A visit to Covent Garden and Leicester Square is usually high on visitor agendas. There are certainly lots of places to eat in Covent Garden and Leicester Square, but what if you don’t fancy a sit-down restaurant meal? Whether you are looking for something quick, casual, cheap or just something outside in the sun, a picnic is ideal.
In this guide we will tell you where the best places are to buy sandwiches or picnic provisions, and where to picnic in and near Covent Garden and Leicester Square. Whether you want to picnic after seeing the street performers, somewhere to eat your chocolate haul from the M&M’s store or a chance to rest your feet after shopping, we’ve got something for everyone.
Where to eat a picnic lunch in Covent Garden and Leicester Square
There are a number of places within the Covent Garden and Leicester Square area where you and your family can sit and enjoy a picnic. Here are a list of suggestions.
Lincoln’s Inn Fields
Located just to the East of Covent Garden are Lincoln’s Inn Fields, London’s largest public square, bordered by the heart of legal London. This public square is made up of a number of large open grassed areas centred around a bandstand. Within Lincoln’s Inn Fields there is also a cafe.
During the week in warmer weather this is a popular spot with nearby office workers, but it’s a large enough space that you’ll always find some room to spread out a picnic or to blow off a bit of steam.
If you are looking for something to do while in the area, the North side of the square is home to the John Soane’s Museum, a Victorian house filled with all sorts of curiosities, including a sarcophagus. On the South side of the square is the Hunterian Museum, the specimen collection of the 18th century surgeon anatomist John Hunter. Both are free to visit.
Nearest supermarkets: There are a range of food options in the vicinity for picking up picnic supplies. There is a Little Waitrose just to the North of Lincoln’s Inn Fields on High Holborn. Just across from Little Waitrose is a Pret for takeaway sandwiches. A few minutes away from the North West end of Lincoln’s Inn Fields is a large Sainsbury’s supermarket. Slightly further away, but still an easy walk, is an M&S food store. If you are looking for takeaway food, then Kingsway has a range of options.
St Paul’s Churchyard Covent Garden
Most visitors to Covent Garden have probably passed St Paul’s church (note, do not confuse this with St Paul’s Cathedral) without really noticing it. But, if you pop through the churchyard gates, you will discover a churchyard lined by benches and with two gardens lined with roses in which you can spread out and enjoy food.
Located right on the edge of the main piazza area, this is the ideal place to enjoy a picnic without taking a diversion away from your itinerary.
Nearest supermarkets: Located just seconds away on Bedford Street is a Tesco Express. Slightly further away, there is a Pret for takeaway sandwiches. There are also a variety of takeaway food options in the area.
Drury Lane Gardens
Almost hidden away between buildings on Drury Lane are Drury Lane Gardens. This tiny pocket park offers a small paved area with a number of benches where you can sit and eat sandwiches and also a playground area with a variety of play equipment, including two small climbing frames with slides and a few other pieces of equipment. Behind the playground is a hard court with basketball hoop.
Perhaps the best thing about this intimate space is that it is tucked away from the busiest parts of Covent Garden, so if you need somewhere to decompress, this might be the ideal choice.
Nearest supermarkets: There is a Tesco Express a few minutes away on The Strand. There are also two Pret stores for takeaway sandwiches nearby, one on Kingsway and one on Long Acre. The wider area has a range of takeaway options.
Leicester Square
If you are looking to have a break, yet remain right in the heart of the action, Leicester Square has a number of benches surrounded by grassed areas. Some of the benches even feature bronze statues of beloved fictional characters as part of the Leicester Square Scenes in the Square trail. Maybe you’ll picnic with Paddington Bear or brunch with Mr Bean. Wherever you sit, you’ll certainly have an excellent front row seat for people watching.
Do note that there are times when Leicester Square is taken over by events, in which case at least parts of it may be cordoned off or not accessible.
Nearest supermarkets: There is a Tesco Express on Regent Street and one at Charing Cross. There is also a small M&S at Charing Cross Station. For takeaway sandwiches, there is a Pret located just seconds from the centre of Leicester Square. There are a range of other food options in the area, including a McDonald’s right on Leicester Square.
Phoenix Community Garden
Tucked away just steps off Shaftesbury Avenue is the Phoenix Garden. This hidden gem, spanning just under an acre, was transformed by local residents from a derelict bombsite into a lush sanctuary of biodiversity full of trees, herbs, plants and small wildlife ponds.
Small paved paths weave between the plants and trees and everywhere are small pockets within which to sit and eat a sandwich.
If you’ve seen the film Last Christmas, you may well recognise this garden as it features in the film.
Nearest supermarkets: There is a Sainsbury’s Local store on Charing Cross Road and Tesco Express stores on Endell Street and on Tottenham Court Road.
St Giles Churchyard
If your kids need to run off some energy, right next door to Phoenix Garden is St Giles in the Fields churchyard. St Giles in the Fields churchyard offers some open green space but also a playground area with climbing frame, swings and basketball hoop. Spread out a picnic blanket on the grass and watch your children play and blow off some steam.
Nearest supermarkets: There is a Sainsbury’s Local store on Charing Cross Road and Tesco Express stores on Endell Street and on Tottenham Court Road.
If you’ve picnicked in any of these spots, let us know what you thought of them in the comments!
