The best dog-friendly hotels are those that cater for all types of dogs, have outdoor spaces for our favourite species to roam free, and make our four-legged friends feel welcome and loved, instead of nothing more than a nuisance. Read our full tried and tested guide below.
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Want to chime ‘shall we go for a walk?’ in your best dog voice somewhere that isn’t your kitchen, before work, in the rain? Yeah, us too. So, we’ve traversed round the country to find the best hotels, houses and staycation destinations that you can bring your puppy pal to. We’ve even given each one a paw score, to signal which hot staycation spots made our hounds feel most welcome, and had the most fabulous facilities for our loving labradors, well-behaved whippets and needy sausages.
When staying at The Bull, Charlbury, we spoke to the founders of the pub-turned-hotel to work out why they decided to open up their bookings to these hairy houseguests, and how it improves the vibe of the place to do so.
Why make a hotel dog friendly?
‘You want a countryside hotel to feel like a home away from home, where dogs are considered part of the family,’ they tell us. ‘As soon as guests step through the door, they are greeted by a laid-back, inviting atmosphere that instantly makes them feel at ease,’ they say. This definitely rings true with our experience at all the stays below, too.
‘Whether individuals or families are seeking a getaway, they can relax and enjoy without any worries about who will take care of their pets. This creates a casual, welcoming ambience and, for The Bull in particular, helps embody the true heritage charm of a countryside pub.’
‘We also believe that welcoming dogs enhances the overall happiness of both our staff and our guests,’ they tell us. ‘Interacting with dogs bring joy to our staff, creating a more positive work environment. At the same time, it ensures that guests travelling with pets enjoy a more inclusive and enjoyable experience.’ It also brings in more custom and gives a wider pool of people the option to stay at your hotel. It’s a no-brainer, if you ask us.
Those that slightly screwed the pooch, so to speak, were left out of the below list, so those we’ve mentioned here are the ones that truly impressed us and – most importantly – worked best for our four-legged friends.
The best dog-friendly hotels in the UK 2025
The Gallivant, Camber Sands
Paw score: 4/5
The Gallivant has you and your furry plus one covered, come rain or shine. After waking up to the sounds of birdsong outside my window, I started the day inhaling fresh air on a dog walk along the shoreline, where the hotel frequently hosts sun-soaked morning yoga classes (but there’s also a dedicated indoor studio if the forecast is drizzly). Post-stretch, you can stay on the beach to tuck into a picnic basket provided by the hotel, which is filled to the brim with local produce (including exquisitely cooked, non-soggy fish and chips). The ‘Drink in the Dunes’ package, which packs you off with beach-ready cocktails along with a blanket, glassware and ice, is perfect if romance is on the menu.
Sun not playing ball? There’s plenty to get up to back at base. Amid the hotel’s earthy Hamptons-esque interiors, you’ll find an on-site, pooch-friendly restaurant awash with luscious greenery to bask in. Afterwards, find yourself a cosy nook in the lobby and pop your phone on airplane mode. Afternoon plans? A book plucked from the shared shelf or bedding down with a board game in front of the fire.
Jess Bantleman, Social Media Editor
Rooms from £165 per night.
The Lakes by Yoo, Cotswolds
Paw score: 4/5
If you’re looking for somewhere to take the whole family, look no further than these luxury lodges. Not only are they meticulously and thoughtfully designed to feel homely and tasteful – with tobacco brown sofas and warm-light lamps – but they’re cosy and well-equipped beyond belief. I stayed in one of the cabins on the lake, but as there are lodges in lots of shapes and sizes, you could even host a big milestone birthday weekend here.
And you won’t be short of things to do with your pup, besides long walks around the huge lakes (clue’s in the name, I guess). We mountain biked through verdant forests, zip wired over the water and luxuriated in the sauna and swimming pool for hours – followed swiftly by a cryo chamber experience to make that fireside sofa session afterwards especially spoiling. I wouldn’t take an extra-cheeky hound here, as the décor is so divine I’d be worried about muddy paws on the sofas, but if you have a relatively docile or well-behaved doggo, they’ll be nicely tired out with all there is to do, plus they’re allowed in the tented restaurant while you drink and dine, too.
Three-bedroom apartments from £1,050 per night.
Galgorm Hotel, Northern Ireland
Paw score: 4/5
I don’t mean to boast, but I literally wrote the book on this topic, so I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about where my cuddly companion feels most welcome. At Galgorm, they have several different types of accommodation for dog owners here, including beautiful shepherd’s huts with their own hot tubs and ‘forest dens’ with multiple bedrooms for families. Dogs are allowed in some of the dining venues and are provided comfy, plush beds. It has vast grounds for getting those steps in and you’re allowed to leave the dog in the room while you luxuriate in the stress-melting spa. It’s all as lush as it sounds, and the staff are super friendly and fond of any furry plus ones, which makes all the difference.
Lottie Gross, Travel Writer
Rooms from £200 per night.
The Manor House, Cotswolds
Paw score: 3/5
The Manor House has 14 dog-friendly rooms which open directly onto the grounds and – even better for your four-legged friend – there are 356 acres of grounds to explore. In the room, the package includes a dog bed, towel, water bowl and a scrumptious treat, and it costs an additional £40 for the entire stay for up to two dogs, which seems standard.
The only reason this lost points was because you can’t bring dogs to dinner in the winter months, but if you ask for a table outside in the summer you can dine with your furry companion fuss free. You can bring your pooch to the table in the lounges and they’re allowed in the club house at the local golf club, should you be that way inclined.
Rooms from £295 per night.
Center Parcs, all over UK
Paw score: 3/5
This place needs little introduction, but it might not be the first to cross your mind when planning a pup-friendly escape. What it lacks in frills for your fur ball it more than makes up for in outdoor space and plenty of appropriate activities. You won’t be getting organic local dog food provided or a branded lead to use throughout your stay, but whichever one you go to is held to the same solid standard of facilities, which is perfect for me and my pup (he couldn’t be trusted on a leather sofa, for instance).
We sometimes visit the Woburn Forest one, which is a mere hours drive from London. When it comes to wellness, I must say – as someone who often reviews beauty treatments and has been to a lot of spa hotels in the UK – the Aqua Sana spa at Woburn Forest is one of the best you can get for the money, and I’m told the Sherwood Forest one in Nottingham has a sauna in the treetops…
Rooms from £399 for three nights.
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