The best dog-friendly holiday destinations in the UK

You have to take your dog on holiday with you. It’s the new law of holidays! With a holiday cottage break, you can bring your four-legged beauty along with you on dog-friendly days out all across England, Scotland, and Wales.

Does your dog love beach holidays? Well, why not get some ideas from our dog-friendly beach guide? Your pets are welcome at many places to eat and drink too, which is great news for dog owners; here is our popular dog-friendly pubs guide as well.

In this guide, we share some highlights on holidaying with your dog alongside 2025’s most popular dog-friendly destinations. See below for our infographic showing this year’s most popular and up-and-coming dog-friendly locations, as well as last year’s. Looking for a place to stay in one of these fabulous resorts? Then click on the button below to visit our collection.

Dog-friendly holiday cottages

The most popular dog-friendly holiday destinations for 2025

See below for our infographic showing this year’s most popular and up-and-coming dog-friendly locations, as well as last year’s.

Discover our top dog-friendly holidays

1. New Forest

Once a royal hunting ground, this ancient borough has long been known for its variety of animals and wildlife. While the trees have gradually disappeared to make way for farmland, there’s still a host of large and small animals to see. Meet wild ponies, deer, donkeys, cattle – and during the New Forest’s unique ‘pannage’ season, pigs are let loose to roam in parts of the county. Smaller creatures throughout the tall grasses and forest floors include a variety of rare lizards and snakes, while honey buzzards and goshawks can be spotted soaring overhead.

There are plenty of excellent places to stay with your dog in the lush countryside and down by the New Forest coast too, so you can meet ponies peacefully grazing in the fields, or spot wading birds near the sea. Just to note, dogs are known to cause havoc to ground-nesting birds, so if you go bird spotting during your trip, please keep your beloved pup on a lead until it's safe for the wildlife to let them off. For even more inspiration, take a look at our dog-friendly guide to the New Forest.

Dog-friendly cottages in the New Forest

2. Northumberland

Wonderful Northumberland is great for long beach walks with your doggy pals, and it’s an up-and-coming holiday destination that deserves everybody’s attention. This large county in the North of England boasts a ‘boatload’ of dog-friendly attractions that you can visit with your pup – from visiting historic castles such Alnwick's, to family days out, there are so many things to do and places to see.

Some of the longest and sandiest beaches in England can be found in Northumberland, which means endless runs and exercise fun for your pet. There is also a host of famous walks like Hadrian’s Wall and the Hareshaw Linn Walk to try out with your fit hound. Whether you’re looking for somewhere grand to explore with your dog at your side or you just want to roam the great outdoors while your pup chases squirrels, we've sniffed out the best dog-friendly places to stay in Northumberland.

Dog-friendly cottages in Northumberland

3. Scotland

Escape to Scotland with your pup to explore its magical and wild landscapes. You and your dog can look out over snow-capped Munros from the comfort of your holiday cottage or venture out to meet the reindeer herd that roams the Cairngorms National Park. In the wintertime, it’s the best time of year to look for the Aurora Borealis and we’d recommend heading to the enchanting Isle of Skye or into the Scottish Highlands to try and spot this natural wonder. The remote and stark beauty of the Isle of Skye will absolutely bewitch visitors and their dogs. Unmissable majesty abounds.

The cities like Glasgow and Edinburgh are full of dog-friendly places to eat and drink and park spaces to explore. The beaches of Scotland are unmatched across the UK, with white sands and crystal-clear waters – only Cornwall and Wales can compete when it comes to natural beauty. Enjoy the chances for you and your canine to have large swathes of these extraordinary beaches all to yourselves for inspiring coastal excursions during a winter getaway. For more ideas, check out our guide to dog-friendly days out in Scotland.

Dog-friendly cottages in Scotland

4. Lake District

This unique dog-friendly destination is full of bewitching scenery, boasting large expanses of watery landscape that can’t be compared to anywhere else in the UK. Make the most of this unforgettable region by planning a lake tour with your dog on one of the many cruises found throughout the county. There are plenty of pet-friendly places to stay near Windermere Lake Cruises, Ullswater Steamers, and Keswick Launch Co., which all offer the opportunity for your dog to join you on a tour around one of the lakes.

If you would rather keep your feet (or paws!) on solid ground, the Lake District is brimming with walking trails that will lead you past far-reaching views or down to the water’s edge. Orrest Head, Friars Crag, and Loweswater Corpse Road all offer delightful dog walks with lake views. The best Lake District towns to stay for dog-friendly amenities are Keswick and Ambleside.

Dog-friendly cottages in the Lake District

5. Peak District

Where better in the British Isles for you and your dog to head to if you have an unwavering love for the outdoor life? Holiday in one of the largest untamed areas of England; the Peak District is a vast and open wilderness prime for exploration. Amazing places such as Stanage Edge, The Roaches, Monsal Head, Mam Tor, Kinder Scout and Chatsworth Estate are all dog-friendly places to visit that should be on your radar. The best dog-friendly towns in the Peak District are Buxton and Bakewell.

Sniff out beautiful walking trails, the most amazing pet-friendly visitor attractions, the unmissable places to eat and drink with the pup in tow and most brilliant of all, the cosiest dog-friendly holiday cottages in the Peak District. Check out our handy guide to dog-friendly days out in the Peak District for some great places to go.

Dog-friendly cottages in the Peak District

The up-and-coming dog-friendly destinations for 2025

By analysing booking data for 2025 and comparing it with 2024, we're able to see which destinations are seeing uplifts in comparison to this time last year and are likely to grow in popularity as the year progresses:

While Somerset was the second most popular dog-friendly destination in 2024, it's currently set to be the most popular destination of 2025 as we head into the warmer months, increasing in popularity compared to last year. This has been calculated by looking at bookings per property vs the previous year to date. 

Stay at a self-catering dog-friendly cottage

Why not book a holiday at a self-catering dog-friendly cottage in the UK this year? You know your dog deserves it! If you’re still wondering where to stay with your dog in the UK, we’ve got a selection of enchanting cottages, luxury lodges, and rustic log cabins to delight both human and hound. Discover our top dog-friendly cottages in up-and-coming destinations like Somerset, Devon and Yorkshire, or click the button below to browse our full collection.

Dog-friendly cottages

Our methodology

Click on the bar below to see more data about the UK's most dog-friendly destinations for 2025 so far.