If you survived lockdown without baking a banana bread, breaking up, or buying a dog, did it even happen? If you are among the latter who added a furry friend to the family then you are not alone — 3.2 million households bought a pet during lockdown and 74% said that their pet helped their mental health and aided them in getting through the hardest moments of lockdown! But these lockdown pups are not just pets, they are a part of the family, millennial’s fur babies, our fluffy children – and when it comes to holidays, we never leave family behind. So let’s take a look at some dog-friendly destinations, so we never have to be apart from our pets.
The Bike and Boot – Scarborough
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Now that you have a furry friend in your home, we expect that you’ll have come to love a long walk and the great outdoors. Enter the Bike and Boot, a hotel sandwiched between the North York Moors and Scarborough’s wild coast, catering to cyclists and hikers, and now your pooches too! Airy rooms feature bright colours and graphic vintage prints, referencing the surrounding area. There’s no need to worry about muddy paws, there’s a specially-dedicated doggy spa for rinsing your furry friend off after long walks on the moors and getting sand-covered paws. Just let the hotel know you’ll be bringing Fido and they’ll equip your room with a bed, treats and a chew toy to take home with them!
The Artist’s Residence – Brighton
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Metropolitan dogs need a holiday too, and maybe that means they love a city break as much as us? Why not make the best of both worlds with a trip to Brighton, where you’ll have easy access to the South Downs for long walks and pub lunches, while coffee shops and boujee boutiques make for great destinations for your morning strolls. The Artist’s Residence is one that the more pampered pooches will enjoy! Situated in a stunning Regency Townhouse on Brighton’s seafront, this hotel embodies everything that Brighton is in one delightful package – eclectic, colourful and welcoming. You’ll need to let the hotel know that you are bringing your furry family member, and a fee of £15 per night will apply to cover treats, a bed, and dog bowls. You must not leave your dog unattended and keep them on a lead when you are in common areas of the hotel, but let’s face it if you are taking a holiday with your hound, you’ll want them with you! What’s more? This brand also has properties in Oxfordshire, London, Cornwall and Bristol, which all welcome dogs – you could do a tour!
New Park Manor – The New Forest
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Love the New Forest? We do too, and you can bet your bottom dollar that your doggo will love all the smells to sniff and wide open spaces to charge around! So when selecting your hotel for a stay in this stunning part of the UK, choose a dog-friendly spot so your pooch can come along too. One we love is the beautiful New Park Manor, a stunning old manor house set in acres of green space and boasting a lovely spa too. The hotel is incredibly family friendly, and great for kids, adults and dogs alike. There’s a £15 per dog, per night charge and plenty of places to explore! You can head off to check out some of the tallest trees in the UK, or head to nearby Lymington where you’ll find pubs offering tasty grub and charming shops, and we are sure pooches will be welcome there too!
The Milestone Hotel – London
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We know how difficult it can be to leave your dog at home when visiting our lovely capital, so don’t! Even dogs love a trip to the big smoke every now and then, and the Milestone Hotel in Kensington has made it easier than ever to do so! No, we’re not just talking offering some treats and a bed for the night, The Milestone have thought about every detail and beyond. They’ve realised that not every restaurant in London is quite so welcoming of dogs, so offer a dog sitting service for when you want to enjoy that fancy brunch, and they’re located opposite Kensington Gardens, so your pooch could well be brushing tails with royal woofers while you are out and about! If your pet fancies a pamper, the hotel can handle that too, with a grooming service having them looking their best for royal engagements! On arrival your pet – not you – will receive a tailor-made welcome hamper and a welcome letter detailing all the services available to them, which include, but are not limited to: a turndown service (no, really), a taxi service, and bathrobes! Honestly, we think your dog probably won’t want to leave! Just let the hotel know you are bringing your pet before your arrival and they’ll forward their ‘pet preference form’ – we can’t quite believe it either!
Watergate Bay – Cornwall
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If you were one of the many to swap your trip to the Med for a staycation in Cornwall this summer then you’ll know that it is truly a paradise for pups! With sandy dunes, cosy fires and plenty of spots to take a dip in, it’s clear to see why the county is so popular with our furry friends. One spot that is more than welcoming of your pooch is the lovely Watergate Bay Hotel. The beach from which the hotel gets its namesake is dog friendly year-round, which is not always a given in Cornwall, so your pup can enjoy the beach whenever you visit! Dogs are welcome in common areas of the hotel including The Living Space, The Beach Hut and reception, and the hotel can provide a Joules dog bed for your pooch to enjoy in the room. Remember to inform reception that you are bringing Fido though, because dogs are only allowed in certain rooms of the hotel.
Low Wood Bay Resort and Spa – Lake Windermere
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Admit it, you know your dog will love the Lake District as much as you do, thanks to the hours of walkies and swims at your disposal! But when you’ve been out for the day we all like to come back to somewhere cosy, and The Swan Hotel and Spa offers that! In fact, on inspection of their website it’s the very first thing they mention, and want to shout about the fact that they are one of the most accommodating spots of pets in the Lakes. Your hound will be treated to a homemade dog biscuit, towel and dog bowls, not to mention the specially-designed dog friendly rooms on the ground floor! It’s not just Fido that will enjoy a comfortable stay either, rooms are beautifully decorated with impactful prints and bright textiles, to ensure a luxurious experience all round. There’s a pub onsite, ready to welcome the furry members of your clan. Just don’t leave your furry companion alone in the room for extended periods of time — you can for a short while if you fancy eating in the Brasserie or a quick dip in the pool — just be back to give them snuggles by 8pm!
The Fife Arms – Scotland
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Looking for a break that will give you more of a taste of Scotland than neeps and tatties? Then the tartan-clad Fife Arms in the highlands is ready to welcome you and your furry pals. With a variety of rooms primed and ready to host your pet, the hotel is a great option for a Scottish doggy break! Like something out of Balmoral, the rooms are exquisitely decorated in traditional Scottish design with tartan comforters to keep you warm on those cold nights, and regency-style wallpaper that will wow! Remember to mention that you are bringing a dog when making your booking so that the hotel can assign you one of the dog-friendly rooms. Dogs are allowed to join you in The Flying Stag provided they are well behaved and willing to cosy up by the fire. Quite frankly, we can’t think of a better way to spend an evening, so we’re sure your pup will love it too!
Grove of Narberth – Wales
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If you are looking to show your pooch Pembrokeshire then we’ve found the perfect place for you to do so. The Grove of Narberth is one of the most stunningly decorated hotels we’ve had the pleasure of coming across, and the best bit is that your doggo can enjoy it all too! The hotel is so welcoming of your furry family members, because they have their own. Bronwen is the hotel Labradoodle, who is ready and enthusiastic to welcome new playmates to the hotel grounds. You can stay in one of six dog-friendly rooms, which are kitted out with dog towels, blankets and ‘special doggy treats’, you can also request a dining menu for your pet, should they need to be treated to a special meal too. The hotel is only 12 minutes from the coast, offering stunning beaches for walks, charming fishing villages to explore, and beautiful coastal paths.
