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Author: Colleen
I’ve written a lot about moving to London with an accompanying spouse and/or children, but many expats make the relocation to London with another loved one in tow: their pets. As I do not own a pet myself, I had the pleasure of picking a friend’s brain about her experience owning a dog in London. Like me, she relocated to the UK from the US with her husband, and in getting settled into this city, it was just as imperative that their dog felt at home. Here’s a few of her pet pearls of wisdom:
How pet-friendly is London?
London is AWESOME for dogs in general. They can go to most pubs and many parks are leash free. Even many of the restaurants and shops are much more open to having pets in their establishments than in the US, so while it’s always good to ask beforehand, don’t be shy about bringing your dog with you when you head out and about. Our dog has shopped for furniture and clothing with me on the odd day out and is never afraid to offer up his opinion when asked.
I guess the thing that has struck me most about being in London with a dog is that the British seem to really LOVE their furry friends! I have met more people on the street, in shops, at the dry cleaners, etc. with our dog in hand as people are always wanting to know about and love on the old boy.
Are pets even allowed on London’s public transport?
Yes, pets are allowed on the tube and buses—though some tube stations only have escalators (no stairs). If your dog is too heavy to pick up for the ride on the escalator, be sure you educate yourself about which stations have stairs and which do not so you can adapt your trip accordingly. Black cabs will take dogs if the driver allows it. Those that don’t will usually pass you by when they see you with your dog. When a driver does pull over for you and your pet, make sure you ask before you get in and all should be fine.
A lot of expats relocating to London do so for the experience of travel. How do you manage this with a pet?
England itself has everything a dog and his owners could ask for—from trips to the beach, to lovely country walks amongst the sheep, to hikes in the hills of Scotland and Northern England. Many hotels take dogs for a small surcharge (usually £10-20 extra), so don’t hesitate to bring your dog along.
For those heading to mainland Europe with a dog, no worries—just make sure your vet has provided and stamped a pet passport for you and follow the instructions for re-entering Britain. Travelling in Europe with a pet is quite easy, and the entry back to the UK is a breeze if you follow DEFRA guidelines to getting back in.
Well, I for one am impressed with the UK’s pet-friendliness, and I hope this gives you pet owners some peace of mind if you’re debating whether to relocate to London with a dog. My friend has more to share with us about a pet’s quality of life after the London move, including grooming, walking, and veterinary care. So check back in with us here at the blog, and, if you have any logistical questions about pet relocation, please do get in touch with one of our London Relocation agents!
Related posts:
- Relocation to London – No Expat is an Island
- Moving to London – People and Personalities
- Moving to London – As You Touchdown…
- Relocation UK – The Needs of an Accompanying Spouse Moving to London (Part 4)
- Relocation UK – The Needs of an Accompanying Spouse Moving to London (Part 6)
[...] on with our series if you’re relocating to London with a pet, here are a few additional tidbits my dog-owning friend had to share with me about pet ownership [...]
[...] after an international relocation. (For commentary on London’s dog-friendliness, see “Expat Pets – Moving to London with a Dog (Part 1),” and for advice on dog-walking and finding a vet, see “Expat Pets – Moving to [...]
I am an expat living in the US.And thinking of returning to the UK with my Cavalier King Charles Spaniel.You say that Dogs are widely accepted everywhere in public.Has anyone tried to RENT a place with a dog? It is nigh impossible,short of buying.There are many websites offering help with “pet friendly Letting agencies “.The list is minimal.The task is daunting.
So,if one cannot afford to buy a house…..where does that leave my family pet?’I live in a Condo where Owners and Renters alike are allowed to have pets.Subject to size,breed etc.Switzerland has laws to protect their Companion dogs. So,do The British really love pets if they are not allowed to live in a rental with their owner?
Hello, Ann – apologies for the belated reply on this. Just catching up on comments.
In any case, you raise a good point, and this is precisely why London Relocation has added a new pet-placement division (http://www.londonpetrelocation.com). We’ve had many pet-owners come to us after exasperating searches on their own and have heard the terrible experiences of lettings agencies not working with them from the start. While LR doesn’t guarantee it can find as large a property portfolio to show in one day as it can for its regular service (up to 25), it still manages to show as many as 15-20 because they know the buildings that accept pets and go straight to the source. If you do return to the UK with your Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and have a difficult time finding a rental property, please do contact us! Kind regards, Colleen