Dog-Friendly London Guide: East London

London is a fantastic city to live in or visit, and I’ve never felt that more since getting our Corgi, Winston (@winnythecorgi on Instagram). Dogs give us a great excuse to get out and explore as much as possible. Because there is so much to see and do, we have broken up our Dog-Friendly London Guide into different areas. For this post, we’re focusing on our favourite stomping ground of East London.

WALKS

Walking along Regent’s Canal (left) is a great way to avoid the capital’s busy street while connecting you to West, Central, and East with a relaxing walk that’s easy to follow.

One of our favourite parks is Victoria Park (middle). It’s the largest park in Tower Hamlets with 218 acres of fields, picnic spots, playgrounds, and ponds. It also hosts various music festivals and events throughout the year.

London Fields (right) is one of East London’s most popular parks. It is on the smaller size, but a great starting point to any day out in East London and lets your pup stretch their legs before heading into a nearby market or cafe.

If these options aren’t big enough for you and your pooch, try jumping on the overground train from Liverpool Street Station to Epping Forest, which is 5,900 acres of beautiful ancient woodland.

SHOP

Our must-go shop for any dog lover is Fetch & Follow‘s showroom and store (left and middle photos). The space is a treasure trove of gorgeous leather collars, grooming products, dog clothes, magazines, and even dog beds. Dogs are incredibly welcome and the shop is perfectly placed between London Fields and Victoria Park.

Down the road from London Fields is Broadway Market (right). During the week, this is a lovely street to walk down full of delicious restaurants and an eclectic mix of shops and local pubs. On Saturdays, it turns into a foodie heaven! They sell other things there too, but both Winny and I always get distracted by the fresh produce and tasty street food. Speaking of tasty street food, if you’re not already full, head into Netil Market around the corner. You can easily detour into both of these markets on your canal walk, too!

Shoreditch is a fun and vibrant area to walk around with your dog. Check out Old Spitalfields Market, but please keep in mind, this area can get very busy with tourists on the weekend. Up the road is the slightly quieter Redchurch Street, which has plenty of dog-friendly shops, pubs, cafes, and restaurants with outdoor seating perfect for taking a break and people watching.

DRINK AND EAT

Coffee shops aren’t hard to come by in London, so we have tried our best to whittle them down to our top three.

E5 Bakehouse is in the arches near London Fields. It’s a delicious artisan bakery and coffee shop and a great spot to pick up picnic items. Pavilion in Victoria Park (left) is a scenic cafe perfect for breakfast and lunch. My final pick is Paper And Cup (right), a very welcoming not-for-profit space in the heart of Shoreditch.

Nearly all pubs you’ll come across in London are dog-friendly. I can hear the cheers of the booze hounds now!

One of our favourite locals is The Kings Arms (left), a stylish modern take on a traditional pub which is slightly off the beaten path.

I often recommend a canal walk in East London just so I have an excuse to sing the praises of Crate Brewery (right). So definitely head there and get ready for heavenly thin based pizzas while sitting along the canal with a pint.

Marksman Public House is my top recommendation for delicious food. Sadly, the upstairs isn’t dog-friendly, but your pooch will be more than welcome downstairs. Make sure to arrive hungry!

And finally, the Well and Bucket, simply because the food is great (those who are a fan of oysters are in for a treat), the drink selection is even better, and there is a secret little beer garden out back!

STAY

If we were to ever have another staycation, it would have to be the Town Hall Hotel & Apartments (left) or South Place Hotel (right). Always be sure to call beforehand to check if they have dog-friendly rooms available.