Richmond borough has been named the best place in London to enjoy a long lunch in the garden or a picnic in the park this summer, following new research into the UK's ideal areas for dining outdoors.

The Alfresco Index, compiled by garden furniture retailer White Stores, scored all 361 UK local authorities from 0 to 100 across five key considerations for eating outdoors: the summer weather (weighted at 27%), the amount of private and public outdoor space (27%), the quality of the surrounding setting (18%), the choice of places to eat out (18%) and the affordability of everyday groceries (9%).

The index found that Richmond borough leads the capital on 65.0 and comes 10th nationally, the only London borough in the top 10, thanks to the most dining-friendly summer climate in the country, it tops the weather category of all 361 local authorities, with summer daytime highs of 22.5°C and around 1,679 hours of sunshine a year.

Havering is second in London and 14th nationally on 63.5, pairing similarly warm summers, highs of 22.5°C, with more outdoor space than most of the capital on its rural, green-belt fringe.

Nearby Merton follows in third on 61.9 (19th nationally), with the 10th-best summer weather of any UK local authority and highs averaging 22.6°C around Wimbledon.

Bromley is fourth on 60.4, the greenest of the leading boroughs: as the largest borough by area, with green belt to the south, it offers more room to dine out than most of inner London.

Nearby Hammersmith and Fulham completes a strong top five on 59.4 (42nd nationally), with the third-best summer weather in the country with highs of 22.8°C – and around 1,343 places to eat out.

Westminster ranks sixth in the capital on 58.7 and leads the entire UK for choice of places to eat out, with roughly 4,462 food-service venues, though its limited private outdoor space holds it to 46th overall.

At the other end of the ranking, Barking and Dagenham is London's lowest-ranked borough in 284th, well clear of the national bottom, where Inverclyde in western Scotland ranks last of all 361.

White Stores said: "London's standout strength is its weather: the warm, sunny south-east climate gives the capital several of the most dining-friendly areas in the country.

" Where it loses ground is space – private gardens in central London are among the smallest anywhere, well below the typical UK local authority's 310 square metres – which is why parks, balconies and patios do so much of the work.

"The top of the national table is otherwise firmly out of town, led by Dorset on 67.3, with the South East taking 14 of the top 20 places."



Commenting on the study, Rob Mead, Buying Director at White Stores, added: "Eating outdoors is one of the simplest pleasures of a British summer, and this research shows how much the experience varies from one part of the country to the next – from the weather and the choice of places to eat out, to how much private garden space people have at home.

"Wherever someone lives, a comfortable set of table and chairs, a bit of shade and some shelter can turn a garden, balcony or patio into the best seat in the house for the few warm months we get.

"The districts at the top of this index pair the right climate with the space and the venues to make the most of it, but with the right setup almost anywhere can be a great place to dine alfresco."

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