Cottages

Discover the perfect getaway with Dog-friendly Cottages UK. Explore cozy, pet-friendly cottages across the UK, offering you and your dog the best prices, exclusive deals, and comfort.

Cottages

United Kingdom: A Top Country for Dog-friendly Cottages UK

The United Kingdom is well-known for its deep love of dogs, earning it a reputation as one of the most dog-friendly countries in the world. In 2023, an estimated 57% of UK households owned at least one pet, with many considering them members of the family and embracing a pet-centric lifestyle, including when it comes to travel.

To make travel easy for pet owners, Dog-friendly Cottages UK offers a wide selection of cottages across popular regions like Cornwall, the Lake District, and Norfolk. With great prices, exclusive deals, and cozy cottages that welcome your furry friend, it’s never been easier to plan the perfect getaway.

Key Insights on Dog-Friendly Cottage Destinations in the UK

Cambridge

The most dog-friendly city in the UK with 46.3% of hotels welcoming dogs.

Carlisle

Offers a strong mix of availability and quality, with 31.9% dog-friendly hotels, 28.4% of which are highly rated.

Durham

Another top city in North West England, balancing dog-friendly options with high-quality accommodations.

Exeter and York

The only cities in both the top ten for dog-friendly hotels and the YouGov popularity poll, demonstrating strong appeal to dog-owning tourists.

London

Despite its vast number of hotels, only 4.4% are dog-friendly, presenting a major business opportunity for expanding pet-friendly hospitality services.

Liverpool

Ranked lowest for dog-friendly hotels but has significant potential for improvement, given its popularity in the YouGov poll.

Regional Leaders

East of England

Highest percentage of dog-friendly hotels overall.

North West England

Leading region for the quality of dog-friendly accommodations.

Best Dog-Friendly Cottage Destinations in the UK for 2024

1. Cambridge: A Top Dog-Friendly Cottage Destination

Cambridge, in the East of England, shines as a top spot for dog-friendly cottages in the UK. With 46.3% of accommodations welcoming pets, Cambridge offers the highest availability for dog-friendly stays. While only 6.6% of these options are rated 4+ stars, the wide selection of Dog-friendly Cottages makes Cambridge a fantastic destination for pet owners seeking variety. Whether you’re after a cozy cottage or a luxurious stay, Cambridge provides ample choices for you and your dog to enjoy a great holiday.

2. Carlisle: A Perfect Blend of Quality Dog-Friendly Cottages

In North West England, Carlisle stands out as a top destination for Dog-friendly Cottages. With 31.9% of accommodations welcoming dogs and 28.4% rated 4+ stars, Carlisle offers a great mix of availability and quality. This makes it an ideal choice for dog owners looking for comfortable and luxurious cottage stays, ensuring both you and your furry friend enjoy a memorable holiday.

3. Durham: A North East Gem for Dog-Friendly Cottages

In North East England, Durham ranks high for Dog-friendly Cottages, with 20.4% of accommodations welcoming pets. Of these, 15.1% are highly rated, making Durham a top choice for dog owners seeking both quality and availability. This balance ensures North East England remains a leading region for pet-friendly stays, making Durham a fantastic option for traveling with your dog.

4. Gloucester: A Top Choice for Dog-Friendly Cottages in the South West

Gloucester, located in South West England, features 20.3% of its accommodations as Dog-friendly Cottages, with 12.7% rated 4+ stars. This balance of availability and quality makes Gloucester a standout destination for dog owners traveling to the South West, offering plenty of options for a comfortable stay with your furry friend.

5. Swansea: Wales' Top Destination for Dog-Friendly Cottages

Swansea, the top-ranked city in Wales, completes the top five for Dog-friendly Cottages. With 19.4% of its accommodations welcoming pets and 15.3% highly rated, Swansea stands out as a top destination for dog owners in Wales.

East of England and North West England: Top Regions for Dog-Friendly Cottages

On a regional scale, the East of England stands out as the top spot for Dog-friendly cottages UK, with 24.4% of accommodations welcoming pets. However, for quality, North West England leads the way, with 11.2% of dog-friendly cottages rated 4+ stars.

It’s no surprise that North West England excels in cottage quality, especially with the Lake District being a renowned destination for dog owners. The area is known for its dog-friendly cottages, cafes, and attractions, making it an ideal choice for travelers with pets seeking both comfort and adventure.

A Surprising Low Performer for Dog-Friendly Cottages UK

Despite being one of the largest and most diverse cities in the world, London ranks surprisingly low for Dog-friendly cottages UK, with only 4.4% of its accommodations welcoming pets. Even fewer, just 3.5%, are rated 4+ stars, highlighting the limited high-quality cottage options for dog owners in the city. This low percentage, despite London having the most accommodations overall, presents a significant opportunity. As the number of dog owners rises and with plenty of pet-friendly activities around London, there’s huge potential for more dog-friendly cottages to meet growing demand.

Liverpool: The Least Dog-Friendly City for Cottages in the UK

At the bottom of our rankings is Liverpool, located in North West England. Only 3.0% of Liverpool’s accommodations are dog-friendly cottages, and just 1.7% of these are rated 4+ stars. This places Liverpool as the least accommodating city for dog owners, highlighting a major gap in pet-friendly cottages.

Despite this, Liverpool remains a highly popular city, featuring in the YouGov Q2 2024 travel ratings with a positive reputation. Given its popularity, there is a huge opportunity for growth in the dog-friendly cottages UK sector, catering to the growing demand for pet-friendly stays.

Our Dog-friendly cottages UK come with a variety of great features

From cottages with hot tubs to those just minutes from dog-friendly beaches, we have everything you need for an amazing holiday. Use our filters to find pet-friendly cottages with enclosed gardens, open fires, or parking. We understand how important these little extras are to making your dog-friendly getaway perfect!

Below is the complete ranking of the top destinations for Dog-friendly cottages UK in 2024.

Rank Cottages Regions 4/5* Hotel Ratings % Dog-Friendly Hotels % 4/5* Ratings
1
Carlisle
North West England
33
31.9
28.4
2
Swansea
Wales
19
19.4
15.3
3
Durham
North West England
14
20.4
15.1
4
Peterborough
East of England
14
14.2
13.2
5
Gloucester
South West England
10
20.3
12.7
6
Dundee
Scotland
9
16.7
12.5
7
Norwich
East of England
25
12.6
11.7
8
York
Yorkshire and the Humber
40
13.6
10.8
9
Portsmouth
South East England
12
11.5
9.2
10
Exeter
South West England
8
10.2
9.1
11
Sheffield
Yorkshire and the Humber
15
11.2
8.4
12
Kingston upon Hull
Yorkshire and the Humber
7
10.5
8.1
13
Nottingham
East Midlands
10
7.6
6.9
14
Leeds
Yorkshire and the Humber
17
10.2
6.7
15
Coventry
West Midlands
9
10.2
6.6
16
Cambridge
East of England
16
46.3
6.6
17
Bolton
North West England
3
10.9
6.5
18
Milton Keynes
South East England
9
9.4
6.0
19
Glasgow
Scotland
14
7.5
5.6

20

Bradford

Yorkshire and the Humber

5

11.0

5.5

21
Oxford
South East England
12
7.8
5.2
22
Cardiff
Wales
13
5.0
5.0
23
Bristol
South West England
10
9.0
4.8
24
Edinburgh
Scotland
44
6.2
4.7
25
Leicester
East Midlands
7
6.5
4.6
26
Manchester
North West England
18
6.0
4.5
27
Middlesbrough
North East England
2
10.9
4.3
28
Derby
East Midlands
4
14.7
4.2
29
Belfast
Northern Ireland
11
4.5
4.1
30
Wolverhampton
West Midlands
2
5.8
3.8
31
Newcastle upon Tyne
North East England
7
4.0
3.5
32
Brighton & Hove
South East England
9
10.9
4.5
33
London
Greater London
164
4.4
3.5
34
Birmingham
West Midland
11
6.2
2.7
35
Liverpool
North West England
10
3.0
1.7
36
Plymouth
South West England
2
17.1
1.3