Dog-Friendly Places to Stay in Chichester

What's available for dog owners around Chichester

BritStays currently lists 10 pet-friendly places to stay in and around Chichester in West Sussex. The choice is small enough to get a clear picture, and varied enough to suit most kinds of trip. Six are hotels, two are self-catering cottages, one is a campsite and one is a caravan holiday park. Four are in Chichester itself, and the rest are spread across Hayling Island, Fontwell, Hindhead and Middleton-on-sea, so you can choose between a city base and somewhere further out.

Across the 10 stays, six offer parking, six have WiFi, six offer disabled access and six are near a train station. Four have a bar and four have a restaurant, which helps if you'd rather not leave your dog alone in the room while you eat elsewhere. Two offer guided tours. Facilities vary from place to place, so check the details of the stay you're considering rather than assuming every feature applies.

Which stays suit which kind of trip

Families with a dog will probably look first at the two cottages, which each sleep six. Pepper Pot Cottage has a playground and WiFi, which is handy for keeping children busy. Lucky's Stable has a hot tub and disabled access. Self-catering means you control mealtimes, walks and the general pace of the day. That is often easier with both children and a dog in tow.

Families wanting more going on might prefer Hayling Island Holiday Park, which has a swimming pool, a hot tub and evening entertainment. Funland Hayling Island, a theme park, is also listed for the area. If you have a dog with you, think about who stays with them while everyone else is in the pool or at a show.

Couples and short breaks are well served by the hotels in Chichester. The Bear Hotel has a bar and offers guided tours. The Millstream Hotel has a bar, a restaurant and disabled access. The Travelodge in Chichester has a restaurant, takeaway food and disabled access. Further out, the Fontwell Arundel Travelodge offers disabled access and WiFi.

By the sea, The Elmer at Middleton-on-sea has a bar, a restaurant and evening entertainment. It suits a relaxed break where you'd like everything on site.

For heathland walking, the Devil's Punchbowl Hotel at Hindhead has a bar, a restaurant and indoor areas. Indoor space is useful on a wet day when you'd rather not have a damp dog in your room.

Outdoor types on a budget can look at Newhouse Farm Camping in Chichester, which lists toilets among its facilities. Expect a simple, back-to-basics stay rather than a resort.

Things to do once you're there

Several National Trust places appear on the list for this area:

• Frensham Common
• The Flashes, Churt Common
• Uppark House
• Woolbeding House

Open commons tend to be the natural choice for a long walk with a dog. Rules for dogs can differ between the grounds and the buildings at houses like Uppark House, so check the National Trust's guidance before you go.

Cowdray House, a stately home and palace, is also on the list. Butlins Bognor Regis is there too, if you have children who want a day of rides.

For a rainy day, Bognor Regis Museum is listed under Chichester. Further afield you'll find Marwell Zoo in Hampshire and the Brighton Toy and Model Museum. Most of these are better planned as an outing while someone stays with the dog, or as a visit where you've confirmed the dog policy in advance.

When to book, and what to ask

With only two cottages in the set, both sleeping six, larger groups have little choice. If one of them suits you, book early, especially for school holidays and bank holiday weekends. The same goes for the single campsite and the single holiday park. Hotels give you more options, but pet-friendly rooms are often limited even where a hotel accepts dogs.

Before you confirm, it's worth asking:

• Whether there is a charge per dog or per stay
• How many dogs are allowed, and whether size matters
• Whether dogs can be left alone in the room or cottage
• Which areas dogs can use, such as the bar, restaurant or outdoor space
• Whether parking is available at that particular stay, as only six of the 10 list it

If you're travelling by train, look for one of the six stays listed as near a station, and check the route from the station on foot. Pack a towel by the door for muddy walks on the commons. Get anything you agree with the stay about your dog confirmed in writing.