When the weather is nice, one of the most pleasant ways to spend your afternoon or evening is surely enjoying a meal with friends or family ‘al fresco.’

Okay, so the British weather might prevent you from doing it as often as you’d like (well, at least as often as you’d like without getting soaked!), life is all about taking advantage of the opportunities that come your way, and when the Summer sun comes out, there’s little better than seizing the moment and eating outside.

And as one of the largest cities in the UK, Birmingham can definitely provide you the opportunity to do just that. Be it on a home-made picnic at the park or at a restaurant or bar with outside tables, the city offers plenty of options. But where are the best places to do so?

Well, if you’re not too hung up on eating at a restaurant (and more importantly, if you’re willing to put together your own picnic!) then hitting the local parks and eating there is always a good bet. Probably the most popular park amongst Birmingham locals, Cannon Hill Park provides plenty of picnic opportunities within its 250 acres, as well as lovely scenery.

Alternatively, Sutton Park is the largest green space in the whole city, and it’s easy to find an ideal picnic spot within its 2,400 acres of peaceful woodlands and lakes.

While picnics are great, for many people, you just can’t beat the idea of sitting at a table outside a restaurant in a picturesque location, waiting for your order to arrive. Birmingham offers a wealth of top quality restaurants at the best of times, but which of these offer the best ‘al fresco’ dining experience?

Well, as far as the quality of food goes, it’d be hard to argue with Simpsons Restaurant. The only Michelin recognised gardens in Birmingham, visitors can enjoy a meal in the location’s Greek-styled garden area.

If you’ve got a soft spot for Italian food, then perhaps the La Caverna Hotel and Italian Restaurant might offer the best bet for you – many food fans in Birmingham swear by eating on the restaurant’s terrace.

Prefer Spanish food? Not a problem – you’d be more than catered for at the La Tasca Kitchen, home to one of the largest terraces in Birmingham for outdoor dining.

Of course, these are just a small selection of the locations you can eat outdoors in Birmingham. There are plenty of other green locations ideal for a picnic, and many city centre restaurants offer the opportunity to eat outside.

If you’re planning on enjoying some food around a visit to the city, simply pick a Birmingham hotel in an ideal location, decide where you want to eat and hey-presto, you’re sorted. Now all you need to worry about is the weather.

Jesse Wallace writes for a digital marketing agency. This article has been commissioned by a client of said agency. This article is not designed to promote, but should be considered professional content.