae63","index":1,"contentType":"photo","offers":[],"component":"gallery_slide_component"}" data-testid="GallerySlideWrapper">
2/9Gail's
High street bakery Gail's is always a reliable go-to for a delicious sausage roll or pastry, and their picnic hampers are just the thing for an impromptu day in the park. We sampled both their ‘Cream Tea Kit’ hamper and their ‘Mixed Sandwich Bundle’.
The former (Cream Tea Kit, £24) comes with 3 plain scones, 3 sultana scones, clotted cream and strawberry jam. It comes in a smart cardboard box which is sturdy enough to transport, and fully recyclable.
The Mixed Sandwich Bundle (£40) includes 3 summer tomato sandwiches and 3 pastrami sandwiches. The ideal savoury snack box to share amongst friends with varying dietary requirements.
3/9Snowdonia Cheese Company
Snowdonia Cheese Co. has become a firm favourite amongst House & Garden editors, serving up rich and flavoursome cheeses, meats and crackers. Our summer picnic pick is their Cheese and Charcuterie Hamper: a small black hamper packed with 3 cheeses, 2 chutneys, Iberico ham and savoury crackers.
4/9Daylesford
The masters of organic produce have some of the best breads, salads and meats around, and their produce is perfect for a day out.
Their Picnic Hamper has just what you need for a lovely picnic, including a bottle of prosecco frizzante. There's apricot nectar for those who don't drink, as well as house blend tea bags. Sharp cheddar, sweet chutney and lots of delightful nibbly bits complete this utterly lovely hamper. It's all the best British produce for a picnic that will make you feel like you're in France.
- Melrose & Morgan</a>","brand":{"name":""},"id":"61893fa14a03b8fcef3d13bb","index":4,"contentType":"photo","offers":[],"component":"gallery_slide_component"}" data-testid="GallerySlideWrapper">
5/9Melrose & Morgan
A good picnic needs layers of food; different little bits to munch your way through periodically, moving from nutty comté to piquant feta-stuffed peppers, a touch of charcuterie and back for some more cheese before cracking into the florentines. The Melrose & Morgan hamper covers all this and more, with so many treats inside, you'll think you've over ordered to begin with. Fret not, it'll all be swiftly eaten.
6/9Fortnum & Mason
The royal grocer on Piccadilly comes into their own in the summer with a wide range of picnic options. Prices start at £70 for their ‘Provisions Box’, which serves a healthy four to six people. The box contains everything you need for a cheese course, alongside smoked salmon and pork pies.
You'll have to spend a bit more to get your hands on one of their smart wicker baskets, but it's always worth it.
9/9Ottolenghi
The windows of Yotam Ottolenghi's restaurants are always piled high with delicious things we're longing to dive into, and now you can take them to the great outdoors with their sumptuous picnic offerings. Grissini, lavosh, rosemary spiced nuts, NOPI olives and rye biscuits are some of the savoury treats on offer, plus dark chocolate dipped honeycomb and irresistibly fluffy marshmallows for dessert.
