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20 stylish picnic accessories for outdoor dining
The best picnic accessories, from blankets to baskets and beyond
It's officially picnic season. Pack your trusty wicker basket with a bottle of something refreshing and picnic-ready nibbles, and head out to a park or beauty spot (or into the garden) – with summer stretching optimistically ahead of us, there has never been a better time to upgrade your picnic toolkit.
We have scoured our favourite retailers, from Black + Blum, Le Creuset, Dunelm, and Garden Trading, to find the best picnic sets and accessories, from clever coolers to comfy roll-up mats, and even a portable barbecue.
Read on for 20 stylish essentials to make your picnic picture perfect...
A traditional wicker picnic basket with classic striped lining. Inside you'll find a cooler bag, crockery, cups and cutlery for four, and a handy corkscrew. A quintessentially English accessory.
Stainless steel double bento box
This robust bento box is stackable, leakproof and also comes with a sliding divider to create smaller compartments within, a built-in chopping board and a concealed fork - it's a picnic must-have.
Weber Smokey Joe Premium Smoke - Grey
This portable charcoal barbecue from Weber is the perfect solution for outdoor grilling at the beach, park, or on your patio. The finish on this product also prevents rusting, cracking and peeling, which means it can sit outside all year.
Check local council rules on whether portable barbecues are permitted on the beach or park you're planning to visit.
A retro outdoor essential for picnics and camping alike, these stylish enamel tumblers (set of four) can be used again and again, year after year.
Bamboo Cutlery Set in Cotton Pouch
No need for plastic cutlery, this bamboo picnic set is reusable and fully biodegradable. In the handy cotton pouch, you'll find a knife and fork, spoon, chopsticks, a bamboo straw and a cleaning brush.
Kimmeridge Folding Lunch Bag
For the stylish picnic host. This folding lunch bag is fully cooler-lined to keep food fresh – the perfect holdall for an intimate picnic for two.
Convenience is key for a fuss-free picnic. This set of four pretty melamine dinner plates not only looks great, but is lightweight, durable and (most importantly) reusable.
This wipe clean outdoor rug from Habitat withstands water and dirt, for a sturdier alternative to a picnic blanket.
YETI boasts a whole host of clever picnic accessories, but this double-walled vacuum insulted bowl ensures all your food stays at the right temperature.
Take a hopeful punt on hot weather and pack this Toast Khmer fan. Made by artisans in Cambodia using the leaf and trunk of the palm plant, its compact shape fits neatly in your bag or pocket.
These water-resistant cotton cushions are perfect for scattering over your picnic blanket as extra comfy seating.
These clever mesh food covers can fit the largest cakes, salads or other serving bowls to keep insects away from your food. And they fold flat to save on space in your picnic basket.
Herringbone Picnic Blanket
A smart herringbone picnic rug with waterproof backing and carry handle for comfort and ease on the go.
Blue Stripe Rectangular Cotton Mattress
This stylish summer mattress is made from hand-woven stripe cotton with hand-knotted cotton tassels. For elevated lounging.
Pop this Le Creuset bottle sleeve in the freezer and whip out for a picnic day, it'll ensure all your bottles stay cool when out and about. What's more, it can cool your favourite bottle from room temperature in just 20 minutes.
Spring Flowers Chillys Insulated Bottle
Made from recycled stainless steel, this pretty thermal water bottle is great for keeping drinks hot or cold.
Kilner Glass Breakfast Jar Set
Just the ticket for transporting oats or muesli to your picnic. Kilner’s super smart Breakfast Jar Set comes complete with a stainless steel spoon stored in the silicone cuff around its top.
This eye-catching retro 20-litre coolbox keeps food and drink cold for up to 24 hours. It also comes with a handy adjustable leather strap for comfortable carrying to and from your desired picnic spot.
The perfect partner for seaside picnics. Compact yet durable, this stylish fold down beach cart has able storage space, specialised sand wheels and a mesh flooring to sift out unwanted sand.
Last but not least, we couldn't forget about our four-legged friends. This pet travel bag contains collapsible silicone bowls and placemats, space for water bottles, and lined carriers that can be used for food or treats.
Rachel Edwards is the Style & Interiors Editor for Country Living and House Beautiful, covering all things design and decoration, with a special interest in small space inspiration, vintage and antique shopping, and anything colour related. Her work has been extensively translated by Elle Japan and Elle Decor Spain. Rachel has spent over a decade in the furniture and homeware industry as a writer, FF&E designer, and for many years as Marketing Manager at cult design retailer, Skandium. She has a BA in French and Italian from Royal Holloway and an MA in Jounalism from Kingston University. Follow Rachel on Instagram @rachelaed
Lizzie is the multiplatform editor at Country Living, where you’ll find her writing about unique property market finds and dreamy UK staycation spots. Her specialisms include interiors, property, wildlife, travel, slow living and more. Previously, she’s written for Metro, Evening Standard, Ideal Home, Woman & Home and various other home and lifestyle titles. Lizzie studied English Literature at University of Liverpool, where she also was a writer and editor for her uni paper.
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