The study analysed 30 factors, including dog-friendly pubs, hotels, green spaces, and local vets, to rank the UK’s top pet-friendly staycation spots.
Dogs enjoying the end of the day(Image: Getty Images)
A Scottish city has been named the most pet-friendly city in the UK, following new research that highlights the city as a standout destination for dog owners seeking a getaway.
The study crowned Edinburgh as the UK’s top city for a dog-friendly getaway, with Birmingham and Manchester taking second and third place, respectively.
The study, carried out by Pure Pet Food, analysed more than 30 different factors to identify the most welcoming staycation spots for those travelling with their pets.
Rankings took into account everything from the number of dog-friendly pubs, restaurants and hotels to access to green spaces and the availability of local vets.
Edinburgh topped the list with 163 pet-friendly restaurants, the most of any UK city.(Image: Getty Images)
According to the results, Edinburgh came out on top thanks to its all-round performance across the board. The city scored particularly highly for its food and drink offering, boasting 163 pet-friendly restaurants, the highest number of any city in the UK.
Commenting on the findings, Rosie Bescoby, dog behaviourist at Pure Pet Food, said: “Adventures are always better when they’re shared with our beloved pets.
“We wanted to create a definitive guide to help dog owners across the UK plan a trip where both they and their pets will feel truly welcome.
“By looking at everything from the number of local vets to the number of dog friendly holiday-lets, we’ve been able to identify the cities that go the extra mile for our furry companions.”
The data revealed Birmingham as the second best choice overall, largely due to its access to green spaces.
The city offers everything from neighbourhood parks to Sutton Park, one of Europe’s largest urban parklands, making it a haven for dogs that thrive on space to run and explore.
Manchester rounded out the top three, excelling particularly in accommodation, with over 100 pet-friendly hotels available across the city. The breadth of choice means visitors can find stays to suit a wide range of budgets, styles and locations.
The new research comes as searches for “weekend away with dog” have surged by 83 per cent over the past year, signalling that more people than ever are looking to take their four-legged friends on holiday.
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Separate analysis by outdoor retailer Millets also highlights Scotland’s strong performance when it comes to dog-friendly pubs.
Their data shows Aberdeen topping the national list, with 22 of its 87 pubs welcoming dogs inside, the highest proportion in the UK.
Edinburgh followed closely in second place, with 72 dog-friendly pubs out of 287 across the city, accounting for just over 25 per cent. Among the popular spots for dog owners is The Scran and Scallie in Stockbridge.
Dundee also secured a place in the top ten, ranking seventh overall. The city has nine dog-friendly pubs out of 46, representing just under 20 per cent of its total venues.
The 10 most dog-friendly cities in the UK
Rank
Location
Overall Score (/10)
1
Edinburgh
8.19
2
Birmingham
7.78
3
Manchester
7.60
4
Leeds
7.34
5
Bath
7.21
6
Chester
7.17
7
Bristol
7.17
8
Southampton
7.07
9
Liverpool
7.03
10
Sheffield
6.66