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Plenty of Stratford-upon-Avon hotels take dogs, but the rules vary a lot: which rooms, how big a dog, whether it can join you in the lounge, and what it costs. Below is every place to stay in and around Stratford that takes dogs, with its rules and fees as published by the hotel or on its booking listings, then a closer look at five of the best. Policies change, so always tell the hotel you’re bringing a dog when you book.
On this page
Dog-friendly hotels at a glance
| Hotel | Where | Dog fee (as listed) | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Arden | Waterside, opposite the RSC | £25 per dog, per stay | Bedrooms, lounges and the back of the No. 44 Brasserie |
| Billesley Manor | Countryside west of Stratford | Fee applies (listed at £25 a night) | Barn bedrooms only; dogs up to 15kg |
| Hotel du Vin | Rother Street, town centre | £25 a night (£40 for two dogs) | Designated rooms only; not suites |
| The Swan’s Nest | Bridge Foot, by Clopton Bridge | £20 a night | Up to two per room, selected rooms; not the restaurant |
| DoubleTree by Hilton | Arden Street, near the station | £25 per room, per night | Dogs only, up to two; bowls provided |
Assistance dogs aren’t charged at any of these hotels.
Every dog-friendly place to stay in Stratford
Every hotel, inn, B&B and hostel in our where to stay guide whose dog policy we’ve found, nearest the theatres first. Tap a name for parking, walking times and the rest of its details.
| Place to stay | Where | Dogs: rules and fees |
|---|---|---|
| The Arden Hotel Hotel | Waterside About 1 min walk to the RSC theatres | £25 per dog, per stay. Dogs can join you in bedrooms, the lounges and the back of the No. 44 Brasserie. |
| The Pen & Parchment Inn with rooms | Bridgefoot About 4 min walk to the RSC theatres | Listed as dog friendly. Ask about rooms and charges. |
| The Townhouse Hotel | Old Town About 5 min walk to the RSC theatres | One standard king room takes dogs, at £15 per dog, per night. Dogs are welcome in the bar on a lead. |
| The Swan's Nest Hotel | Bridgefoot About 5 min walk to the RSC theatres | £20 per dog, per night, up to two per room, in selected rooms. Not in the restaurant. |
| Macdonald Alveston Manor Hotel | Bridgefoot (south bank) About 8 min walk to the RSC theatres | £15 per dog, per night. Guide and assistance dogs stay free. |
| Hotel du Vin Hotel | Town centre About 8 min walk to the RSC theatres | Booking listings show dogs in designated rooms (not suites) at £25 a night, £40 for two. Tell the hotel when you book. |
| DoubleTree by Hilton Stratford-upon-Avon Hotel | Arden Street About 11 min walk to the RSC theatres | Dogs only, up to two per room, listed at £25 per room, per night. |
| The Welcombe Hotel Hotel | Warwick Road (out of town) About 1.5 miles by road to the RSC theatres | Offers dog-friendly stays; ask about rooms and fees. |
| YHA Stratford-upon-Avon Hostel | Alveston About 2.5 miles by road to the RSC theatres | Dogs are allowed in the camping pods and bell tents only (£10 a dog a night). |
| Stratford Manor Hotel | Warwick Road (out of town) About 3.5 miles by road to the RSC theatres | £25 per dog, per stay, up to two dogs. Book dog-friendly stays on 0330 107 1599. |
| Billesley Manor Hotel & Spa Hotel | Countryside (Billesley) About 4.5 miles by road to the RSC theatres | Barn bedrooms only, dogs up to 15kg. A fee applies (listed at £25 a night). Not in the restaurant or spa. |
| Ettington Park Hotel Hotel | Countryside (Ettington) About 6.5 miles by road to the RSC theatres | A limited number of dog-friendly rooms, by arrangement. Listings show up to two dogs at £30 per dog, per night. |
No dogs (assistance dogs aside): Hotel Indigo Stratford-upon-Avon, Crowne Plaza Stratford-upon-Avon, Premier Inn Stratford-upon-Avon Central, Linhill Guest House, Virginia Lodge, The Hathaways, Arden Park Guest House, Premier Inn Stratford-upon-Avon Waterways, The Burnside Hotel, Victoria Spa Lodge, Shakespeare's View.
28 other places to stay don't publish a dog policy, so they aren't listed here: ask when you book. Under the Equality Act, places to stay can't normally turn away assistance dogs.
The Arden Hotel
The best location for a theatre trip with a dog: the Arden faces the Royal Shakespeare Theatre on Waterside, with the riverside and Bancroft Gardens across the road for walks. Its listings show a charge of £25 per dog, per stay, and say food and water bowls are provided. Its own visitor information says dogs are welcome in the bedrooms, the lounges and the back area of the No. 44 Brasserie, and each gets a welcome bag, bed, bowls and a breakfast sausage. Pet travel site PetsPyjamas sometimes offers the Arden with dogs staying free when booked through it, limited to one dog per room.
Billesley Manor Hotel & Spa
A country house hotel a few miles west of Stratford, good if you want walks from the door. Billesley’s own pet policy is the clearest of the five:
- Dogs are only allowed in the Barn bedrooms, and must weigh 15kg or less. Give the breed and weight when you book.
- A fee applies. Booking sites list it at £25 per dog, per night.
- Dogs aren’t allowed in the restaurant or the spa, but you can eat in any of the lounges.
- Dogs must be on a lead in public areas and can’t be left alone in the room at any time.
See our Billesley Manor page for more on the hotel.
Hotel du Vin
Hotel du Vin is on Rother Street, a few minutes’ walk from the shops and the theatres. Its listings show £25 a night for one dog or £40 for two. Dogs can stay in designated bedrooms if you tell the hotel in advance, but not in the suites. If you want your dog with you at the bar or bistro, ask when you book, as the hotel doesn’t publish that.
The Swan’s Nest Hotel
The Swan’s Nest sits by Clopton Bridge, about five minutes’ walk from the RSC, with the Recreation Ground just over the river for a run-around. Its own dog policy charges £20 per dog, per night, for up to two dogs in selected rooms. Dogs aren’t allowed in the restaurant (assistance dogs excepted). The Bear, the hotel’s own pub, gets good reviews from dog owners. Parking is £10 a day.
DoubleTree by Hilton
The DoubleTree on Arden Street is a big modern hotel near the railway station, with a short walk into town. Its listings say it takes dogs only (no other pets), up to two per room, at £25 per room per night, with food and water bowls provided.
Tips for a Stratford break with your dog
- Book the dog in, not just yourself. Most hotels only take dogs in certain rooms, so mention your dog (and its size) when you book rather than at check-in.
- Plan for the theatre. Hotels usually won’t let you leave a dog alone in the room, and indoor attractions generally only admit assistance dogs. If you’re seeing a show, you may need a dog sitter, or pick a matinee and a dog-friendly pub for the evening.
- Eat out with your dog. More than a dozen pubs and cafés in the town centre welcome dogs inside. Our guide to dog-friendly Stratford-upon-Avon lists them on a map, with walks, a secure dog field and the attractions that let dogs in.
- Parking. If your hotel doesn’t have parking, our parking guide covers every car park and price.
For more places to stay, see our guide to where to stay in Stratford.
Dog-friendly hotels: quick answers
Which Stratford hotels let dogs in the lounge?
The Arden lets dogs into its lounges and the back of the No. 44 Brasserie. Billesley Manor lets you eat with your dog in its lounges, but not the restaurant.
How much do Stratford hotels charge for dogs?
Most charge £15 to £30 a night: Alveston Manor and the Townhouse £15, the Swan’s Nest £20, Hotel du Vin, the DoubleTree and Billesley Manor £25, and Ettington Park £30. The Arden and Stratford Manor charge £25 for the whole stay. Assistance dogs are free.
Is there a dog-friendly hotel near the RSC?
Yes. The Arden is directly opposite the Royal Shakespeare Theatre, the Swan’s Nest is about five minutes’ walk away, and Alveston Manor is just over Clopton Bridge.
Which Stratford hotels don’t take dogs?
Both Premier Inns, Hotel Indigo, the Crowne Plaza and the Burnside don’t take pets (assistance dogs aside), and nor do several guest houses. The full list shows which.
Alex Harrington
Alex Harrington grew up in Stratford-upon-Avon and runs What's up, Stratford? as an independent guide to the town.
