Dog-free days out and destinations are something that we get asked about a lot, for lots of different reasons. Here’s a list of dog-free places that we visit regularly, and love. Click each header for more info.
Wytham Woods
🆓 This is such a beautiful spot and totally free, although you do need a permit. It’s known as the most researched piece of woodland on the world as a Site of Special Scientific Interest and it is absolutely huge at 1000 acres. Loads of seasonal highlights throughout the year and plenty of wild play opportunities for children to enjoy.
Oxford City Farm
🆓 A community farm that is so busy! Visit to see the goats, sheep, pigs and chickens, complete farmer jobs with mini wheelbarrows, play in the sandpit and buy produce grown on the farm. Community open days are every Friday and Saturday for guaranteed fun on the farm.
Farnmoor Reservoir
🆓 I spent so many hours here walking with all three of my newborns as it’s flat and pushchair friendly. There’s two loops here – 2.4 miles or 1.7 miles – you can do both or just one. Children will love the bird hides where they can quietly (or not!) peep at the birds on the reservoir, there’s even binoculars to use. Stop in at the Waterside Café for delicious homemade bakes and cakes.
Kingston Bagpuize Millenium Green Mosaic Trail
🆓 This is such a little gem of a place! As well as 12 mosaics to find (there’s a helpful map on the website), there’s also a maze, sundial, giant steps and a log which looks just like a crocodile! This is very near to another dog free adventure: Kingston Bagpuize House and Gardens.
Waterperry Gardens
The ornamental gardens at Waterperry (also in your Gardeners’ Word 2-4-1), is dog free, although it’s worth noting that the rest of Waterperry is not. However, the ornamental gardens are but a few footsteps from the car park. There’s lots of activities in the gardens with trails and hunts running during the school holidays, as well as plays in the impressive amphitheatre.
Harcourt Arboretum
One of our favourite dog-free spots, although it’s not lost on us that running amok in130 acres finding really quite excellent sticks is something that an excited pooch would be in heaven doing! The resident peacocks will treat you with disdain (unless you have a snack in your hands) but don’t let that put you off your wander and wonder as you gaze up at the some of the oldest redwoods in the U.K. Pick up free trails at the Welcome Desk.
Oxford Botanic Gardens
The UK’s oldest botanic garden. We call it ‘Oxford’s Jungle’ and love wandering through the glasshouses with their giant water lilies, cacti, and tropical blooms. Don’t forget to look up into the trees, you might just spot the Cheshire Cat grinning down from a branch! It’s hard to believe that you are actually in the city centre!
Otmoor RSPB Nature Reserve
This comes with a caveat as dogs are welcome on the public footpaths and bridleways on the reserve but not off the paths onto any of the fields, nor along the visitor trail or other permissive paths. I have been here many, many times and never seen any dogs. It’s worth a visit for the bird hides and wildlife but the real spectacle is the murmuration from late November into January when thousands of starlings swoop and swirl across the sky in incredible shapes, before settling down to roost in the reedbed. Definitely a bucket list watch!
Rousham Gardens
If you fancy somewhere that doesn’t allow dogs OR children (come on, it’s the latter stages of the summer holidays here, we’re realists!) then Rousham is for you. Regarded as one of the greatest gardens in the world, Rousham will fill your cup with it’s classic English landscape design. I love Rousham for many reasons but the silence is probably why I love it most.
Oxford University Colleges
Finally a nod to the Oxford colleges, all of which are dog-free. Magdalen is our favourite, followed swiftly by New College. If you are an Oxford resident you also get free entry to both. For a full list of the colleges check out this list, it’s unreal how many there are!
