Visiting Hidcote with your dog

Dog on a lead at Nostell Priory in West Yorkshire — Dogs on short fixed leads are welcome at Hidcote, except in the Old Garden, manor house and servery. | © National Trust Images/John Miller

So everyone can enjoy their day, do come prepared with a short fixed lead for your dog and take a look at the Canine Code below.

Visiting with your dog

Dogs are very welcome at Hidcote but please note that only assistance dogs are allowed in the Manor House, the 'Old Garden' complex (Old Garden, East Court Garden, Cedar Lawn, Maple Garden and the White Garden) and the servery and upper area of the café.

Our pawprint rating system

We’ve been working on making it easier for you to see how dog-friendly your visit will be before you and your pet arrive. To help with this, we've created a pawprint rating system and given all the places in our care a rating.

Hidcote is rated two paw prints.

This means Hidcote provides water bowls, bins and dog-friendly walks to enjoy in the surrounding countryside before or after your visit. You’ll be able to take your dog into some areas, but not everywhere.

Please bring bags to dispose of any waste and adhere to Hidcote’s Canine Code.

Where can my dog go at Hidcote?

Dogs on short fixed leads can explore the garden except for the Old Garden complex (Old Garden, East Court Garden, Cedar Lawn, Maple Garden and the White Garden), where the paths are particularly narrow.

They are also very welcome in our shop, second-hand book shop, plant centre and barn kiosk as well as on the terrace and in the lower room at Winthrop’s Café.

Only assistance dogs may go in the Old Garden complex (Old Garden, East Court Garden, Cedar Lawn, Maple Garden and the White Garden), manor house, the servery and top room of the café.

There’s also a range of walks you can enjoy with your dog in the surrounding countryside, either before or after a visit to Hidcote. Walking route cards are available to pick up from Visitor Reception.

What facilities do you have for my dog?

We provide dog bowls and additional bins for waste.

Our café sells delicious dog ice creams and our shop carries a range of accessories, should you forget anything on your visit.

If you don’t have the right kind of lead, our friendly Welcome team at Visitor Reception will provide you with a lead-swap for your visit.

Assistance dogs

Assistance dogs are welcome in all areas of the property and garden at Hidcote.

Local Walks

There's a range of walks in the surrounding countryside which more energetic dogs may enjoy before or after their visit to Hidcote. Walking route cards are available to pick up from Visitor Reception.

A dog enjoys a walk on a short lead at Hidcote — A dog on a short lead enjoys a walk along Lower Stream at Hidcote | © Ben Thomas

Hidcote's 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:

Take the lead: Please keep dogs on short, fixed leads in all areas. If your lead is a retractable one, Visitor Reception will lend you a fixed one.
Paws on paths: Your dog is welcome to walk on mown grass on a lead but please keep dogs out of beds, borders, long grass and water.
Scoop that poop: Always clear up after your dog please. There are waste bins in the car park, courtyard and garden.
Be alert: While many of us love dogs, not everyone does - and, conversely, not all dogs love strangers, so please be mindful of others and their dogs.
Water features: Please keep dogs away from all water features and the stream. There is suspected blue-green algae which can be extremely harmful to dogs.

We welcome your feedback

We’d like to hear about your experience at Hidcote and how we can make visiting with your dog even better. If you’re not visiting with a dog, we’d also like to hear about your experience. Please let us know your thoughts and feedback.