Dog Friendly Marlborough: Things To Do in Marlborough With a Dog

Marlborough might have the poshest high street around, but don’t let the Georgian shopfronts fool you – this town is full of dog people. From riverside walks to roast dinner pub naps, this guide to dog-friendly Marlborough rounds up the best dog-friendly restaurants, cafes, parks, and places where tails wag freely.

Plus, if you're looking for house sitting opportunities in Marlborough or need a Marlborough pet sitter, read on to find out more!

Best dog parks in Marlborough

Marlborough doesn’t believe in half-hearted dog parks. These dog-friendly places give your pup the space to leg it, sniff everything in sight, and pretend they’ve lived there for years – even if it’s your first visit.

Towpath Tails Dog Park

This one’s a fenced dream for off-leash freedom. Hidden down a canal-side lane in Wootton Rivers, Towpath Tails gives you two private, bookable areas: one open field with jumps and hoops, and one semi-wooded zone for serious snuffling. The fencing is high, the vibes are peaceful, and the dogs? Absolutely loving it. Great for zoomies, recall practice, or just letting your pup be weird in peace.

Location: Lock House, Wootton Rivers, Marlborough SN8 4NQ, United Kingdom

Fieldtastic Dog Park

Just a short drive from Marlborough, Fieldtastic offers a secure, 2-acre playground for your canine companions. Surrounded by 6-foot-high fencing, this expansive field ensures your dog can roam freely and safely. The park features a variety of play equipment to keep your pup entertained, from agility obstacles to a sunken bath for cooling off after a vigorous play session.

Location:Field Buildings, Ridge farm, Salisbury SP3 5AD, United Kingdom

Dog-friendly restaurants in Marlborough

Marlborough may be small, but when it comes to dog-friendly restaurants, it punches well above its weight. These eateries don’t just tolerate dogs – they welcome them, water bowls and all, while still serving food you’d happily book a table for.

Rick Stein Marlborough

Set inside a converted 18th-century townhouse on the High Street, Rick Stein’s offers refined seafood classics in a space that feels equal parts elegant and relaxed. Dogs are welcome in the bar area, which has the same full menu – so yes, you can have your monkfish curry and keep your pup by your side while you eat it. Staff are used to four-legged guests and will usually show up with a water bowl before you ask.

Location: Lloran House, 42a High Street, Marlborough SN8 1HQ, United Kingdom

La Terraza Marlborough

Right in Hilliers Yard, La Terraza brings Mediterranean color to the middle of town. The décor leans rustic with bold, sun-washed accents, and the tapas menu reads like a holiday – patatas bravas, grilled chorizo, the works. Best of all, the staff genuinely seem to enjoy having pups around. A relaxed restaurant that’s just as good for lazy lunches as it is for sharing a bottle in the evening.
Location: Unit D, Marlborough SN8 1BE, United Kingdom

Fun dog-friendly activities in Marlborough

Marlborough isn’t just walk-and-woof. There are actual things to do – like real, woof-worthy activities where tails wag faster, and everyone leaves with crumbs on their jumper. From casual café hangouts to charity events with full-on dog games, here’s what’s on.

Join a tail-wagging fundraiser at Paws for a Cause

Held at Rainscombe Park, this annual charity event mixes agility courses, fancy-dress contests, tombola stalls, and a lot of enthusiastic barking. It’s part fundraiser, part festival, and totally pet-friendly – just bring a towel if it’s been raining and a camera for the inevitable “my dog in a tutu” moment.

Cost: Entry by donation (£2 suggested)

Date and time: Annually in summer, typically July – check Wiltshire Air Ambulance events for this year’s date

Location: Rainscombe Park, Marlborough SN8 4HZ

Do the Kennet & Avon Canal picnic loop

This isn’t just a walk – it’s an afternoon well spent. Start at Wootton Rivers, follow the canal towpath, and break out the picnic halfway. It’s chill, quiet, and dogs can paddle at the bank or snooze while you people-watch passing boats.

Cost: Free

Date and time: Anytime, but best in daylight hours or lazy weekends

Location: Wootton Rivers, Marlborough SN8 4NQ

Best dog-friendly walking trails in Marlborough

You don’t need to drive for hours to wear your dog out. These dog-friendly walks Marlborough locals love, have hills, hedgerows, and just enough squirrel sightings to keep tails moving.

Wootton Rivers circular

This 6 km loop kicks off in the postcard-worthy village of Wootton Rivers and winds along the Kennet & Avon Canal before heading into rolling farmland and quiet wooded paths. You’ll pass stone bridges, grazing sheep (leash up, please), and usually zero people. It’s peaceful, easy to follow, and one of those walks where the dog ends up muddy and happy, and you do too.

Location: Wootton Rivers, SN8 4NQ
Length: 6 km

The Devil’s Den trail

This short route leads to a dramatic Neolithic burial chamber in a quiet field near Clatford. It’s got all the “ancient mystery” vibes with none of the crowds. The footpath crosses open countryside, so you’ll want sturdy boots and a steady recall if your dog tends to bolt at birds. It's one of the area’s most unusual dog-friendly trails, and definitely one for the ‘gram.

Location: The Devil’s Den, Marlborough SN8 1PU, United Kingdom

Length: 2 km

The best dog-friendly cafes in Marlborough

These aren’t cafés where your dog’s just tolerated with a half-hearted bowl by the door. These are the dog-friendly cafes Marlborough locals actually recommend – with biscuits behind the counter, staff who know their regular pups, and chairs your dog might claim before you sit down.

Coffi Lab Marlborough

Yes, the name’s a giveaway – this place was made for dogs. The Coffi Lab Marlborough interior is full of Labrador prints, tail wags, and quietly excellent coffee. Dogs are welcome inside and out, and staff don’t just offer water bowls – they make a proper fuss. It’s a relaxed, easygoing dog-friendly cafe Marlborough, and a top pick for post-walk caffeine with your best mate under the table.

Location: 141 High Street, Marlborough SN8 1HN, United Kingdom

Mercer’s of Marlborough

Tucked just off the main drag, Mercer’s is the kind of café where regulars know each other by their dogs’ names. It’s got home-baked cakes, solid coffee, and a sunny garden area that dogs love. The vibe is somewhere between “local favorite” and “accidental hangout spot.” Easily one of the nicest dog-friendly cafes Marlborough offers.

Location: Hilliers Yard, Marlborough SN8 1BE, United Kingdom

Annual dog events in Marlborough

Every year, Marlborough proves it’s not just dog-tolerant – it’s dog-obsessed in the best way. From big group walks to casual “let’s dress the poodle up” affairs, these events bring out the best in the town’s four-legged residents and their slightly over-prepared humans.

Marlborough Festival dog walk

This town-center parade is exactly what it sounds like: dozens of dogs strutting down the high street in Marlborough, some in bandanas, a few in costume, and one or two who refuse to walk and insist on being carried. It’s part of the larger Marlborough Festival, so the street’s packed with market stalls, music, and kids asking to pet every spaniel. Spectators cheer. It’s organized chaos in the best way.

Cost: Free
Date and time: Every June – check local listings for exact details
Location: Marlborough High Street, SN8 1AA

Paws in the Park

Held on the open stretch of Marlborough Common, this event is smaller but just as fun. There’s a main ring with low-stakes agility courses, “waggiest tail” competitions, and stalls selling everything from homemade dog treats to paw balm. Families picnic around the edge while dogs mingle, bark, or roll belly-up in the middle of it all. Great for social pups and people who like their events a little less formal.

Cost: Free
Date and time: Late summer – typically August or early September
Location: Marlborough Common, SN8 1DL

The best dog-friendly pubs in Marlborough

Not every pub is built for a muddy spaniel under the table – but these are. Whether you're stopping mid-walk or staying long enough for a second round, these dog-friendly pubs Marlborough locals love know how to treat your dog like part of the group.

The Green Dragon

Tucked into the High Street, The Green Dragon has all the hallmarks of a proper old pub inn: thick beams, real fires, and regulars with muddy boots and well-behaved labs. Dogs are welcome throughout, and staff don’t blink when a retriever tries to charm their way to a sausage. There’s a garden out back, dog bowls inside, and plenty of space for a mid-walk pint that turns into two.

Location: 12-13 High St, Marlborough SN8 1AA, United Kingdom

The Bear

Set in a historic coaching inn just off the main street, The Bear mixes low ceilings and old stone with a big enclosed courtyard that’s perfect for dog lounging. Inside, there’s space to sprawl, and staff know the deal – water bowls, snacks, and zero fuss. It’s laid-back, unpretentious, and full of dogs who look like they’ve been there before. They probably have.

Location:1 High St, Marlborough SN8 1AA, United Kingdom

Dog-friendly wineries in Marlborough

Just because you're heading out for a wine tasting doesn't mean your dog has to stay home. These vineyards are open to four-legged guests as long as they’re on a leash and don’t try to sneak the cheese board. If you’re making a day of it, you’ll find a pet-friendly hotel nearby to turn it into a proper weekend.

Oatley Vineyard

Small, quiet, and the exact opposite of a commercial wine bus stop. Oatley is a family-run vineyard near Bridgwater that makes dry white wines and welcomes well-behaved dogs on a leash. You can walk between rows of vines, hang out in the grass with a tasting set, and enjoy that sort of peaceful silence where birds, bees, and sniffing noses do all the talking. It’s BYO snacks, very relaxed, and yes – they’ll probably ask your dog’s name before yours.

Location: Oatley Ln, Bridgwater TA5 2NL, United Kingdom

Aldwick Estate

This working vineyard comes with views across the Mendip Hills, a garden-style tasting area, and walking paths your dog will sniff at full volume. While the wine production areas are off-limits to pups, the outdoor spaces are fair game. Book a tasting, grab a shaded table, and let your dog snooze underfoot while you sample something sparkling.

Location: Redhill, Bristol BS40 5AL

Dog-friendly beaches in Marlborough

You might be landlocked in Marlborough, but that doesn’t mean your dog has to miss out on a beach day. These two options are under two hours away and well worth the trip, whether your pup’s into paddling, digging, or yelling at seagulls for fun.

Berrow Beach

Long, flat, and properly sandy – Berrow is one of those beaches that feels like it was designed for dog zoomies. At low tide, the beach stretches out for what feels like miles, with firm sand that’s perfect for running and shallow pools for splashing. It’s open to dogs all year round, but off-season (October to April) is when they rule the whole thing without restriction. Bring a towel and maybe a second one. You’ll need it.

Location: Berrow, Burnham-on-Sea TA8 2LW

West Wittering Beach

On the fancier end of beach days, West Wittering has clear zones for dog walkers, soft sand, and grassy dunes that are basically one big sniff-fest. It’s cleaner and more structured than most – think signposted trails and actual parking – but still has enough space for off-leash fun during allowed times. Check the seasonal restrictions before you go. Great for a full-day trip with a cool-down swim and a sleepy drive home.

Location: The Estate Office, Pound Rd, West Wittering, Chichester PO20 8GH, United Kingdom

Tips for pet parents

Having a dog in Marlborough is mostly a win: you’ve got countryside all around you, a walkable town center, and a decent pub-to-dog ratio. But there are a few things worth knowing if you’re living here full-time – the kind of tips that save you from Googling “Can dogs go in Savernake?” at 7 am.

Check trail access before heading out

Savernake Forest is a favorite for local dog walkers, but not every path is a free-for-all. Some routes cross farmland or run close to wildlife zones. Always check signage before unclipping the leash, especially in lambing season or if you're walking early. The Wiltshire Council site keeps things up to date.

Watch for weather curveballs

Marlborough looks picture-perfect in every season, but local weather doesn’t always match. Spring can be swampy, summer gets surprisingly hot, and autumn? Basically leaf soup. Carry water, choose shaded routes on hot days, and avoid the Common after days of rain unless you’re okay with mud to the kneecaps.

Find a reliable pet sitter

Need a break? Don’t panic-book a kennel. In-home pet sitting keeps your dog comfortable in familiar surroundings, especially if they’re the anxious or sofa-attached type. It’s stress-free for you, safe for them, and totally vetted. To find out how it works, click below.

Finding a pet sitter

How it works

Tips for pet sitters

Looking after a dog in Marlborough? Lucky you. You’ve got forests out the back, pubs that welcome muddy paws, and a town that somehow balances old-school charm with proper coffee. Here’s how to make the most of it.

Find a dog-friendly café and settle in

Coffi Lab is the local go-to – big windows, better coffee, and dogs are very much part of the scene. Grab a table, get your inbox cleared, and give the dog a chew to work on. If your four-legged sidekick is more people-watcher than power-walker, this is the move.

Keep in contact with the pet parent

Even if everything’s going smoothly, a quick daily update or photo of their dog sunbathing in the garden goes a long way. Marlborough’s peaceful pace means there’s time to check in properly – and you’ll probably want to brag about how well the two of you are getting on anyway.

Explore Marlborough through house sitting

House sitting is a front-row seat to one of Wiltshire’s most walkable towns. You’re close to independent shops, ancient forests, and pubs with open fires. It’s the kind of place that feels lived-in after two days. To see how house sitting works and find your next stay, click below.

Finding a house sit