Places To Visit In The UK: Dog-Friendly Towns & Cities
There are many nice places to visit in the UK for dog-friendly holidays, weekends away or city breaks. The UK has loads of options for places to visit to suit most tastes. This includes city breaks and adventures in the stunning countryside or seaside of this green and pleasant land.
There are many towns & cities suitable for visitors travelling with their dogs. A handy thing about travelling in the UK is that the trains are free for dogs and have fewer rules than in some countries. Thus, it is a great option for an Interrail adventure.
Places To Visit in the UK For a Dog-Friendly Break
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A guide to the best places in the UK that I have had the pleasure of visiting with Henry, my dog. We have enjoyed UK city breaks, camping or coastal holidays, weekends away, and day trips. There are also fantastic historic places to visit with a pet, including castles and churches. A great time to visit is during autumn, especially in the countryside.
London For An Amazing City Break
One of the most popular places to visit is London, the capital city. There are loads of places to see and things to do here, from world-famous sights to lesser-visited attractions. There are castles, churches, parks and streets steeped in history. The entertainment is second to none, with concerts, theatre and general fun things to do.
Top places for walkies in the capital include around the perimeter of the Tower of London. The river near the Houses of Parliament is also a rather special place to visit. Finding a pet-friendly place to stay in London is pretty straightforward, as there are plenty of options. The city also has lots of dog-friendly pubs and restaurants.
York
York in the north of England is a fantastic place for a trip, especially if you enjoy history. There are many top attractions to visit, including the iconic York Minster, the Shambles, and many medieval buildings.
We saw many people out and about enjoying meals out and having fun with their dogs. The city has some wonderful pubs, including some reputedly haunted.
Cornwall: For Seaside Fun
One of the top places to visit for a seaside holiday is the county of Cornwall in Southwest England. The rugged coastline of Cornwall is special to see in all seasons. In summer, the weather is nice, but in winter, the weather is rough, with enormous waves and storms.
There are loads of delightful fishing villages or towns to stay at or eat out in, such as Polperro, Port Isaac, Looe or Mousehole. There are also options for dog-friendly pubs throughout the county. We also found various dog-friendly beaches and tidal pools in Cornwall for fun in the water with Henry.
Worcester: A Historic City
The cathedral city of Worcester is a lovely place for a day trip or a weekend away. Worcester is in the rural county of Worcestershire in the West Midlands. There are lots of things to do, including visiting the cathedral, exploring some wonderful museums, or attending a sporting event.
Chester: A Beautiful Chilled Place
In the northwest of England is Chester, an excellent option to visit if you enjoy pretty places with lots of history. There are lots of sights to see in the city, including streets lined with timber-framed buildings, Roman sites, a cathedral, and a castle.
Chester is a great place to visit with dogs, as many cafes, pubs, and restaurants allow pets inside.
The Malverns: For Hill Walking
If you like pretty towns and hill walking, Great Malvern is a fantastic place to visit in England. Great Malvern is a great place to visit, especially for its abbey and the pretty town centre. The Malvern Hills are a top place to visit if you enjoy hill walking.
Oxford: A Great Place To Visit
Oxford is an excellent place to visit for a day trip or a short city break. There are lots of places of interest to see in the city, making for an amazing walk. We enjoyed exploring all the sights with Henry and enjoyed a few of the pet-friendly pubs in the city.
Gloucestershire
The rural county of Gloucestershire is home to historic places and beautiful countryside. Gloucester has a history dating back to Roman times; its cathedral has over 1000 years of history within its walls. The nearby Cheltenham Spa grew in the Georgian era and thus has many features of the period.
The countryside of the county is stunning, including the Cotswolds and the Forest of Dean, to explore. These make it an excellent place for an inland holiday for those who enjoy walking and beautiful places.
Wye Valley: Great For Walking Breaks
One of the best places for an inland countryside holiday is the Wye Valley. The River Wye downstream of Ross-on-Wye is stunning, and one can easily see why it is a national landscape. The area is excellent for camping, hiking and wildlife spotting. Other great places to visit when in the area are Monmouth and Chepstow Castle.
Warwickshire
There are also lots of places to visit on holiday in Warwickshire, including Warwick. We found Leamington Spa to be a wonderful place to visit with some beautiful parks.
Stratford-upon-Avon is a very popular destination for day trips and short breaks away. It is a popular place because of its many links to William Shakespeare. The town is a very picturesque place with lots of historically significant buildings.
Carlisle: For A City Break on the England-Scotland Border
The city of Carlisle is a lovely place to visit and is also a great base camp for exploring the beautiful Lake District. The city has many interesting things to see, including the pet-friendly Carlisle Castle, Hadrian’s Wall, Carlisle Cathedral and museums.
We found plenty of options for places to stay in the city, including nice pet-friendly hotels. Dining out in Carlisle was great, including at many dog-friendly pubs. Overall, Carlisle is a very nice place to visit in Northern England.
Birmingham
The second largest city in England is Birmingham, a fascinating place. There are lots of things to see and do in the city, including superb entertainment and historic attractions. The Jewellery Quarter and Digbeth are both very fascinating areas to explore, as is the extensive canal network.
Shrewsbury
The Shropshire market town of Shrewsbury is a fantastic place to visit for a day out or a weekend away. Expect stunning gardens, riverside walks and historic sites, including a castle, an abbey, countless churches and a former prison. The gardens and river walks in the town are beautiful and a good place to relax. Shrewsbury is also pretty pet-friendly and offers plenty of restaurant options, including some with wonderful views.
Liverpool
Liverpool is a fun city in the northwest of England with lots going on and fun options for things to keep you entertained. It is also fantastic for a sightseeing walk, with lots of beautiful buildings and the famous waterfront. I lived in the city for a few years and had a great time, and enjoyed the nightlife scene. I didn’t visit with Henry, but noticed many other people enjoying the bars and pubs with their pets.
Blackpool
Blackpool is a town on the Lancashire coast and is not everyone’s cup of tea to visit. It has a unique vibe and is a place to go to for fun. For starters, the Pleasure Beach has loads of rollercoasters and rides. It has three piers to explore and enjoy.
Bristol
Bristol is a lovely place for a city break in the West Country of England, with lots of tourist attractions and things to do. It is a great option for a pet-friendly city break. Bristol’s top tourist attractions are around the harbour and River Avon, including the SS Great Britain and Clifton Suspension Bridge.
Gretna Green in Scotland ā “The Home of Romance”
Gretna Green in Scotland is a famous destination for weddings and has quite a history. It’s a nice place to visit to find out more and maybe watch a wedding or two. However, it is also a fantastic place to get married. We found the town to be pretty pet-friendly, so much so that Henry, our dog, was my best man.
Hever in Kent, The Garden of England
Kent is a beautiful county to visit in the southeast of England. It is famed for its beautiful countryside and coastline. During our visit, we visited the village of Hever, best known as the home of Hever Castle, a popular tourist attraction.
Weston-super-Mare: a fun place for a Seaside Break in Somerset
Weston-super-Mare is a seaside town in Somerset and a popular place for a short holiday by the coast. It has long sandy beaches, some pretty Victorian architecture, and a variety of entertainment options. If you fancy somewhere more secluded, Sand Bay and South Sands Hotel in Kewstoke are dog-friendly.
Cannock Chase & Hednesford
Another nice place to visit with dogs is Cannock Chase. This is a lovely area of countryside with lakes and forest trails near Hednesford. There are various options for places to stay in the area, including campsites and hotels in the nearby towns and villages.
Lichfield
Lichfield in Staffordshire has won awards for being one of the best dog-friendly places to visit in the UK. It’s a beautiful place, and there are options for things to do in Lichfield. We found it nice to explore, and the highlights were the old timber-framed buildings, the three-spired cathedrals and the pleasant parks.
Coventry
The former European Capital of Culture, Coventry, is a nice city to visit. We found many options for things to see when exploring the city, including the historic bombed-out cathedral, the transport museum and other old buildings.
Lewes in East Sussex
A handy little town to get the ferry across the English Channel with a dog was Lewes in East Sussex. Lewes has a pretty centre with a castle, historic buildings and a brewery. We found plenty of places to dine out and a nice chippy near our hotel. It is also close to the South Downs, a top place for hiking.
Been to many of the places you have here over the years. Devon was always our summer holiday destination as kids. Cornwall was a bit too far, a 10 hr drive from MK. At least we have visited many of England’s Historical Cities between us. York for the railway museum with my dad, Coventry with mum and dad and big sis, when we were just 5 or 6. Great posts!
We visited Bristol last year for a few weeks. I crossed that bridge a few times. Narrow pathway and on those high wind days, goodness it triggered some fear; you are pretty high up over the River Avon. Lovely hikes alongside the river too.