June 18th is International Picnic Day, and luckily for all our Lancaster students, there are so many spots in and around the city centre that are perfect for just such an occasion! As the weather improves, heading out with your friends, housemates or even on your own for a picnic is a great way to spend a day and get to know Lancaster a little better.
Picnic Essentials
No picnic is complete without picnic essentials! Now, we understand that a lot of our Lancaster students are on a budget and don’t need to go out and buy fancy picnic equipment. You can use items you can find in and around your student home, or that you can pick up in Lancaster for cheap. Make sure you’ve got a picnic bag/basket to store your food and drink, one with a built-in cooler is great, but any sort of bag will do. A blanket to sit on is another classic picnic essential, as well as plates, cups and utensils. You can take those straight from your cupboard in your student accommodation, or you can buy disposable ones for a small price in the supermarkets in Lancaster centre.
If you don’t have any of these items and don’t want to buy any, why not ask your housemates in your student home and see if you can borrow some.
Food and Drink
Food and drink are, without a doubt, the most important part of a picnic, and Lancaster has so many nice options where you can pick up some tasty treats for a decent price. Lidl and Aldi have great low prices and are both located within the centre of Lancaster and are only a short walk away from your student accommodation if you’re living off-campus in Lancaster centre. If you’re feeling like you may want to spend a little more, there’s also Lancaster Charter Market that’s held every Wednesday and Saturday from 9am, selling a range of different produce, street food and drinks. It’s located in Market Square, and for those of you living right in the city centre, it will be quicker for you to head to the Lancaster market than to the shops!
Another great idea is to club together with your housemates or friends to split the cost or make some of your foods yourself in your student home, e.g., sandwiches, cakes, and salads. This can save a lot of money, too.
The Best Picnic Spots in Lancaster
Here in Lancaster, there are so many beautiful spots that make the perfect location for a picnic on a sunny day, such as Lancaster Castle and Williamson Park. These are some of the most popular spots in the city to visit when the weather is nice, so there may be a chance they are busy, but the views and atmosphere are absolutely worth it. Fairfield Orchard is another beautiful spot for a picnic, and for those of you living in student accommodation in the Fairfield area, it’s right on your doorstep! One of the most amazing things about the Orchard is that you can pick the fruit as long as it’s ripe, they just ask that you make sure there’s enough left over for everyone to enjoy.