With the May Day bank holiday fast approaching, roadside assistance experts The AA has revealed the UK's ultimate park picnic destinations through a comprehensive 'Picnic Perfection' index, and Richmond and Bushy Parks made the top five. 

Analysing the top scenic locations across the country, the study considers Google search demand, review ratings, Instagram popularity, parking costs, sunshine hours and average temperatures to determine the nation's most idyllic spots for lunching al'fresco.

With longer days and rising temperatures, appetite for the great British picnic is growing. 

Not only are there 118.3k global TikTok tags for #picnicaesthetic, in the UK, Google searches for 'picnic' are forecast to peak at around 33,100 from April through to July. 

In the past three months, searches for 'picnic ideas' have more than doubled, with 'picnic recipes' (+86%) and 'picnic spots near me' (+39%) also rising. 

In the south east, the parks generating the biggest increases in Google searches year-on-year include; Hastings Country Park Mature Reserve (Hastings) which has nearly tripled, Lee Valley Country Park  (Greater London) which has nearly doubled, and Ouse Valley Parkin (Milton Keynes (+82%) and Hampton Court Park in Surrey (+81%).

Whilst London's Hampstead Heath is the most expensive for car parking, costing an eye-watering £58.40 for 8 hours, many of the top-ranking destinations are free to access and park at, or offer affordable day rates. 

29 of the nationwide locations actually offer free parking - visit The AA website for a full list of these - including alternative London spots like Richmond Park and Bushy Park, which also have the highest scoring average Google Reviews at 4.8 out of five, making them accessible options for cost-conscious motorists in the capital. 

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Taking the top spot is Richmond Park with a score of  91.75 out of 100.

Speaking about why Richmond Park came in first place, The AA said: "Richmond Park stands out as the ultimate picnic destination thanks to its vast open spaces, ancient woodlands and iconic free-roaming deer.

"Visitors praise its peaceful atmosphere despite its London location, with plenty of secluded spots for a blanket and basket. Its elevated viewpoints, including King Henry's Mound, offer stunning skyline views, making it ideal for both relaxation and scenic photography."

And in fourth place is Bushy Park with a score of 67.33. 

The AA said: "As one of London's Royal Parks, and second largest at over 1000 acres, Bushy Park combines historic charm with tree-lined avenues, water gardens and wide-open green spaces to offer a quieter alternative to some of the capital's busier parks.

" With over 320 resident deer, it has the added benefit of creating a wild, safari-like experience within London - a perfect picnic spot for animal lovers."

Other parks included in Britain's top five best picnic spots include Box Hill, Surrey (second), Seven Sisters Country Park, East Sussex (third), and Hampstead Heath, London (fifth).