This is a guest post by Kay Warner, owner of The Burrow Escape and on Instagram @theburrowescape
As a self-certified picnic enthusiast, I thought this would be the perfect subject to formally
ramble on about in a blog post - especially as it's National Picnic Week! Plus Lincoln and its abundant surrounding countryside offer so many beautiful spots to enjoy a hearty picnic. I’m sure it won’t take much convincing until you too are packing up your hamper and heading out to enjoy an alfresco
buffet whilst reclining on a blanket. Here is your guide to the perfect picnic in Lincoln.
To me, there are three obvious pillars to a good picnic: Location, Food, and Accessories! I
thought about adding a fourth (company) but decided against it because solo picnics are
such a lovely treat too. Sometimes enjoying your lunch alone with no need to share, just
sitting with your own thoughts in nature is a real tonic for the soul. Try it on your next lunch
break and thank me later!
By definition you don’t need all three pillars to enjoy a great picnic, two will suffice, but if you’re looking for the ultimate experience then you will want to try for a full set.
1. Location for the perfect picnic in Lincoln
Like I said you don’t need every pillar for a good picnic; I love a good old “carpet picnic” on
the living room floor on grey days. And they are my go-to activity when you just can’t face
the outside world! But in and around Lincoln we really are spoilt for choice when it comes to great picnic spots, so here are a few of my favorites (photo above was taken at Belton House which is another wonderful spot, not too far from Lincoln)...
The Castle Grounds
Free to enter and loads of open green space to lay out your blanket and enjoy the historic
surroundings whilst you enjoy your feast. It has the added bonus of a great local coffee shop
just across the road at The Lawns (Incidentally another great spot for a picnic!) so you can
enjoy quality coffee with your food which can be hard to achieve at a picnic. You have the
choice of sitting under the shade of the trees or laying in the sunshine and are perfectly
positioned in the heart of uphill Lincoln.
Woodhall Spa – Jubilee Gardens
This is such a great spot for family picnics, the gardens are beautiful but not too manicured
that you need to worry about children spoiling things, it has a lovely children’s park, and
even an outdoor lido if you fancy it, plus it’s dog friendly.
Easy parking, and always such a lovely vibe here. If it’s a bank holiday weekend or some
kind of special occasion there is often entertainment around the bandstand and if you’re
really lucky the Dads Army outdoor bar might be open with their keepsake cups (I don’t care
to admit to how many of those I have tucked away at the back of my kitchen cupboard!).
Lincolnshire Countryside
Lincoln is surrounded by beautiful countryside and so much of it you're allowed to settle
down for a picnic in. A bike ride to a countryside picnic is my ultimate, because I am smug
that I have done a bit of exercise and feel zero guilt then tucking into an epic buffet of
treats! If you have discovered any lush picnic spots like this – please share them with me!
2. Food
Most of my picnics are pretty basic food-wise, if I’m really honest I only really make a big
effort with the food if I’m taking someone else on a picnic, or when I make a basket up for
our holiday cottage guests. Staples for me include posh crisps, a quiche or sarnies, olives, cakes, fruit, and a scotch egg if I can get my mitts on one easily. Goes without saying to take plenty of water too, and of course bonus points for boozy picnics!
If you are planning ahead for your picnic, getting someone else to make the food for you is
always a nice treat, we have so many lovely small businesses around Lincoln that will make
you a fantastic graze box to pop inside your picnic basket. If not, you can’t go far wrong with
a quick dash around Marks and Sparks – Colin is always a great picnic guest!
3. Accessories
This is the part I love! The basics are obviously a pretty basket and a good-quality picnic
blanket. A wicker basket lined with kitsch fabric, leather straps with shiny buckles that hold
plates and cutlery in place, plus matching napkins make a picnic feel super special – but a
bag for life does the job just as well (remember what I said about the pillars!).
Your blanket needs to be functional (big enough and preferably with waterproof backing)
and ideally beautiful (you need some good Insta snaps surely?!), but again, sitting on your
jumper … also fine!
A good thermos filled with tea is a game changer at a picnic, as is bringing china mugs to
drink it from. If you have space in the basket a citronella candle can be a lifesaver; pretty for
evening picnics as well as functional.
You can’t ever go too far with accessories for a picnic in my opinion, a vase of flowers – super
cute, candles – the more the better, fancy plates and bowls – yes please. I could go on and
on but you get the picture.
So that’s it, all the basics covered. I hope I have inspired you to venture out for an epic
picnic soon. You won’t regret it, I promise!
Photo credits: Kay Warner The Burrow Escape @theburrowescape