Best park in London for picnic with a 5 year old

[Justtrying]

Looking for advice, we are staying just off Covent Garden for a short break next week, it's years since I've been to London and would love to have a few hours chilling out in one of the parks with a picnic with Dd. The closest green space to our hotel is Lincoln Inn Fields, but wondering if it's worth a visit to The Diana memorial garden. We are on foot/tube/ jump on/ off bus tour so any advice welcome. A playground of some sort would be great.

We have already planned The London Eye, Thames River Cruise, Matinee at Charlie and The Chocolate factory, Changing the Guard and a trip to Fornums Ice cream parlour, will also try and squeeze in Harrods and Hamleys we have 2 nights and about 50 hours in the capital. Arriving and departing via Euston.

Thanks in advance

[Andcake]

Depends what you are in the mood for but from Covent Garden I would look into corams fields a kids only park...Diana memorial can get horridly busy ...green park/ st James park is nice too with lake and seeing Buckingham palace on route...

[Ilikedogs]

Not sure if Battersea Park is too far but we were there a couple of weekends ago and I though it was really good.

There's quite a big playground a children's zoo and you can also rent pedalos, row boat and also some pedal go cart type things.

[Out2pasture]

I love Battersea Park :), pizza pond playground I could go on and on. I only presume 5 is too young for go ape? but oh my I could spend all day there.

[Artandco]

I wouldn't bother with the Diana playground, no in summer holidays. It will be heaving and there is often a que outside if your not queuing up before it open so could be waiting . It's also a bit of a detour for you

I would just go to green park ( near fortum and mason, or go to Hyde park by the area near harrods, that is the serpentine end ( is about 30 mins walk from there to Diana playground)

[drspouse]

Coram's Fields, lovely kids' park.

[cestlavielife]

Go to diana fountain to splash abput it s a ten minute walk from the Diana playground . Nice if it's hot . Good for picnicking.

[negrilbaby]

Get the river boat and visit Greenwich Park. Great playground for children, plus a boating lake and good cafe. You also have the Planetarium and the National Maritime Museum within the park to visit, plus the Cutty Sark by the river.

[Portobelly]

Olympic park, including timber lodge area.
Fabulous new park, beautiful planting, and incredibly fun playground with natural water and sand play areas, climbing frames etc.

[Summersalmostgone]

Go to St James Park. It's beautiful, has a big lake, cafe and a children's playground with sandpit. The play area is at the Buckinham Palace end so you could head there after the changing of the guard, then head back through to Green Park and go for ice cream at Fortnums. From there you could head to Hamleys. Then if you wanted you could walk back to Covent Garden.

[Ferguson]

Might be too late for you now - but Hampstead Heath has everything - ponds, children's playgrounds, and spectacular views over London. And possibly a small fairground at the Vale of Health (if that is still there). And Golders Hill Park used to have animals there.

[MalmseyWhine]

Regent's Park is lovely, lots of ducks and geese and a boating lake. The rose garden is also very pretty.