The best garden centre cafés
The English love affair with gardening is legendary and there is something wonderfully comforting about a garden centre: garish pansies and geraniums; blight-free roses and fruit trees; hot sticky greenhouses. And they make the most perfect setting for a bite to eat.

Petersham Nurseries
The first time we discovered this, past a pretty church down a gravel track with the river and Richmond a field away, we couldn’t believe we were in 21st century London. The garden centre is home to a grown up restaurant (Skye Gyngell’s seasonal food is fab) and a tea house in a garden shed and greenhouse. Delicious home made cakes, sandwiches, soup and lemonade. Some quite grown up tastes – better for more adventurous older children.

The nursery is fighting an ongoing battle with Richmond Council and local residents. Its future is currently looking fairly safe but the big issue is too many cars so don’t drive. Instead park your car in Richmond Park and walk! Petersham Nurseries Teahouse: Tues-Sat 10am–4.30pm, Sun 11am–4.30pm. Closed Mons. off Petersham Road, TW10
8605 3627 petershamnurseries.com

Gingko Garden Centre
West London families have been heading to this well-stocked centre on the Western side of Ravenscourt Park for ages. Their newly opened café is a total delight: delicious muffins, cakes, heavenly brownies, good coffee and lots of juices for children. More substantial lunchtime food might include grilled veggie salad, chicken tagine with cous cous. Genuinely child- and dog-friendly (there is an area with toys and games), sit either inside or out on sturdy wooden tables among lots of greenery. Café Gingko at the Gingko Garden Centre, Mon-Fri 7.30am–5.30pm, Sat 9am–6pm, Sun 9am–5pm. Ravenscourt Avenue, W6  
8563 7112 ginkgogardens.co.uk



Clifton Nurseries
A new café too in this Little Venice stalwart, the oldest garden centre in London. The outdoor section is bright and contemporary: white brick walls, primary coloured metal tables, fab Miro-esque sculptures by David MacIwane. Inside choose from good breakfast muesli, excellent soups and more substantial main meals, yummy cakes. Kids can order any plate (half portion) and juice for £5.
The Clifton Kitchen at Clifton Nurseries,
5a Clifton Villas W9 2PH clifton.co.uk
7289 2442 Mon-Fri 10am–6.30pm, weekends 8.30am–6.30pm.

Chelsea Physic Garden
Not a garden centre, more like stumbling into an amazing private garden in the country. Founded by the ‘Worshipful Society of Apothecaries’ in 1673 it has been open to the public since 1983. They do NOT encourage screaming children but that is part of its tranquil calm and if you wanted to go for lunch with babes in arms or toddlers you would be hard pushed to find a nicer spot.

The café operates from a high ceilinged fairly soul-less room in the main building that has the feel of a village fete circa 1950 but all the offerings are homemade and delicious. Excellent elevenses or tea (scones, brownies, meringues), or more substantial lunch fare (they have a drinks licence). Seating on patio at large wooden with umbrellas.
Chelsea Physic Garden, 66 Royal Hospital Road, SW3. Admission £8 adults, children 5_15 £5, under 5s free. Open Wed, Thurs, Fri 12–5pm, Sun and bank holidays 12–6pm.


Park Life
Here is our pick of the pack in London’s great green spaces – not a packaged muffin or children’s fill up picnic box in sight!

Pavilion Café, Highgate Woods
Deep in the heart of Highgate Woods in an idyllic
position by the cricket pitch, the Pavilion Café feels miles away from London life. Great Mediterranean and mezze-style food, a good children’s menu and delicious pastries and puddings or grab an ice-cream from their kiosk. Indoor seating or plenty outdoors, perfect for keeping an eye on your children playing. Jazz evenings on Friday in the summer.
Anya Waddington. Muswell Hill Road 020 8444 4777.
Open all year from 9am till approx 9pm in summer (approx 4pm in winter).

Peckham Rye Park and Common
A stone’s through from East Dulwich is the newly restored Peckham Rye Park and historic common. This beautiful green oasis has it all – woodland and a lake, ornamental gardens and streams, a refurbished skate park, new outdoor gym and a clean, spacious and well designed café. Highchairs, books, toys and good baby changing facilities make it a great place to visit with kids and there is a place to tie up your dog with water.  The café has stunning views across the common and a range of delicious homemade food including cakes, sandwiches and pasta dishes. Milly Hutchinson.

Serpentine Bar and Kitchen, Hyde Park
Hurrah! my favourite park café in London (the Sydney opera house lookalike perched on the Eastern end of the Serpentine) has finally got the makeover it deserves. Now run by master sandwich chain Benugo but totally un-chain feel to it. Mismatched wooden tables with pretty French china and pots of herbs; tables heaving with delectable muffins and cookies; excellent mugs of coffee and a range of teas (the jasmine is delicious). More substantial meals include pizza cooked in wood fired pizza oven, charcuterie plates, salads; good selection of wine by the glass. Deckchairs outside. Unbeatable!
Serpentine Bar and Kitchen Open 8am–8pm daily serpentinebarandkitchen.com