Dog-friendly Christmas markets: where you can take your dog

Updated 24 October 2026

Birmingham welcomes well-behaved dogs on leads, Glasgow permits dogs on leads at St Enoch and Glasgow Green, and Exeter welcomes them in its open-air market areas. Nottingham allows pets outside but advises leaving them at home because of crowds. These are published organiser policies; indoor spaces and individual attractions have separate rules.

Use the table to choose a suitable outing. “Ask first” means permission covering the Christmas event was not established from the official information checked. It does not mean a ban. Normal grounds permission does not establish Christmas trail, house or bus permission. Each row links to the source and the full guide.

Dog policies at UK markets and countryside venues

Choosing an outdoor visit

Keep the visit short enough to suit your dog, with a way to leave the busiest area. A lead policy is permission to enter under those conditions, rather than a guarantee that the market will be comfortable for every animal. Read the venue’s instructions for buildings, food areas and transport as well as the outdoor stalls. If your dog is unsettled by noise or crowds, arrange another way to enjoy the market.

Plan a pause away from the main shopping route. Carry water and cleaning-up supplies. Keep the lead clear of walking routes and queues; give other visitors room to pass.

Winter pavements and busy market streets

Consider the surface as well as the stalls. Wet paving, cobbles and gritted paths can make a longer walk less comfortable; look at your dog’s paws after the outing and follow your usual veterinary advice if there is irritation. Choose a route that lets you keep control comfortably.

Read the organiser’s quieter-time guidance where it is published, then choose a visit that leaves room to change your plan. A quieter session can still have queues and sudden noise. Keep children and dogs together under adult supervision, and agree who will take the dog out of a crowded space if needed. If travelling with friends, decide in advance whether part of the group will enter an indoor attraction that does not admit pets.

Dog-friendly places to stay

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Abbey Hotel Bath

Dog-friendly rooms are available; dogs are welcome in the bar and lounge. Cosy Print Rooms are excluded. Confirm the chosen room and the current dog charge directly with the hotel.

See Abbey Hotel Bath on Booking.com · Read the market guide

Hotel’s own pet policy · checked 24 October 2026

Hyatt Regency Birmingham

Pets must be supervised and leashed in public areas; weight and number restrictions and fee apply. Confirm chosen room and current terms.

See Hyatt Regency Birmingham on Booking.com · Read the market guide

Hotel’s own pet policy · checked 24 October 2026

Dean Court

Tell hotel at booking so it can allocate a pet-friendly room; designated pub/restaurant areas permit dogs. Confirm availability and any fee.

See Dean Court on Booking.com · Read the market guide

Hotel’s own pet policy · checked 24 October 2026

A pet-friendly property can have a limited number of suitable rooms. Tell the hotel you are bringing a dog before paying for a room, and establish any size, number or dining-area restrictions. The market’s permission and the hotel’s permission are separate decisions. York’s hotel listing above establishes a place to ask about a dog-friendly room; it does not establish permission for dogs at York Christmas Market.

Assistance dogs

Assistance-dog arrangements are separate from the pet policies in this table. Use the venue’s accessibility contact for the route, indoor spaces, transport and any particular attraction you want to enter. Nottingham’s FAQ welcomes assistance dogs in venues and advises against the Ice Bar. Tell the organiser what part of the event you plan to use so that its answer covers the actual visit.

Compare market accessibility guides

Questions before you go