Dog-Friendly Stratford-upon-Avon: Pubs, Cafés, Walks & Places to Visit

Stratford-upon-Avon is a good town to bring a dog. You can walk from the theatres to open countryside along the river, more than a dozen pubs and cafés in the centre welcome dogs inside, and you can take a dog into the gardens at Shakespeare’s Birthplace and Anne Hathaway’s Cottage, and even on a boat trip. Everything below was checked with each place’s own website, so you know before you go.

Dog-friendly Stratford at a glance

• A pint with your dog: the Dirty Duck, the Garrick, the Old Thatch Tavern and the Stratford Alehouse (free dog treats) all welcome dogs.
• A dog menu: the Red Lion at Bridge Foot has one.
• Dog ice cream: Hooray’s Gelato Kitchen on Henley Street has a pup menu.
• Shakespeare with your dog: dogs on leads are welcome in the gardens of Shakespeare’s Birthplace, Shakespeare’s New Place and Anne Hathaway’s Cottage.
• On the river: Avon Boating welcomes well-behaved dogs on its boats and river cruises.
• Off the lead safely: Stratford Dog Walking Field on Featherbed Lane, a private five-acre field with a 6ft fence, from £5.
• Staying over: 12 places to stay take dogs. See our guide to dog-friendly hotels in Stratford-upon-Avon.

Dog-friendly pubs in Stratford

These pubs say on their own websites that they welcome dogs:

• The Dirty Duck, Waterside: the actors’ pub opposite the Royal Shakespeare Theatre, with a riverside terrace.
• The Garrick Inn, High Street: one of the oldest pubs in Stratford.
• The Old Thatch Tavern, Greenhill Street: the only thatched building in the town centre.
• The Stratford Alehouse, Greenhill Street: a micropub that welcomes dogs on leads and has free doggy treats.
• The Red Lion, Bridge Foot: a canalside pub with a garden and a dog menu.
• The Rose & Crown, Sheep Street, and the Windmill Inn, Church Street.
• The Coach House, Rother Street: dogs on a lead, in its dog-friendly areas.
• The Pen & Parchment, Bridgefoot.
• The Bell, Shottery: a short walk from Anne Hathaway’s Cottage, so good after a walk across the fields.

For food, beer gardens and the rest of the town’s pubs, see our guide to the best pubs in Stratford.

Dog-friendly cafés in Stratford

• Boston Tea Party, Henley Street: “four-legged friends are very welcome”; keep paws on the floor.
• GAIL’s, High Street: well-behaved dogs inside, on a lead and off the chairs.
• Hooray’s Gelato Kitchen, Henley Street: dogs on a lead, with a pup menu and dog ice cream.
• Huffkins, Red Lion Court, Bridge Street: dogs welcome.
• Plantarium Café, Rother Street: blankets and treats for dogs.
• Prospero Lounge, Bridge Street: water bowls and treats.
• Quill & Cup, Cox’s Yard: dog-friendly, with seats outside by the river.

One to skip: the Shakespaw Cat Café doesn’t allow dogs of any kind, guide dogs included, because its cats have never met one.

Here they all are on a map:

Dog walks in and around Stratford

• The river and Bancroft Gardens. Start at Bancroft Gardens by the theatres and follow the river path past the Royal Shakespeare Theatre to Holy Trinity Church. Cross by the Tramway footbridge for the Recreation Ground on the other bank. Dogs aren’t allowed in the Rec’s paddling pool area or children’s play areas.
• The Stratford Greenway. The old railway line from Seven Meadows Road towards Long Marston: flat and traffic-free, but shared with cyclists, so keep your dog close. There are cafés in old railway carriages at the Stratford end and at Milcote, about 2.5 miles along.
• The Welcombe Hills. 148 acres of hills and woods north of the town, with the best view of Stratford from the obelisk. Muddy in winter, with kissing gates.
• Stratford-upon-Avon Nature Reserve. 71 acres of riverbank and meadow by the leisure centre, on surfaced paths.
• The canal towpath. The Stratford-upon-Avon Canal runs north from Bancroft Basin out to the Wilmcote locks, past Wilmcote and on into the countryside.

Our parks and playgrounds guide has all of these on a map, with parking and toilets, and our winter walks guide has longer routes with a pub at the end.

Secure dog fields near Stratford

If your dog is nervous, reactive or still learning recall, a private field lets them run off the lead with nobody else around.

• Stratford Dog Walking Field, Featherbed Lane (CV37 0ER), on the edge of town: a private five-acre field with a 6ft fence, booked in 30 or 60-minute slots, one booking at a time, open every day of the year. It has water, a shelter and a poo bin, and you park in the field. A 30-minute session is £5 for one to three dogs (£8 for four to eight); an hour is £8 (£13). Book on stratforddogwalkingfield.co.uk.
• River Meadow Dog Walking Fields, Clifford Chambers, two miles south of town: 7.5 acres of river meadow by the River Stour, split into fenced areas you book for your own use. One side is the river, so expect muddy paws. Book through its online booking page and check the current price when you do.

Places to visit with your dog

• Shakespeare’s Birthplace, Shakespeare’s New Place and Anne Hathaway’s Cottage. The Shakespeare Birthplace Trust welcomes dogs on a lead in the gardens and grounds. Only assistance dogs can go inside the houses, so if there are two of you, take turns.
• Holy Trinity Church, where Shakespeare is buried, welcomes well-behaved dogs on leads. Check its visiting times before you go, as they’re shorter in winter.
• Avon Boating welcomes well-behaved dogs on its hire boats and river cruises, from the Swan’s Nest boathouse and Bancroft Gardens.
• Charlecote Park, about four miles east of Stratford (National Trust): dogs on a short lead (two to three metres) are welcome in the Front Park, which includes the main site and gardens, and inside the Wood Yard café and the Orangery restaurant. Hill Park and West Park are kept as quiet areas for the deer, so dogs can’t go there (assistance dogs aside). From 1 September 2026 to 28 February 2027 you can pick up a National Trust Pooch Passport there and collect stamps.

Indoor attractions such as the theatres and museums generally only admit assistance dogs, so plan a matinee or a pub lunch around your dog. For more ideas, see our rainy day guide.

Staying over with your dog

Twelve places to stay in and around Stratford take dogs, from the Arden opposite the theatres (where dogs can join you in the lounges) to country houses such as Billesley Manor and Ettington Park. Most charge £15 to £30 a night. Our dog-friendly hotels guide lists every one with its rules and fees, and the ones that don’t take dogs.

Rules and practical tips

• Pick up after your dog. The district council’s dog fouling order covers every public place in the district until March 2028. Not clearing up can mean a £100 fixed penalty, or a fine of up to £1,000 in court. If there’s no dog bin, any street litter bin will do, or take it home for your grey bin (not the green one). Report dog fouling to the council’s environmental health team on 01789 267575.
• Lost or found a dog? Report a stray to Stratford-on-Avon District Council. Its stray dog service runs Monday to Thursday, 8.45am to 3pm, and Friday, 8.45am to noon. Dogs it can’t return straight away go to Birmingham Dogs Home, and getting yours back costs a £25 stray fee plus kennel fees (currently £12 a day). Out of hours, you can take a found dog to Birmingham Dogs Home at Catherine-de-Barnes yourself. Every dog over eight weeks old must be microchipped, with up-to-date details.
• Parking: if you’re driving in, our parking guide has every car park, the free parking and a map. Never leave a dog in a car on a warm day.

Dog-friendly Stratford: quick answers

Is Stratford-upon-Avon dog friendly?

Yes. Plenty of the town-centre pubs and cafés welcome dogs inside, the riverside, Greenway and Welcombe Hills make good walks, dogs are welcome in the gardens of Shakespeare’s Birthplace and Anne Hathaway’s Cottage, and twelve places to stay take dogs.

Can I take my dog into Shakespeare’s Birthplace?

Into the garden, yes, on a lead. Only assistance dogs can go inside the house. The same goes for Shakespeare’s New Place and Anne Hathaway’s Cottage.

Which pubs in Stratford allow dogs?

The Dirty Duck, the Garrick, the Old Thatch Tavern, the Stratford Alehouse, the Red Lion (with a dog menu), the Rose & Crown, the Windmill, the Coach House, the Pen & Parchment and the Bell in Shottery all welcome dogs.

Is there a secure dog field near Stratford-upon-Avon?

Yes. Stratford Dog Walking Field on Featherbed Lane has five fenced acres you book for your own use, from £5 for 30 minutes, and River Meadow at Clifford Chambers has fenced river meadow by the Stour.

Can dogs go on the boats in Stratford?

Yes. Avon Boating welcomes well-behaved dogs on its hire boats and river cruises.

Alex Harrington

Alex Harrington grew up in Stratford-upon-Avon and runs What's up, Stratford? as an independent guide to the town.