Londoners have been warned not to barbecue in parks and open spaces as the capital bakes in its third heatwave of the year.
The London Fire Brigade has advised that dry grass caused by the hot weather can lead to wildfires starting and spreading very quickly, putting people, animals and homes in danger.
The brigade has said that while wildfires do occur naturally, the majority are caused by human behaviour.
The wildfire risk was upgraded from “elevated” to “extreme” on Friday and came just hours before a fire broke out trackside near Stratford station.
But with the sun still shining and temperatures forecast no lower than 29C for the rest of the week, it is unsurprising that Londoners have been firing up the grill.
But Londoners need to know barbecues are banned in virtually all London parks, but a handful do allow outside cooking in designated areas.
The ban covers also covers London’s Royal Parks, including spots like Greenwich Park and Hyde Park.
Here are all the spots where you can responsibly cook outdoors in London this summer:
What London parks can you barbecue in?
There is just one London park left where you can cook on coals in 2026 after Camden said it wasn’t allowing it in a umber of its parks this summer.
There are a few parks that have outdoor hotplates so you can get barbecue-style cooking with less risk of starting a fire.
Paradise Park
Islington Council does not permit barbecues in any of their parks as part of a rule that was made permanent following the Covid-19 pandemic.
However, Paradise Park next to the Freightliners Farm has an electric hotplate facility. The new hotplates offer a safer alternative to the traditional barbie and can be booked through EverGrill.
The Australian-made hotplate can be rented for just £10 an hour and could be rolled out across Islington’s parks and open spaces if successful.
Burgess Park
Burgess Park in Southwark is another park that has banned charcoal and disposable barbecues, but does have a hotplate offering.
The three electric hotplates can be used in the designated electric cooking area.
Roundshaw Park
There are two barbeque stands up for grabs at Roundshaw Park in Sutton.
Cooking outdoors is only permitted on these stands and nowhere else in the park.
Can you barbecue in the Royal Parks?
Barbecues of all kinds are banned in London’s Royal Parks. This includes Hyde Park, The Regent’s Park, St James’s Park, Green Park, Kensington Gardens, Greenwich Park, Richmond Park, and Bushy Park.
You could face legal penalties or face being prosecuted if you decide to light up a barbecue in the parks.
Instead, the Royal Parks have suggested that park-goers bring along cold picnics or use on-site facilities during warm weekends.
