Richmond upon Thames / Wandsworth · managed by London Borough of Richmond upon Thames and Barnes Common Limited
Thames Path: Putney to Barnes and Barnes Common
linear · easy
Off-lead rules
On-lead required
A person in charge of a dog shall be guilty of an offence if, at any time, his dog is not on a lead in the restricted area. Restricted areas: Highways - All roads, footpaths, pavements, alleyways, towpaths, and grass verges maintained at public expense.
richmond.gov.ukChecked 19 July 2026
This is the evidence for off-lead rules at Thames Path: Putney to Barnes and Barnes Common. It was read from richmond.gov.uk on 19 July 2026.Richmond's Dog Control PSPO requires dogs to be on a lead on towpaths maintained at public expense; Barnes Common itself is not in the on-lead schedule.
On-lead areas: Dogs must be on a lead on all roads, footpaths, pavements, alleyways, towpaths and grass verges maintained at public expense, and at Barnes Pond. Dogs are banned from Barn Elms playing fields at any time.
A Public Spaces Protection Order applies here. London Borough of Richmond upon Thames PSPO 2023 (Dog Control), extended from 22 September 2023 for a further 3 years. Wandsworth's borough-wide PSPO applies on the Putney bank and requires dogs on leads on all public highways.
The walk itself
- Start point
- Putney Bridge, Lower Richmond Road
- Nearest station
- Putney / Barnes
- Terrain
- riverside towpath plus open acid grassland common
- Surface
- gravel towpath and grass
- Accessibility
- level
- Mud
- medium
- How quiet
- medium
- Suits a reactive dog
- moderate
- Water access
- Yes
- Swimming allowed
- No
- Livestock
- No
- Wildlife
- high
- Stiles
- Not stated
- Gates
- No
- Lighting
- No
- Toilets
- Not stated
- Waste bins
- Not stated
- Parking
- Not stated
- Café on site
- Not stated
“Not stated” means our source did not cover it. We leave gaps rather than fill them.
Notes
MAJOR TRAP: Barn Elms playing fields, immediately adjacent, is a year-round total dog exclusion zone under the Richmond PSPO. The WWT London Wetland Centre next door also bans all dogs except trained assistance dogs on leads. Barnes Common is managed by Barnes Common Limited, a charity, on council-designated land. Nearest station given by Richmond Council as Barnes.
Rules changed?
PSPOs get renewed and amended. If the signage on the ground disagrees with what is here, the signage is right and we are wrong — please tell us.
Submit a correction