Updated October 2026
Dog days out in Surrey & South London
At Royvon, dogs come first. We've been training and caring for dogs since 1959, and one of the best things any owner can do is get out and try somewhere new together. Fresh paths, sights and smells are good for a dog's mind as well as their legs. We've put this guide together for every dog owner, not just our customers. It covers commons, parks, estates, secure dog fields and dog-friendly pubs within reach of our Esher site, from the heaths on our doorstep to the Royal Parks, South London's commons and the Surrey Hills. Each entry has its dog rules, a link to the official source and directions. Please share this page or the PDF with anyone who might find it useful.
The map
Every place, pinned
Numbers on the map match the cards below. Tap a pin for the dog notes, or use the directions link on each card for real driving times from Royvon Esher. Everything here was checked against official sources in October 2026, but rules, opening times and parking can change, especially with the seasons. Please check the source link and any signs on arrival before you go.
Location overview, not a navigation map: use the directions links for routes.
Commons, heaths & hills
Commons, heaths & hills
From the heaths on Esher's doorstep to the chalk downs of the Surrey Hills. Many have lead rules from March to August for ground-nesting birds.
Esher 路 KT10 9JL
Esher Commons & Black Pond
Heath, grassland, woodland, marsh and open water across the Esher Commons, with waymarked footpaths and bridleways. An easy access trail from Blackhills car park crosses the heath to Black Pond.
Dog notes
Dogs must be under close control by law and kept from disturbing wildlife, ponds and nesting areas. Yellow-arrow footpaths are walkers only. Clean up after your dog.
Oxshott 路 KT22 0TA
Oxshott Heath
Heath on the edge of Oxshott, part of the Esher Commons, open on foot at all hours. Elmbridge Council is improving the car park until December 2026; sections stay open throughout, so follow signs on arrival.
Dog notes
Keep dogs under control and on a lead where signposted. Keep to main paths March to September, when ground-nesting birds are breeding.
Wimbledon 路 SW19 5NR
Wimbledon Common
Large common where dogs can generally be off lead. The Windmill car park has toilets but gets very busy.
Dog notes
Off lead generally allowed. Leads on The Plain 1 March to 31 August and around Queensmere 1 April to 31 August. No dogs in the ponds 1 April to 31 August. Up to 4 dogs per person under the byelaws.
Epsom 路 KT19 8PL
Horton Country Park
400-acre local nature reserve of ancient woodland, hay meadows, hedgerows and ponds. Main car park off Horton Lane, locked half an hour before sunset.
Dog notes
Dogs under close control. Keep dogs out of woodland being cleared in winter, where fires and machinery are in use.
Tadworth, near Dorking 路 KT20 7LB
Box Hill
National Trust hill with summit car parks and a caf茅, where water bowls are provided.
Dog notes
Well-controlled dogs welcome; leads where livestock graze and around horses. Dogs on a short lead welcome inside the caf茅. Watch for restricted areas 1 March to 31 August (ground-nesting birds).
Ashtead 路 KT21 2DU
Ashtead Common
National Nature Reserve with over 2,300 ancient oak pollards. No car park on the Common; use Ashtead station or Stew Ponds off Christchurch Road.
Dog notes
Dogs under effective control at all times, with an ID collar. Dog training and racing are banned under the byelaws.
Ockham, by the A3 路 KT11 1NR
Wisley & Ockham Commons
Heathland commons with Bolder Mere lake and the Chatley Heath Semaphore Tower. Three free car parks; caf茅 and toilets at Bolder Mere.
Dog notes
Dogs welcome under effective control. Part of a protected area for heathland birds; high fire risk.
Barge Walk, Hampton Court to Kingston 路 KT8 9AU
Thames Path at Hampton Court
Flat riverside walk on the Barge Walk, running east from Hampton Court Palace towards Kingston Bridge. Paid on-site palace car park.
Dog notes
Keep dogs on a lead along the riverside: the path is shared with walkers and cyclists and runs right beside the water. This stretch is non-tidal, but take care at the river's edge. No dogs in the palace, courtyards or gardens.
Mitcham 路 CR4 1HT
Mitcham Common
182-hectare common with woodland, grassland and ponds, and short walks including a 1.1-mile Seven Islands Pond loop from the Ecology Centre car park on Windmill Road.
Dog notes
Dog walking is an established use of the common. Keep dogs under effective control.
Tooting / Balham 路 SW16 1RU
Tooting Common
Large common with acid grassland, old oaks, historic avenues and a lake. Directions take you to the Tooting Bec Lido car park.
Dog notes
No dogs in play areas, enclosed sports facilities, the lake or ecology pools. Leads in car parks, caf茅 seating areas and where directed. ID tag required; up to 4 dogs per person.
Great Bookham 路 KT23 3LT
Bookham Commons
Ancient commons of grassland, oak woods and ponds, with a 2.5 to 3-mile activity trail and a bird hide. Free parking at Mark Oak Gate and Hundred Pound Bridge.
Dog notes
Well-controlled dogs welcome; leads where cattle graze (The Plains and Bank's Common). No toilets.
Headley, near Box Hill 路 KT18 6NN
Headley Heath
Heathland trails of about 2 to 4 miles, including a Second World War history trail. Pay to park (NT members free); there's no phone signal, so set up the parking app first.
Dog notes
Well-controlled dogs welcome. Leads and paths 1 March to 31 August (ground-nesting birds). Short lead around livestock.
Reigate 路 RH2 0HX
Reigate Hill & Gatton Park
Chalk escarpment with views across the Weald, and Capability Brown landscape at Gatton Park. A takeaway servery at Wray Lane car park.
Dog notes
Well-controlled dogs welcome; short lead around livestock.
Near Guildford 路 GU4 8SE
Newlands Corner
415 acres of chalk downland and woodland, with an accessible 700m trail and a caf茅 open daily from 9am. Free car parks.
Dog notes
Dogs under close control and on paths.
Near Dorking 路 RH5 6LU
Leith Hill
Woodland and heathland trails at the highest point in Surrey. The tower and Leith Hill Place are closed until spring 2027. Directions take you to Rhododendron Wood car park.
Dog notes
Well-behaved dogs welcome. Leads around livestock and in fenced areas 1 March to 31 July.
Chobham 路 GU24 8TL
Chobham Common
Largest inland National Nature Reserve in south-east England, with three self-guided trails. Six free car parks; directions take you to Roundabout car park.
Dog notes
Close control and on paths 1 March to 15 September (ground-nesting birds). Leads around livestock.
Parks & estates
Parks & estates
Royal Parks, National Trust estates and London parks. The deer parks need leads everywhere from 1 May to 31 July.
Esher 路 KT10 9JG
Claremont Landscape Garden
National Trust garden with a serpentine lake, grass amphitheatre and Belvedere tower. Free car park by the entrance; water bowls by the caf茅 and kiosk.
Dog notes
Three pawprints. Short lead all year. Not in the two play areas, Badger's Basecamp or the lake. Dogs on short leads welcome in the Gardener's Bothy caf茅. Entry charge for non-members.
Cobham 路 KT11 1AG
Painshill
160-acre landscape garden with a historic route of about 3 miles (around 2 hours). Ticketed; booking ahead is recommended.
Dog notes
Short fixed lead at all times on the designated paths. Not in the Kitchen Garden or at special events. Don't let dogs drink from the lake when blue-green algae is present in summer. Dogs on a short lead welcome in the Tea Room.
Hampton / Teddington 路 TW12 2EJ
Bushy Park
Over 1,000 acres of Royal Park with deer, ancient woodland and waterways. Free parking at Coleshill Road Gate, the Pheasantry Caf茅 and Diana Fountain.
Dog notes
Leads in all areas 1 May to 31 July (deer birthing). Otherwise off lead is usually fine at a safe distance from deer, but leads near deer, ponds and rivers. Short leads in the skylark zones March to September. In the rut (September to November) keep 50m from deer. No dogs in the Woodland Gardens.
Richmond 路 TW10 5HS
Richmond Park
2,500 acres of Royal Park with ancient woodland, grassland and herds of red and fallow deer. Seven free car parks.
Dog notes
Leads in all areas 1 May to 31 July. Otherwise off lead is usually fine at a safe distance from deer, but leads near deer and around ponds, including Pen Ponds. Short leads all year in the skylark zones. Keep 50m from deer in the rut. Leads in Isabella Plantation; no dogs in Pembroke Lodge Gardens.
Hampton Court 路 KT8 9AU
Home Park, Hampton Court
Deer park and the Long Water beside Hampton Court Palace. Free entry from 7am.
Dog notes
Leads in all areas 1 May to 31 July. Close control all year and at least 50m from deer; stay on mown paths. No dogs in the palace, courtyards or formal gardens.
Cheam / Ewell 路 SM3 8AB
Nonsuch Park
Open park around Nonsuch Mansion House, with the Nonsuch Pantry caf茅. Car parks off London Road, Ewell, and Ewell Road, Cheam.
Dog notes
Responsible dog walkers welcome. Leads by the caf茅. No dogs in the Formal Garden.
Great Bookham 路 RH5 6BD
Polesden Lacey
1,600-acre estate with signed dog zones and a dog walker's map. For satnav the Trust advises KT23 4PZ; parking charge for non-members.
Dog notes
Two pawprints. Not in the formal gardens, main caf茅, mansion or bookshop. Welcome in the gift shop and small coffee shop. Off lead on the wider estate if well controlled; leads near livestock.
East Clandon 路 GU4 7RT
Hatchlands Park
More than 400 acres of parkland, most of it open to dogs. The postcode can lead to the delivery entrance; the Trust gives what3words ///dinner.shins.phones for the car park.
Dog notes
Close control in designated parkland. Leads around livestock (sheep and cattle graze spring to autumn). Dogs on leads welcome in both caf茅s. Not in the house, formal gardens or adventure area.
Morden 路 SM4 5JD
Morden Hall Park
125 acres of parkland, wetland and meadow along the River Wandle, with the Trust's only garden centre. Pay and display parking, first 1.5 hours free.
Dog notes
Three pawprints. Leads in the Rose Garden, around buildings, in the play area and on the Wetland Boardwalk; short lead near sheep. Dogs can go inside the caf茅s and garden centre. Signs show off-lead areas.
Ham, Richmond 路 TW10 7RS
Ham House and Garden
17th-century house on the Thames with gardens open to dogs all year. Free parking at the council's Ham Street car park, about 400 yards away.
Dog notes
Two pawprints. Short lead at all times. Welcome in the gardens, gift shop and left side of the Orangery Coffee Shop. House is assistance dogs only. No dogs on Petersham meadow while cows graze in summer.
Battersea 路 SW11 4NJ
Battersea Park
200-acre Victorian park on the Thames with a riverside promenade, a large lake and a children's zoo.
Dog notes
No dogs in play areas, enclosed sports facilities, any water, the zoo or the Pagoda. Leads in car parks, caf茅 seating areas and where directed. ID tag required; up to 4 dogs per person.
Streatham 路 SW16 5NR
Streatham Common
Open common with woodland, grassland and meadows and wide views over south London, with The Rookery, a walled formal garden, inside it. Caf茅 and toilets.
Dog notes
Dogs welcome on the common under control. Keep dogs on a lead inside the walled Rookery, and out of signposted dog-free areas such as the Orchard, playground, paddling pool and caf茅.
Dulwich 路 SE21 7BQ
Dulwich Park
29-hectare park with a boating lake, the Dulwich Clock caf茅 and toilets. Car park at the College Road entrance.
Dog notes
Off lead on the perimeter path. Leads in the central area and on sports pitches. No dogs in the tennis courts, bowling green, pond enclosure or playground.
Crystal Palace 路 SE19 2GA
Crystal Palace Park
Historic park with the Grade I listed dinosaur sculptures (nearest entrance Penge Gate), Italian Terraces and lakes. Two caf茅s and pay car parks.
Dog notes
Bromley's dog control order applies (renewed 1 October 2026): dogs under proper control, kept out of exclusion areas such as play spaces, and on a lead where signs say so, including caf茅 and seating areas. No more than three dogs per person without a council licence.
Secure dog fields
Secure dog fields
Fenced fields you book by the slot, so your dog can run off lead safely. Book online and check each field's rules before you go.
Send, off the A3 路 GU23 7JP
Off The Lead
Five-acre fully fenced field with agility and parkour equipment, paddling pools and private parking.
Dog notes
Private hire, 拢13 per hour, booked and prepaid online; 50-minute sessions. Your own household's dogs only. Vaccinations and worming up to date. No electric, spray or prong collars.
South Nutfield, near Redhill 路 RH1 5PL
Secure Dog Walking Field Surrey
Four secure 6-acre fields (Lakeside, Silver Birch, The Oaks and Riverrun) with a lake where dogs can swim.
Dog notes
6ft fencing. Book online; see the website for prices.
Eat & drink
Eat & drink
Dog-friendly pubs by the Esher commons, for after a walk.
West End, Esher 路 KT10 8LA
The Prince of Wales
Pub and restaurant on West End Lane, by the commons, with a large garden and covered pergola.
Dog notes
Welcomes dogs. The website doesn't say which areas dogs can use.
Leatherhead Road, Oxshott 路 KT22 0JE
The Bear, Oxshott
Young's country pub on Leatherhead Road at Oxshott Heath, pitched as a stop for you and your dog after a walk. (A separate Young's pub, The Bear on Esher High Street, also welcomes dogs.)
Dog notes
Dog friendly; dogs get water and treats. The site doesn't say which areas dogs can use.
Before you go
Dog rules change with the seasons
Deer birthing, the autumn rut, grazing livestock and ground-nesting birds all bring lead restrictions. Check the source link for each place before you set off, and use the directions link for real driving times from Royvon.
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