Alcohol consumption in public

For London pretty straightforward.

Enjoy.

https://www.royalparks.org.uk/park-management/park-regulations-and-policies/picnics-in-the-royal-parks

It would be bad form if you didn't crack open a bottle of wine.

Feel free to drink whatever you fancy, wherever you fancy in England, Scotland and Wales. No-one is going to bat an eye if you're sat in a park enjoying a picnic with a bottle of wine. Alcohol laws are a lot less strict in Europe.

There will be bans on drinking in public in some very specific small areas, but these will generally be areas where there has been some kind of problem. I think you will see signage if this is the case.

Otherwise, go ahead.

https://www.drinkaware.co.uk/alcohol-facts/alcohol-and-the-law/drinking-alcohol-in-public-places/

You are assuming that the weather will be good enough every day for picnicing?! Probably a reasonable prospect for London but brave for Wales and Scotland!

Many wine bottles here are screw topped so you won't need a corkscrew.

Wine is much cheaper in France than the UK.

As far as I know the only major tourist area with a public drinking ban is the Bankside area around the Globe Theatre and Tate Modern.

It would be useful if you listed where you are going so people can give you the information. Any restriction is at such a local level.

A rain jacket and waterproof ground cloth will let you picnic anywhere! And in my mind there is nothing more enjoyable than a pint sipped in soft English rain. OK, maybe a pint sipped in the sunshine, but still.

As Philip and Marco point out if it is prohibited this will be by local by law. The signs should be clear, knowing where you are planning to go would help.

The alcohol is OK on royal parks web site, but the glasses look like they are frowned apon, to avoid chance of broken glass causing injuries. (I like the hard cider there, myself :) Cheaper than wine. Happy Travels!

Motorgirl- you underestimate the British rain...there is nothing 'soft' about it!

You should be able to drink alcohol in most placed unless there are signs expressly telling you not to. Parks tend to be just fine. Just watch out for City Centre areas that are built up, you may not be able to drink there. If you do, the police will more than likely confiscate your alcohol and move you along, but drink at your own risk in these areas, it's generally bad form to do so.

If you are consuming in alcohol, I would recommend plastic glasses, as you don't want to have any accidents. I don't see the harm in taking a cork screw, but most wine in England comes with a screw top...also, try the cider, it's much better than the wine!! Also, make sure you take your rubbish (garbage) with you :)

Hope that helps, from a native!

"....I don't see the harm in taking a cork screw, but most wine in England comes with a screw top...also, try the cider, it's much better than the wine!!..."

I beg to differ. Whilst a lot of wine is available in screw tops the majority is still of the corkscrew variety. Cheaper, mass produced (mainly American) wine often comes in screw top although some decent wine, particularly Australian, is now being bottled in screw tops. The majority of 'old world' wines are still clinging on to the cork tradition.

As for the assertion that cider is much better than the wine that clearly is a subjective view. Two very different drinks and if you don't like cider......

Thank you everyone!

We have plastic "glasses" so no worries there. Screw tops would be great - but its no bother to carry around a corkscrew and bottle opener just in case.

As to the where, we have multiple day stays in Bath, York, Edinburgh, Edinbane (Skye), Lavenham and London.

We will also be visiting several other cities in Wales and Northern Scotland, but since we will be driving shortly before or after those stops, alcohol is obviously off the menu.

We know weather may be an issue, but we've decided to plan for the best, and be flexible if we are handed the worst.

Again - thank you for your insight and input!

Danielle - We depart for London tomorrow--the temperature for the next 5 days is 75 F ++! 80 on Saturday!

Picnic sounds wonderful!

".....Danielle - We depart for London tomorrow--the temperature for the next 5 days is 75 F ++! 80 on Saturday!

Picnic sounds wonderful!...."

It's fantastic weather at the moment, absolutely perfect for a picnic.