Dog friendly hotels in London | you and your pooch in the Big Smoke

I admit it, when I first heard that a swanky hotel has arrived in Bethnal Green (where I used to live) I was a little puzzled. Because when I lived here some ten years ago it was an up and coming, rough around the edges east London suburb, but skip forward a decade and now it’s hipster central and tourist gold. Soho House popped up just down the road when I was moving, and so the East London renaissance began.

The Town Hall Hotel sits in a building that I, to this day, am gobsmacked I had never noticed when I lived here. It’s a majestic behemoth of Edwardian architecture, and inside it’s the essence of cool with art deco touches, a good serving of marble and brass and even a wood panelled old council chamber. I came here to interview an actress for a piece I was working on last year and I did not want to leave.

But your dog doesn’t care about all of that. He or she will care about the sausage for breakfast, the plush bed, and the bowl and brush – all of which are available to buy in the shop. And they will certainly care about the hotel dog, a majestic greyhound called Dizzy, and the perfect London welcome for any four (or two) legged visitor.

A dog friendly London hotel with the (bow) wow factor, Rosewood London sits in an impressive Edwardian Belle Époque Grade II-listed building. It’ll dazzle you as soon as you step into its courtyard entrance: a slice of serenity just a stone’s throw from Covent Garden and Lincoln’s Inn Fields.

The Rosewood is presided over by resident golden retriever, Pearl. She is the epitome of English elegance, presenting every doggy guest with a welcome card and offering insight into her home with a guide packed full of dog friendly restaurants, bars and parks. Pearl even has her own email address and Instagram… she’s basically the doyenne of the London dog hotel scene.

Dogs can expect cosy beds, welcome treats and food bowls at the Rosewood London, but if you want to splash out, there’s a Canine Package on offer too. This boasts special bites from ethical pet brand Lily’s Kitchen, Barbour dog coats, a lead and bed, and a pampering and grooming package from Pet Spa London (which your dog can enjoy while you relax in the Sense Spa).

The Hari is where my inner Madmen mid-century fangirl is in heaven… this is Knightsbridge’s stylish, dog friendly bolthole. I worked in this area for a few years, yes it’s flashy and you will often see Bentleys and Lamborghinis hurtling up the Brompton Road but it’s also charming, and it feels like a local neighbourhood when you explore some of the smaller streets such as Beauchamp Place and Walton Street.

The Hari is slick and stylish, with an urban, member’s club feel. Mahogany hardwood floors and mid-century style furniture bring an American cool aesthetic, while velvet sofas bring a rich, sumptuous edge. Photos taken by Mario Testino hang on the walls and artwork by Tracy Emin give it that cool factor of somewhere I’d love to call home.

Dogs will love being so close to Hyde Park and Green Park here. You can stroll past Buckingham Palace and onto The Mall, or you saunter along Sloane Street if you fancy a bit of Chelsea shopping. Dog are allowed in both the Hari Bar and Garden Terrace, which are great for dinner and cocktails.

St Pancras station is one of my favourite places in London. With the arrival of the Eurostar it got an elegant redesign, and now it oozes old school, Brief Encounter vibes with its champagne bar, the dustings of French you catch in the air and the beautiful architecture. Whenever I’m here I cannot help daydreaming about popping to Paris for the afternoon…

The St Pancras Renaissance hotel sits in the front of the impressive station building. Its grand entrance, sweeping staircases and high ceilings all add to its allure, and amazingly, every bedroom is dog friendly, with a bed and bowl on offer for your pooch.

You can have the quintessential London experience with your dog here. The Concierge can arrange dog sitting and walking services, you can drink and dine together in the Hansom Lounge or The Platform Café, and the staff know all about local dog friendly hot spots such as the King’s Cross Canal, Camley Street Natural Park, Regent’s Park and the York & Albany (one of Gordon Ramsey’s restaurants).

If you want to go all-out, treat yourselves to the St Pancras Pooch Package. It’s a splurge, but it’ll see you staying in one of the Chambers Suites, which boast 18ft high ceilings, views across the Euston Road, a designer dog bed and a bundle of dog treats and toys.

Giving you the luxury London experience, Hotel 41 is famed for its pet concierge. And with Buckingham Palace just down the road, there is definitely something royal in the air here.

Your pooch’s every need will be met here, whether it’s with the bounty of dog treats offered on arrival, the custom 41 pet bed and dog tag or the specially designed dog menu. The hotel will even bake a doggie birthday cake if you’re treating your pooch to a trip away for their birthday.

St James Park and Green Park are just moments away for wanders, with Hyde Park also within walking distance. The nearby Buckingham Palace Mews and the palace itself are perfect for a regal stroll.

Your dog will even get bragging rights from a stay at Hotel 41, with their very own ‘certificate of stay’ presented on check-out. Now there’s something they can show off about in the dog park…

Home to the notorious room 16 with its Victorian bathtub and circular bed – where legend tells of Kate Moss and Johnny Depp bathing in champagne, and Alice Cooper letting his boa constrictors out to play – the Portobello Hotel is probably the most notorious on our list of dog friendly London hotels.

The Portobello is a favourite amongst celebrities with its eclectic decor and its bohemian vibe, but it’s also welcoming, laid back and it provides the perfect Portobello experience for you and your dog.

You can stay in the hotel’s lower ground floor Exceptional Rooms with your pooch here, where they’ll be spoiled with treats, a dog bed and bowl. Holland Park sits nearby for roaming and exploring, but the real beauty of this location is being able to step out onto the streets of Portobello. Here you can roam past the colourful townhouses, the vintage laden market and the countless cafes, cake shops and pubs that make this neighbourhood such a great pick for a visit to London.

Only the coolest pups stay at the Ace Hotel. Setting up shop in London’s hipster central Shoreditch in 2013, the Ace Hotel has brought its signature blend of understated cool and industrial design to London’s east end, and it’s easily the hip pick in our London dog friendly hotels guide.

Set on Shoreditch High Street, the Ace Hotel is in the thick of all the best shops, bars and restaurants in the district, but it’s also a short walk from highlights such as the Columbia Road Flower Market, which is perfect for a wander on a Sunday.

Inside, it is as slick and effortlessly stylish as you’d expect. Think concrete walls, chipboard ceilings and playful features such as the vintage photo-booth in the lobby and record players and guitars in the bedrooms.

One of my favourite places in the Ace Hotel is the rooftop bar. Ride the lift up to this marvel to get a real view of East London in all its glory with its mishmash skyline of skyscrapers and warehouse buildings.

Dogs are allowed in all areas of the hotel except the basement bar, so there is plenty of playing space for both of you – make sure you visit the aptly named Bulldog Edition cafe (buy a doughnut, you won’t regret it).

Dog beds and accessories are available on request and – as stated on their website, – Ace will even accommodate “something larger or stranger” if needs be…