Best Dog Friendly Things To Do In London – There are plenty of things to do with your dog in London. There are so many of them that it would be difficult to summarize them all in one article. You can take your dog to London markets, visit art galleries or go shopping together. But I’m not sure how much fun your dog can have.
My partner and I went to London to celebrate our 10 year anniversary. Our companion came with us, so the priority was to find things for the dogs that would be interesting for all of us.
Best Dog Friendly Things To Do In London
This dog guide to London prioritizes your dog’s entertainment, including activities you can enjoy together, away from the crowds (as much as possible in the capital!) We mean parks and gardens, bars and cafes and dog-friendly hotels. .
Dog Friendly London
There are over 100 pet-friendly hotels in London. Most do not have a pet fee, although you may be limited in how many companions can live with you. Depending on your budget, you can choose from affordable accommodations to luxury experiences. Here are some of my suggestions for dog friendly accommodation in London, although there are many more to choose from.
If you want the feel of a traditional British home with added luxury, Rosewood London has it all and was our choice for a long weekend to celebrate our anniversary. Dogs of all sizes are always welcome with bedding, food and water bowls provided you let us know your friend will be joining. Our room was spacious and the bed unusually comfortable. The staff were very happy to see our puppy and gave him big hugs, making us feel extremely welcome. Rosewood is conveniently located close to good transport links.
There are many parks in London where dogs can walk on a lead and play off-leash. The most famous ones, such as Hyde and Regent’s Park, are very busy. If you want to go somewhere quiet, leave the tourist trail and visit Richmond or Greenwich Park or Hackney Marshes. If your dog loves water, Hampstead Heath, Clapham Common and Wimbledon Common have ponds to play in. These are some of the most popular dog parks in London.
If we had more time we would have come a long way. Instead we took a walk around Regent’s Park. Dogs must be on a lead (although many are not) and are not allowed in certain areas such as the rose gardens. There is plenty of room for dogs to explore despite the restraints. We drove around the small 410 acre park before returning to Euston station.
Dog Friendly Guide To Buses
If you’re looking for something to do with your dog other than walks or window shopping; There are few dog-friendly experiences in London. From sightseeing to boating, there is something for you and your partner to enjoy.
We rode The Line, an outdoor sculpture route that runs between the Olympic Park and the O2. It will take you along the waterway and the Greenwich Meridian. The beginning was confusing and hard to follow. It is better to avoid the bad surroundings of the Olympic Park, and join the track a little lower, where the scenery is beautiful and the trail is more interesting. We manage a very small area of the road, but it’s a fun outdoor activity that you can enjoy with your partner.
It’s a shame none of London’s major art galleries allow dogs. The only gallery I could find was the Kennel Club Art Gallery which requires an appointment to be booked. Here’s a full list of dog-friendly museums you can visit in the UK.
Anyone who owns a dog knows that almost all traditional British pubs are dog-friendly (although in London that’s not always the case…) It’s in modern pubs and wine bars that you rarely meet your companion. If you’re looking for a place to grab a good cocktail and help your partner, here are some dog-friendly bars and pubs.
The Fastest Growing Dog Friendly Cities
This cocktail bar came highly recommended as it was advertised as one of the ‘best dog friendly bars in London’. Although we received good service, it was nothing special. Unfortunately, the atmosphere was darkened that night, making you wish you hadn’t driven the half hour there. Perhaps because the level of service in Birmingham is so high, London is a little bit ahead of expectations here.
London is unpredictable when it comes to eating with your dog. Some places only allow partners to sit outside with you, while others don’t allow it at all. Luckily, there are some great dog-friendly restaurants out there. Here are my recommendations for places to eat in London that are vegan and dog friendly.
This is a restaurant I have been visiting for 10 years. The food is delicious and the service is excellent. Therefore, I was very happy to learn that they are also friendly. Large dogs may be uncomfortable as the Soho restaurant is small. We were seated by the window which had plenty of room for all of us. Mildred’s menu is 100% plant-based, so it’s hard to choose which dish to order. I highly recommend leaving room for desert as the tiramisu was divine.
Coffee shops are a great place to take your significant other. Small independent cafes are often dog friendly, making them a great place to slow down and people watch in a busy city like London. We had our morning coffee at the hotel restaurant and never stopped for a drink elsewhere. The Breakfast Club is a great place to eat and Ozone has great coffee.
House Sitting In London
Getting around London is easy as dogs are allowed on public transport, including buses and the Tube, for free. Keep them on a leash or in a carrier and use the elevator or go up and down the escalators. Every time I took the subway, I took my dog with me because it can be crowded and small dogs are not easy for people to see.
Dogs cannot be allowed on public transport “if there is a good reason not to” because of overcrowding and/or the dog is too large. I recommend avoiding peak travel times when your partner may be too busy to travel. My solution was to stay in central London, walk as much as possible and avoid rush hour traffic.
Sophie is a freelance writer with over a decade of experience writing about sustainable living. Creating her own jewelry brand, Oh My Clumsy Heart, was the epitome of organic style that led her to ditch fast fashion, create a capsule wardrobe, and start this blog. Her style guides will transform your wardrobe, teach you how to create a small wardrobe with a big personality.
If you enjoyed and found this article helpful, please consider purchasing Virtual Coffee. This helps cover the future costs of running the content and website. As they say, the best things in life are FREE. We love London Dog Festival tickets as much as the next pup, but not always. Luckily, there are plenty of great dog-friendly things to do in London that won’t cost you a penny without taking the tube, train, bus or ferry. In our latest roundup of dog-friendly London, 42 free dog-friendly things to do in London, we’ve got enough things to do in London with your dog to keep you both busy without dipping into your bank balance. Read on for more (free) inspiration…
Dog Friendly Cinema Events
Obviously one of the most free things you can do with your dog is exploring one of London’s many parks. We won’t list them all, but here are some of your favorite things to fill your weekends with…
(1-8) Royal Parks: Exploring one (or all) of London’s Royal Parks should be on every Londoner’s to-do list. Choose from Hyde Park, St. James’s Park, Regent’s Park, Green Park and Kensington Gardens, Greenwich, Richmond and Bush Park all have something to offer. Each park has off-leash and off-leash areas (see here), but there’s still plenty to explore. It’s technically eight different things, but who’s counting.
(9) Hackney Marshes – A favorite amongst many East End children is Hackney Marshes. If you’re not familiar with the area but want to visit, our friends at Fetch & Follow can take you around recommended Hackney Wetlands.
(10) Epping Forest – As listed in the London parks every dog owner should visit, London’s largest open space is a dog’s dream. With over 2,400 acres to explore, it will follow you
