London, England · City Walks
The best
dog walksin London.
Wild heathland, deer parks and royal lawns—chosen for the dogs who walk them and the humans holding the lead.
20,389
walks mapped in England
42,542
miles walked
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English towns with walkers
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Choose the right adventure
Off the lead.
Five very good walks.
London is one of the best big cities in the world for dogs: in most of its great parks, well-behaved dogs can walk off the lead. This guide covers the classic open spaces—and the places inside them where the rules change.
The Royal Parks ask that dogs stay in sight and under control, that anyone whose dog’s recall isn’t reliable keeps it on a lead, and that one person handles no more than four dogs at a time. Formal gardens, ponds and wildlife areas often have their own lead or no-dog rules.
Before the lead comes off
Deer change everything. In Richmond Park, dogs must be on leads everywhere from 1 May to 31 July, and the Royal Parks advise keeping dogs on leads—and at least 50 metres from deer—during the autumn rut.
Wildest walk
Hampstead Heath
Biggest sky
Richmond Park
Best view
Greenwich Park
Most central
Hyde Park
Pick your pace
Five walks worth
clipping in for.
Every one of these parks is big enough for a whole morning. Dashed green lines on the maps mark the park boundary.
North London
Heathland
01
Hampstead Heath
Woods, meadows, ponds and the famous view from Parliament Hill—London’s wildest-feeling open space and a dog-walking institution.
Keep out of the ponds. The City of London’s dog code keeps dogs out of conservation areas and ponds, except at designated dog swimming spots with floating barriers. Check the on-lead and exclusion map before you go.
South-west London
Deer park
02
Richmond Park
London’s largest Royal Park: open grassland, ancient oaks and hundreds of free-roaming deer. Spectacular—and the park where dog rules matter most.
Respect the deer. It is an offence for a dog to chase deer here. During birthing season and the rut, the Royal Parks recommend walking dogs elsewhere or sticking to the perimeter.
South-east London
Hilltop park
03
Greenwich Park
A steep climb to one of London’s best views, past the Royal Observatory, with sweeping lawns and avenues of old trees.
Know the no-go zones. Dogs are not allowed in the Flower Garden, The Wilderness or the Deer Park enclosure, and should be on a lead near the Rose Garden.
Central London
Royal park
04
Hyde Park & Kensington Gardens
A huge green space in the middle of the city, with the Serpentine, wide lawns and long tree-lined paths that join straight into Kensington Gardens.
Mind the water. Keep dogs on a lead along the edge of the Serpentine, and out of the Lido and the Diana Memorial Fountain.
North-west London
Royal park
05
The Regent’s Park & Primrose Hill
Wide open sports fields, tree-lined avenues and a short climb up Primrose Hill for a classic view over central London.
Leads in the gardens. Dogs generally don’t need leads here, except in Avenue Gardens, the English Gardens, Queen Mary’s Gardens, St John’s Lodge Garden and around the boating lake.
Plan with current information
Official London resources
Seasonal rules change every year. These official pages are the final word before you head out. Maps: © OpenStreetMap contributors.