Dog-Friendly London: Visiting London with a Dog

London in the United Kingdom is a wonderfully dog-friendly city, whether you’re visiting London along with your dog or are a local living with a pup. Find out about some of the fabulous things to do and places to visit in London with a dog, along with tips on transport, dining out and pet-friendly accommodation.

Dog-Friendly Sightseeing in London

There’s plenty of dog-friendly things to do in London. While your dog might not be able to join you at many of London’s famous sights, from the Tower of London to the many free museums, consider visiting some or all of these dog-friendly places in London.  

#1 Step Inside Tower Bridge

One of the few iconic paid landmarks in London that welcomes dogs to join you is the eye-catching Tower Bridge, an attraction on the Thames that offers up a mixture of industrial history, views and excitement.

Head up inside the bridge’s historic northern tower, finding out more about the history of this famous bridge – the short video is great viewing. Up on the walkways, the bridge offers some of the best views in London that you can access with a dog. Plus see if you and your dog are brave enough to stand on the glass floors of the walkways!

Afterwards, don’t miss visiting the engine rooms on the southern side of the bridge – follow the signs from the southern tower of the bridge. Note that during busy times the number of dogs may be restricted, plus of course your pup needs to stay on a leash and be supervised at all times. I recommend pre-booking tickets so you can skip the queue. There is no entry fee for dogs.

#2 Walk Along the Thames

Of course, you can also take in many more of London’s most famous sight by walking along the banks of the Thames, with the area around Tower Bridge a great spot to start.

On the northern banks of the Thames, check out the battlements of the Tower of London, which still looks impressive from outside – it’s huge! Then head along the south side of the river (perhaps detouring by dog-friendly Borough Market, dogs allowed on a leash), on past the Globe Theatre and the Tate Modern. Take in the public art and city skyline along the way.

Just after the London Eye, cross over Westminster Bridge to Westminster, home to the Palace of Westminster and Westminster Abbey. The enormous Palace of Westminster is the seat of the UK government, with the clocktower at the northern end home to the iconic Big Ben. My pick for the best photo spot is on the bridge.

#3 Watch the Changing of the Guard

Not far away from Westminster is Buckingham Palace, the London residence of the Royal Family. A popular attraction is watching the Changing of the Guard, which takes place at 11am on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday, except during very wet weather, and takes about 40 minutes. And there’s no reason why your dog can’t join you.

I missed seeing the Changing of the Guard on my most recent visit, but I know that the crowds can get quite large. It’s probably best to hold small dogs or find a vantage point on the Victoria Memorial well in advance. Alternatively, just visit the gates of the palace during the rest of the week when it’s quieter.

A great spot to take photos of Buckingham Palace is from the edge of St James’s Park, just across the road. There are also distant views of the palace from The Blue Bridge in the park. St James’s Park is a great spot for a leashed wander with your dog around the lake, before or after seeing the palace – just keep a close eye on the resident pelicans at the western end around your dog!

#4 Stroll Through Hyde Park & Kensington Gardens

St James’s Park is just one of the Royal Parks scattered throughout London. Not far away is Hyde Park, the largest green space in central London, especially when combined with the adjacent Kensington Gardens.

Both parks are a beautiful spot to visit with your dog for a walk. I was particularly taken with Kensington Gardens on my recent visit. There’s plenty to see in this park, from the facade of Kensington Palace at its western end, to the Italian Gardens, the Diana Princess of Wales Memorial Fountain and the Albert Memorial.

Dogs are allowed off-leash in the majority of both parks, although there are some restricted areas. In Hyde Park, dogs need to be kept on leash in the Rose Garden and along the edge of Serpentine Lake, plus aren’t allowed in the lake (including the Lido swimming area) or at the Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Fountain.

In Kensington Gardens, leash your dog around the edge of the Round Pond, Long Water and the Italian Fountains, plus on the South and North Flower Walks. Dogs should be kept out of the Long Water and Round Pond, plus off the popular Peter Pan statue.

#5 Head to Maritime Greenwich

The World Heritage listed neighbourhood of Greenwich is a terrific neighbourhood with plenty of history to explore. Visit the grounds of the Christopher Wren-designed Old Royal Naval College and admire the Cutty Sark, then head up to the hill to the Royal Observatory, although dogs are not allowed inside the home of the Prime Meridian.

Instead, take some time for an off-leash walk and run at the expansive Greenwich Park. Dogs are allowed off-leash throughout the park, except they need to be on-leash in the Rose Garden, plus aren’t permitted in the Flower Garden, Wilderness Deer Park and Royal Observatory Garden.  

#6 Browse Camden Market

Head to Camden Market for a fun day out with your dog. This market is just a short walk from the tube station, and offers up a huge array of shops, not to mention plenty of great street food. There’s even street art to be explored on the nearby streets. 

Just be careful on busy days to keep your dog out from under other people’s feet. We found it best to carry our small dog at times, especially in the more tightly packed spaces. 

#7 Explore the Street Art of Shoreditch

The Shoreditch neighbourhood in the East London is one of the capital’s hippest areas. And if you visit the area with your pup, you’ll also discover it’s one of the most dog-friendly, with countless people fawning over my dog during his visit. 

While there’s plenty of bars and restaurants to hit up, plus markets on the weekends to trawl, there’s also an impressive collection of street art in Shoreditch to discover, perfect for a long walk with your dog.

This guide is a great starting point, including an easy-to-use map. Alternatively, investigate whether any of the regular walking tours allows dogs, although at least some of them restrict dogs only to private tours. And don’t forget to include your dog in some street art photos!

#8 Head to Hampstead Heath

A very popular spot with dog owners from all over London is Hampstead Heath in North London. With over 800 acres to explore, there’s plenty of room for dogs to run off leash or play with other pups. 

Dogs are allowed off leash throughout nearly all the Heath, except for a few areas near Kenwood House where they are prohibited or required to be on-leash – refer to this map.  

On summer days, there’s even some ponds that your dog can swim in, including Highgate No.1 Pond. Just keep your dog outside of ponds where there are signs prohibiting dogs. It was very popular even on the sunny spring day I visited!

Another large expanse of green space to visit in London with your dog is Richmond Park in West London, with its ancient woods and herds of deer. Just make sure you keep your dog leashed when around the deer.

#9 Get Out on the Water

You can’t visit London and not spend some time on the water with your pup. The Thames River in particular is a lifeline of the city. There’s a wide variety of options to choose from.  

The easiest option is to take a trip on one of the many dog-friendly river boats along the Thames. Thames Clippers operates in between Putney and Barking Riverside, with unlimited all-day passes available, as well as single and return trips. Dogs are welcome onboard, but make sure you keep your pup on a leash.

Alternatively, rent an electric boat for the day from GoBoat London. Explore the canals from Merchant Square in Paddington, the London Docklands from Canary Wharf or the quiet stretches of the Thames around Kingston-upon-Thames or Thames Ditton. Dogs are allowed, although dog life jackets are not available. 

Dogs are also allowed on the Regents Canal Waterbus services operated by London Waterbus. Note that dogs should be well-behaved (not barking continuously), kept on a leash and accompanied by an adult, with dogs riding for free. Access to the boat is by steep ladder-type steps that may be difficult for larger dogs that cannot be carried.

For more ideas, including day trips outside of London, check out my guide to the best dog-friendly day trips around London

Dogs on Public Transport in London

It’s easy to get around on public transport in London, even with a dog. Dogs are allowed to travel on most forms of public transport, including the underground and buses, with no fare charged. They need to be on a leash, or otherwise in a carrier for smaller pets. 

The one caveat is that dogs may not be allowed “if there is a good reason to refuse it”. I’d try to avoid peak hour if possible, especially on buses. Some owners of larger dogs have reported that their dogs have not been permitted on buses.  

Note that when using the London Underground, you should carry your dog on the moving escalators, or otherwise use the stairs or lift. If only an escalator is available and your dog is too large to be carried, the rules stipulate that the escalator will be stopped if it’s not “busy”, but I’m not sure if this often happens. Read the full Transport for London regulations. 

If you’d prefer the more leisurely pace of a ferry, most of the Thames river boats allow dogs onboard – see above for more information on the Thames Clippers.  

Dog-Friendly Parks in London

Dogs are allowed off-leash in most parks in London, although there are some restrictions at some parks. It’s always best to look out for signs at the entrance, including signs requesting that dogs are leashed in certain areas.

London is also home to a growing number of fenced dog parks. These parks are particularly useful when you’re travelling with a dog and are reluctant to let them off leash in a foreign place. Check out this list of enclosed dog parks.

Dog-Friendly Dining in London

During my multiple visits to London with my dog, we had no issues finding dog-friendly places to dine, especially many of the local pubs. However, I’ve also heard from others that they’ve struggled to find pubs where they could dine inside with their dog, so perhaps it comes down to luck. Double check previous reviews first, and be aware that sometimes rules change. 

If you’re struggling to find dog-friendly places to eat, consider heading to one of London’s street food markets or market halls. Many of them are dog-friendly, with the best listed in this guide. There’s sixteen options listed, from Borough to Mayfield to Camden. Dogs are required to be leashed, plus I recommend avoiding busy times or carrying small dogs.

Another option is Bill’s, a dog-friendly restaurant chain. The vast majority of its locations are dog-friendly, including all 11 locations across London. Dogs need to stay leashed, be well-behaved and friendly, and happy to sit on the floor beside you. Of course there’s a menu just for dogs, featuring a variety of treats and bites, and even a dog-friendly “wine”.

Another dog-friendly chain is Shake Shack, the American burger chain. There are 15 locations across London, including Covent Garden, Leicester Square and Camden. I believe dogs are allowed inside at all of their locations – I confirmed this was okay at Camden. They also have a Woof Menu just for dogs, including dog biscuits and a Pooch-ini.

In the area around King’s Cross and St Pancras International Station? Check out this listing of nearby restaurants that allow dogs, whether inside or just in the outside seating areas.

Dog-Friendly Accommodation in London

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If you’re visiting the United Kingdom capital with your dog, you’ll need to organise some dog-friendly accommodation. Luckily there’s a wide range of dog-friendly hotels in London, whether you’re looking for somewhere luxurious or a more affordable place to stay.

Some luxury dog-friendly hotels in London include Hotel 41 (with plenty of luxury extras), Rosewood London (pets are even welcome in all food and beverage outlets) and L’oscar London (add on the Pawfect Stay package).

Other more affordable alternatives include the Kimpton Fitzroy (with no size restrictions or additional pet fees), One Hundred Shoreditch, and the centrally located but bargain priced St Athans Hotel.

It’s also worthwhile considering an Airbnb, particularly if you’re staying for longer and wishing to self-cater. I stayed in a wonderful studio flat in Islington during my first visit to London with my dog.

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