It’s a rhetorical question – of course Suffolk is! It’s even got the official ‘UK’s Most Dog Friendly Town’. Read on for some things to do and places to stay when you visit with your four-legged mate…
Things to do
Let’s start with Bury St Edmunds, 2024’s official ‘UK’s Most Dog Friendly Town’ where you can book yourself on a doggy walking tour of the Abbey Gardens and delightful market town. Many businesses have signed up for the ‘Dog-friendly Bury St Edmunds’ scheme, ensuring a welcoming environment for dogs – just look out for the signs. Many establishments, such as Midgar, welcome dogs and provide a cosy atmosphere for you and your pet.
Suffolk has more than forty miles of lovely coastline to explore with your pooch. We’d recommend heading for the Suffolk Coast and Heaths National Landscape and specifically Dunwich and Walberswick where you can enjoy the seashore and walk through the wetlands.
If you’re after a more traditional seaside walk, then look no further than Felixstowe where you head along the prom, prom, prom, enjoy the pier, and choice from a large variety of eating places. Got to be fish and chips, hasn’t it? You can also head down to Old Felixstowe on the River Deben.
Talking of rivers, head to National Trust Pin Mill where you pooch can take a dip in the Orwell – maybe while you enjoy refreshments at the excellent Butt & Oyster. Or try the delightful walk from Snape Maltings to Iken Church and your dog can take a dip in the River Alde.
Framlingham Castle, the ‘Castle on the Hill’ in Ed Sheeran’s fab hit tune, is a great place to visit with your dog, not just for the medieval fortifications themselves, but also for the grassy surrounds where you can all really stretch your legs. Plus, there’s fabulous views of the nearby countryside and Framlingham Mere.
On the other side of Suffolk, take your dog to Brandon Country Park, which has five trails taking you through different types of landscape, flora and fauna, and Thetford Forest, the lowest-lying pine forest in the country, which has an extensive range of trails through the woods – perfect for your pooch.
Dine with your pooch
As well as Bury St Edmunds, there’s some great places to eat that welcome dogs:
The Bildeston Crown, a 15th century former coaching inn at the heart of Bildeston.
Old Hall at Southwold, celebrating the best of Suffolk’s countryside and coast using some of the finest seasonal & local ingredients.
The Crown and Castle, Orford is in the heart of the village and has a fabulous restaurant with 21 rooms.
The Anchor is a gastro pub with ten cosy bedrooms, just a stone’s throw from the beach in the charming village of Walberswick.
Located in the village of Troston. near Burty St Edmunds, the award-winning Bull Freehouse is a quintessential English inn that exudes Suffolk charm, paired with a daily changing menu and great selection of wines. Next door is The Pear Tree Inn, a newly-opened, exceptional AA awarded 5 Gold Star guesthouse.
Dog-friendly accommodation
There’s a huge range of dog-friendly accommodation in Suffolk, from luxurious hotels to cosy campsites. At the top end of the scale is the Ickworth near Bury St Edmunds, set beside 1,800 of National Trust parkland and beautiful family-size apartments, it can be a home away from home for you and your dog. Other dog-friendly hotels include Milsoms Kesgrave Hall and Hintlesham Hall, both just outside Ipswich, and Tuddenham Mill, famed for its exquisite surroundings and having the Best Set Lunch Menu in the UK.
If you prefer a cosy inn to a grand hotel, you’ll love the Westleton Crown and The Anchor at Walberswick, two inns on the Suffolk coast that welcome dogs in their bars and in many of their rooms. The Brudenell at Aldeburgh allows dogs in all their rooms and has a great reputation for welcoming our four-legged friends.
The editors of the Good Hotel Guide chose The Crown and Castle in Orford as one of their favourite dog-friendly hotels, while the The Bildeston Crown also welcomes well-behaved dogs (often with biscuits!).
Located near Framlingham, Windmill Lodges is the ideal location to set your eager pet free. Surrounded by open countryside the coast, forest and heathland are all within easy reach.
