I’m on a mission to sample as many dog friendly hotels in the UK as I can. As my only child is my dog, my favourite activity is to get away on dog friendly mini breaks. From when we got our puppy in 2022, it was a priority to make sure she slotted into our lifestyle. This meant getting out and socialising her as much as possible into a confident dog that was happy staying in new places!
Here is a list of the best dog friendly hotels I’ve been to in my year and a half of dog ownership, and why I loved them. I will link to the full in depth review of each hotel. We’ve been on breaks from up in Scotland to down in Cornwall, and places in the middle – hopefully there is something that appeals to everyone.
The Tawny Hotel
Staffordshire
The Tawny has to be my favourite from all the dog friendly hotels on this list. The Tawny Hotel is a deconstructed hotel. It has a range of unique accommodation options across 70 acres of stunning grounds. We were staying in a Glade Hut, which is a double size shepherds hut.
The Glade Hut had a king size bed, a huge bathtub, shower, and sofa area too. From every window we could just see woodland, it was such a relaxing experience and felt like an escape. The best part of the Glade Hut was the outdoor deck and hot tub. It has a large metal freshwater hot tub outside, under a canopy of trees and fairy lights. However this is not properly fenced in, so toilet trips for the dog still need to be on the lead.
The extensive grounds make this place such a fantastic dog friendly stay. There is so much to explore without setting foot outside of the property. We spent our morning on a 2 hour walk around all the grounds, and then the afternoon having a dip in the outdoor pool and relaxing on sun loungers. The dog is allowed by the pool area, which was fantastic as we had already checked out of our Glade Hut by this point.
The restaurant is not dog friendly, but the bar area next to the restaurant is. So we relaxed in comfy seating near the bar and ordered pizzas and cocktails and had a very enjoyable evening. There are board games and a pool table, plenty of activities to keep you entertained. I am desperate to book another stay here – but it was the most expensive out of all these hotels, so it will have to be for a special occasion!
Feldon Valley
The Cotswolds
Step into this sleek and modern hotel hidden away in the Cotswolds. After renovation in 2018, Feldon Valley maintains British countryside charm with a 21st century twist. It comprises a hotel, gym & golf course complex in the Cotswolds, an area of outstanding natural beauty in the UK.
There are 4 woodland lodges which house the dog friendly hotel rooms, set within a woodland area. Accessed by a winding wooden walkway beneath the trees, these rooms have floor to ceiling windows with fantastic views of the woodland or the golf course. The rooms are smart and spacious, and each room has its own deck to enjoy the outdoor space.
They provided a small dog bed and dog bowls, though we opted to bring the dogs’ crate to sleep in. My dog was only about 8 months old when we stayed here, so we were grateful there was plenty of space to set up a crate. It is great all the dog friendly rooms are ground level so you have easy access outside for toilet trips. You are free to walk your dog around the grounds and golf course as long as they are on a lead.
The whole hotel feels very dog friendly. Your dog is welcome with you throughout the public areas, and it was entertaining to see all the doggies on their holidays there. Especially at dinner time, there were a few dogs dotted under tables throughout the restaurant. Out of all of the hotels in this blog post, Feldon Valley seemed to be the most populated by other dogs whilst we were there. This meant we didn’t feel like we were inconveniencing any other guests and we got to enjoy watching all the four legged friends. Having said that, it still felt like the sleekest and ‘poshest’ out of all these options.
Click here for my full review of Feldon Valley.
Knockderry House Hotel
Argyle & Bute
In stark contrast to the sleek and modern Feldon Valley, Knockderry House Hotel is a historic and grand hotel in Scotland. Beautifully maintained and exceptionally charming, you will feel like you’ve stepped back to the early 1900’s. Picture lots of tartan and dark wood everywhere, and even a fire in the fireplace. On the banks of Loch Long, it couldn’t be more picturesque.
Knockderry House Hotel has won awards for its dog friendly hotel status in Scotland. You have the choice from 5 dog friendly rooms within the hotel, and your dog is treated like an equal guest. Every single member of staff gave the dog lots of fuss, with the kitchen sending out a sausage on a plate for her at dinner and at breakfast the next morning. It’s welcoming touches like this which truly make you relax at a dog friendly hotel.
I slept so soundly in the fluffy four poster bed. Thankfully again, there was plenty of room to have the dog crate set up in the room too. As you would expect in the Scottish countryside there are an infinite amount of stunningly scenic walks within a stone’s throw of the hotel.
Click here for my full review of Knockderry House Hotel.
Una St Ives
Cornwall
If it is a beach holiday you are after, Una St Ives is the perfect choice. Just a 25 walk from Carbis Bay, Una St Ives is a complex of lodges from 1 bedroom to 4 bedrooms. Situated around a central hotel reception building with a gym, spa, outdoor pool and two restaurants. Upon arrival here we received a doggy welcome pack with some information about the dog etiquette for the site, and local dog friendly attractions.
Una St Ives is different to the previous two hotels as you have a whole lodge to yourself. This means there is plenty of space for you and your dog to relax. We had a small back garden with a hot tub, and a patch of grass for the dog to use as a toilet. It was super handy to have immediate private outdoor access without having to go through any shared spaces like a hotel reception. Although, this space wasn’t properly enclosed so a lead was still necessary. The lodge has it’s own washing facilities so you can wash your dogs towels after a sandy day at the beach.
The hotel reception and restaurants are dog friendly, and serve fantastic food. I particularly enjoyed a lunch at the outdoor terrace relaxing in the sun. The staff were very attentive and brought out some water for the dog too. There are so many local beaches for you to explore, this is the perfect base for a relaxed seaside holiday with your dog.
Click here for my full review of Una St Ives.
If you have any recommendations of great dog friendly hotels in the UK for us to try out, please get in touch and let me know!
