The Best Pet-Friendly Hotels in the UK

Any pet owner knows that if you roll up to a hotel with a statue of a dog outside, you’ll probably be well-catered for. Set just a short distance from Malham Cove and next to a narrow stream, Beck Hall is a quaint 21-room hotel which serves as a gateway to the famed walking routes of the Yorkshire Dales. Up to three dogs can stay in a room with no charge, and they’re even allowed into the restaurant, in which you can expect a tantalising local menu serving breakfast, lunch and dinner (and they’re more than happy to provide water bowls on request).

Characterised by big open fireplaces, comfortable lounge areas and a generous amount of open green space, countryside lovers will feel very well looked after at the Horn of Plenty. The popular walking area of Dartmoor is easily accessible, and the front desk staff are knowledgeable about walking routes. Rooms allow for up to two dogs, and they’re also allowed in the library area (but not the restaurant). The five-acre (2ha) gardens provide plenty of space for them to wear themselves out in.

Cowny sits just on the edge of Snowdonia National Park, a veritable playground for dog owners. From Snowdon itself to all the various peaks in its midst, days can be spent exploring this verdant Welsh mountain range. The Groes Inn has a traditional feel, with 14 cosy rooms outfitted with huge beds (and dog beds on request). Dogs are welcome in the pub area and the hotel opens out onto a range of open walking routes, including a beautifully wooded copse.

The huge expanse of hills and lochs that make up Dumfries and Galloway is one of Scotland’s most popular destinations for hikers and mountain bikers, and an awful lot of those people have dogs – a fact that Trigony House has constructed its entire business model around. The 18th-century structure has a minimalist approach to decor and features a wide perimeter of gardens. Arriving dog owners receive a welcome pack; beds are provided on request; there’s a washing area in case your furry family members get mucky; you can arrange a dog sitter if you need time away; and there’s even reiki healing therapy for dogs. The hotel was awarded Best Dog-Friendly Hotel in 2017. There are three resident pooches, too – Roxy, Parrot and Lola.

Malton is an idyllic northern town with easy access to all the wonder of the North Yorkshire Moors. The recently refurbished hotel has raked in awards since reopening and the owners have built canine sensibilities into their approach. Dog owners can keep two dogs in any of the 26 rooms, which are kitted with treats, blankets and bowls. Malton has a well-reputed grooming studio, which the hotel can book your dogs into on request. As if that weren’t enough, dogs are allowed in almost every common area in the hotel.

Formerly a 15th-century flower mill (hence the name), Mill End is a spacious countryside retreat which spills out onto the Dartmoor woodlands. Inside it almost feels like something out of a fantasy film, with huge black iron cauldrons storing firewood and antiquated curiosities dotted around the common areas. The rooms have more of a modern feel, and dog owners will be delighted with the facilities, with towels and poop bags offered freely and a special side entrance to ensure that any freshly walked pooches don’t track mud through the hotel.

The Welcombe Hills which provide the backdrop for Shakespeare’s hometown are prime territory for long dog walks, and the Welcombe Hotel enables visitors to enjoy them (as well as its grounds) just a mile (1.6km) from the town proper. Dogs are allowed into all 76 of the Jacobean building’s rooms, and they are free to roam the grounds as much as their little hearts desire. If you need to take some time to yourself, there’s also a spa with a Swedish sauna and a pool on site.

Croquet and boules greens, a sculpture garden and a rowboat station all await you for a luxurious stay at Lintwaite House, which lies within easy reach of Windermere Lake. The hotel has a very grown-up, artistic bent, but not so much that it turns its nose up at visitors with pets. Small and medium sized dogs are allowed to stay and are offered treats, bowls and blankets on arrival. Drop a bit of extra cash for one of the chalet suites and you’ll have everything you need for a dog-friendly trip without ever leaving the grounds.

All dogs love a good beach day. Whether the dog in question is a wannabe seal or prefers to run circles in the sand, they’ll be one satisfied canine by the end of the day. Sat on the Cornish coastline, The Headland offers spectacular views out to sea and easy access to otherwise secluded beaches. With both dog-friendly rooms and full cottages, the hotel also has guidance on the best beaches and walking routes and all the treats your quadruped companions can eat.

You wouldn’t think of London as the ideal place to travel with dogs, but there are areas of it well-suited to a nice long walk, and the historic St Pancras Renaissance Hotel has done a remarkable amount to ensure that visitors have somewhere to stay when they decide to bring their furry friends. Bowl and bed are provided and dogs are free to roam all the public areas except the spa and restaurant. There’s also a “Pooch City Break” package which includes a goody bag, a dog training masterclass, and the chance to teach your dog to take a pet selfie (a “pelfie”) on a special iPad.

This West Sussex hotel has cultivated a reputation for its upscale rooms with gold clawfoot baths, the aromatic gardens lining the grounds and its restaurant run by a TV chef. None of these things would suggest a pet-friendly ethos, but amazingly South Lodge has just that. Towels, beds, bowls and treats are provided on arrival and 10 of the rooms come with the “dog friendly” stamp, which means they let out directly onto the 93-acre (37ha) grounds. Dogs are allowed to eat at the terrace, lounge or bar, but not the restaurant – although the hotel is happy for them to be left in the room while you dine.