Dudley & Co’s guide to the best dog-friendly hotels in London.
Words by Amanda Wilson
Travelling with your loved one (the four-legged kind) has always been a tricky business. Some hounds hate trains; others never get comfy in cars. Anyone who has flown commercial knows how antsy your beloved mutt can get at 30,000 feet.
It can be exhausting – but that makes a really good dog-friendly hotel priceless. Once rarer than hen’s teeth (ooh, chicken – yum!) they are springing up. Many major cities now boast an abundance of hotels that offer services tailored to your furry friend’s every need, offering both of you rest and respite at the tail end of a weary day.
So in this light, Dudley & Co has put together a list of the best dog-friendly hotels around. Other places will follow, but we will start in our hometown of London.
Hotel 41, 41 Buckingham Palace Road, London SW1W 0PS
First up is Hotel 41, a gem of a place minutes from Buckingham Palace and Victoria station, and voted Britain’s number-one hotel by TripAdvisor. The experience starts at check-in, when you are given a bottle of pet-friendly beer or champagne and a list of on-demand services, from round-the-clock dog-sitting to a grooming service available in-room. Hotel 41 also offers a custom-made bed and a fully stocked menu for the discerning doggy.
Rosewood London, 252 High Holborn, London WC1V 7EN
Next up is the Rosewood London, a stone’s throw from Holborn tube. Yes, this elite hotel in the heart of Bloomsbury is a great place for the big people, with its tearoom and classic British kitchen. But canis familiaris will love it even more. Pearl, Rosewood’s self-styled ‘resident retriever’ (read: canine concierge) is there to cater to your pedigree pal’s every whim, providing a welcome treat and a fluffy bed. Call in advance to reserve a ‘Canine Package’, designed in collaboration with Lily’s Kitchen and Barbour.
The Milestone, 1 Kensington Court, London W8 5DL
Want to go the extra yard? Then check in at the Milestone Hotel in Chelsea and allow your pooch to be squired around Kensington Gardens by a cheery chap in topcoat and tails. Jose Paucho is your point of contact on all matters canine: his team will welcome you with a hamper brimming with toys and treats. Custom-made dog beds are available on demand, as is in-house grooming and a 24-hour dog sitting and walking service, as well as bathrobes and even birthday celebrations.
The Hoxton has 3 London outposts
You can find The Hoxton in Holborn, Shoreditch and a newly opened outpost in Southwark. All are super-hip, super-in-love with doggies, and offers the dog-tired among us a goodie-bag on arrival. The FAQ page is translated into Doggish (woof grrr bark!) and English. No pups over 18kg in weight allowed, so if you have a St. Bernard called ‘Bruiser’, best to leave him at home.
Nobu, 10-50 Willow Street, London, EC2A 4BH
As a brand, Nobu is a bona fide phenomenon, the 20th Century urban elite’s fave place to eat, drink, then collapse in a black cod in miso-flavoured coma. But did you know you can check in to the group’s London hotel in tech-centric Shoreditch with your pup in tow? Dogs aren’t allowed in the restaurant but they are allowed in the lobby and of course the rooms, where they’re given a cosy bed in which to sleep. A one-off £25 cleaning charge applies.
The Curtain, 45 Curtain Road, London, EC2A 3PT
To give pup a taster of the modern East End (still grimy, more craft beer, fewer flat-caps) mosey on over to The Curtain, a stone’s throw from London’s digital hub (aka Old Street tube). The super-chic Curtain offers great culinary options for you and your doggie. A water bowl is waiting on arrival, and dog walking and sitting can be arranged in advance. A one-off additional cleaning charge of £50 is levied on arrival.
Sea Containers, 20 Upper Ground, South Bank, London SE1 9PD
London’s South Bank is integral to the city’s culture – but did you know it has a thriving hotel scene too? With its architectural blend of brutalism and glamour, Sea Containers may not be pretty but it is a cracking hotel, its restaurants, river views and spa treatments tailored to the jet-lagged. Everyone is welcome, and more importantly, their dog is too.
Article featured image courtesy of Sea Containers
July 2022
July 2022