Dog-Friendly Hotels in the United Kingdom

Forget dog heaven, Wallace was in pig heaven at the Avalon. The owners of this quirky guesthouse, a block from Brighton Beach, are true dog lovers. Wallace got his own welcome pack - biscuits, a place mat and bowl - and lavish amounts of attention - cuddles, treats, extra walkies, television lions to bark at. Needless to day, after we left, Wallace found spending time with me just too, too boring darling - for days on end. Dogs are allowed on parts of Brighton Beach but, with the tide in, Wallace was unimpressed with the steep shingle and totally nonplussed by the way the English Channel chased him back up onto the beach. He was more than happy to return to the Avalon's warm hearth.
Dog-Friendly Rating: 5 Paws and an extra dog smooch

Wallace the Westie was thrilled by the collections of treats laid on for him at the Cary Arms, on the water in Babbacombe Bay, Devon. I was impressed with the slate floor - immune to muddy feet and beach sand. This luxury inn treats dogs like honored guests and dog lovers as responsible adults. When I relaxed in the guests private lounge, Wallace was free to wander and in the dining room he was also welcome, though on the leash of course. He even enjoyed the chic, walk-in rain shower, enclosed in glass and Carrara marble, at the hotel staff's suggestion.
With so many good smells and the sea to splash in, Wallace awards the Cary Arms a Dog-Friendly 5 paws and a star.

Among the glorious country house hotels of Scotland, Ardanaiseig is, without a doubt, the most dog friendly we visited. They don't provide a bag of treats or a special bowl but the laissez faire attitude toward Fido says it all. There are extensive lawns and gardens, forest paths, acres of empty land and a lake for doggy athletes to swim in. No one raises an eyebrow at doggy antics and it's clear the owners believe that if you have the good taste to choose their hotel, you also have the good sense to make sure your canine guest behaves well. Wallace liked his swim and got a bit fresh with some of the statuary. His only quibble - no kibble. Well no dog biscuits anyway.
Dog Friendly Rating: 4.9 paws

Wallace the Westie was ready to award 5 paws, the ears and the tail for this lovely retreat in a 600 year old inn, about 15 miles west of Oxford. The Old Swan and Minster Mill offers a warm welcome, a comfy bed and lots of treats for canine guests - as well as a very comfortable stay for their human companions. But I had to mark the hotel down just a little bit. With so many big bowls full of doggie treats everywhere - in the room, in the pub - Wallace would have eaten himself into a coma if I didn't watch him like a hawk. He would also have happily leapt into the fast flowing River Windrush if given half a chance. A charming country hotel surrounded by wonderful walks but just a few too many treats.
Dog Friendly Rating: 4.5 paws

Malmaison is a generally dog friendly UK hotel chain. Their Oxford Castle made a big effort to please Wallace, providing a fresh, fleecy bed, a smart pair of porcelain dog bowls and a selection of choice treats. There was plenty of room to for wandering and Wallace was welcome to curl up in the room, watching his favorite TV programs while I went about my business in Oxford. Because this is a city center hotel, there was not much grass around, but there were some nice quiet streets for walkies nearby.
Dog-Friendly Rating: 4.5 Paws

Wallace went wild when we arrived to find a robin splashing about in a bird bath right outside our door. This is a lovely country house hotel and the best rooms (whether you've brought your dog along or not) are in the The Lodge, a few steps from the main house. All the Lodge rooms have their own entrances and immediate access to the out of doors. My room also had a large - and dog or child safe - balcony. Wallace enjoyed hanging out on the balcony, keeping track of birds, squirrels and the owners two, big black dogs. The grounds are lovely for dog and owner both. My only worry was a stream beside a steep path. Wallace likes the water so I kept him on the leash during our woodland walk.
Dog-Friendly Rating: 4.5 Paws

The Mount Royale Hotel is one of those pleasant surprises you come across now and then in England. Moderately priced,well-maintained, conveniently located and independent, it is a bit eccentric but unassuming. You might overlook this converted pair of William IV (circa 1833) town houses, about midway between York's city walls and its famous racecourse. But do seek it out. Its gardens are a doggy delight - as long as you are a considerate owner and clean up after your little pal. Wallace the Westie enjoyed the spacious carpeted room and the attention the staff and owner lavished upon him.
Dog-Friendly Rating: 4.5 Paws

Wallace the Westie was disappointed that the gorgeous South Sands beach outside our window was not open to dogs until October 1. But nearby North Sands Beach was dog friendly and he enjoyed a swim and a romp with other water loving pooches. This is a lovely hotel with lots of great walks - up and down hills but also along wooded paths and, if you have the stamina, up over a National Trust estate. He was also fascinated by the plumbing. Dog-friendly amenities included a nice soft and fresh bed, a huge cowhide chew and a welcome in the bar area while I had breakfast. The hotel lacked a lift but we soon found some carpeted back stairs that suited Wallace better than the polished wood spiral stairs.
Dog Friendly Rating: 4 paws

Located in the new Mailbox development, near some of Birmingham's most glamorous shops, this is a very slick and trendy place. Nevertheless, like all the Malmaison group, staff here have a soft spot for a pooch. They even cooked Wallace a special meal when he was a bit under the weather. There are some nice grassy areas just alongside and behind the hotel as well as access, through the shopping center, to Birmingham's canal system -- with ducks and geese to bark at. Dog-friendly facilities include a fleece bed to play with and a nice big bowl. No treats though.
Dog-Friendly Rating: 4 Paws

This rambling hotel in the Scottish baronial style is tolerant and understanding of dogs. Wallace the Westie was welcome in the bar and several of the other guests and staff members fussed over him. Because he is a natural star, he lapped it up. Though the hotel does not offer anything special for your dog (drying room, bowls, treats), the grounds, beside the Tweed and the ruins of Dryburgh Abbey (also dog friendly)are sheer dog heaven. Lots of soft grass, trees and bushes with freedom to run and play without worrying about flower beds and keeping off the grass. In warmer weather, a bit of a splash in the river is probably also possible.
Dog-Friendly Rating: 4 Paws