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The Independent UK

Travel

Lottie Gross

Best dog-friendly hotels in the Cotswolds 2023 – from grand villas to charming country pubs

Cotswolds (Location) Fish

The Cotswolds is a haven for dog owners, especially those who love a good walk. This bucolic region of England – where green pasture is dissected by stone walls, and where small, smartly kept villages with golden-stone cottages and thatched pubs dot the landscape – has some of the finest gentle walking routes in Britain. Alongside the famous 102-mile Cotswold Way, there are footpaths and bridleways aplenty, where you can lose yourself amid the verdant countryside.

Beyond walking, though, there’s lots to love if you’re bringing your pet for a dog-friendly stay in the Cotswolds: see the remains of Roman villas at North Leigh, explore the manicured Blenheim estate in Woodstock, or take the whole family to a wildlife park in Burford where even the dog gets to meet a rhino or two.

If you’re planning a trip to the Cotswolds, here’s our pick of the best dog-friendly hotels the area has to offer.

The best dog-friendly hotels in the Cotswolds are:

Best hotel for walks: The Fish
Best hotel for sweet treats: The Roseate Villa
Best for foodies: The Swan
Best hotel for history buffs: The Feathers
Best dog-friendly spa hotel: Minster Mill
Best for couples: Hill House B&B

Best hotel for walks: The Fish

Location: Broadway

This luxury pet-friendly hotel even has a dog agility course in its grounds (The Fish)

If you’ve got an active dog on your hands, a trip to The Fish might be just what they need – and it’ll no doubt please you, too. This luxury hotel sits on an estate on the edge of Fish Hill, overlooking the small but pleasingly sepia-tinged town of Broadway. The hill itself offers energy-sapping walks, thanks to its steep-sided slopes, while, nearby, you can tackle Broadway Hill, home to the handsome Broadway Tower, which is part of the Cotswold Way. Even better, right within the hotel’s grounds, you’ve got an agility course to tire out your little fluffy friend before you settle down to dine in the bar, where Cotswolds gin awaits.

Best hotel for sweet treats: The Roseate Villa

Location: Bath

Indulge in a dog-centric afternoon tea at this hotel (Roseate Villa)

In the southern reaches of the Cotswolds lies the regal city of Bath, known for its Georgian architecture and ancient Roman baths. In a quiet corner of the city, the Roseate Villa is a divine spot for a dog-friendly break – not least because the hotel really does love dogs. So much so, it’s created a dog-centric afternoon tea, where you’ll get to indulge in all the usual delights – tiny sandwiches, little cakes – while your dog will get a plate of treats to keep them happy by your side. Rooms here are contemporary with a classic twist here and there – we love the black-and-white chequered tiles in the bathroom – and dogs get a welcome pack on arrival.

Best for foodies: The Swan Inn

Location: Ascott under Wychwood

Find a divine menu and roaring fire at this dog-friendly pub with rooms (The Swan Inn)

The Cotswolds has its fair share of pubs serving spectacular food, but few are as unassuming as The Swan – a tiny pub in a quiet little village that hasn’t yet found itself on the tourist map, making it a delightfully peaceful place to escape the Cotswolds’ crowds in summer. Rooms are rustic with handmade wooden furnishings, set around the pub’s courtyard garden, and they come equipped with freshly ground coffee and a stellar collection of teas. But the main event here is in the pub: dog-friendly throughout and usually scented with smoke from the roaring fire, with a divine menu.

Best hotel for history buffs: The Feathers

Location: Woodstock

This handsome hotel occupies a 17th-century townhouse (Booking.com)

Woodstock is most famous for its biggest house: Blenheim Palace. Home to the Duke of Marlborough, this opulent Baroque dwelling and its surrounding estate dominates the town. Enter its grounds for free via the gate before the Black Prince pub on the A44 and take a stroll around its 12,000 acres with the dog before checking into The Feathers – a handsome creaking hotel set within a 17th-century townhouse. Don’t miss an aperitif in the cracking gin bar before dinner in the restaurant, where dishes incorporating local pork and rabbit are decadent enough for a Duke.

Best dog-friendly spa hotel: Minster Mill

Location: Minster Lovell

Stay with your dog in the garden rooms, which have their own conservatories (Minster Mill)

Just a 20-minute drive from the buzz of Oxford city centre, Minster Lovell is quite the picture of Cotswolds village life: a row of thatched stone cottages line its single street, fronted by rockeries and rose bushes, while the rather impressive ruins of a former 15th-century manor house and dovecote lie behind the local church. The Minster Mill itself has the area’s best bedrooms: at the top of its lovely lawns, where croquet is very much encouraged, you can stay with your dog in the garden rooms, which each have their own conservatory for whiling away the afternoon with a book. The intimate little spa is a blissful place to escape to.

Best for couples: Hill House B&B

Location: Ford, Chippenham

These luxurious shepherd’s huts come with their own enclosed gardens (Hill House)

Just a short drive south of Castle Combe, one of the Cotswolds’ most popular and most-photographed villages, Hill House B&B is a tiny gem of a place. They love dogs here and welcome them in their two luxurious shepherd’s huts, which each have their own enclosed gardens to make your stay as relaxing as it can be. There are wood-fired hot tubs in both, a welcome pack of local snacks, and you can book into the Bothy wellness cabin for a soothing massage or refreshing facial. From here, you’ve got access to the Macmillan Way, a route that was created to raise money for Macmillan cancer services. Ask owner Helen for more walking recommendations – she regularly hits the trails with her own black and tan dachshund.