Visiting Runnymede and Ankerwycke with your dog

Two people, one wearing a baby in a carrier, attach rope to their dogs' harnesses in a grassy area with trees at Runnymede, Surrey — There's room to roam, for four legs and two, at Runnymede, Surrey | © National Trust Images/James Dobson

We love dogs at Runnymede and Ankerwycke, and there are lots of waymarked walks you can enjoy with your pet along the riverside and through open meadows. Please keep dogs on leads near livestock and around the memorials and follow the Canine Code to make the most of your walks.

Our pawprint rating system

We’ve been working on making it easier for you to find out how dog-friendly your visit will be before you and your four-legged friend arrive. To help with this, we've created a new pawprint rating system and given all the places in our care a rating. You can find this information in the National Trust members’ handbook.

Runnymede and Ankerwycke is a three pawprint rated place.

Dogs are welcome here, but facilities are limited. They’ll be able to stretch their legs in the car park and walk in the nearby open spaces, depending on the season. Read on to discover exactly where you can take your dog.

Where can my dog go?

Dogs on leads are welcome anywhere in the countryside at Runnymede and Ankerwycke. As a sign of respect, when around the memorials please keep dogs on a short lead.

In areas where dogs can be off-lead, they must be kept under close control.

Well-behaved dogs on a short lead are welcome in the Magna Carta tea-room.

Keeping control of your dog

Our definition of close or effective control is:

Being able to recall your dogs in any situation at the first call
Being able to clearly see your dog at all times (not just knowing they have gone into the undergrowth or over the crest of the hill). In practice, this means keeping them on a footpath if the surrounding vegetation is too dense for your dog to be visible
Not allowing them to approach other visitors without their consent
Having a lead with you to use if you encounter livestock or wildlife, or if you are asked to use one

Please be a responsible dog owner and set a good example to others by cleaning up after your dog – bag it, bin it or take it home to dispose of it. Thank you.

Three children, a dog on a lead and a woman with a pushchair walk through the long grass in meadows at Runnymede, Surrey — A family stroll through the long grass at Runnymede, Surrey | © National Trust Images/John Millar

What do I need to be aware of?

Some areas of Runnymede and Ankerwycke are grazed by cattle. When walking near livestock, please put your dog on a short lead and keep your distance.

As advised by the RSPCA, please don't leave your dog unattended in a car at any time during the year.

The Canine Code

We’ve worked with our partner Forthglade to come up with this Canine Code, which helps to make sure everyone can enjoy their day:

Keep them close: using a short lead helps to keep your dog from disturbing ground-nesting birds and farm animals. It's essential to use a short lead around sheep. But if cattle approach you, it's best to let your dog off the lead, and call them back when it's safe to do so.
Pick up the poo: please always clear up after your dog. If you can't find a bin nearby, take the poo bags home with you.
Watch the signs: keep an eye on local signs and notices wherever you're walking. They'll tell you if a beach has a dog ban, for instance, or if a path has been diverted, or if you're in an area where dogs can run off-lead.
Stay on the ball: remember that not everyone loves dogs, and some people fear them. So make sure your dog doesn't run up to other people, especially children.