I’ve said it before, one of my favourite things to do on a sunny weekend in London is have a picnic in a park. Picnic parties aren’t that common in Italy, or so meticulously planned as they are here in Britain, but I have fully embraced this quintessentially British summer activity. There is no right or wrong when it comes to picnics, but if you want to follow the tradition then you need to get yourself a good old fashioned wicker picnic hamper basket!

Two weeks ago I received the luxury Harvey Nichols Al-Fresco Feasting picnic hamper to review, so my husband and I decided to have a romantic picnic in Battersea Park on a sunny Saturday afternoon.

Having grown up in a city where public parks are far and in between, I am forever grateful for how beautiful parks and gardens are in London.

Battersea Park is one of my favourites, situated on the south bank of the river Thames, opposite Chelsea. Even though it’s not the closest park to where I live, I love going there because of the gorgeous river views and the pedestrian route all around the park which is great for running, cycling and skating.

Even though it is a large park of 200 acres, it’s full of secluded areas that make it a perfect location for picnics. On this occasion we parked our car by the Rosery Gates on the south-east side and walked towards the south-west gate to find a nice spot for lunch (close enough to the car park and to the public toilets, while being quiet and hidden from the main road).

The Harvey Nichols Picnic Hamper

The Harvey Nichols hamper is an elegant black wicker basket, padded on the inside with black fabric and locked with two leather buckles.

It’s filled with traditional British products such as toffee, clotted cream biscuits and apricot chutney (all by Harvey Nichols) as well as the delicious Dates, Hazelnut and Pumpkin Seed Toast by The Fine Cheese Co.

And of course what would a luxury picnic hamper be without Champagne? The Harvey Nichols basket comes with a 750ml bottle of Harvey Nichols Champagne Brut (and a bottle cooler to keep it chilled).

Aside from the bottle which needs to be chilled beforehand, the food doesn’t need to go in the fridge so you can buy the picnic hamper a few days ahead and save it for a sunny day. It can be bought in store or ordered online to be delivered to your home.

I liked that the picnic hamper was filled with unique products, such as Mustard with Real Ale and Paxton & Whitfield Shredded Pork. It offered a good selection of snacks to nibble while sipping the Champagne, but if you are looking to have a full meal, then I suggest to bring fresh food to eat on the side, like a salad, charcuterie and cheese, or some fruit (we bought some strawberries).

The Harvey Nichols picnic hamper is definitely a luxury treat to have on a special occasion, to gift to yourself and to people you love.

With a price tag of £110, it is not one I would be able to afford every weekend, but every now and then…definitely.

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary hamper for the purpose of this review. All opinions are my own.

To find out about my favourite London parks to go for a summer picnic, read my posts: Picnic in Hampstead Heath and Picnic in Clapham Common.