The Best Cities to Have a Dog in the UK
Dogs are great, aren’t they. I mean, we all know that to some extent – the well-worn statistic that nearly a third of us have a lil four-legged mans-best-friend to call our own doesn’t count for nothing, after all – but it helps to be reminded, particularly if you’re currently dog-less and in the doldrums.
If you’re reading this, you might be in a position where you already know how much better your life could be with a dog in it. But what you’re wondering is where best to move with a dog in tow, whether for your career, for love, or simply for a fresh start. Let the following, then, be your guide to the best cities for dog owners in the UK, as well as the fundaments of a good environment in which to bring up your own little slice of paw-some.
1. What makes a city great for dog owners?
First, let’s take a look at the broad strokes; what exactly is it that makes a city ideal for dogs to live in? It might be easier to think about what wouldn’t be a good environment for a dog, initially. A small flat, dense urban sprawl, high levels of pollution – none of these are conducive to a happy life for a pet, particularly if that pet’s a fan of walkies.
Dogs benefit from enrichment in some key ways, green spaces being vitally important amongst them. You need plenty of green spaces to take your dog for exercise, toilet trips, socialising and more. Living in a flat with a dog is perfectly possible, provided the flat is close enough to such spaces and large enough not to give them a sense they’re being cooped up. Wherever you live, you also need to be within sprinting distance of a decent vet and some pet-friendly third spaces, be they pubs, cafes or even the local library!
2. Supporting a happy, healthy dog life — wherever you live
Before we get to the suggestions, it’s important that you understand this: location is only one part of a dog’s life. There is so much more to dog ownership than walkies, and you need to be prepared to give your dog the healthy and happy urban-living life it deserves. This means regular walks, yes, but also decent nutritional support from raw dog food to keep their energy up; after all, they’ll need it for all the socialisation you’ll surely provide them…
3. Top UK cities for dog owners in 2025
Now that we’ve got a decent idea of what makes a city dog-friendly, let’s evaluate some of the more popular cities in the UK. Realistically, any city has everything you need to give a dog a great life, but some are just much better at it than others – like Manchester, which benefits from a great deal of public parks from east to west and north to south. You’re rarely 10 minutes from greenery, be it Whitworth Park or Heaton Park. It’s a cultural hotbed too, with many venues in the Northern Quarter that are more-than dog-friendly.
For somewhere even more invigorating, how about north of the border and into a capital? Edinburgh is a stunning place to move with a dog in tow or in mind, thanks in large part to the amazing Arthur’s Seat and the dog-tiring stairs that climb it. There’s even sea access for doggy paddling!
Top photo by FLOUFFY on Unsplash
