Picnic by the Oxo Tower

Cut out the cooks and cut out the waiters, go to one of the decent Italian delis like Lina Stores on Brewer Street, or to the stalls at Borough Market, and buy bread, ham, salami, tomatoes and fruit.

Over the road to the off-licence for a bottle of cold white and into the park to eat. If a river view tickles your fancy, always remember that there is a small (and largely unadvertised) public viewing gallery just next to the Oxo Tower restaurant. Taking your picnic there means you get the same view as the people sitting in the restaurant who will have paid a good deal more.