Dog Friendly Cotswolds

Your guide to the best dog friendly places to stay, walks, pubs, days out and places to eat across the Cotswolds – from Broadway and Bourton-on-the-Water to Chipping Campden and beyond.

The Cotswolds is the kind of place that was made for dogs and the people who love them. Rolling hills, honey-stone villages, country pubs with fires crackling in the grate, and mile after mile of open countryside just waiting to be explored on four paws. There’s a reason it’s one of the most popular dog friendly destinations in England – it delivers exactly what you picture when you close your eyes and imagine the perfect weekend away with your dog.

Stretching across Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire, Worcestershire and beyond, the Cotswolds covers nearly 800 square miles of designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. From the dramatic hilltop views at Broadway Tower and Cleeve Common to the gentle riverside paths connecting Bourton-on-the-Water to the Slaughter villages, there’s walking to suit every dog and every energy level. The Cotswold Way – a 102-mile national trail – threads through the heart of it all.

Whether you’re watching your dog splash through the River Windrush in Bourton, settling into a 14th-century inn after a day on the hills, or sharing a fireside table at a pub that welcomes muddy paws as warmly as it welcomes you, this page pulls it all together – places to stay, walks, pubs and days out – so you can plan your Cotswolds adventure in one place.

Dog Friendly Places to Stay in the Cotswolds

From a historic 14th-century inn in Broadway to luxury farmhouses with acres of private land – handpicked places where dogs are part of the welcome.

The Cotswolds does dog friendly accommodation beautifully. Historic inns where Charles I once slept, honey-stone cottages surrounded by private land, and boutique shepherd’s huts tucked into the countryside. What they all share is a genuine welcome for four-legged guests – the kind of welcome where your dog is as much a part of the holiday as you are.

The Lygon Arms in Broadway is one of the Cotswolds’ most celebrated inns – welcoming guests since the 14th century. Charles I and Oliver Cromwell both stayed here (though not at the same time). Two dogs are welcome, and Broadway is one of the finest Cotswold villages to explore on foot, with Broadway Tower a short walk up the hill. The kind of place where history, luxury and a warm dog welcome come together perfectly.

The Rose & Crown Inn in Ashbury sits at the base of the White Horse Downs – a traditional village inn with a genuinely warm welcome for dogs. Sleeping two with room for two dogs, it’s an ideal base for couples exploring the quieter southern edge of the Cotswolds. The surrounding downland walks are beautiful, and your dog gets to feel every bit as welcome as you do.

Well Furlong Shepherds Retreat is far more than a simple shepherd’s hut – 50 square metres of luxury in the heart of the Cotswold countryside, in the beautiful village of Little Comberton. Sleeping four with two dogs welcome, it sits within 80 acres of private land. That’s 80 acres where your dog can stretch their legs without seeing another soul. For larger groups, Well Furlong Cottage is on the same estate – a dreamy Cotswold cottage sleeping eight with room for two dogs, sharing those same 80 acres of private grounds.

Trinity Farmhouse near Cirencester is the ultimate group escape – a private Cotswolds holiday home standing in an acre of beautiful grounds, sleeping twelve with room for three dogs. Perfect for gathering your best friends and family together, with Cirencester, the “Capital of the Cotswolds”, just down the road and walking in every direction.

The Coach House at Mount Pleasant Barns sits on a private estate near Walton, on the northern edge of the Cotswolds where the countryside runs into Warwickshire. A three-bedroom barn conversion sleeping six with two dogs welcome, it’s all vaulted beams and exposed brick, with a wood-fired hot tub that seats eight and a garden that’s fully fenced and wired so even the smallest dog can be let loose the moment you arrive. There’s a warm water dog wash on the estate for muddy paws, an outdoor kitchen with a pizza oven under a fairy-lit pergola, and Charlecote Park with its 120 acres of Capability Brown parkland just three miles down the road.

For couples, The Shooting Lodge at Mount Pleasant Barns is on the same estate – sleeping two with room for two dogs, laid out over a single level so there are no stairs for older dogs to manage. It shares the same enclosed garden and wood-fired hot tub, with a traditional iron slipper bath and exposed timber beams inside. Guests at both properties get discounted access to the pool, sauna and gym at Walton Hall Hotel and Spa, a five-minute walk across the estate.

Dog Friendly Walks & Days Out in the Cotswolds

Hilltop views, riverside strolls, honey-stone villages and ancient trails – the best places to explore with your dog across the Cotswolds.

The Cotswolds is walking country at its finest. The 102-mile Cotswold Way national trail runs through the heart of the region, but it’s the shorter circular walks that most dog owners come for – riverside paths through picture-perfect villages, hilltop rambles with views across half of England, and ancient commons where dogs can run. A word on livestock: the Cotswolds is farming country, and sheep and cattle graze many of the fields you’ll walk through. Keep your dog on a lead around livestock, and check conditions before letting them off-lead on open land.

Broadway Tower is the second-highest point in the Cotswolds, with views across up to sixteen counties on a clear day. The 50-acre estate welcomes dogs on a short lead (to protect the resident red deer herd) and has some lovely touches – a dog shower station, dog agility obstacles in the grounds, and treats available at the Morris & Brown Cafe. Dogs cannot go inside the tower itself, but the parkland and the views are the real draw. A circular walk of around 3.5 miles takes in the tower, the deer park, and the surrounding countryside.

Cleeve Common near Cheltenham is over 1,000 acres of open common at the highest point in the Cotswolds. The views from the top are extraordinary – Cheltenham below, the Vale of Evesham, the Malvern Hills and the Black Mountains of Wales in the distance. Dogs can go off-lead across the common, but cattle and sheep graze here year-round, so keep your dog close and on a lead whenever you spot livestock. The well-drained limestone means it rarely gets too muddy – a walk you can enjoy in any season. Routes range from a gentle two-mile loop to a longer nine-mile circuit taking in the Neolithic Belas Knap long barrow.

Upper Slaughter and Lower Slaughter are two of the most photographed villages in the Cotswolds, and a circular walk connecting them with Bourton-on-the-Water is one of the finest easy walks in the region. Around 5.4 miles and taking roughly two and a half hours, the route follows the River Eye through Lower Slaughter (don’t miss the 18th-century Old Mill) and loops through Upper Slaughter before returning along field paths to Bourton. The River Windrush in Bourton is shallow and perfect for dogs to paddle in. Keep your dog on a lead through the villages – and be warned, Bourton gets very busy in summer, so arrive early.

A walk from Chipping Campden to Dover’s Hill follows the opening stretch of the Cotswold Way and is one of the great Cotswold walks. About four miles, with the natural amphitheatre of Dover’s Hill offering panoramic views over the Vale of Evesham. Dogs must be kept on a lead throughout – it’s National Trust land with livestock grazing year-round. No stiles on this route (kissing gates throughout), which is a bonus for larger dogs.

Painswick Beacon is an Iron Age hill fort above the village of Painswick, with 360-degree views across the Severn Valley and the Forest of Dean. The well-drained limestone means good walking year-round. There’s a specific “Miles without Stiles” route of around two miles that avoids any stile crossings – ideal if your dog struggles with them. The open summit is good for off-lead running when no livestock is present.

Batsford Arboretum near Moreton-in-Marsh is one of the most dog friendly days out in the Cotswolds – 60 acres of mature trees, streams and ponds, with dogs welcome throughout the arboretum and in the cafe. Dogs must be on a short, fixed lead (no flexi leads), and water bowls are provided at several points around the site. Less crowded than Westonbirt and genuinely welcoming to four-legged visitors. Entry is around GBP 12 for adults.

Cotswold Wildlife Park near Burford is a surprise – one of the very few wildlife parks in the UK that actually allows dogs. You can see giraffes, rhinos, penguins and big cats with your dog alongside (on a lead). Dogs cannot enter the Reptile House, Bat Belfry, Children’s Farmyard or areas with free-ranging animals, but the outdoor exhibits and gardens make it a genuinely full day out. Entry around GBP 19.50 for adults, free parking.

Westonbirt, the National Arboretum near Tetbury is spectacular, especially in autumn. Dogs can go off-lead in Silk Wood (600 acres of ancient woodland), and they’re even allowed on the Treetop Walkway on a lead. However, dogs are not permitted in the Old Arboretum – one of the main areas – so plan your visit around the Silk Wood trails. Entry around GBP 13-17 depending on the day.

Colesbourne Gardens has been described as “England’s greatest snowdrop garden” and is a must-visit if you’re in the Cotswolds during February. Dogs are welcome on a short lead. The gardens are only open for Snowdrop Open Days in late January to early March, so this one is strictly seasonal – but if you catch it, the display of over 350 snowdrop varieties is extraordinary. Entry around GBP 13.50 for adults.

Dog Friendly Pubs & Cafes in the Cotswolds

Historic inns, countryside tap rooms and village pubs where muddy paws are as welcome as muddy boots.

The Cotswolds is blessed with some of England’s finest country pubs, and many of them welcome dogs with open arms (and the occasional biscuit under the table). Whether you’re after a post-walk pint by a roaring fire or a proper Sunday lunch in a honey-stone inn, here are places where your dog is as welcome as you are.

If you’re staying at The Lygon Arms in Broadway, you’re already in one of the Cotswolds’ finest dog friendly inns – but the village of Broadway has plenty more to offer after a day exploring. Nearby, The Mount Inn in the village of Stanton is a 17th-century country pub sitting directly on the Cotswold Way. Dogs are welcome inside (with a water bowl by the door and a basket by the fire), and the views from the terrace toward the Malvern Hills and Wales are spectacular. A proper post-walk pub with Donnington ales on tap and food made with locally grown ingredients.

Dunkerton’s Tap Room on the outskirts of Cheltenham has become a local institution – showcasing the very best of Cotswolds suppliers and a firm favourite with dog owners popping in before or after their weekend walks. A seriously cool set-up that pairs perfectly with a morning on Cleeve Common just up the road.

The Porch House in Stow-on-the-Wold claims to be England’s oldest inn (dating to 947 AD) and welcomes dogs inside with water bowls and treats. They even keep a pamphlet of dog-friendly walking routes behind the bar – including a circuit through Upper and Lower Slaughter. Modern British food, craft cocktails and properly cosy interiors.

Espresso Barn at Barn Antiques near Stratford-upon-Avon is a lovely independent coffee shop on the northern edge of the Cotswolds – delicious bakes, bites and beverages in a wonderfully relaxed setting. The kind of place where you can browse antiques with a flat white in one hand and a lead in the other.