Visiting Lacock Abbey with your dog

A small dog on a lead on the grass — Small dog on a lead. | © National Trust Images/James Dobson

Discover where you can go with your dog around Lacock Abbey and its historic estate. Find out what facilities are available for your dog and how to get the most from your visit.

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.

Lacock Abbey is a two pawprint rated place.

These places have water bowls, dog bins and dog-friendly walks. You’ll be able to take your dog into some areas, but not everywhere. If there’s a food and beverage outlet, you can have a cup of tea with them, probably outside. Read on to discover exactly where you can take your dog.

Where can my dog go?

Assistance dogs are welcome throughout the Abbey and Cloister. Please make sure they're wearing their identity harness.

Other dogs on short leads are welcome in the Abbey garden between 1 September and 31 March only.

There's a dog-walking area adjacent to the main car park to walk your dog after your journey. There are many beautiful walks around Lacock – ask at visitor reception for more information.

Visitors walk a dog across the leafy ground of a park in autumn — Visitors walking their dog around the autumnal grounds | © National Trust Images/Stewart Smith

Where can’t my dog go?

Dogs are not able to access the Abbey garden between 1 April and 31 August.

This is because the paths at Lacock are relatively narrow. In the busier months it's difficult to manage access with dogs alongside general visits, so the year is split into two, giving seven months in the autumn, winter and early spring when dog walking in the garden is possible.

What facilities are available for my dog?

You'll find dog water bowls at reception and by the Stables café, where you can also treat your pooch to a dog ice cream (subject to availability). There's a dog waste bin in the car park, and you'll also find bins on some walks.

Visitors sit outside a café with a dog on their lap — Visitors outside a café with their dog | © National Trust Images/James Dobson

What do I need to be aware of?

Please be aware the fields around the Abbey are used for grazing livestock. Please ensure that your dog is under close control at all times and look out for seasonal signs advising you where livestock is present.

If cattle or horses chase you and your dog, it's safer to let your dog off the lead. Don't risk getting hurt by trying to protect it. Your dog will be much safer if you let it run away from danger.

Remember to follow the countryside code.

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.

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