Bars
The 6 Best Dog-Friendly Pubs in London
The London pubs where a wet nose at the door gets a water bowl, a biscuit and a spot by the fire before you have even reached the bar.
In short: our top picks are The Spaniards Inn, The Princess Victoria and People's Park Tavern. 6 places in total, chosen on merit, with the full reasoning below.
Plenty of London pubs will tolerate a dog under the table. A much smaller number actually want yours there, and that difference shows the moment you walk in. The best of them keep a stack of bowls behind the bar, a jar of biscuits within paw’s reach, and staff who greet the dog before they greet you. We have leaned towards places with real character, a decent fire or a proper garden, and food and drink worth staying for once the dog has flopped down and gone to sleep.
| Place | Area | Price |
|---|---|---|
| The Spaniards Inn | Hampstead | ££ |
| The Princess Victoria | £££ | |
| People's Park Tavern | Victoria Park | ££ |
| The Brown Dog | Barnes | £££ |
| The Wells Tavern | Hampstead | £££ |
| The Great Exhibition | East Dulwich | ££ |
-
Editor’s choice
The Spaniards Inn
Why we pick itOne of London's oldest inns, standing since around 1585, with low beamed rooms, open fires and a walled garden right off Hampstead Heath.
historic tavern
-
The Princess Victoria
Why we pick itA restored 1820s gin palace with soaring ceilings, a serious wine list running to hundreds of bottles, and a walled rear courtyard for warm days.
Victorian gin palace
-
People's Park Tavern
Why we pick itThe beer garden opens straight onto Victoria Park, so dogs sprawl on the grass while you work through the craft taps and a summer barbecue.
park beer garden
-
The Brown Dog
Why we pick itA tucked-away Barnes local on quiet backstreets, all bare boards and a roaring fire, with a small garden and a proper seasonal kitchen.
backstreet gastropub
-
The Wells Tavern
Why we pick itA handsome Georgian corner pub near the Heath with squishy sofas, wood fires downstairs and a dog menu the staff genuinely mean.
gastropub
-
The Great Exhibition
Why we pick itA big Victorian corner boozer with a heated, largely covered beer garden and a Sunday roast worth the trek out to Crystal Palace Road.
Victorian corner pub
Before you book
Most of these welcome dogs across the bar and garden, but the smart move is to ring ahead if you want a table at Sunday lunch, when the good spots by the fire go fast. The two Hampstead pubs and the Spaniards pair perfectly with a Heath walk, so time your visit for muddy-boots o’clock. Keep the lead on until you have found your corner, and check which rooms are dog-friendly at the more food-led places like the Brown Dog and the Wells.
Common questions
What are the top picks in this guide?
The Spaniards Inn is our editor's choice: One of London's oldest inns, standing since around 1585, with low beamed rooms, open fires and a walled garden right off Hampstead Heath. The Spaniards Inn, The Princess Victoria and People's Park Tavern lead the guide, with 6 places in total, all chosen on merit.
How does Lamplit London choose its recommendations?
Every place is chosen on merit, after first-hand visits where possible, with no pay-for-placement. Read our full method at https://www.lamplitlondon.com/how-we-choose/.
Related guides
Dining The Best Pubs in London
Open fires, good cellars and proper food: the London pubs worth crossing town for.
5 places Read guide →
Bars The Best Beer Gardens in London
Sun traps, riverside terraces and leafy hideaways: the best beer gardens in London for a sunny day.
5 places Read guide →
Bars pub crawl london
A walkable Soho run of five characterful pubs, from a grand Victorian gin palace to the half-pints-only bohemian bolthole.
5 places Read guide →From the Journal
Drinking
An Excuse for Champagne
Nobody really needs a reason for champagne. That is the secret of it. A glass of something cold and serious turns a Tuesday into an occasion, and the only thing standing between you and that small ceremony is the deciding to do it. London understands this better than most cities. We will toast a promotion, […]
16 Jun 2026Read →
Drinking
London in Summer: The Terrace Months
London does not do summer by halves, but it does do it briefly. For a few weeks the city forgets itself: the light stretches past nine, the pavements warm up, and everyone you know suddenly has plans that involve being outside. This is the season the rest of the year is quietly jealous of. It […]
11 Jun 2026Read →
Drinking
Behind the Unmarked Door: London’s Hidden Bars
There is a particular thrill in a bar you have to earn. Not the velvet rope and the clipboard, which only test your patience, but the door that gives nothing away. A buzzer beside a barber’s chair. A bookshelf that turns out to be a hinge. A telephone box at the back of a hot […]
29 May 2026Read →Readers also viewed
Bars The Best Private Members Clubs in London
Six of London's notable private members clubs, from Annabel's to 5 Hertford Street, with honest notes on what each is for and how membership actually works.
6 places Read guide →
Bars The Best Bars in Canary Wharf
Skyline rooftops, a floating steakhouse bar, a velvet-lined speakeasy and a Nelson-era riverside pub: the Wharf after the trading floors empty.
6 places Read guide →
Bars The Best Jazz Clubs in London
Six London rooms where the music is live, the lights are low and the night runs late.
6 places Read guide →
Bars The Best Pubs in Greenwich
From a Dickens-haunted riverside tavern to a robata-grill gastropub, Greenwich pours the finest pints in south-east London.
6 places Read guide →