A dog-friendly guide to London

Telegraph

6 days ago

With almost half of London households owning a dog, England's capital has adapted to become one of the most dog-friendly cities in Europe. There's almost nothing you can't do with a dog here, whether you want a cultural day at a museum or you're after a fancy dinner with the dog by your side. And it's well known that this National Park City has some of the biggest urban green spaces, from Hyde Park to Greenwich Park and Richmond Park – just remember to keep the dog on a lead around the deer to avoid your own Fenton moment.
Bringing a dog into the city isn't for the faint-hearted, though: both human and dog must be prepared for busy city streets, noisy tube trains and whizzing cyclists. But come into town together and the rewards are great: puppuccinos aplenty in London's cool cafés, walks on the Thames Path, boat trips on the river and boujee hotels that often treat the dogs better than the person paying the bill.
In this guide:
Things to do
Tower Bridge
There aren't many London icons you can scale with a dog, but Tower Bridge bucks the trend and welcomes well-behaved dogs on leads into its towers and along its glass walkway. Exhibitions within the towers offer insight into London life in 1886 – the time the bridge was built – and showcase the ingenious engineering that went into its creation. Head up to the walkway that connects the two towers for fabulous views across the river in all directions, and don't forget to look down at the London buses, black cabs and pedestrians on the road below. Alternatively, time your visit with a bridge lift and you'll get to watch river traffic cruise on through as the road opens up beneath you. Don't forget to head to the Engine Rooms afterwards, where you can see the inner workings of this engineering marvel.
The Brunel Museum
If your inner engineering nerd isn't satisfied by Tower Bridge, the Brunel Museum has a brilliant little exhibition in Rotherhithe. It's located in Engine House, one of the buildings that was integral to the creation of the Thames Tunnel – the first of its kind to be built in soft ground beneath a major waterway. Discover the stories of the people who built the tunnel and those who tragically died during its construction, and see eccentric tunnel memorabilia from the Victorian era. There are excellent guided tours on some weekends, too.
The Vagina Museum
While you're not going to get into the Natural History Museum or National Gallery with the dog by your side, you are both welcome to get clued up on gynaecological anatomy at the Vagina Museum. It might sound a little left-field, but their permanent exhibition is truly fascinating and goes a long way to normalising conversations around gynaecological health. An ever-changing roster of temporary exhibitions covers hot topics, too: from the history of menopause, the state of healthcare around endometriosis, and how periods have been perceived through the ages. Don't miss exiting through the gift shop, where you'll find art, idiosyncratic jewellery and homeware inspired by the female reproductive system.
Hire a GoBoat
With the Thames at its heart, there are adventures aplenty on and by the water in London. But for those who don't fancy long strolls on the Thames Path or joining the commuters on the Uber Boats by Thames Clippers (which are indeed dog-friendly), GoBoat offers the opportunity to skipper your own vessel on London's waterways. You can cruise leafy Little Venice from their depot in Paddington, see the shining glass skyscrapers of Canary Wharf from the water, or pay a visit to royal residences like Hampton Court Palace on the Thames in Kingston. Dogs are welcome on all their boats, but it's probably best to never let them behind the wheel.
Picturehouse Cinemas
London theatres don't tend to allow dogs, but this chain of movie theatres has dog-friendly screenings in many of its cinemas across London, from Clapham to Greenwich and Crouch End. You'll be offered a fleece blanket on arrival, which you can use to cover the seat or pop on the floor so the dog can snooze away while you watch the latest releases and old classics. Expect occasional dog-themed screenings, too. And don't forget to share your popcorn.
Dining out
Love My Human Townhouse
This café on the King's Road became the local dogs' favourite spot from its very first day of trading. Sure, there's a great menu for humans with healthy brunches, homemade scones with cream and jam and lovely salads, but the main event here is the dog-friendly dining. Expect entire afternoon teas dedicated to dogs, fish and chip suppers made suitable for canine connoisseurs, and pup cups loaded with coconut cream and topped with healthy berries. They'll even throw a birthday party for your dog should they want to celebrate in style. Dogs on seats are very much encouraged, too.
The Cheese Barge
This floating restaurant on Regent's Canal is handily right next to Paddington station and is an ideal pit stop for those on towpath walks. The menu is small but everything is excellent, from the grilled cheese sandwiches to their exceptionally addictive curried cheese curds. Every dish includes at least one British cheese, from the likes of Cornish gouda to the stinkiest Cropwell Bishop Stilton. You can even have goat's cheese for dessert. Dogs are given a warm welcome here with water bowls and fuss from the staff.
The Parlour at Sketch
Sketch has become something of a London institution, not just for its food, but also for its uniquely designed and much-photographed toilets. The Parlour, their ground-floor restaurant, serves delightful dishes all day, from acai bowls at breakfast to beef skirt sandwiches and mushroom risottos at lunch. There are brilliant cocktails and delicate pastries and cakes from their patisserie, too. Dogs get bowls of water and much fuss on arrival.
Website: sketch.london
Brutto
Come for the £5 negronis, stay for the dog. Brutto is an intimate little Italian restaurant in Farringdon with its own resident canine, Bailey the French bulldog. He's often found wandering the restaurant, inspecting the floor for scraps or snoozing in his bed by the door. He'll happily welcome your dog inside should you fancy some penne with vodka and tomato or cannellini beans with oregano on toast. Of course, there's tiramisu for dessert, and yes, the negronis really are £5.
Lantana
If it's brunch you're after, Lantana delivers fresh seasonal dishes with a little Aussie flair at its three restaurants in London. Expect sweetcorn fritters with poached eggs, smashed avocado various ways, truffled wild mushrooms on toast alongside great coffee and juices of all colours. They do a dinner service, too, with steaks, poke bowls and sharing boards, plus cocktails for aperitivo hour – try the Earl Grey sour. Lantana has restaurants in London Bridge, Shoreditch and Fitzrovia, with dogs welcome in all.
Website: lantana.co.uk
Where to stay
Sea Containers
Right on the south bank of the Thames, overlooking Blackfriars Bridge, the chic, modern hotel inside Sea Containers is an ideal dog-friendly base for long walks on the Thames Path, long lunches in Borough Market or explorations of the breweries set within the railway arches of Bermondsey's so-called Beer Mile. Its restaurant allows dogs in specific areas, and breakfast can be ordered to the room if you don't fancy going out. Dogs get beds, bowls and treats in the room and there's plenty of green space for morning wanderings around the park opposite Gabriel's Pier. For the best views, book a Thames-facing room with a balcony.
Website: seacontainerslondon.com
Price: Bed and breakfast from £185 per night; dogs £35 per stay.
Royal Lancaster
Few dog-friendly hotels have a better location than the elegant Royal Lancaster, a five-minute walk from Paddington Station and just a few steps from the large, grassy lawns of Hyde Park. They can't dine with you in the restaurant but can be left alone in the room should you need to. They are welcome to join you in the Park Lounge Bar for cocktails and an all-day menu. Book their Ulti-Mutt Stay package and you'll wake up to Hyde Park views from your bed, get a dog-friendly three-tier afternoon tea in the room for the pooch and a plush dog bed for them to snooze it all off on.
Egerton House Hotel
If your London city break has to be all about the dog, the sumptuous Egerton House Hotel is the place to book. Set in Knightsbridge, a 10-minute walk from the southern fringes of Hyde Park, this hotel welcomes dogs with beds and bowls in the room and gravy bones behind the front desk. But even more dog-centric is their afternoon tea experience, in which you and the dog will get your own respective three-tier feasts, with sandwiches, cakes and delicate pastries for humans and three different kinds of baked treats for the dog. Go even further and book an appointment with their resident creative, Shelley the Artist, who will paint a portrait of your dog while you dine.
Website: egertonhousehotel.com
Price: Bed and breakfast from £665 per night; dogs £50 per night.
Kimpton Fitzroy
It's not all about the dogs here – cats, hedgehogs and birds are also welcome at the pet-loving Kimpton Fitzroy in London's Russell Square. With Russell Square Gardens open from early morning until late (10pm), there's a handy lawn right on your doorstep for your nighttime bathroom walks. You can also find a canine in-room dining menu should your ridgeback feel like ordering room service. The hotel even offers a dog-walking and daycare service for when you feel like having a pooch-free day.
Website: kimptonfitzroylondon.com
Price: Bed and breakfast from £399 per night; dogs stay free.
Native Hyde Park
The flexibility of your own kitchen is the main draw at Native Hyde Park, whose rooms and suites all come with equipped kitchenettes. There's a fridge-freezer for any fresh or raw dog food you need to store, and dogs get beds and bowls in the room, too. This property is just a couple of minutes from Paddington Station and Hyde Park, making it the perfect base for long walks in London's biggest central green space or boating adventures on Regent's Canal.
Insider tips
London is a fantastic destination for a spot of shopping and you needn't leave the dog behind, with places like Carnaby Street and Battersea Power Station offering dog-friendly retail therapy in many of their stores. Even Liberty allows dogs inside to browse its timber-framed shopping halls.
Plenty of London's resident dogs keep on top of the dog-friendly scene in the city, so follow the likes of The Londog and The Dogvine to keep up-to-date with what's new and find out about dog-centric events.
Local etiquette
Dogs on the London Underground are usually a welcome distraction from the grind of the daily commute, so expect a few smiles and – shock horror – even some conversations with strangers. But know that not everyone likes dogs and so you should never let your pet harass or beg for attention from strangers on the trains. Try to travel outside of the busiest hours so your dog has plenty of space.
Note that dogs must be carried on escalators within tube stations, so if you can't deadlift your lab, look out for the step-free access symbols and head to destinations with an elevator – the Elizabeth Line is the best-connected, entirely step-free line.