indoor picnic areas in London and SE

[otchayaniye]

Hello

I tend to take my 2 year old out for the day when I look after her as my husband is sleeping off his night shift. But with this cold weather I?m running out of places that allow you to eat a picnic lunch inside. I?m absolutely skint and can?t afford café lunches out. I?m in London

I know the Science Museum has several areas and I go there once a week anyway, and have taken picnics to the Museum of Childhood.

Anywhere else?

Many thanks in advance.

The RAF museum in Hendon also allows indoor picnics. Your dd may be a little young to really enjoy the exhibits but it is very spacious for a toddler to run around in!

Oh great - thanks.

It's a shame Borough Market is so mental as that's also quite a good stop off sure, you have to buy the food for the Tate and carrying on a journey.

There is always lots to see around Covent Garden & there is an M&S & Tesco nearby if you need to pick up supplies. Have you been to the Christmas Market at the South Bank? It is really lovely to walk through even if you are not buying anything and there are usually loads of street entertainers further down...

don't see why you wouldn't be able to eat a picnic in the huge covered central court at the British Museum. Always seems that anything goes there, but i don't know for sure.

You could possibly get away with it at the National Maritime Museum too, not sure if they have a dedicated picnic room or not.

I'd like to revive this discussion as I am quite often looking for places where we can eat our own food.

It looks like you can take your own food to the museum of London, and there must be places you could eat indoors around the barbican. The natural history museum also has an indoor eating area.

Has anyone taken their own food into any of the south bank buildings? Foyer of the national theatre or the royal festival hall? What about British library?

We've taken our own picnics to the British Museum central area and never had a problem, especially if you pick a bench around the edges and buy a coffee or something. Also the southbank centre similarly has lots of tucked away spaces in the main foyer that we've used.

Natural history museum has a picnic room. Or just eat quick sandwich on a park bench, doesn't need to be along lunch if weather is cold. There are lots of parks!

The Transport Museum in Covent Garden has a picnic area by the kids play area. It's £15 for an adult ticket, but good for a year and well worth it.

Royal Festival Hall is a great place to eat your sandwiches - or food that you've bought from the street food market round the back.