For many owners, the best days out are the ones their dog can enjoy too. With around 13 million dogs now living in UK households, more owners are seeking out destinations where their four-legged companions are just as welcome. So where are the best dog-friendly days out in the UK?
Whether it’s a spontaneous adventure, a scenic countryside walk or an afternoon exploring somewhere new, the most memorable moments are often the ones shared. It’s about seizing the day, making the most of every moment and sharing those experiences with your dog.
But where in the UK can you enjoy the perfect day out with your dog?
To find out, the team at Tails.com analysed destinations across the UK, ranking them on ten factors, including dog-friendly walking routes, restaurants, and cafés, to reveal the best places to enjoy a day out with your dog in town.
The findings come as Tails.com introduces a new premium wet food range, with 65% meaty goodness in convenient tray packaging, making feeding on the go even more accessible. Whether you’re travelling, exploring or enjoying days out together, it’s never been easier to seize the tray.
The UK’s Top Destinations for a Dog-Friendly Day Out
We put 46 of the UK’s most popular towns and cities to the test, analysing ten different factors to find the destinations that offer the best day out for dogs and their owners.
York ranks number 1 for the best dog-friendly day out
If you’re planning a dog-friendly day out, York is hard to beat, with the city scoring an impressive 64.38 out of a possible 100.
The historic city recorded the highest number of dog-friendly restaurants in the study, with 98 venues, alongside 43 dog-friendly cafes and 57 walking routes.
York is the perfect destination for a dog-friendly day out. You can wander its famous streets, explore landmarks such as York Minster, and relax at one of its many dog-friendly cafés.
It’s the kind of destination that makes it easy to turn a simple walk into a full day of shared adventure, with plenty of opportunities for you both to enjoy every stop along the way.
Bath claims second place
Bath secured second place with a score of 49.36. Renowned for its stunning Georgian architecture, Roman heritage and picturesque surroundings, the city scored highly thanks to its combination of outdoor space and dog-friendly hospitality, recording 60 walking routes, 65 dog-friendly restaurants and 20 veterinary practices available nearby.
The city also had one of the highest numbers of green spaces (13) in the study, such as Royal Victoria Park, making it ideal for your dog to have a run around or play fetch after a day of sightseeing.
Whether it’s strolling through the city or unwinding in its parks, Bath offers the sort of day out that’s just as enjoyable for dogs as it is for their owners.
Chester ranks in third place
Rounding out the top three was Chester, with a score of 42.74. Known for its distinctive rows, Roman walls and riverside walks, Chester performed particularly well for its access to 50 dog-friendly restaurants, 20 cafés and 10 pet shops, giving owners plenty of options from morning through to evening.
The results show that the best dog-friendly destinations are about more than just scenic walks. Easy access to places that welcome dogs, alongside practical amenities such as cafés, restaurants and pet shops, can make spending the whole day together much simpler.
When everything you need is close by, it’s easier to stay out longer, be more spontaneous and make the most of every adventure together.
London’s Most Dog-Friendly Boroughs Revealed
London might not have beaches or miles of countryside on its doorstep, but several boroughs stand out for making days out with your dog easy. From green spaces and cafés to attractions and restaurants, these neighbourhoods offer plenty for both two and four-legged visitors.
Hampstead claimed the title of London’s best borough for a dog-friendly day out, scoring 41.24.
The North London neighbourhood topped the rankings for dog-friendly attractions, boasting 41 places to explore with your pup, the third-highest total in the study. Among them is Hampstead Heath, a year-round favourite with both locals and visitors.
Hampstead also ranked strongly for its access to dog-friendly restaurants (78) and cafes (38), providing plenty of places to relax after exploring the area.
Richmond followed closely behind in 2nd place with a score of 39.27. Renowned for its expansive green spaces and outdoor lifestyle, the borough recorded 15 dog walking routes and 5 nearby dog-friendly National Trust sites, including the beautiful Ham House and Garden.
Greenwich secured third place with a score of 32.83. The borough performed particularly well thanks to its 11 green spaces and 6 dog-friendly shopping destinations, including the popular Greenwich Shopping Park. It also boasts scenic spots such as The River Gardens, offering plenty of space for dogs and their owners to explore.
Wimbledon ranked fourth overall with a score of 23.72. While it couldn’t match Hampstead’s wealth of dog-friendly attractions or Richmond’s abundance of green spaces, the South West London borough still performed well for green space access, with 6 locations including Wimbledon Common and Cannizaro Park.
Whether you’re stopping for lunch after a long walk or exploring somewhere new together, having an easy way to feed your dog a balanced and nutritionally complete meal means less time worrying and more time enjoying the adventure.
After all, the best days don’t have to stop when hunger strikes. That’s exactly why Tails.com’s new premium wet food is designed to make feeding on the go simple, full of flavour and made to be happily devoured, wherever the day takes you.
It’s another simple way to help owners seize the day before their dogs seize the tray.
The UK’s best destinations for every type of dog-friendly day out
While York claimed the overall crown, the data reveals that different destinations excel in different areas. Whether you’re looking for countryside walks or dog-friendly dining, these locations lead the way.
Best destinations for dog-friendly restaurants
York claimed the top spot for dog-friendly dining, with an impressive 98 restaurants such as the well-loved Karoo Bar & Kitchen, welcoming four-legged guests, the highest total in the study. Beating Hampstead’s 78 venues and Bath’s 65, the historic city is packed with places where you and your dog can dine.
After all, adventures are even better when both you and your four-legged friend can stop for some dog treats and a refuel before heading off again.
Best destination for dog walking routes
If your dog’s idea of the perfect day out starts with a long walk, Windsor leads the way. The Berkshire town recorded 66 walking routes on AllTrails, narrowly ahead of Bath with 60 and York with 57.
From the sweeping landscapes of Windsor Great Park to miles of surrounding countryside, there’s no shortage of places to stretch your dog’s legs before stopping for a well-earned bite to eat.
Because the best days out are the ones where you don’t have to rush home when it’s dinnertime.
Best dog-friendly destinations for National Trust adventures
For dogs that love a dose of history with their walkies, Stratford-upon-Avon came out on top. With 6 dog-friendly National Trust sites nearby, the Warwickshire town outperformed other strong contenders, Richmond and Hampstead.
Whether you’re exploring one trail or making a day of it, having an easy way to feed your dog means you can spend less time planning and more time enjoying the adventure together.
While finding the perfect destination is important, a little preparation can make the difference between a good day out and a great one.
Dr Sean McCormack, Head Vet at Tails.com, says:
“A successful day out with your dog starts before you even leave the house. Make sure you’ve packed the essentials, including fresh water, a portable bowl, poo bags, a lead and enough of their usual food if you’ll be away over mealtimes.
“Keeping their routine as consistent as possible can help them stay comfortable and avoid digestive upsets!
“It’s also worth planning regular rest and water breaks, especially during warmer weather, and checking in advance that the places you’re visiting are dog-friendly. It’s a simple upgrade that helps turn these outings into even better days for both of you, making it easy to seize the day.”
Methodology
Tails.com analysed a selection of dog-friendly towns, boroughs and cities across the UK using data from AllTrails, TripAdvisor, Google Maps, BringFido, National Trust, local councils and Fields in Trust.
Each metric was standardised and converted into a score out of 10 before being combined to create the final dog-friendly location score out of 100. Higher scores indicate destinations offering the greatest variety of opportunities for owners to enjoy a day out with their dogs.