The ultimate UK destinations for you and your four-legged friends this year!
Looking for the ultimate dog-friendly holiday for you and your trusted pup? Then you've come to the right place! Whether you're a seasoned traveller with your furry companion or a first-time explorer, we've got you covered.
As a nation of dog lovers, we wanted to uncover which cities are the most dog-friendly across the UK. To find out, we looked at several factors, such as cities with the most dog-friendly hiking spots and the destinations with the most dog-friendly bars and pubs.
Whether lacing up your walking boots and going on a long breathtaking walk with your loyal companion or just looking for the perfect staycation destinations with top-notch dog care facilities, we'll reveal the best holiday locations across the country for you and your four-legged companion to create unforgettable memories.
Jump to a Topic
- The most dog-friendly destinations
- The holiday destinations with the most pet-friendly hotels
- Holiday hotspots with the most dog-friendly restaurants
- Holiday locations with the most dog-friendly bars and pubs
- Holiday locations with the most dog-friendly outdoor trails
- Holiday locations with the most dog groomers
- Holiday destinations with the most vet practitioners
- Staycation destinations with the most dog-friendly beaches
- Methodology
The most dog-friendly destinations
1. Carlisle, England – 8.85 /10
Carlisle takes the crown as the most dog-friendly destination on our list, scoring 8.85 out of 10. Surrounded by natural beauty and stunning historical sites, the popular holiday destination is a cathedral city filled with dog-friendly trails, such as the River Caldew Path and beautiful monastic gardens.
Ranked second highest for pet-friendly hotels, Carlisle has a range of hotels where dogs are welcome. The Halston is a top-rated hotel that offers dog-friendly apartments. You can look forward to your pampered pooches being greeted with dog bowls, comfy beds, and many treats.
2. Exeter, England – 8.39 /10
Following closely behind is Exeter, with a score of 8.39 out of 10. Though a small city, Exeter is a vibrant place with many historical attractions. The city's scenic setting makes it a great destination to visit with your four-legged companion throughout the year.
Exeter is also a top location with plenty of dog-friendly bars and pubs, including Double Locks, a traditional country pub with a huge beer garden and plenty of dog treats.
3. Preston, England – 8.31 /10
Preston completes the top three as one of the most dog-friendly locations to visit, scoring 8.31 out of 10. Preston boasts many fantastic parks and gardens, including Halsam Park, a beautiful spacious park with many routes to explore. The popular park is also perfect for strolling along the Lancaster Canal.
The city offers plenty of fun dog-friendly activities. From dog-friendly hiking trails like Cuerden Valley to restaurants like the 1842 Restaurant & Bar, where dogs are welcome and provided with a bowl of water, there's lots to do with your four-legged friends.
The holiday destinations with the most pet-friendly hotels
1. Newport, Wales
Pet-friendly hotels: 60.00%
If you're looking for a holiday destination perfect for you and your pooch, then Newport is the place for you. The Welsh city is also surrounded by various attractions, from dog-friendly beaches to antique marketplaces – a great way to explore the city with your trusted companion.
Newport has plenty to offer, especially for pet-friendly hotels; in fact, an impressive almost two-thirds (60%) of hotels in the city are pet-friendly. You and your pup can expect a warm Welsh welcome at the Greyhound Inn in the heart of beautiful Monmouthshire. The hotel not only offers dog-friendly rooms, but dogs are also allowed in the top bar so you can enjoy a meal with your four-legged friend.
2. Carlisle, England
Pet-friendly hotels: 46.32%
Surrounded by spectacular countryside, Carlisle takes second place, with nearly half of its hotels classified as pet-friendly. The Crown & Mitre Hotel, for example, welcomes dogs into their traditional styled accommodation. Carlisle offers owners and dogs various activities, from riverside strolls to woodland hikes and park walks.
A great attraction to visit with your pup is the famous Carlisle Castle, where dogs on leads are welcome in most areas of the castle. In addition, an adult ticket upon entry costs less than £15!
3. Dunfermline, Scotland
Pet-friendly hotels: 42.31%
The Scottish city of Dunfermline ranks third with over two-fifths (42.31%) of pet-friendly hotels; it's safe to say you'll be spoilt for choice when looking for a place to stay with your dog. The Garvock House Hotel welcomes well-behaved dogs, and they also have access to the lounge and outdoor seating areas.
Once known as one of Scotland's historic capitals, Dunfermline has plenty to offer. The city is rich in history and culture, surrounded by magnificent outdoor spaces. There are spectacular woodlands and award-winning beaches, plus dog-friendly parks, like Pittencrieff Park, a picturesque park with historic roots where you and your pup can explore the ruins of Dunfermline Palace.
Holiday hotspots with the most dog-friendly restaurants
1. Winchester, England
Dog-friendly restaurants: 9.56%
Looking for the best spots to enjoy a meal with your four-legged friend? Winchester offers a wide range of restaurants where dogs are more than welcome (9.56%).
A couple of the best dog-friendly restaurants in Winchester that we recommend include The Golden Lion and The Old Vine, each offering a cosy and charming feel.
2. Bath, England
Dog-friendly restaurants: 8.82%
Next up is Bath, with 8.82% of restaurants that allow dogs. The city has plenty to offer when it comes to places to dine with your pup. Not only do these restaurants accommodate owners and their pets, but some also offer dog treats and water bowls.
One restaurant we recommend you visit with your furry friend is The Bath Brew House. Other local pubs and restaurants, such as The Cork and The Bell Inn, have large outdoor spaces for dogs to enjoy.
3. Worcester, England
Dog-friendly restaurants: 7.59%
Said to be one of the oldest cities in the country, Worcester has many fantastic places to visit with pets, from its cobbled Tudor streets to its elegant architecture. The best part is that the city also has many dog-friendly restaurants, which is great news for you and your furry friend.
The Fox and Hounds is a characterful country village pub and restaurant with a dedicated play area and field which offers a warm welcome to four-legged friends and their owners alike.
Holiday locations with the most dog-friendly bars and pubs
1. Dunfermline, Scotland
Dog-friendly bars & pubs: 33.33%
Dunfermline tops the list, with a third (33.33%) of its bars and pubs being suitable for dogs, making it the city with the most dog-friendly bars and pubs. The Scottish city has plenty of pubs perfect for pooches.
Some of the top-rated dog-friendly pubs include The Glen Tavern, The Old Inn, and The Elizabethan, where your pup can enjoy complimentary water and treats.
2. Colchester, England
Dog-friendly bars & pubs: 30.77%
With almost one in three (30.77%) of its bars and pubs welcoming dogs, Colchester follows behind Dunfermline, having the second-highest percentage of dog-friendly bars and pubs.
You won't be disappointed if you're visiting the city and would like to grab a bite with your furry friend. From The Foresters Arm, which provides outdoor seating areas and gardens, to The Whalebone Inn, Colchester offers a selection of bars and pubs great for pups.
3. Exeter, England
Dog-friendly bars & pubs: 22.73%
Exeter completes the top three as one of the cities with the most dog-friendly bars and pubs. Rich in history, culture, and art, the city offers a vibrant experience for its visitors and their trusted companions.
On the Waterfront is an excellent spot for an afternoon, offering award-winning ale and delicious delicacies with your canine friend in tow. This dog-friendly pub is just within walking distance of Exeter's most-famed attractions. Mill on the Exe is another excellent and cosy pub for owners and their canines looking for a quiet spot to truly soak in their surroundings.
Holiday locations with the most dog-friendly outdoor trails
1. Birmingham, England
Dog-friendly outdoor trails: 46.15%
Birmingham is your best bet if you plan on going on a long walk with your pup! Nearly half the city's outdoor trails are great for dogs, with 42 out of 91 dog-friendly trails.
Some of the best dog-friendly trails in the city are the Woodgate Valley Country Park Trail and the Witton Lakes Walk, where dogs are welcome and there are certain off-lead areas where they can roam freely.
2. Salford, England
Dog-friendly outdoor trails: 42.86%
Salford has many nature reserves with stunning tranquil scenery. Therefore, it is no surprise that over two-fifths (42.86%) of the city's outdoor trails are suitable for walking dogs. Some of the best trails for dogs include Kersal Dale to Clifton Country Park, where well-behaved dogs are more than welcome to enjoy the park's surroundings. They even have designated areas for dogs to roam around freely.
3. Bangor, Northern Ireland
Dog-friendly outdoor trails: 40.00%
Bangor ranks third, with two in five (40%) of the city's trails suitable for dogs. The seaside resort in County Down, Northern Ireland, offers visitors and their four-legged friends plenty. Ballymacormick Point and Ballyholme Green are some of the best and most beautiful picturesque trails to explore with your fur friend.
Holiday locations with the most dog groomers
1. Bangor, Northern Ireland
Dog groomers: 4.47 per 10,000 people
If you are looking for dog groomers whilst on holiday, Bangor has got you covered. The city tops the list with a rate of 4.47 dog groomers per 10,000 people within a five-mile distance. There are plenty of top-rated groomers in and around the city. Some include Glitzy's Dog Grooming and Pampered Pets Grooming, a family-run business and friendly, relaxed atmosphere for your dog to enjoy.
2. Preston, England
Dog groomers: 3.52 per 10,000 people
In second place is Preston, with a rate of 3.52 dog groomers per 10,000 people within a five-mile distance. Situated in Lancashire, Preston has an estimated 52 dog grooming businesses within a five-mile distance. Oakleyloves Dog Grooming and K9 Heaven Dog Grooming are some of the highest-rated dog grooming services in the city.
3. Durham, England
Dog groomers: 2.94 per 10,000 people
Ranking in third place is Durham, with a rate of 2.94 dog groomers per 10,000 people within a five-mile distance. Looking for highly rated groomers in the city won't be a hard challenge as there is a vast range, from Lulu & Paws Dog Salon to The Groom Room, which offers a full range of services from a full groom to a bath, brush & blow dry starting from just £20.
Holiday destinations with the most vet practitioners
1. Bristol, England
Veterinary practitioners: 9.48 per 10,000 people
As many pet parents will know, accidents can happen when choosing to take your furry friend with you on holiday. That's why it's important to always have a dog first-aid kit at hand so you are prepared to deal with any scrape or scratch.
But if you plan on visiting the vets whilst on holiday, no need to worry. Popular staycation destinations such as Bristol have plenty of vet practitioners ready to help. The city has an average of 9.48 veterinary practitioners per 10,000 people. The city also has an impressive 448 vet practitioners.
2. Durham, England
Veterinary practitioners: 8.81 per 10,000 people
Durham ranks second with an estimated 8.81 veterinary practitioners per 10,000 of the population. You'll be spoilt for choice when looking for a suitable veterinary practice for your beloved pet, as there are plenty to choose from. The Abbey Veterinary Centre is one of the many RCVS-accredited veterinary practices in the city.
3. Cambridge, England
Veterinary practitioners: 8.65 per 10,000 people
In third place is Cambridge, with 8.65 veterinary practitioners per 10,000 of the population. The city has a total of 126 vet practitioners, according to Find A Vet, 94 of which are vet surgeons and 32 are vet nurses. Cambridge Veterinary Group and Cambridge Equine Hospital are just some of the many RCVS-accredited veterinary practices in the city.
Staycation destinations with the most dog-friendly beaches
1. Hebrides, Scotland
Dog-friendly beaches: 9.32 per 10,000 people
Surrounded by sandy white beaches, wild Atlantic waves, diverse wildlife and vibrant Gaelic culture, it's no surprise that the Hebrides takes the top spot as the UK region with the most dog-friendly beaches. With an estimated 9.32 beaches per 10,000 of the population, the popular region has plenty of breathtaking beaches to explore with your four-legged friend.
Calgary Bay and Coral Beach are just some of the many beaches where dogs are welcome as long as they remain on their leads. Therefore, it is advisable to bring the necessary pet equipment, such as dog collars and leads, as well as a dog coat to keep your pup all wrapped up and warm.
2. Anglesey, Scotland
Dog-friendly beaches: 6.09 per 10,000 people
The Welsh Island of Anglesey takes second place with an average of 6.09 beaches per 10,000 population. Filled with stunning landscapes and coastal paths, not only is the historic island of Anglesey full of character, but its many beaches, such as Red Wharf Bay and Llanddwyn Beach, are perfect for pups.
3. Isles of Scilly, England
Dog-friendly beaches: 4.40 per 10,000 people
The Isles of Scilly is in third place, with 4.40 beaches per 10,000 population. Just off the Cornish coast, the popular English region is a natural wonder and a hub for dog-friendly beaches. From Covean to Old Town Bay, the archipelago is a great destination to uncover with your canine companion.
Exploring the top destinations that the UK has to offer with your furry friend can create some of the most thrilling adventures and unforgettable memories. Millets has the perfect range of dog leads and dog collars to suit your companion's breed and size, and a huge dog coat collection to protect them from rainy conditions so you can enjoy hiking and immersing in the beautiful coastal scenery across the country alongside your four-legged friend. So what are you waiting for?
Shop Dog WalkingMethodology
We looked at various factors using a list of UK cities to find the most dog-friendly destinations in the UK. We ranked the cities by giving each city a normalised score out of 10 for each factor before calculating an average score across all factors for each city.
We removed Westminster from our list as it is not a residential city. We also removed all cities with a population of below 50,000 people due to a lack of available data.
We sourced the percentage of pet-friendly hotels in each city using Booking.com, which accounted for the total number of hotels in each city and the number of pet-friendly hotels in each city to calculate the percentage of pet-friendly hotels. We collected this data on 28/07/2023.
To find the percentage of dog-friendly restaurants by city, we sourced the total number of restaurants and the number of dog-friendly restaurants using the available filters on Tripadvisor. We then calculated the percentage of dog-friendly restaurants in each city. We collected this data on 27/07/2023.
To find out the number of dog-friendly pubs by city, we used Tripadvisor on 04/08/2023 to collect this data. Searching by our list of cities, we recorded the total number of bars and pubs and the number of dog-friendly bars and pubs in each city to find the percentage of dog-friendly pubs.
Figures for the number of vet practitioners by the city were taken from Find a Vet on 04/08/2023. We sourced the number of veterinary surgeons practising in the UK and veterinary nurses in each city. We then calculated this per 10,000 of the population, using data from The Office for National Statistics: Estimates of the population for the UK, England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
We gathered data on the number of dog groomers by city using Yell. Using our list of cities, we considered the number of ‘dog grooming' services within 5 miles of each city using the filters. For London, we looked specifically at the number of dog groomers in each borough within 5 miles and then totalled the number; this was then calculated per 10,000 of the population for each city. Data collection for this section was completed on 08/08/2023.
Using AllTrails, we gathered data on the number of dog-friendly outdoor trails on 27/07/2023. We sourced the number of outdoor and dog-friendly outdoor trails in each city to calculate the percentage of dog-friendly outdoor trails.
To get an overall score for each city, we used an unweighted ranking system which considered all the factors, including the percentage of dog-friendly hotels, restaurants, bars and pubs, and outdoor trails, as well as the number of vet practitioners and dog groomers per 10,000 people.
These scores were then averaged and ranked to find the UK's best dog-friendly holiday destinations. The data for this section was completed on 10/08/2023.
We also included a separate section examining the number of dog-friendly beaches using The Beach Guide. We gathered this data by area, e.g. Cornwall and Dorset, to determine where in the UK has the most dog-friendly beaches. We collected this data on 31/07/2023.
This section was ranked based on the number of beaches in each area per 10,000 of the population to reveal the holiday destinations with the most dog-friendly beaches in the UK.
