Dog-Friendly Places to Stay in Cheltenham

What's available for dog owners around Cheltenham

There are nine pet-friendly stays published on BritStays in the Cheltenham area of Gloucestershire, and the mix leans heavily towards hotels. Seven of the nine are hotels, and one holiday park and one camping option make up the rest. If you're picturing a cottage with its own garden, this isn't that kind of list. It suits a short break where you want a proper bed, a meal on site and somewhere your dog is welcome to come back to after a long day out.

The facilities are fairly consistent across the set. Seven of the nine have a bar, seven have WiFi and seven list disabled access. Six have parking and six have a restaurant. That matters more than you might think with a dog, because eating where you sleep saves you hunting for somewhere that will seat you both. Only three are listed as near a train station, so most dog owners will find driving easier, especially with bedding, bowls and a muddy towel to carry.

Choosing where to base yourself

The stays cluster in three places. Cheltenham itself has four, Tewkesbury has four (counting Croft Farm Water Park) and Cirencester has one.

• Cheltenham gives you the widest range of styles. Cowley Manor is the one for a treat, with a swimming pool, gym and spa listed, which makes it a natural choice for couples. At the other end, the Travelodge here offers a restaurant, takeaway food and disabled access, so it works well as a practical, no-fuss base. The White Hart Inn lists a bar, restaurant and takeaway food. Cleeve Hill Hotel has a bar, disabled access and indoor areas, which are handy on a wet evening with a damp dog.
• Tewkesbury suits you if you like a pub-hotel feel. The Bell and Tudor House Hotel both list a bar, restaurant and disabled access. There's also a second Travelodge here with a bar, restaurant and takeaway food.
• Cirencester has the Thames Head Inn, listed with a bar and toilets as well as being pet friendly. It's a simpler, inn-style stay.

None of these stays is by the sea, so if a beach walk is your priority, you'll need to look elsewhere. This set is about inland breaks.

Families, couples and groups

For families, Croft Farm Water Park near Tewkesbury is the obvious place to start. It's the only stay in the set with a stated capacity, sleeping six, and it lists a hot tub, gym and clubhouse. That gives you room to spread out in a way a hotel room doesn't. Couples have more choice. Cowley Manor works if you want a spa break, while The Bell and Tudor House Hotel suit a relaxed stay with dinner downstairs. If anyone in your party has mobility needs, seven of the nine list disabled access, but do confirm what that means for the specific room you're booking.

Questions to ask before you book

"Pet friendly" covers a lot of ground, and policies vary between places. Before you pay, ask:

• How many dogs are allowed, and is there a size limit?
• Is there a nightly charge or a one-off cleaning fee?
• Which rooms or pitches take dogs? Often only a handful do.
• Can your dog join you in the bar or restaurant, or only in your room?
• Can your dog be left alone in the room for a short time?

Things to do once you're there

Sudeley Castle and Edgeworth Manor are the two landmarks listed for the area, and both suit a heritage day out. In Cheltenham, the John Moore Countryside Museum is worth a look. Other attractions listed nearby include The Old Prison in the Cotswolds, Swinford Museum in Bourton-on-the-Water and Arcade Archive in Gloucestershire. If you have children, Aquaventure is a water park in the Cotswolds.

Don't assume any of these welcome dogs. Museums and water parks often don't, and historic houses may limit dogs to certain areas or ban them altogether. Check each one's policy before you set off. Where dogs aren't allowed, plan around it: take turns visiting, or choose a stay that confirms your dog can be left safely in the room.

When to book

Dog-friendly rooms are usually a small share of a hotel's total, and with only nine options here, your choice narrows quickly. For school holidays and bank holiday weekends, book as early as you can. That goes double if you want Croft Farm Water Park, since family-sized accommodation tends to go first at busy times. Midweek and outside the holidays you'll generally have more flexibility. Whenever you book, get the dog policy in writing, either in your confirmation email or a reply from the stay. Mention your dog at the time of booking rather than on arrival. That way you won't be put in a room where dogs aren't allowed, or face a fee you didn't expect.