The best places to pick up a picnic near London parks

This summer in London is far from a scorcher. June has so far been unseasonably wet, cold and miserable, with breaks in the cloud preceding downpours and long grey days. But warmer weather is on the horizon and while London isn’t best known for coping with the heat, a venture out into a park is perhaps one of the most pleasing ways to enjoy the previously absent sun (while you still can).

As the mercury rises, we seek outdoor alfresco eating. We forego fears of ants and grass in paper cups, we don factor 30 and large hats and backpacks full of chilly bottles of water, and we picnic.

We can’t help the changing seasons; we can, however, improve upon the hummus, sad batons and all the other flimsily-packaged, overly-chilled fare that always threaten to derail an otherwise perfectly decent picnic.

While it’s true that London parks are often near Sainsbury’s, there are other shops too, many of which bake their own bread, make their own salads, and serve quality, well-sourced wines, charcuterie, smoked salmon and cheeses. Here’s our pick of the perfect one-stop shops.

Green Park, Piccadilly: Fortnum and Masons

Not only is Fortnums five time the size, 50 times less stressful and 500 times better than the M&S next to Green Park station, it’s not even that much more expensive, if one shops wisely. Of course, there are the famed , and they have plenty to recommend them — particularly the Summer Adventure hamper, which comes with mushroom and bean pate and