10 best picnic blankets for al fresco dining this summer

We love the bright rainbow stripes of this picnic mat from The Stripes Co – it’s a showstopper on grass in the garden or park, and nice and easy to spot on a crowded beach. The quilted blanket has a damp proof backing that doesn’t feel too rigid but is just thick enough to offer some comfort on bumpy ground. Plus, it’s finished with a piped edge and the whole thing feels top quality.

The mat is a roomy 200cm x 200cm, so it’s big enough for the whole family and folds into a separate carry bag. The bag itself pretty substantial to make enough space though – so this isn’t a compact option – but the PVC oilcloth lining means the bag, like the mat, is super sturdy. Team it with the matching striped bunting and you’ll be the envy of your picnicking neighbours.

Designed in Cornwall and made in Britain, this 100 per cent wool picnic mat from Atlantic Blankets is available in various sophisticated colourways. We tested the kelp green, which is knitted in thick herringbone stripes and finished with a cream border and tassels.

Soft and warm, the blanket is slightly narrower than others we tested, but the longer length works well for two people – especially if you want to stretch out and doze after a particularly indulgent picnic. It’s finished with a separate carry strap and handle in one – you can choose this in a grey fabric webbing to lower the overall price to £115, or plump for a luxurious natural leather that finishes it off perfectly.

While it’s not specifically designed to be a picnic blanket, we love the multifunctional features of The FieldDay Blanket by ENO, which works well for all sorts of outdoor adventures where the ground is relatively dry. The nylon shell fabric on one side is water-repellent, so we used this side face-down in testing and sat on the soft polar fleece side. That did mean the pattern – a black and green mountain design – wasn’t visible, but it was one of the softest blankets to sit on.

The blanket comes with a travel-ready stuff sack – like a sleeping bag holder – so there’s no need to faff around folding it up, and it packs down nice and small. Because it doesn’t have a rigid backing, you can throw it straight into the washing machine and ours cleaned up really well. Plus, it doubles as a cosy camping blanket complete with a tiny buckle so you can wrap yourself in it and carry on your business, hands-free.

Need a bit more space to spread out? We found the longer length of this Pacmat picnic blanket meant nobody had to sit half-on, half-off. On the flip side, it packed down into the smallest of all the picnic blankets we tested once it was folded and rolled into the mesh carry bag.

The secret is the fabric – the top layer is a technical polyester that sheds water, and the bottom is a waterproof ripstop nylon that’s durable but light. It does mean you don’t get any cushioning from the ground below, but it’s outweighed by the fact it’s so portable and dried the fastest of all the blankets we tested. There are holes in the corners so you can peg it down or hang it up, and you can choose from a selection of muted hues.

This Mountain Warehouse picnic mat comes in lots of designs, including an all-over dog print that went down well with our younger testers. The playful design is matched by a solid, dark background, which – along with the fact it wipes clean brilliantly – means it doesn’t show the dirt. The underside is water resistant, and we didn’t experience any soggy bottoms on damp grass. It folds to a nice small size and stays shut with a Velcro flap and built-in handle. All in all, we couldn’t fault it for the price.

This 100 per cent wool picnic blanket is available in 13 pretty colourways. We tested the cheerful rainbow stripe design that’s covered in a classic herringbone knit and finished with colourful tassels, which drew no end of admiring comments from fellow picnickers. The soft wool upper feels luxurious and warm to sit on and has a waterproof canvas backing that stood up well to fresh spring grass. It’s machine washable on a cold wool cycle, but like any natural wool it needs a little TLC – and no spin cycles – to keep it looking its best. Beautifully made and finished with dark leather straps, this would make a gorgeous gift for any picnic-lover.

There’s a lot to love about this multifunctional picnic blanket made from recycled materials. The top layer is a quick-drying micro-fleece that feels super soft to sit on. Combined with the bottom layer –a durable, water-resistant ripstop fabric – the blanket repels sand, spills, stains and pet hair.

It’s the extra features that really take this up a notch, though, from the stake loops to peg it down on a windy day at the beach, to the smart carry pouch and concealed pocket where you can stash your phone and keys out of sight. We love the poppers round the outside, too – you can use them to snap several blankets together or make a changing cubicle or cloak for the beach. Aside from all the functional features, the retro designs look fantastic – making this a good-value option if you’re in the market for something multifunctional.

This smart, circular picnic blanket from Habitat is covered in a grey palm print with a black backing. We like that the underside is fully waterproof, so there was no dampness when testing on soggy grass. It does mean the blanket is fairly rigid, though, and the patterned side is wipe-clean only rather than machine washable. The carry handle is built-in, so there’s no chance of losing it, and seals closed with a popper. It’s nice and small when rolled up, and incredibly light – making this a handy option when you’ve already got armfuls of picnic stuff to carry.

Bright and breezy, this floral picnic blanket from M&S is giving us serious spring vibes. We like the lemon yellow colour, all-over daisy print and racing green trim, and the circular shape makes it stand out from the crowd. The upper layer is made from a soft fleecy fabric that wipes clean, although we did struggle to remove sticky spills from the fleece.

The waterproof underside stood up to soggy grass though, and the blanket folds flat with a Velcro flap to secure it and a built-in carry handle. Team it with matching items from M&S’ expressive floral picnic range – which includes everything from melamine tumblers to picnic trays – and your spread will be as pretty as a picture.

Looking for a blanket that does everything? It’s not cheap, but YETI’s Lowlands Blanket is as multifunctional as it’s durable. The soft top layer has built-in insulation, and the bottom is completely waterproof. Designed to repel dirt, burrs, and pet hair, it’s ideal if you’ve got animals or mucky kids in tow – and it’s machine washable on a cold wash.

We love the built-in utility loops, which mean you can either peg it down as a picnic blanket or tent carpet, or hang it up as a shelter or shade. The generous size means there’s space for the whole family to sit on it, and the zippable carry-bag is built to last – and means it easily packs down to a neat size.