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Dog-friendly holidays in the UK: where can you go, and what does it cost?

11 holiday providers' dog fees, limits and house rules side by side, how to search for hot tubs and enclosed gardens, and the countryside and beach rules to know before you go.

Checked 21 October 2026How we comparedAdWe earn from links marked Ad. It never changes the order. How we make money

The short answer

Dog fees range from nothing (National Trust Holidays, and Haven when booked direct) to £15 per pet per night at Forest Holidays, or £105 for one dog for a week. Center Parcs charges £129 per stay for one or two dogs. Most cottage sites filter for dogs, hot tubs and enclosed gardens, but set fees property by property.

Where can I take my dog on holiday in the UK?

Start with the type of holiday. Cottage sites list the most dog-friendly places: Dog Friendly Cottages says it has more than 50,000, cottages.com over 11,000 and Hoseasons more than 12,000 cottages plus parks and lodges. Parks and cabins (Center Parcs, Haven, Forest Holidays, Landal) take dogs only in set accommodation, so choose it when you book. Hotels vary: Premier Inn, for example, takes only trained assistance dogs (Premier Inn). If your dog cannot come, see our kennels and cattery cost guide.

Dog-friendly holiday providers compared

In alphabetical order, from each provider's own pages on 21 October 2026. We do not rank them; the right one depends on where and how you want to stay.

Sykes Cottages and Parkdean Resorts blocked our requests on the day, so they are not in the list; check their dog policies on their own sites.

How much does it cost to take a dog on holiday?

Our sums from each provider's published dog fee on 21 October 2026, for the dog fee only. Cottage sites set fees per property, so check the listing before you book.
ProviderOne dog, 7 nightsTwo dogs, 7 nightsBasis
National Trust Holidays£0£0Dogs go free
Haven (booked direct)£0£0Included in the holiday price
Forest Holidays£105£210£15 per pet per night
Center Parcs£129£129£129 per stay for one or two dogs, whatever the length of the break
Haven (through a third party)£40£80£40 per dog in Haven's terms

Ask about damage and cleaning charges too: National Trust Holidays says it may charge for damage caused by a dog, and charges for deep cleaning if a dog is taken to a cottage that is not dog-friendly.

Dog-friendly holidays by the sea

Many beaches restrict dogs in summer under council Public Spaces Protection Orders (GOV.UK), and breaking one can mean a £100 on-the-spot fine. Dates differ by beach. In Cornwall, for example, the council's dogs on beaches page gives these rules:

  • Most restricted beaches: no dogs 10am to 6pm, 1 July to 31 August
  • Blue Flag and Seaside Award beaches: restrictions from 15 May to 30 September

Check signs and the council website for the beach you plan to use. The Countryside Code says to put your dog on a lead around livestock at the coast. In summer heat, see our guide to keeping dogs cool.

Dog-friendly holidays in the Lake District

The Lake District is sheep country. The Lake District National Park asks dog walkers to keep dogs on a lead around sheep and to stay on marked paths, and says it is not worth risking a dog off the lead at any time of year. Before letting a dog swim, check for algae: the Environment Agencysays blue-green algae toxins can kill pets, and to keep pets away from affected water. Hoseasons and Canopy & Stars both have Lake District dog-friendly pages.

Dog-friendly holidays with a hot tub

Hoseasons, cottages.com, Dog Friendly Cottages and Snaptrip all let you search for hot tubs alongside dog-friendly places. Keep your dog out of the tub: Forest Holidays' terms ban pets from hot tubs, and its hot tub page asks guests not to bring pets into the tub, for their safety (Forest Holidays).

Dog-friendly holidays with an enclosed garden

Do not assume a dog-friendly property has a secure garden. Snaptrip's FAQ says being pet friendly does not guarantee an enclosed garden (Snaptrip). Dog Friendly Cottages, cottages.com and Hoseasons have enclosed-garden searches, and Hoseasons suggests paying attention to how secure the garden is. Ask the owner about fences and gates before you book, and keep your dog's tag up to date; a GPS tracker can help in an unfamiliar place.

Safety and etiquette on a dog-friendly holiday

On the way

Highway Code rule 57 says dogs in vehicles must be suitably restrained so they cannot distract you or be hurt if you stop quickly; a seat belt harness, pet carrier, dog cage or dog guard are ways to do it (Highway Code). See our dog car travel comparison.

In the countryside

  • Between 1 March and 31 July your dog must be on a lead on Open Access land, even with no livestock there (Countryside Code).
  • On Open Access land and at the coast, put your dog on a lead around livestock. A farmer can shoot a dog that is attacking or chasing livestock.
  • If you feel threatened by livestock or horses, let your dog off the lead.
  • Always clean up after your dog and never leave bags behind.

In the property

National Trust Holidays, Forest Holidays and Snaptrip all say never to leave a dog alone in the property, and keep dogs off the furniture. If your dog becomes unwell while away, contact a local vet; our dog health hub covers when to see one. Going further afield? Read our pet travel abroad guide.

How we compared · 24 sources, checked 21 October 2026Show

What we did

read the dog policy of 11 UK holiday providers on their own pages (help pages, FAQs, terms and dog-friendly landing pages), worked out the dog fee for a 7-night stay where a fee is published, and took countryside, beach and driving rules from GOV.UK, Cornwall Council, the Lake District National Park and the Environment Agency.

What we did not do

rank providers or check individual properties. Counts are each provider's own figures. Sykes Cottages and Parkdean Resorts blocked our requests, so they are missing. Time-limited offers such as dogs-go-free promotions are left out because they expire.

Prices and terms change. Confirm on the retailer's page before you buy.

Questions

Where can I take my dog on holiday in the UK?

Most holiday-cottage sites have a dog-friendly filter, and several park and cabin operators take dogs in set accommodation: Center Parcs in dog-friendly lodges, Haven in dog-friendly caravans, Forest Holidays in over half its cabins, and National Trust Holidays in nearly 300 cottages. Premier Inn takes only trained assistance dogs.

Do you have to pay extra to take a dog on holiday?

Often, but not always. On 21 October 2026 National Trust Holidays let dogs stay free, Haven charged nothing extra when booked direct, Forest Holidays charged £15 per pet per night and Center Parcs £129 per stay for one or two dogs. Cottage sites leave the fee to each property.

Can dogs go abroad on holiday?

Yes, with a microchip, a rabies vaccination at least 21 days before travel and the right travel document. Our guide to pet travel abroad from the UK explains the GOV.UK rules.

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