The best picnic accessories guide: blankets, picnicware and more

Once you’ve got your essentials sorted, check out our best picnic recipes for all the outdoor eating ideas you need. Don’t forget drinks! Read our guide to the best canned cocktails to try and add a few to your next hamper.

Best picnic accessories at a glance

• Best picnic glasses: M&S set of four summer resort picnic tumblers, £10.50
• Best cool bag: Hydro Flask Carry Out Soft Cooler, £74.41
• Best cutlery set: ProCook Camden 16-piece cutlery set, £29
• Best serving platter: M&S summer resort shell picnic platter, £7
• Best picnic plates: Lakeland melamine flower shaped plate, £2.49
• Best picnic blanket: Jonny's Sister personalised circular pink picnic blanket, £38
• Best picnic basket: Wayfair lidded picnic basket with check lining, £55.99
• Best flask: Partner in Wine insulated wine bottle, £25

Best picnic accessories to buy 2024

M&S set of four summer resort picnic tumblers

• Available from M&S (£10.50)

Best picnic glasses

Whether it's for your water or to share a pitcher of cocktails, glasses are crucial for your picnic. Glass can be heavy to carry around, plus dangerous if it breaks or cracks, while disposable cups mean a lot of waste. These tumblers from M&S are reusable plastic and feature a seaweed design which is great for picnics on the beach.

Available from:
M&S (£10.50)

Hydro Flask Carry Out Soft Cooler

• Available from Amazon (£74.41)

Best cool bag

This stylish and lightweight cool bag is the perfect way to keep your picnic food cold on a warm day. The height means you can store small water bottles upright rather than having to lay them flat which helps to avoid spillages. It has 24 hour cooling so all you need is a couple of ice packs to make sure your food and drinks stay cold for your whole picnic.

Available from:
Amazon (£74.41)

ProCook Camden 16-piece cutlery set

• Available from ProCook (£29)

Best cutlery set

This cutlery set has a retro look which would be the perfect addition to your picnic. The colourful handles are available in green, cream, grey or ivory and are durable enough to withstand any travelling to and from your picnic location. Plus it's dishwasher safe which saves on cleaning up once you get back home.

Available from:
ProCook (£29)

M&S summer resort shell picnic platter

• Available from M&S (£7)

Best serving platter

A serving platter is a brilliant addition to your picnic essentials, whether it's to showcase a homemade dish or to arrange a selection of store-bought treats. This platter from M&S is made from melamine which is durable yet lightweight so can be carried around easily. It features a summery shell design with a colourful blue pattern.

Available from:
M&S (£7)

Lakeland melamine flower shaped plate

• Available from Lakeland (£2.49)

Best picnic plates

Reusable picnic plates are far better than paper when it comes to reducing the waste from your picnics as you can take them home with you, clean them and use them over again. We really like these yellow floral plates from Lakeland which are bright and eye-catching and would fit in with lots of hosting themes for the summertime.

Available from:
Lakeland (£2.49)

Jonny's Sister personalised circular pink picnic blanket

• Available from Not on the High Street (£38)

Best picnic blanket

Add a pop of colour to your picnic with this unique round blanket. Combining wide pink and white stripes with a touch of boho chic in the fringed edging, this soft cotton blanket is large enough to accommodate a crowd. It can also be personalised to make a great summer gift – think wedding presents and housewarmings. Also available in blue.

Available from:
Not on the High Street (£38)

Wayfair lidded picnic basket with check lining

• Available from Wayfair (£55.99)

Best picnic basket

Add a more retro feel to your picnic with a classic wicker basket. Decorated with a pretty red gingham trim, this basket is perfect for a simple afternoon in the countryside when you have a slightly smaller load to carry or you’re not straying far from the car.

Available from:
Wayfair (£55.99)

Partner in Wine insulated wine bottle

• Available from Laithwaites (£25)

Best flask

Planning a leisurely lunch in the sunshine? Don't worry about lukewarm wine – Partner in Wine, founded in 2020, is here to ensure it stays perfectly chilled all afternoon. The insulated bottle holds an entire 750ml bottle of wine and is more practical than frozen wine chillers or melting ice packs – it'll also keep contents cool for up to 24 hours. If you don't need a whole bottle, go for the roomy double-walled tumbler with clever leakproof opening.

Available from:
Laithwaites (£25)

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