Cotswolds

Dog-friendly hotels in the Cotswolds for a pooch-perfect weekend break

Travel blogger and dog lover, Laura, shares her favourite hotels in the Costwolds for a dog-friendly weekend away.

If you’ve ever owned a dog you’ll know all about that moment when you start packing for a holiday. They’ll sit in the suitcase, unpack your meticulously arranged clothes, stand in front of the door as you’re trying to lug your luggage outside – anything just to stop you from going away without them.

So if you’re holidaying in the UK, what better way to enjoy your trip than to pack your pooch too? I grew up around The Cotswolds surrounded by dogs, and they just loved roaming the endless fields and forests, sitting by the fire in a quaint old English pub or lapping up the sunshine in a beer garden. It is the perfect destination for a holiday with your four-legged friend.

If you want to take your next UK break with your dog, here are a few pre-approved, tried and tested pet-friendly hotels and activities you can enjoy with your dog in the Cotswolds.

A dog-friendly hotel in the Cotswolds surrounded by rolling countryside

Nestled on a 400-acre private estate near Broadway and Chipping Campden, The Fish Hotel is a stylish collection of bedrooms, hillside huts and treehouses. They’re all designed with a touch of country chic meets Scandi style – this place is a true gem in the middle of the Cotswolds countryside.

Each room is just a stone’s throw from all the rolling landscape you and your dog could wish for. It’s all about the outdoors life here, with hiking, cycling, quad biking, segway safaris, archery and clay pigeon shooting all on the menu. There are 400 acres of Cotswolds countryside if you want to enjoy some long dog walks, but The Fish also boasts a dog assault course to keep your little pooch pal entertained on site.

The hotel provides dog beds, bowls, towels and treats, but one of the best highlights is the doggy afternoon tea. Enjoy this traditional afternoon treat with your dog, it promises a carefully curated selection of goodies for both human and canine.

The Fish Hotel

Top rated
Broadway
8.8 Excellent (49 reviews)

A dog-friendly hotel in Cheltenham in the Cotswolds

Give your pooch the Regency townhouse experience with a stay in Cheltenham’s No. 38 The Park. A home from home but with some grandeur thrown in for good measure, this dog-friendly Cotswolds hotel will give you both a warm welcome, with dog treats and in-room facilities including a dog bed and bowl.

My favourite feature of No. 38 The Park is the stylish lounge area. You’re welcome to head there with your dog in tow, it’s always stocked with magazines and fresh flowers, and the sofas are the cosy kind that you’ll sink into and never want leave. The hotel also has a well-stocked honesty bar so you can help yourself to drinks and snacks, and they’ll even send a pre-breakfast of croissants and orange juice to your room before you go down for the real deal. Breakfast can be taken together with your dog in the courtyard or in the private dining space.

There is also plenty to explore outside, the picturesque Pittville Park sits just opposite, while sister restaurant The Tavern is also dog friendly. Stylish Montpellier and Cheltenham’s main town centre are around a ten-minute walk away. Although it sits on the edge of the Cotswolds, this hotel is the perfect base for exploring nearby picture-perfect towns such as Bourton-on-the-Water and Stow-on-the-Wold.

No.38 The Park

Top rated
Cheltenham
9.4 Excellent (757 reviews)

A dog friendly stay at the cosy Swan Hotel in the Cotswolds

Set in the beautiful village of Bidbury, The Swan Hotel is found in one of those dreamy honey-coloured buildings that are so typical of the Cotswolds. Nestled on the banks of the River Coln, this pet friendly Cotswolds hotel is the perfect place for a tranquil break with your pup.

The Swan Hotel is a cosy but cool place to relax with your dog, artwork adorns the walls featuring some gorgeous pups, while antique pieces are eclectically mixed with modern decor across the bedrooms. You can kick back with your dog in the bar, where they’ll be offered a drink and some treats, or you can head into the pretty courtyard garden, which overlooks the water and is a great place for a dog to explore.

The real pull of this hotel is its location. Once deemed the “most beautiful village in England” by designer William Morris, Bidbury is the perfect place for long dog walks. Make sure you include a stroll past the church and Ablington manor house for some true Cotswolds magic. You’ll find walking maps at reception, but if you want to venture further, head for Cirencester and the Bathurst Estate, which are just a short drive away.

The Swan Hotel

Cirencester
8.2 Very good (8 reviews)

A dog friendly castle hotel in the Costwolds

Get away with your dog for some alone time at Thornbury Castle. This 16th-century estate boasts 14 acres of countryside for your pup, and while it sits on the edge of the Cotswolds, it’s the perfect base to explore thriving Cotswolds market towns Dursley and Stroud.

The dog-friendly bedrooms at Thornbury Castle are as grand as they come, most boast four-poster beds, rugged stone walls, carved ceilings, huge wall tapestries and views across the countryside surrounds. You can enjoy exploring the grounds with your dog, or you can take advantage of the hotel’s pet sitting service – perfect if you want to try some of the activities offered, which range from croquet, archery and falconry to in-room spa treatments.

You can dine with your pooch in the specially set up lounge area; the hotel will even offer pets a cooked breakfast. Once home to Henry VIII, this castle is fit for a king, and your dog will definitely feel like royalty when staying here.

Thornbury Castle

Top rated
Thornbury
9.4 Excellent (1057 reviews)

A dog friendly hotel in the Cotswolds with a resident Labrador pooch

Sausages are on the breakfast menu for you and your pup at Charingworth Manor. A favourite with TS Eliot in the early 1900s, this historical manor house transports you to the ancient Cotswolds, with views across the Gloucestershire countryside and plenty of space for dog walks. Nearby sights include Hidcote Manor and charming Chipping Campden, and Dover’s Hill is a must visit if you want unrivalled views of the Cotswolds landscape.

All dog friendly hotel rooms at the manor include private terraces, so your pet has instant access to the outdoors. You can dine with your dog in the lounge and bar, or you are welcome to leave your dog to chill in your room (as long as he or she is well behaved!) if you want to try the celebrated John Greville Restaurant.

You might even bump into the hotel’s resident pooch here. He’s called Paddy the black Labrador, and he’s super friendly if your dog fancies a powwow.

Charingworth Manor

Top rated
Chipping Campden
9.4 Excellent (380 reviews)

A dog friendly hotel in the Cotswolds close to the Rive Avon

If you’re travelling up through the Cotswolds, the Woolley Grange hotel is a great stop off for exploring Bath, Bradford on Avon or the National Trust Lacock village on the way.

Set in a beautiful Jacobean manor, it stands on 14 acres of grounds where your dog can roam free off the lead; you don’t even need to leave the hotel for plenty of countryside.

One of my favourite features of the Woolley Grange Hotel is its handy pet listening service. It gives you the chance to enjoy the best of both worlds, some time with your dog, but also some alone time, whether you want to spend it in the spa or splashing in the indoor and outdoor swimming pools. You can even take the night off and head for a relaxed meal in the superb restaurant, which uses fresh and local ingredients, many of which are harvested from the hotel’s kitchen garden.

If you’d rather dine with your dog, there’s a lounge area where you can enjoy dinner together, and the fireside is the perfect spot to settle down for some afternoon tea.

Hotel Woolley Grange

Top rated
Bradford-on-Avon
9.0 Excellent (231 reviews)

A dog friendly hotel in the Cotswolds close to Blenheim Palace

Set your sights on the majestic Blenheim Palace with a stay at The Feathers Hotel. Sitting on the edge of the Cotswolds in Woodstock, this chic townhouse is perfectly placed for exploring picturesque Cotswolds towns such as Burford, but also the famed Oxford, with its towering spires and endless cultural sights.

The Feathers Hotel offers a warm welcome and can provide a dog bed, treats, bowls and toys if needed. Rooms are cosy, with stylish decor and playful pops of colour.

You can dine with your dog in the hotel bar (famous for its 300 types of gin), stroll onto the palace grounds for a regal walk, or explore local sights such as Burford, Bladon and the famed Wild Rabbit gastropub in Kingham.

The Feathers

Top rated
Oxford
8.9 Excellent (604 reviews)

A writer living in London, Laura is currently working on her debut novel – a fictional tale inspired by her travels across America. When she’s not checking out the ideal hotel bed thread-count, she’s penning short stories, writing for various publications & brands, and sharing fashion tales on her blog, LauLauLand.