Places that don't just tolerate dogs — they genuinely welcome them. Water bowls at the bar, biscuits at the counter, and staff who are happy to see your four-legged companion walk through the door.
📍 Whitstable, Kent
Whitstable is arguably the most dog-friendly town on the Kent coast. The working harbour, the West Beach, and the shingle stretch west towards Tankerton are all welcoming to dogs. The town itself is packed with independent cafés, pubs, and restaurants — many o...
📍 Seasalter, Whitstable, Kent
One of the best pubs in England for food — and it welcomes dogs in the bar. The Sportsman sits in a converted roadside pub on the marshes outside Whitstable, looking out over the Thames Estuary. The cooking uses almost entirely local and foraged ingredients. B...
📍 Fordwich, near Canterbury, Kent
England's smallest town sits on a pretty bend of the Great Stour, just outside Canterbury. The riverside walks here are gentle, beautiful, and very dog-friendly — flat paths along the river through water meadows, with the town's medieval guildhall as a backdro...
📍 Alfriston, East Sussex
One of the prettiest villages in the South Downs, Alfriston sits in the Cuckmere valley between Seaford and Polegate. The village green, the medieval church, and the surrounding downland walks are all beautifully dog-friendly. The Singing Kettle tea room is a ...
📍 Rye, East Sussex
The medieval hilltop town of Rye is one of the most atmospheric places in England and very welcoming to dogs. The cobbled streets, ancient city walls, and harbour marshes all make for excellent exploring. Many independent cafés and pubs throughout the town wel...
📍 Hastings, East Sussex
The old fishing town at the bottom of Hastings — separate from the modern resort — is a tangle of narrow lanes, independent shops, and some of the best fish and chips in England. The beach here (the Stade) is where the world's largest beach-launched fishing fl...
📍 Shere, Surrey
The most photographed village in Surrey sits at the foot of the North Downs in one of the prettiest valleys in the region. The White Horse pub in the village centre has been welcoming dogs since long before it was fashionable, the stream through the village is...
📍 Beaulieu, New Forest, Hampshire
The picture-postcard New Forest village of Beaulieu sits at the head of the Beaulieu River estuary, with the famous motor museum and Palace House Estate behind it. Dogs are welcome on the riverside walk along the estuary and in the village itself. Several vill...
📍 Lyndhurst, Hampshire
The 'capital' of the New Forest is the best base for a dog-walking day out in the region. From the high street you can walk directly into open forest within minutes. The Forest Tea House in the village welcomes dogs, as does the Crown Hotel bar. The surroundin...
📍 Winchester, Hampshire
The cathedral close and surrounding water meadows form one of the most beautiful urban walking environments in southern England. Dogs are welcome in the cathedral grounds on leads, and the water meadow walk along the River Itchen — immortalised by Keats — is s...