Dog Friendly Hotels / Lake District / Cotswolds

The Best Dog-Friendly Hotels in the UK

The places below are the ones that stand out for the right reasons, whether that’s location, walking access, thoughtful extras, or simply making both owner and dog feel welcome.

Lake District, Cumbria

Cotswolds

Dog-Friendly Hotels — Checked for Hidden Fees 

Plenty of hotels describe themselves as dog-friendly, but that doesn’t answer the questions most people actually have. Is there a fee? Are dogs allowed in every room? Can they come into the bar, or are they expected to stay in the bedroom? Those details vary far more than the label suggests. 

Some dog-friendly hotels genuinely make travelling with a dog easy. Others simply allow dogs. That difference isn’t always obvious until after you’ve booked. 

Glebe House 

A dog bed by the wood burner is already waiting when you open the door. That tells you pretty quickly how Glebe House works. Dogs aren’t tucked away in a handful of forgotten rooms or limited to outdoor spaces. 

The Old Kitchen, Southleigh Wood, and all three Crow’s Nest cabins welcome them, and they’re allowed into the restaurant and communal rooms, as long as they’re on a lead. Dinner doesn’t mean leaving the dog upstairs alone.

The cabins are the best option if you’re bringing a dog. Hidden just beyond the gardens, they come with a super king bed, a wood burner, an outdoor bath, and enough privacy that heading back out after dinner rarely feels necessary. The £50 dog fee covers the whole stay, with bedding, bowls, and housekeeping included.

Food is a big part of why people book this place, dog or no dog. David Knapman, formerly of The Fat Duck, builds the menu around produce from the property’s smallholding and nearby farms, and plenty of guests book a table before they book a room. 

There’s plenty to fill the hours between meals. A wood-fired sauna and cold plunge look across the gardens, while the outdoor pool opens through the warmer months. Every room has one of Hugo and Olive’s illustrated walking guides, marking their favourite routes, viewpoints, and pub stops. If the coast calls instead, Lyme Regis is about twenty minutes away.

One thing to keep in mind: this is an old country house with uneven paths, steps, and historic buildings, so it isn’t the easiest option for anyone with limited mobility.

Crafted at Powdermills 

Just outside Battle, Crafted has the kind of grounds you could spend a whole day in without getting bored. You get a woodland to wander through, a lake to swim in, a pub, and a restaurant. Even so, none of it feels like a trek. Everything’s close enough to your room that you’re not planning a route just to get breakfast. 

Dogs are looked after properly here, though they’re only allowed in specific rooms, so check availability for dog-friendly rooms directly when you book. There’s a bed, treats, and towels waiting when you check in, plus a list of local walks. You’re not just picking a direction and hoping. 

The fee is £30 per dog for the whole stay, not per night, and they’ll need to stay on a lead around the grounds and in communal areas. 

The seven-acre lake is one of the main reasons people book. Dogs can swim there, and so can guests. It’s a genuine part of the stay rather than something you look at from the terrace before moving on. Once you’re both back, muddy and worn out, there’s an actual Dog Wash on site.

Rooms range from smaller Cosy doubles to full suites. There are also three private cottages for larger groups. The biggest sleeps ten and has its own lakeside deck. Inside, the reclaimed timber and locally made furniture give the rooms some personality. 

There are two places to eat. The restaurant serves dishes like whipped cod roe and côte de boeuf. The pub next door is more casual.

London is under two hours away by train, and there’s a free shuttle from Battle station for hotel guests.

Louma

The fenced off-lead run by the woodland trail is reason enough to book Louma if your dog’s the type that needs to actually run rather than plod along on a lead all weekend.

Having that enclosed space right by the Wellness Barn, which stays open from dawn until dusk, solves the worst part of a countryside stay: loading an energetic dog into the car just to find somewhere safe for a proper run. 

Across the rest of the working farm, you will need to keep them on a short lead to protect the local livestock, but you won’t spend your walks constantly dodging crowds, as day-spa visitors and walk-in diners aren’t allowed on-site.

They charge a standard pet fee of £35 per night. That covers a solid set of gear: a proper dog bed, bowls, towels, and waste bags. There is also a dedicated dog-wash hose outside Timber Stables 2 to rinse off dirty paws before heading into your room or the dining areas.

Because all meals are included in the room rate and served on-site, you skip the usual hassle of trying to book dog-friendly Dorset pub tables at short notice. 

Dogs aren’t allowed in the Main House or the spa. However, you can eat with them comfortably in the main dining spaces. If you’re off doing an activity where dogs can’t tag along, all rooms have full climate control to keep them comfortable while you’re away. .

There’s no local pub or village high street within walking distance outside the gates, so when you book that compulsory two-night stay, you’re pretty much committing to staying put on the farm for forty-eight hours.

Lucknam

If you want a country house stay where you can bring your dog without feeling like you’re ruining a fancy hotel, Lucknam Park is a good choice. But if you want a casual farm stay where your dog can run off-lead through open fields, it won’t be for you.

You get access to acres of estate paths the second you open your door. That said, dogs have to stay on a lead throughout the grounds, not because the hotel’s being precious about it, but because there are horses kept on the property. 

In the pet-friendly rooms, they set you up properly beforehand with Lily’s Kitchen food, beds, bowls, toys, and a printed guide for local walking routes.

Dogs must be over a year old and fully vaccinated, and there’s a £50 nightly fee per dog. You can bring them through reception, out to the Walled Garden bar and terrace, or into select guest rooms and cottages. They aren’t allowed in the main indoor areas or the indoor restaurants. 

Inside, the house is very traditional. The larger suites have four-poster beds, open fireplaces, floral chintz, and silk lampshades. If you don’t like heavy traditional decor, the smaller Classic and Garden rooms use simpler fabrics and feel much less dramatic.

Dinner is a total tale of two cities. You’re either dressing up for Hywel Jones — a formal, Michelin-starred affair with heavy linens where toddlers under five and dogs aren’t on the guest list. Or you’re down at the spa’s Brasserie in a bathrobe eating wood-fired pizza.

Despite the grand Bath-stone manor and the sweeping avenue of beech trees, the staff keeps the atmosphere relaxed enough that you actually get to unwind. 

Fowey Hall

If you’re taking your dog to Cornwall, Fowey Hall is worth a look. It’s above Fowey with great views over the estuary to Polruan, and the public walking paths start right outside the front gate.

You can bring up to two dogs of any size per room for £25 a night each. When you book, try for one of the four Bay Suites on top of the spa wing. The main Victorian house has heavy carpets that might make you nervous about wet paws, but the Bay Suites use concrete floors and brushed timber, so dirt isn’t an issue. 

They also have private glass terraces. Your dog can stay outside with you while you look over the water. Wherever you stay, the room comes stocked with a bed, bowls, a blanket, a tennis ball, treats, and an “A la Bark” menu.

The rules around where dogs can go are straightforward:

• In the Hotel: Dogs must stay on a lead in public areas, but they are welcome in the bar, main lounges, garden room, and grounds. They aren’t allowed in the spa, outdoor pool, cinema, or children’s play area.
• At Meal Times: Dogs can’t go into the main indoor restaurants or the spa terrace dining space. You can eat with them on the covered garden terrace.

After a walk, there’s a dedicated hot and cold dog wash station outside with fresh towels, which makes dealing with mud quick and easy before heading inside.

Getting around from the hotel is easy:

• Walk 10 minutes down the hill and you hit Readymoney Cove. If you have kids with you, grab buckets and crabbing nets from reception on your way out.
• Fowey harbor is just a short walk down, where you can grab food at places like North Street Kitchen right by the water.
• You can walk straight onto the local footpaths from the property, or ride on the small passenger ferry down at the bottom of the hill to get over to Polruan for longer coastal walks.

Which UK hotel Chains Allow Dogs? 

A chain name doesn’t tell you much on its own. Two hotels under the same brand can have different rules, especially if the chain is franchised. Before looking at individual dog-friendly hotels, here’s what to expect from the biggest names. 

Hotel Chain	Are Dogs Allowed?	Typical Fee	Max Dogs Per Room	Good to Know
Travelodge	Yes (most hotels)	£20 per stay	2	Dogs stay in the room but aren’t allowed in breakfast areas.
Premier Inn	No	–	–	Only assistance dogs are accepted.
Hotel du Vin	Yes	£25 per dog, per night	2	Dogs receive a bed, bowls, and treats. Most hotels allow them in the bar and bistro.
Macdonald Hotels	Some hotels	£15–£25	2	Not every hotel accepts dogs, so check before booking. Spa and leisure areas are off limits.
Holiday Inn (IHG)	Depends on the hotel	£15–£30 per night	1–2	Some locations welcome dogs in dedicated rooms. Check before booking.
Ibis / Novotel	Most hotels	£10–£15 per dog, per night	1	Usually an easy option in towns and cities. Dining rules vary by hotel.
Village Hotels	Yes	£15 per dog, per night	2	Dogs stay in selected rooms and aren’t allowed in the restaurant or leisure club.

What to Check Before You Book

A hotel calling itself dog friendly doesn’t tell you very much on its own. The differences usually appear after you’ve opened the booking page. 

Check How the Pet Fee Works

A pet fee isn’t always a one-off charge. Budget chains often charge once for the whole booking, while country house hotels and boutique stays commonly charge by the night. That can make a noticeable difference on a three or four-night break.

You should also check what you’re paying for. Some hotels include a dog bed, bowls, towels, or treats. Others charge the same amount simply because a deeper clean is needed after check-out. Two identical fees don’t always buy the same thing.

Make Sure Your Room Actually Accepts Cogs

“Dog friendly hotel” doesn’t mean every room is dog friendly. Quite a few properties only allow pets in certain room types, garden rooms, or ground-floor accommodation. If those rooms are already booked, bringing a dog may no longer be an option, even if standard rooms are still available online.

Find Out Where Your Dog Can Go

This is probably the biggest difference between one hotel and another. Some welcome dogs almost everywhere except the spa. Others stop at the bedroom door.

If you’re planning to eat at the hotel, check whether dogs are allowed in the bar, lounge, or restaurant. Quite a few country hotels serve the same menu in the lounge as they do in the main dining room, while others don’t. If dogs aren’t allowed anywhere food is served and can’t be left alone in the room, you’ll need another plan for dinner.

Don’t Assume Every Dog is Covered

Most UK hotels limit bookings to two dogs per room, and some smaller properties have size or breed restrictions as well. Others are happy to accept larger dogs but only in specific rooms with easier outdoor access.

Some hotels ask dogs to be fully house-trained before they’ll accept them, even if that isn’t mentioned on the booking page.

Amenities Worth Looking For

Most hotel websites focus on photographing the welcome biscuit and branded tennis ball waiting on the bed. They look good on Instagram, but they don’t make your stay any easier. A decent dog bed, heavy-duty bowls, and a practical way to deal with wet mud make far more difference to your weekend.

When you’re scanning a property’s amenity list, look past the decorative perks and check for these five features instead:

In-Room Setup

Lightweight plastic bowls get kicked over on timber floors within five minutes. Look for dog-friendly hotels that supply heavy ceramic or stainless-steel bowls set on non-slip rubber mats.

Bedding matters just as much. You want a thick, wipeable, or orthopaedic bed, so your dog doesn’t spend the night on hard floorboards or trying to climb onto the duvet. 

A Real Wash Station

If you’re walking along coastal paths, fells, or muddy woodland trails, getting back to a carpeted hotel without a cleanup plan is stressful. Most dog-friendly hotels have a dedicated outdoor wash area, ideally with a warm-water hose, alongside a basket of clean towels right by the entrance. This way, you can rinse off sand and thick mud before stepping into the main building.

Dining Access

The biggest headache on a dog trip is finding out your dog isn’t allowed anywhere near food. The best dog-friendly hotels feature a dedicated pub, bar, or lounge area where dogs are welcome while you eat the full restaurant menu.

If a hotel only allows dogs in “outdoor dining spaces,” check whether that terrace is covered and heated. If bad weather hits and indoor dining is banned, you’ll be stuck ordering room service or leaving the property for meals.

Ground-Floor Access and Terraces

Late-night and early-morning toilet runs are much simpler when you don’t have to navigate main stairwells, narrow corridors, or busy lobbies on a lead. Ground-floor rooms in a courtyard wing or garden annex are ideal, especially those with private, enclosed glass or timber terraces where you can let your dog step outside safely while you make a coffee.

Trails From the Front Gate

Look for stays sitting directly on public footpath networks or coastal trails. Being able to walk straight out the front gates cuts out the hassle of driving to a trail and getting a wet, muddy dog back into the car afterward.

If your dog needs time off-lead, check the local estate rules first — properties with livestock, horses, or deer require leads at all times across their acreage. You’ll need nearby woodland or open commons for a proper run.

FAQ