Richmond upon Thames · managed by London Borough of Richmond upon Thames
Thames Path: Richmond to Ham and Petersham Meadows
out and back · easy
Off-lead rules
On-lead required
A person in charge of a dog shall be guilty of an offence if... he takes a dog onto... Petersham Meadows from 1st April to 31st October in each year
richmond.gov.ukChecked 19 July 2026
This is the evidence for off-lead rules at Thames Path: Richmond to Ham and Petersham Meadows. It was read from richmond.gov.uk on 19 July 2026.Richmond's Dog Control PSPO makes it an offence for a dog not to be on a lead in the restricted area, and the restricted area expressly includes towpaths maintained at public expense.
On-lead areas: Dogs must be on a lead on all roads, footpaths, pavements, alleyways, towpaths and grass verges maintained at public expense. Terrace Gardens is a named on-lead site. Maximum four dogs without a council licence.
Seasonal: Dogs are excluded from Petersham Meadows entirely from 1 April to 31 October each year.
A Public Spaces Protection Order applies here. London Borough of Richmond upon Thames Public Spaces Protection Order 2023 (Dog Control), extended from 22 September 2023 for a further 3 years. Renewal beyond September 2026 is not verified.
The walk itself
- Start point
- Richmond Bridge
- Nearest station
- Richmond
- Terrain
- riverside towpath with water meadows
- Surface
- surfaced and gravel towpath
- Accessibility
- level
- Mud
- medium
- How quiet
- medium
- Suits a reactive dog
- moderate
- Water access
- Yes
- Swimming allowed
- No
- Livestock
- Yes
- Wildlife
- medium
- Stiles
- Not stated
- Gates
- Yes
- 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: Petersham Meadows is a total dog exclusion zone for seven months a year (1 April to 31 October), and it is grazed by cattle in summer. The towpath lead requirement bites only where the path is maintained at public expense - check on-site signage. The Thames here is tidal with strong currents; no official dog-swimming endorsement exists.
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.
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