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Easily transport your refreshments to the park or beach with our picks
Spring is officially here, so we can finally enjoy dining outside again. But regardless of whether you’re headed to the countryside for a family day trip or planning an al fresco feast in your nearest national park, you’ll need a picnic bag to carry all your refreshments.
Rather than keeping your snacks in an unsightly bag-for-life, though, there are plenty of practical (and pretty) bags and baskets to choose from. That includes chic nautical-style totes for breezy beach days, larger backpacks for lengthy countryside hikes with the whole family and wine carriers for intimate outings with your partner. There are cooling bags, too, which help keep your scotch eggs, Pimm's and strawberries fresh until you're ready to sit.
We’ve found picnic bags in a variety of sizes to suit your needs. If you’re shopping for something for big family outings, you’ll need something on the larger side while smaller bags will suit romantic outdoor lunches for two. Petite carriers can double up as a lunch box, too, so you can use it to bring your sandwiches to the office.
Once your bag is sorted, don’t forget your other picnic essentials – a comfy outdoor blanket to bring your dining setup together, reusable napkins to clean up any mess and a space-saving travel cutlery set. Some picnic bags come with plates, glasses and cutlery, so you can avoid breaking or losing your trusty everyday sets.
Here are 19 of our favourite picnic bags to buy online now.
This smart cooler bag is perfect for a romantic day trip. It’s insulated to keep your food fresh for up to four hours and it has two cup holes for your beers and fizzy drinks. Once the food is all gone, this nifty foldable bag can be stored easily away in a cupboard or under the stairs.
Croft Collection also has a tote bag and rucksack in a similar design.
Capacity: 15L Size: H37cm x W25cm x D28cm
This seashell-themed cooler bag is one of the prettiest options on our list. Its insulated lining will keep refreshments chilled and you can pop in any smaller snacks into the front or side pockets. An adjustable and removable shoulder strap will help provide you with extra support, too.
Coordinate with the rest of Eleanor Bowmer's picnic range, including these cute lunch boxes, cooler bags and a rug. Size: H36cm x W20cm x D35cm
For just under £10, this spacious tote bag is a steal. With enough room for 40 cans, you can use it to keep everyone’s beverages cool – or, if you’re using it to hold your lunch, there will be plenty of space for your salads and scotch eggs. The pastel blue floral motif and khaki straps look lovely together, too. Size: H31cm x W15cm x L32cm
If you prefer patterns to plain designs, this Fat Face floral picnic bag is for you. It’s got plenty of storage space for juice boxes and sandwiches and there’s a handy pocket at the front to stash your sunglasses and phone, as well. The padded shoulder rest and adjustable strap will help to provide support for your shoulder and back, too. We also like this smaller bee patterned bag, which is slightly cheaper.
With all the picnicking essentials you need, this rucksack option is great for days out and camping trips. There's a large compartment for your food and drink, and the front opens up to reveal everything you need to enjoy your alfresco feast. There's cutlery, dinnerware and even a cutting board and salt and pepper shakers. Even better, it comes with a cute picnic mat. It's currently 33% off, too.
If you’re just looking for a chilled spot to keep your rosé, this stylish wicker basket will come in handy. It holds two wine bottles and comes with a bottle opener, so you won’t need to pack a spare. We’re tempted to pick up the matching wicker hamper to keep our lunch in, too. Size: H37cm x W26cm xD15cm
For big days out with the family, this fully-equipped backpack is ideal. It comes with everything you need for an outdoor lunch (four wine glasses, plates, cutlery, bottle opener and a cheese board) and it’s insulated to keep food and drink cool. Adjustable shoulder straps help make this backpack comfortable while you’re rambling through the countryside. Size: H37cm x W28cm x D20cm
This retro nautical picnic bag would look lovely during a seaside trip. We like this smart, striped number for transporting drinks and snacks. It has a short carry strap and a detachable longer strap for wearing on your shoulder. With its five-layer insulation, it will keep the contents cool or warm for up to four hours. The picnic cooler bag's front zip is ideal for keeping napkins or cutlery and the interior is leak-proof for stress-free picnicking. Capacity: 11.5L Size: H40.4cm x W27.9cm x L6.6cm
Here's another picnic bag with a nautical design. It will fit all your sandwiches and salads, plus a bottle of wine, which the PVC lining will help to keep cool throughout the day. As it’s crafted from the leftover canvas used to make beach umbrellas, it has great eco-credentials, too.
It comes in two other stylish colours: lemon yellow and moss green. Size: H20cm x W21.6cm x L31.75 cm
Want a picnic bag with a retro style? This one is crafted from Business & Pleasure Co's signature canvas that's treated with water, mould-resistant and UV coatings for a beach-ready option. It keeps your refreshments cool for hours and we love the supple leather handles. Size: H20cm x W32cm x D22cm
The perfect picnic bag for one, this stylish pick from Black + Blum is chic and practical. It features a roll-top, G-hook closure so you can rest assured that your lunch is packed tightly in the bag. This doubles up as a handle to carry in your hand, on your arm or on your bike handle. We love that the picnic cooler bag is made from recycled plastic and the interior easily wipes clean.
It folds down flat too and won't take up much room when you're not using it. Size: H31cm x W15cm x L20cm
Here's another smaller bag that'll work perfectly when you fancy bringing sandwiches into the office. Fully insulated, it'll keep your snacks chilled throughout the day and we love the nautical striped design, too. Coordinate your picnic setup with the rest of ProCook's cute picnic range, including a roll-up blanket and a large backpack for group outings. Capacity: 5L
This integrated picnic bag from Regatta contains enough cutlery and dinnerware for four people; there are plates, tumblers, cutlery and a bottle opener. The picnic cooler bag features a cool bag compartment for you to keep all your picnic treats fresh. You can carry it on your shoulder and it's made from recycled material.
For something pretty and fun, this tote picnic bag is perfect for taking to the beach. It can carry 15 litres of food and drink and has an aluminium lining to keep everything cool for around four hours. There's also an external pocket to carry the essentials. Right now, it's reduced to £27.20 from £34. Capacity: 15L Size: H60cm x W34cm xD18cm
A great picnic bag for campers or walkers, this pick offers 30 litres of capacity for those needing ample space for their picnicking essentials. It's lightweight and waterproof, plus the picnic cooler bag packs away easily if you're after something that won't take up too much space when you're not using it. It uses thermal insulation air technology to keep things cools for up to 14 hours.
It's currently on sale, reduced to £45.00 from £56.00 Capacity: 30L
For romantic picnics in the park, go for a traditional wicker hamper. Big enough for two people, this one comes with two wine glasses, plates, cutlery and a corkscrew, incase you fancy bringing along a bottle of wine.
If you're picnicking with friends, there's a larger option available, too. Size: H25cm x W40cm x D20cm
For a tote-style picnic cooler bag you can wear on your shoulder, this fun, flamingo-print design is ideal for taking to the beach or park. The picnic bag has sturdy carry handles and a roomy main compartment for all your essentials. The separate cooler bag for food and drinks keeps things chilled for longer. It's also lightweight and the handles feature padding to make carrying heavy items a little more comfortable.
It's now on offer for £9.99, so snap it up while you can.
If you're after a picnic bag that does all the hard work for you, this brown backpack is one worth considering. Not only does it contain the plates, wine glasses, cutlery and bottle opener that others offer too, the all-in-one picnic cooler bag comes with a picnic blanket, a detachable bottle holder, napkins, a cheese knife and chopping board. It's one that makes a great gift for outdoorsy friends. Size: H31.6cm x W40.5cm x L15.6cm
A leakproof picnic bag that's received dozens of positive reviews on Amazon, this grey design has many useful features. It's dirt-proof, water-resistant and durable, with 6mm-thick padding for great thermal resistance. Satisfied reviewers say they like the "fantastic quality," the mesh pockets on the outside for carrying additional items and the size that's a "lot bigger" than expected. Capacity: 26L