travelling to london with a dog

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Bringing your pet dog, cat or ferret to Great Britain

These rules apply to Great Britain (England, Wales and Scotland). There are different rules on pet travel into Northern Ireland .

Find out what you need to do if you’re travelling from Ukraine with your pets .

You can enter or return to Great Britain with your pet cat, dog or ferret if it:

• has been microchipped
• has a pet passport or health certificate
• has been vaccinated against rabies - it will also need a blood test if you’re travelling from an country that is not ‘listed’

You must use an approved route - unless you’re travelling within the UK or from Ireland.

You need to fill in a declaration if you are not going to sell or transfer the ownership of your pet.

Dogs must also usually have a tapeworm treatment .

Your pet may be put into quarantine for up to 4 months if you do not follow these rules - or refused entry if you travelled by sea. You’re responsible for any fees or charges.

There’s different guidance if you’re taking your pet dog, cat or ferret abroad .

If you bring a banned breed of dog into Great Britain it can be taken away from you by the police or local authorities and could be destroyed.

Check if you need to follow extra rules

You must follow extra rules (known as Balai rules) if any of the following apply:

• you’re going to sell, rehome or transfer the ownership of the animal
• your pet is arriving more than 5 days before or after you arrive
• you’re bringing more than 5 animals and are not attending or training for a competition, show or sporting event

Before you travel

Check if the company you’re travelling with:

• will accept your pet for travel - and how many they’ll accept if you have more than one
• needs any proof that your pet is fit and healthy to travel, for example a letter from a vet or certain information in your pet passport or health certificate

Authorising someone else to travel with your pet

Your pet can travel with someone else if you’ve authorised it in writing.

Bringing other animals

The rules are different if you’re bringing other animals into Great Britain .

Part of Bring your pet to Great Britain: step by step

Step 1 : check if you can bring your pet.

• You are currently viewing: Check if you can bring your pet
• Find out how you're allowed to travel to Great Britain
• Check different rules for guide and assistance dogs

Step 2 : Get your pet microchipped

• Check the rules for microchips

Step 3 : Get your pet vaccinated against rabies

• Check the rules about rabies vaccinations

You must wait for a set period of time after vaccination before you can travel.

Depending on the country you're travelling from, you might also need to get a blood test.

and Get tapeworm treatment

If you have a dog, you may also need to get tapeworm treatment before you travel.

• Check the rules about tapeworm treatment

Step 4 : Get a pet travel document

• Check which travel document you need

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A Dog-Friendly Travel Guide To London

There are plenty of things to do in London with your dog. So many in fact it would be tricky to compile all of them together in one article. You can take your dog to London's markets, visit art galleries or go shopping together. But I'm not too sure how much fun that would be for your dog. I took a trip to London with my partner to celebrate our 10 year anniversary. Our companion came with us too, and finding dog-friendly things to do that would be fun for all of us was a top priority. This is a dog-friendly guide to London that prioritises your dog's fun including activities you can enjoy together, away from the crowds (as much as that's possible in a capital city!) We're talking parks and gardens, bars and coffee shops, and dog-friendly hotels.

Dog-Friendly Places To Stay In London

There are over 100 pet-friendly hotels in London. Many of them do not have a pet fee although you may be limited to how many companions can stay with you. Depending on your budget, you can pick from affordable accommodation to a more luxury experience. Here are a few of my suggestions for dog-friendly places to stay in London, although there are many more to choose from .

Rosewood London

If you want the experience of staying in a traditional British manor house with added luxury, the Rosewood London has it all and was our choice for a long weekend to celebrate our anniversary. Dogs of any size stay free with a bed, food and water bowls provided if you let them know your companion will be joining you. Our room was spacious and the bed was exceptionally comfortable. The staff were excited to see our puppy and gave him a lot of fuss, making us all feel incredibly welcome. The Rosewood is in a great location near convenient transport links too.

• The Caesar Hotel
• The Chesterfield Mayfair
• Leman Locke
• Point A Hotel
• The Resident
• Town Hall Hotel
• Qbic Hotels
• Pet-Friendly AirBnB

Dog-Friendly Parks In London

London has a number of dog-friendly parks for on-leash walks and off-leash play. The most well-known ones, like Hyde and Regent's Park, get incredibly busy. If you want to go somewhere a little quieter, leave the tourist path and visit Richmond or Greenwich Park, or the Hackney Marshes. If your dog enjoys water, Hampstead Heath, Clapham Common, and Wimbledon Common have ponds to play in. These are some of the most popular dog-friendly parks in London.

Regent's Park

If we'd had more time, we would have travelled a bit further afield. Instead we took a leisurely stroll around Regent's Park. Dogs must be kept on leads (although many weren't) and aren't allowed in certain areas, like the rose gardens. There's plenty of space for dogs to explore regardless of the restrictions. We walked a circuit around a small portion of the 410 acre park before heading back to Euston station.

• Barnes Green
• Battersea Park
• Greenwich Park
• Hackney Marshes
• Hampstead Heath
• Primrose Hill
• Richmond Park
• Southwark Park
• St James’s Park

Dog-Friendly Activities In London

If you're looking for activities to do with your dog, besides going for a walk or window shopping; there are a few dog-friendly experiences to be had in London. From sightseeing to boating, there's something that both you and your companion can enjoy together.

We followed The Line, an outdoor sculpture trail running between the Olympic Park and The O2. It takes you along the waterways and Greenwich Meridian. The start was confusing and a little hard to follow. It's best to avoid the ugly surroundings of the Olympic Park, and join the trail a little further down where the scenery is nicer and the walking route more interesting. We only managed a very tiny portion of the trail, however, it's a great outdoor activity that you and your companion can enjoy together.

• Canal and River Cruises
• Mungo & Maud Pet Shop
• The Murdér Express
• Picture House
• Ruislip Lido
• Severndroog Castle
• The Secret City
• Tower Bridge

Dog-Friendly Galleries & Museums In London

It's a shame none of the major art galleries in London allow dogs. The only gallery I could find that does is The Kennel Club Art Gallery , which you have to book an appointment for. Here is a full list of dog-friendly museums to visit in the UK instead.

• The Kennel Club Art Gallery and Library

Dog-Friendly Bars and Pubs In London

Anyone with a dog knows that almost all traditional British pubs are dog-friendly (although in London that's not always the case..) It's the modern pubs and wine bars that are less likely to welcome your companion in. If you're looking for somewhere that knows how to make a good cocktail and will serve your companion too, here are some dog-friendly bars and pubs to visit.

Smith & Whistle

This cocktail bar was highly recommended as it's been declared as one of the 'dog-friendliest bars in London.' While we received good service, it wasn't anything special. Unfortunately the atmosphere was dead on the night we went making us wish we hadn't made the half hour to get to it. Perhaps because the standard of service in Birmingham is so high, London fell a little short of expectations here.

• The Grazing Goat
• The Great Exhibition
• The Mere Scribbler
• Mr Fogg's Society of Exploration
• The Narrowboat
• The Thomas Cubitt

Dog-Friendly Restaurants In London

London is hit and miss when it comes to dining with your dog. There are quite a few places that only allow companions to sit with you outside, and others that ban them completely. Fortunately there are also some excellent dog-friendly restaurants too. These are my suggestions for where to eat in London that are both vegan and dog-friendly.

This is a restaurant I've been visiting for 10 years. The food is delicious and the service is excellent. So it made me really happy to discover they're dog-friendly too. Large dogs may be less comfortable as the restaurant in Soho is rather small. We were seated by the window with plenty of space for us all. Mildred's menu is 100% plant-based now making it hard to pick which dish to order. I highly recommend leaving room for desert as the tiramisu was divine.

• St. Margaret's House
• Wulf & Lamb

Dog-Friendly Coffee Shops and Cafes In London

Coffee shops are a great place to take your companion. Small independent cafes almost always allow dogs, making it a great place to slow down and people watch in a busy city like London. We had our morning coffee in the hotel's restaurant, and didn't end up stopping for a drink anywhere else. The Breakfast Club is a great spot for food, and Ozone has good coffee.

• Black Sheep Coffee
• Breakfast Club
• The Gentlemen Baristas
• Ozone Coffee
• Paws For Coffee

Travelling With A Dog In London

It's easy to travel around London as dogs are allowed on public transport without having to pay a fare, including the buses and underground. Keep them on a leash or in a carrier, and either use the lift or carry them up and down the escalators. I carried the dog whenever I used the underground as it can get crowded and small dogs aren't easy for people to spot. Dogs may not be allowed on public transport "if there is a good reason to refuse them," with the most likely refusals being it's too crowded and/or the dog is too big. I suggest avoiding peak travel times when it may be too busy for your companion to travel. My solution was to stay in the central London area, walk as much as possible, and avoiding the rush hour traffic.

Written by Sophie Davies

Sophie is a freelance writer with over a decade of experience writing about style focused sustainable living. Starting her own jewellery brand, Oh My Clumsy Heart , was the springboard into eco-friendly style leading her to quit fast fashion, build a capsule wardrobe, and start this blog. Her style guides will transform your wardrobe, teaching you how to create a small wardrobe with a big personality! If you enjoyed this article and found it useful, please consider buying a virtual coffee. It helps support future content and the site's running costs.

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A Guide to Dog-Friendly Public Transportation in London

If you’re visiting London with your dog, this guide is for you! London has one of the largest urban public transport networks in the world, spanning the city’s 32 boroughs. There’s everything from buses, to trams, to tubes, and even a cable car.

London is a fantastic destination to visit with your dog. They are sure to enjoy all of the great parks and open spaces – there is plenty to do without feeling overcrowded. But the sheer size of London (over 600 square miles!) can be daunting, and getting around can feel overwhelming. Here’s our guide to navigating the dog-friendly public transport options in London, and finding what’s best for you and your dog.

If you’re traveling around London, download the TfL Go app! It has interactive maps and journey planners to help you plan public transport travel across London.

Article Contents

London Buses

• Yes, London buses are dog-friendly.

London buses are probably one of the most recognizable forms of public transport in the world – everyone’s seen those bright red, double decker buses! They’re not only iconic, but they’re also a cheap and convenient way to travel around the city.

London’s bus network runs 24 hours a day with about 9,300 vehicles, over 675 bus routes and about 19,000 bus stops. You can pretty much get anywhere in London on the bus. They’re all cashless, so you need an Oyster card, Travelcard or contactless payment card to ride. A single London bus journey costs £1.55, no matter how far you go, and you can even take multiple buses within one hour at no extra charge, thanks to the Hopper fare.

The London bus pet policy is as follows:

• You can take any other dog or inoffensive animal on [the bus], unless there is a good reason for us to refuse it (such as if the animal seems dangerous or not properly controlled).
• You must keep it under control on a lead or in a suitable container and must not allow it on a seat. Staff are not allowed to take charge of any animal.
• At stations, if you bring an animal with you, you should use the wide gates or carry it through the gates.
• At stations, if you bring an animal with you, you must use a staircase or lift where provided. If there is no staircase or lift and you need to use a moving escalator, you must carry your animal unless you have an assistance dog that has been trained to walk on moving escalators. If your animal is too large to carry, a member of staff will stop the escalator to allow it to travel on it when it is safe to do so (generally outside the rush hours and when the station is not busy).

Fun fact: The first London “buses” started in 1829. Back then they were horse powered.

London Trams

• Yes, the London Tram is dog-friendly.

London has a modern tram network, known as Tramlink, that run in parts of south London. The network has 39 stops and four routes that run between Wimbledon, Croydon, Beckenham, and New Addington.

Trams are treated as part of the bus network when it comes to tickets and fares – they also cost a flat rate of £1.55.

The London Tram is governed by Transport for London, or TfL. The London Tram pet policy is the same as those for the Bus, Tube, DLR, London Overground and TfL Rail Services. The pet policy is:

London Underground (the Tube)

• Yes, the London tube is dog-friendly.

The London Underground, commonly referred to as the Tube, is the oldest and third longest metro system in the world. The system serves 270 stations, and it dates back to 1863. You can easily recognize a Tube station, since their distinctive London Underground logo is as distinguished as the red double decker bus. It’s a red circle with the text “Underground” featured in a blue box.

Over four million journeys are made every day on the Underground network, and over 1 billion each year. There are eleven Tube lines divided into nine zones.

The Underground operates in Fare Zones 1 – 6, with Zone 1 in the centre and Zone 6 at the outside. The Tube can be a bit tricky, since fares depend on how far you travel, time of day, and how you pay. The cheapest way to pay for a single fare is with Oyster or contactless payments. For the most part, the more zones you cross on your journey, the more expensive it will be.

The Tube typically runs from 5am until midnight, with Night Tube services on some lines on Friday and Saturday evenings.

The London tube is governed by Transport for London, or TfL. The London tube pet policy is the same as those for the Bus, Tram, DLR, London Overground and TfL Rail Services. The pet policy is:

London Overground

• Yes, the London Underground is dog-friendly.

The London Overground, simply called the Overground, is a suburban rail network that serves Greater London. It has 112 stations on nine different routes.

Similar to the Underground and the Docklands Light Railway, the London Overground calculates fares based on the same zone-based set of rules. You can pay using an Oyster card, paper tickets, electronic smart cards and contactless payment cards.

The London Overground is governed by Transport for London, or TfL. The London Overground pet policy is the same as those for the Bus, Tube, Tram, DLR, and TfL Rail Services. Read it above, or here .

Docklands Light Railway (DLR)

• Yes, the Docklands Light Railway is dog-friendly.

The Docklands Light Railway (DLR) is a driverless light railway that opened in 1987. They’re London’s second, more local metro system that uses smaller, lighter tram-type vehicles. There’s no driver, since it’s automated. The DLR serves parts of East and South East London (specifically the Docklands, Greenwich and Lewisham).

The Docklands connects with the Tube, with London’s cable car, the Emirates Air Line, and to the London City Airport. It runs from 5.30am -12.30am, Monday-Saturday, and from 7am -11.30pm on Sunday. Fares are the same as the Tube.

The Docklands Light Railway is governed by Transport for London, or TfL. The DLR pet policy is the same as those for the Bus, Tube, Tram, London Overground and TfL Rail Services. Read it above, or here .

• Yes, River Boat (aka Uber Boat) is dog-friendly.

London cradles the River Thames, so traveling by river is a great way to get around the city. You’ll beat the traffic and enjoy fantastic views along the way. Plus, who doesn’t love travel by water!

The River Boat service is known as the Thames Clippers, which offer both commuter and tourist boat services. At major piers including Canary Wharf, London Bridge City, Battersea Power Station and London Eye (Waterloo), services depart at least every 20 minutes during commuter times. 

The River Boat routes are operated by Uber Boat, which is run by Thames Clippers. Fares vary according to river zones and discounts. You can purchase tickets at the pier, using Oyster, or on the Uber app. There are 23 routes to choose from, going in both directions.

The Uber Boat pet policy is as follows:

Dogs are allowed on board. Please make sure they are on a lead.

You can see the Uber Boat pet policy on their website here .

• Yes, the Emirates Air Line is dog-friendly.

London has a cable car service, and it’s the only urban cable car in the UK. It’s called the Emirates Air Line, and it opened in June, 2012. The cable car crosses the River Thames, from Greenwich to the Royal Victoria Dock. It’s not only practical, getting you from one side of the river to the other, but the cable car also offers epic panoramic views.

You can pay for the fare using an Oyster card or contactless card. You can book single tickets or a multi-journey boarding pass for 10 single trips, or even hire a private cabin for a round trip experience with up to 10 passengers.

There are only two stations, one at each end, so it’s by far the easiest mode of public transport to navigate in London.

The cable car pet policy is as follows:

You can bring an assistance dog with you without charge. You can also take with you without charge any other dog or inoffensive animal but they must be carried at all times. Some animals may not be permitted with good reason (such as if the animal seems dangerous). Please check with a member of our staff before you purchase your Boarding Pass. You must keep it under control on a lead or in a suitable container, and must not allow it on a seat. You will be held responsible for the actions of your animal. Staff are not allowed to take charge of any animal.

You can read a copy of Emirates Air Line Conditions of Carriage here .

• Yes, Santander Cycles bikes are dog-friendly.

Santander Cycles

Like many cities, London has a public bike share system called Santander Cycles. The bikes are convenient and cheap – there are over 750 docking stations and 11,500 bikes for rent all around London. The first half hour of each journey is free, and then costs £2 for 24 hours.

Santander bicycles are dog-friendly. Feel free to grab one if your dog can ride along in a backpack or is active enough to run alongside you.

You can grab a bike using a bank card at the docking station or by using the official app.

Learn more about navigating pet-friendly destinations here .

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Having A Dog in London: Your Complete Guide

London is, no doubt, a great place to live. The city is bustling with life, and there is so much to do. But if you’re thinking of moving to London with your dog or getting a dog while you’re living there, it’s important to know what you’re getting into.

Consider whether or not you have enough space for a dog. Think about London’s weather and whether you want to walk your dog every day, even when it rains. Some areas of London require dogs to be on a leash at all times, so be sure to check the local laws before bringing your dog out in public.

Apart from France, London is one of the friendliest cities in the world for dogs and their owners , but there are still some things you should consider. This complete guide to having a dog in London shows what it takes to be among the 251 thousand households with a pet dog in the metropolitan city.

From tips on renting one to the annual cost of owning and maintaining your furry friend, here is all you need to know.

Once you overcome the little hurdles, your tail-wagger will be content in a city with more than 300 thousand dogs . London is also full of dog lovers, making it easy to find dependable walkers and sitters when busy doing other things. 

Owning a dog in London: what should pet owners know?

London is one of the most dog-friendly cities globally, thanks to the beautiful green parks and free public transportation for dogs. You will love the fantastic pet shops and restaurants where your dog can have treats and feel at home. 

Generally, dogs are welcome in most public places in London, including parks, green spaces, and even some pubs and restaurants. However, there are a few things to keep in mind when taking your dog out in public. 

Find dog-friendly places in London

For a smoother time locating the best places, you can live with a dog or work with a pet relocation agency specializing in finding pet-friendly neighborhoods. Additionally, look for build-to-rent developments that mostly dedicate facilities for caring for pets, besides allocating special floors to pet owners. 

Once you relocate, live in harmony with others by ensuring your canine does not disturb the area’s serenity. If you want to be a tenant, read the pet clause in your tenancy agreement to determine if the homeowner allows tenants with pets in his house. 

Start living on a good note by ensuring that you have permission to live with yours in their apartment.

Take care of your dog

The legal age to own a pet in London is 16, and it comes with the obligation to cater to your dog’s needs, including providing clean water and enough food.

You are also responsible for its health, from vaccinations to treatments when it becomes sick and ensuring its house is clean. Failure to adhere to these will put you on the wrong side of the law.

While you are in public, you are expected to control your dog and are liable for any injuries or harm caused by it to other people or animals. It should always be on a leash if there is a chance that it may attack someone.

Vaccination and microchipping

It’s mandatory to take your dog for all vaccination to prevent it from life-threatening diseases such as parvovirus, rabies, and canine distemper. Unchecked, rabies can spread to humans; hence, ensuring your dog stays healthy is crucial.

Similarly, the law requires all dogs older than eight weeks to be microchipped and the microchip taken for registration in a government-approved database. Microchipping ensures authorities have all your dog’s information, which you must update as needed, e.g., when you relocate or change your contacts.

The information in the microchip helps when your dog gets lost or stolen. Besides, your dog must have a tag and collar with your contact details when out in public.

Dogs on public transport

You can travel with your dog in buses, trains, trams, and the tube in London. They can travel for free as long as they are on a lead or in a carrier. In fact, on a train, you can travel with up to two dogs at no extra fee. You only pay when you have more than two dogs.

However, dogs are not allowed on the seats or in restaurant cars . In case yours causes inconvenience to other passengers, the railway staff are in their right to remove you from the train.

Canines are also not allowed on the elevators as a safety measure unless you carry them.

When you want to travel in a cab, check with the company if they allow dogs, but the majority have no qualms with dogs boarding their cabs. It is polite to check whether the cab driver will be comfortable carrying yours.

Parks and dog-friendly public places

All pet owners in London have access to many dog-friendly gardens, parks, and commissions. You can bond with yours while letting it play, exercise, socialize, walk, run, sniff around, and do what dogs love doing.

You can also join local walking groups so that your dogs can intermingle while you make new friends. Some of the best places to check out include:

• Richmond Park
• Mile end Park
• Wimbledon Common
• Primrose hill
• Brockwell Park

Renting with the dog in London

It might take a while before finding a suitable accommodation that also allows pets in the building. When searching online for accommodation in London, filter the search by adding ‘pets allowed.’

This will narrow down to rentals whose owners have no qualms about the presence of pets in their vicinity. Be prepared to see significantly fewer vacant apartments if you haven’t had a pet.

You can also save yourself some headaches by following these tips when you want to rent with a dog in London: 

Avoid the Zone 1 flats

The London flats in Zone 1 are always in demand, and finding a rental is super competitive. Apartments listed in the market get offers within hours.

For this reason, it is difficult to rent with a pet in such a cutthroat demand for space. The homeowners will always give priority to the more flexible, non-pet-owning tenants.

Furthermore, many flats in the area have a no-pets-allowed policy. Even if the landlord doesn’t mind, the organization owning the building has the final word on what’s allowed and what’s not in the building.

To make matters worse, most of the flats do not have dog-friendly features and amenities, meaning they were not considering tenants with pets in the first place.

If you venture out to zone 2 and 3, you will find many dog-friendly flats with better spacing since most properties are converted row homes with either shared or private gardens. The competition for rentals is also less than in Zone 1, so you have a better chance of finding a house.

Mention beforehand that you own a dog

Even if it gets hard to find a dog-friendly rental, do not lie or sneak in your dog without the landlord or agent’s knowledge. Things will only get worse when they discover because they’ll take action by allowing you to stay on the condition that you get rid of your dog.

Alternatively, they will issue an eviction notice which will adversely affect your chances of getting another decent housing afterward. 

Ask for references from previous landlords, trainers, or veterinarians

Having proof that you were previously a great tenant with a dog might help your prospective landlord consider your case. Even if they do their research, it will show you are responsible enough to have the information they need in advance.

Having a reference from your veterinarian showing that your dog has all the latest vaccinations might alleviate fears that it can be a threat to other tenants. 

Write a pet CV

Taking the time to craft a CV for your dog will show you are a responsible owner. It is also a great selling point to show the positive side of your dog; behavior, positive traits, or accomplishments.

Include in the CV your dog’s breed, age, training, vaccinations, and any certifications. Sell your dog to your prospective landlord so that he loves it even before they meet.

Look for a pet clause in the tenancy agreement.

Since you own a dog, ensure that you read the fine print in the tenancy agreement and do not sign if there is no written agreement stating you are free to stay with a dog.

Relying on a verbal assurance can be risky because if your landlord decides to change the terms in the future and says they do not want dogs in their house, you will not have legal protection.

Expect to pay additional fees

Once you get a rental, most landlords will charge a mandatory cleaning fee because of your pet and increase your security deposit on top of what other tenants pay. These charges will depend on the furnishings and flooring of the flat. A higher maintenance fee can also be charged on top of your rent.

Be prepared to offer higher rent in case of stiff competition   

When all fails, and the only property that is appealing to you has multiple offers from non-pet owners, offer to pay more rent to be given an audience. Money might just save the day and afford a favorable tenancy agreement. 

Is it difficult to have a dog in London?

While it may take a little bit of extra effort, it’s certainly possible to own a dog in London. With some planning and consideration, you can make sure that both you and your furry friend have a great time in this amazing city.

Some challenges you may face include finding a suitable place to live , dealing with the weather, and following local laws and regulations. However, London is overall a very dog-friendly city, so plenty of resources are available to help you out.

With some research and preparation, you can ensure that you and your dog have a wonderful time in this great city.

London is a great place to have a dog when you find suitable accommodation. Apart from the amenities where you can walk and play with your dog and free public transportation, there are also dog-friendly pubs and restaurants where you can treat your furry friend. 

Most people are also dog lovers and don’t mind their presence, meaning you can move about with yours without fearing stares from strangers.  

Cost of owning a dog in London

Owning a dog in London can be expensive. According to research by Statista , the cost in 2022 could amount to 1,875 GBP per year. You need to factor in the price of food, vet bills, dog walking, and more.

Some expenses like microchipping are usually taken care of by the breeder before the dog belongs to you or the rescue center in case you are adopting.

You also need to ensure you have enough money to cover any unexpected costs, such as if your dog gets sick or injured. 

London is known for being an expensive city, so be sure to budget accordingly. This is especially so if you live in Central London, where prices are generally higher.

Other costs related to services like neutering, microchipping, and vaccinations may also be required by law. 

In addition, you’ll need to purchase a dog license from the local council. The cost of this license depends on your area and whether your dog is neutered or not.

While the initial cost of owning a dog in London may be high, the joy and companionship they bring are worth it. Below are other annual cost estimations for owning a dog in London:

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Top tips for traveling with your dog in Britain this summer

Jul 28, 2022 • 6 min read

A golden retriever on a walk through the English countryside © monkeybusinessimages / Getty

It’s true, the Brits love their dogs.

In fact, 27% of United Kingdom households include a dog (or two or three) as part of their family. The 2020 and 2021 pandemic lockdowns only added to their canine love affair with online searches on "how to adopt a puppy" surging by 120% in Britain, while waiting lists for popular breeds closed because demand outstripped supply.

Now all these pet-owning families are planning their holidays in Britain and turning to resources like Dog Friendly Destinations , Dog Friendly Britain: Cool Places to Stay with Your Dog and latest guide to hit the market Dog-Friendly Weekends for inspiration for their next travel adventure with their new best friend. 

Why you have to take your dog on holiday?

For many dog owners going away for a break without their doggo is such an emotional wrench it has the potential to ruin a holiday. Most wouldn’t dream of leaving their dog with anyone else, so pet-friendly accommodation is booming. And it’s not just country pubs and small hotels that are setting themselves up to cater for dogs. You’ll find remote cabins, luxury hotels, cosy gastropubs, boutique B&Bs, yurts and glamping spots across the country happy to go the extra mile to host your furry companion. As well as offering great places to stay, and to eat, many are in stunning locations to explore on long walks with your canine buddy. Can you think of a better way to vacation?

England’s most beautiful castles: fall under the spell of these 8 exquisite fortifications

What to look out for when booking a dog-friendly stay

We asked Lottie Gross, author of Dog-Friendly Weekends for her top tips on how to spot a great place to stay with your dog. “Plenty of hotels and accommodation providers say they're dog friendly, but are actually just dog tolerant,” Lottie told Lonely Planet. 

“To find a genuinely dog-friendly stay, look out for the little added extras, such as bowls and beds provided in the room, treats on arrival or even outdoor showers for post-muddy walk washes. These are signs that the accommodation has really thought about what dog owners need.

“Also, check the property's dog rules. There's nothing worse than having to spend the entire time telling your dog off if they're not allowed on the bed or sofa (or you could just bring a couple of throws to protect the furniture so you can snuggle up soundly together).

Author of Dog Friendly Britain: Cool Places to Stay with Your Dog Martin Dunford also shared: “What surprised me was the length some places go to cater for dogs and their owners, even in a city like London. One hotel in the city even holds dog film nights and dog tea parties. And the staff at all of these places have a super-friendly attitude.”  

3 perfect England itineraries for every type of traveler

How to be a good dog-owning holidaymaker 

Finding a place that welcomes you and your pooch with open arms and goes the extra mile will make your holiday with your dog a happier one. But it’s also worth noting that dog owners need to be considerate when they’re traveling too, especially in nature.

“The most important thing when traveling with your dog is to be responsible and sustainable”, explains Lottie. “That means keeping your dog on a leash when in new environments where you don't know what wildlife might be disturbed by their presence (ground-nesting birds, for example), and picking up and properly disposing of that poo. Regardless of whether it's off the path or in the middle of a farmer's field, dog poo is toxic and you should always pick it up to ensure it doesn't damage the ecology of the area.”

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Things to consider when catching the train with your dog

While it’s easy to hop in a car and head off on a mini-break with your dogs, not everyone in the UK has access to a car. The good news is that holidaying with a dog is very achievable by train in Britain. 

Brighton barber, Buck Rumstache , adopted his rescue pup McKenzie from Wood Green, The Animals Charity in 2019, and goes on regular getaways together. “It doesn’t cost any extra to take your dog on a train in the UK,” Buck explained, “And I have found staff are always super excited to see him, and are generally really accommodating.”

You do need to consider how far you want to travel by train with your dog before booking those train tickets. “I usually try not to travel for more than two hours on a train with McKenzie,” says Buck.  “If I was going to go further afield, like say one of my favorite British destinations, Whitby , I plan a decent break somewhere along the way to take my dog for a walk and a toilet break.”

The best museums in England: get up close and personal with dinosaurs, trains and warships

Places to stay with you dog in 2022

Luxury stay at Cliveden House, Thames Valley

Set in 376 acres of National Trust gardens and woodlands, this five-star luxury hotel has played host to movie stars and royalty over its 300-year history. It also gives four-legged guests the royal treatment with their own towel, food bowls, and a doggie bed, not to mention dog-friendly dining options at the onsite Astor Grill, and miles of woodland paths to explore. Doggie guests must be well-behaved and over a year old. And during the school holidays, they get to stay for free. 

The 8 best hikes through England's beautiful countryside

Self-catering cottages by East Ruston Cottages in Norfolk

Recommended by Lottie Gross, the cottages available through East Ruston Cottages in Norfolk (winners of the self-catering accommodation category in the Dog-Friendly Magazine awards in 2019, 2020 and 2021) are designed for dogs "with humans in mind". They offer everything a dog owner needs (including cooling coats and mats for hot weather), plus they all have enclosed gardens and let you know if the place will be suitable for different dog types. All of them are a short traveling distance to dog-friendly beaches.

15 top things to do in England, from the obvious to the adventurous and unusual

Camping with your doggo across the United Kingdom

The online campers website Pitchup has listings for over 5000 campsites, glamping spots and holiday parks that can be filtered for dog-friendly options. You’ll find places to stay with your dog from farmers' fields to shepherd’s huts which welcome dogs and their owners. Listings are dotted all over England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland and can be filtered by recommended or user ratings. So pack that tent, a sleeping bag and your camping-friendly canine companions and sleep out in the great outdoors this summer. 

Local tips to know before traveling to England

Unwind with yoga, a spa or a gong bath at Retreat East, Suffolk Coast

Set on the Suffolk Coast, this former dairy farm now hosts guests and their dogs in a country house or surrounding luxury barns . There’s also an onsite spa, yoga classes and sound meditation so why not book some pet-sitting and pamper yourself while you’re here. And for families with more than one pooch, there’s good news: two dogs can stay per barn. Pets are expected to be kept on lead in communal areas of course.

The best times to visit England for fun, festivals and the great outdoors

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London with a dog: Tips for a relaxed holiday

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London has always been one of my absolute favorite cities and it quickly became clear that we would like to take Frieda with us to this metropolis at some point. So that Frieda's city trip doesn't turn into a torture, we had to approach the planning from scratch this time - starting with the journey to finding the right accommodation. I can already anticipate one thing - the trip to London was an absolute dream. In this blog post I would therefore like to summarize everything I have learned about traveling to London with a dog.

• Entry requirements for dogs
• Traveling to London with a dog
• Find dog-friendly accommodation in London
• Dog friendly things to do in London
• Restaurant tips: eating out with your dog in London

1. Entry requirements for dogs in London and England: Don't forget tapeworm treatment!

In order for your dog to be allowed to go to England and London, it needs an EU pet passport, a valid rabies vaccination and a microchip. Unlike when traveling within the EU with a dog, you must also have a tapeworm treatment carried out to enter Great Britain. This may be administered no earlier than 5 days before entry and no later than 24 hours before entry. Unfortunately, getting a wormer from the vet is not enough. The wormer must be administered by the veterinarian and documented with the exact time in the pet passport. So think about the appointment in good time, otherwise you will be refused entry at the border crossing. If you are coming from the following countries, the obligation to treat tapeworms does not apply: Finland, Ireland, Malta and Norway. Good, by the way, if you're planning to travel in and out of Ireland via the UK.

2. Traveling to London with a dog: With the Eurotunnel or ferry to England?

In recent years we have always flown to London. But since this is out of the question with a dog, we decided to drive through the Eurotunnel. This was perfect for us. The process is extremely uncomplicated. The first thing you do is head to the check-in area with your car. Here you enter your booking number at the machine or with the staff and you will receive your ticket. Then it's off to the Pet Reception. In France it is a drive-in, in England it is a reception building. Here you present your dog's pet ID card (of course with the documented tapeworm treatment) and have the chip read. By the way, you can do it yourself. You will then receive a hanger for your car and can continue to passport control. With that everything is settled. Waiting times can be bridged on the specially set up dog parks before we all get on the train and through the tunnel. The journey takes around 30 minutes. Including all checks and waiting time, we needed around one and a half hours.

If you want to take the ferry to London, you can take the ferry from Calais to Dover or from Dunkirk to Dover. There are two providers: P&O and DFDS. What both providers have in common is that the dogs have to stay in the car on the approximately two-hour drive to Dover. Unfortunately, it is not possible to take them on board. But here, too, your dog's passport will be checked before departure. Tip: If you also want to travel to Northern England or Scotland, the night ferry from Newcastle to Amsterdam (DFDS) is also an option. Pet cabins can be booked here. In this article you will also find all the information about taking a ferry with a dog in Europe.

Driving in London: Important information

So that you don't fall into a cost trap, you have to take care of two things before you travel to London: you have to pay the London City toll if you plan to drive in the city center and you have to book your car online for the low emission Register batch. You pay a congestion charge of £11.50 for driving in central London. And if you don't have a green sticker, you also pay a so-called Low Emission Charge (even in the entire London area). And very important: even if you have a green sticker, you have to register your car online in advance.

Click here to register for the Low Emission Charge

This way to the London City Toll for London

Driving in England: Important rules

While driving through the Eurotunnel with a dog is quite relaxed, the first time driving on the left was quite a bit of a challenge for us. Driving in London, in particular, requires concentration (and sometimes good nerves). And since we chose a hotel on the outskirts of London in Greenwich, the traffic was probably harmless compared to the city center.

I can therefore only advise you to read through all the important rules for driving in the UK before you travel. That really helped us. The most important summarized:

• Convert speeds from miles to kilometers per hour. Always 1.6
• Roundabout: Turn left into the roundabout. If you want to take the first exit, then turn left. If you're driving straight ahead, don't blink. If you take the third exit, turn right as you enter. Attention, if there are several lanes, then pay attention to the signs and choose the right lane.
• Blitzer: There are not only normal Blitzer, but also the Average Time Controll. Here your average speed is recorded over a longer section.
• Tolls: There are almost no tolls on motorways in England. Exceptions are some bridges and tunnels. You can find local toll stations here. For information on the London congestion charge, see above.

3. Dog-friendly places to stay in London

As with any trip with a dog, you have the choice between a hotel and a holiday apartment in London. We were surprised how many hotels are completely dog-friendly. So the choice was really big. However, the location is almost more important. All districts with a (Royal) Park are perfect for a trip to London with a dog. We chose Greenwich, which we can definitely recommend. We stayed in the Novotel, just a stone's throw from the park.

Dog friendly areas of London

• Notting Hill
• Knightsbride

Alternatively, of course, you can live or camp entirely outside of London and take the dog-friendly train into the city.

4. Getting around London with a dog

Even if you're traveling by car, you probably don't want to use it to get around London. Public transport is better. These can be used with dogs without any restrictions, without additional costs and without a muzzle requirement. The tube is only allowed for dogs that can be carried in a bag. Better then: bus, taxi or fall back on my absolute insider tip: the Uber Boats.

The Uber Boat (formerly Thames Clipper) connects all the major highlights along the Thames. You can get tickets at the stations or online. We had our accommodation in Greenwich and were able to drive into the city and back very relaxed. Sightseeing included.

Getting around London: Dogs are allowed here

• Tube (small dogs only)

4. Dog activities in London

London is an exciting city. And of course you have to be considerate of your four-legged friends on a holiday in London with your dog. Nevertheless, there is a lot to experience and explore together here. I would therefore like to introduce you to the most dog-friendly activities and places.

With a dog in the London parks

Your dog will thank you if you spend a lot of time in London's parks, which, by the way, take up almost 18 percent of the area. Incidentally, Londoners are very relaxed about their dogs. Dogs are allowed to run, play and romp freely in the parks. Frieda has made many friends here. Of course, the same rules apply as always: the dog must be available, must not hunt animals (there are countless squirrels in the parks) and should be very friendly. And of course you put away everything the dog leaves behind.

The Royal Royal Parks in London:

Greenwich Park

Kensington Gardens

Regent's Park

Richmond Park

St James's Park

Other parks:

Hampstead Heath

Holland Park

Victoria Park

City walk with dog along Regent's Canal

Of course you also want to explore the city area. A city walk along Regent's Canal is particularly beautiful. The Regent's Canal runs from Camden to King's Cross. Downtown meets local recreation here. The area is also known as the Little Venice of London. You are in the middle of London and yet it is totally relaxed.

Insider tip Tower Bridge with dog

In fact, you can take your dog to Tower Bridge's visitor level for free. However, he should not be afraid of riding an elevator. In addition, part of the floor is made of glass. Those who prefer to admire the bridge from the outside (like us) can best do so from the south side of the Thames. Here are some green spaces from which you can enjoy the view of London's landmarks in a particularly good and relaxed way.

Queens Walk: With a dog on the Thames

The Queens Walk runs along the River Thames with spectacular views of the city. There are always green spaces here, and the whole zone is car-free. It can still get quite crowded around noon. By the way: Along the Thames there are always small, hidden beaches where you can play with your dog.

Greenwich: This part of town is just perfect for a trip to London with a dog.

We've always skipped Greenwich in recent years, but this time it really was the star of our trip. Not only that the park is really beautiful and the view of the London skyline is simply fantastic. There is just so much to see here. The Old Royal Naval College, the Cutty Sark museum ship and the zero-median Royal Observatory, for example. If you loved Bridgerton like I did, you will also find the Ranger's House here - the town house of the Bridgerton family. Or you simply stroll through the incredibly pretty streets and go to one of the many pubs. And if you still want to see more of London, just hop on an Uber Boat with your dog.

Shoreditch and the East End: So much to see

Unfortunately, dogs are not allowed in London's museums, but you can take a look at the street art in East London together with your dog. Even for free. The Shoreditch and East End areas are really exciting and worth seeing. However, there are not quite as many green spaces here. So more suitable for a trip.

The districts in the west: Well suited for London with a dog

The two districts of Kensington and Chelsea are in the west of the city. It's not that crowded here, there are some small parks and some really impressive buildings. Paddington and Marylebone are also among the luxury residential areas that are perfect for exploring with dogs.

Notting Hill - better avoided on Saturdays

Thanks to its proximity to Hyde Park, pretty Notting Hill is ideal for a London vacation with your dog. However, the market is held on Saturdays, which can be really stressful for your dog.

5. Restaurant tips for London with a dog

In general, dog-friendly restaurants in London are pretty much the same everywhere: there are plenty, you just have to find them. In fact, finding one in London is easy, as many dog-friendly restaurants and pubs have signs on the door.

Dog friendly restaurants and cafes in London

• Shake Shack: The burger chain even has a dog menu. There are locations in Tottenham Court Rd, Victoria, Covent Garden, Canary Wharf, Leicester Square and Stratford.
• The Trafalgar Tavern (Greenwich): Located on the River Thames, this beautiful pub has a great outdoor area. Dogs are also welcome inside.
• The Sail Loft (Greenwich): Modern pub right on the Thames. For dogs you will find a small bar with snacks, water and blankets.
• Starbucks: You can also take your dog with you to Starbucks branches. Perfect as they can be found on every corner in London.
• The Pavilion Cafe (Greenwich): Beautiful cafe in the historic Pavilion in Greenwich Park.

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Cruise Maven

Cruising the World One Port at a Time

How to Cruise with Your Dog Aboard Queen Mary 2

By: Sherry Laskin · Updated On: August 24, 2022

What if your employer wants you to relocate to London. Or you’re lucky enough to spend a summer vacation in the pastoral English countryside.

An apartment in Paris with your poodle? It would be wonderful to visit your relatives in England or America without the need to board your pet at home.

There’s only one cruise ship in the world that has dog and cat kennels. Cunard Line’s Queen Mary 2 has been transporting dogs and cats pampered in style across the Atlantic for decades.

Cruise with Your Cat or Dog using Queen Mary 2 Kennels

Transatlantic crossings are the only time you can reserve a Queen Mary 2 kennel.

You can cruise with your pet on either an eastbound or westbound transatlantic cruise between New York City and Southampton, England. 

Cunard doesn’t allow back-to-back cruises. However, you could disembark in Southampton, stay a few days or weeks and then return to New York.

READ NEXT: What It’s Like on a Queen Mary 2 Transatlantic Crossing

Why Queen Mary 2 Kennels Are So Special

Remember, Cunard’s Queen Mary 2 is the only ship in the world that permits pets to cruise with their owners between the two countries. 

The only option to cruise with your dog on other cruise lines would be if it is a bona fide service animal.

All you need to do is to book your personal Queen Mary 2 transatlantic crossing. Then if space is available, book the kennel for your pet. There’s paperwork to complete, too.

How Will My Dog or Cat Be Treated in the Kennel?

People aren’t the only creatures that receive Cunard’s legendary White Glove Service. In charge of the Queen Mary 2 kennels is the Kennel Master and assistant. 

They will pamper, feed and exercises the dogs outside on their own deck space. Cats are tended to as well.

If that’s not enough, each canine or feline also receives a special welcome aboard gift.

Following the Queen Mary 2 remastering in 2018, there are now a total of 24 kennels; 12 upper and 12 lower. Larger dogs may reserve two kennels. Two lower kennels combine to accommodate bigger breeds.

Cats are required to be on the upper level with two kennels, one for the litter box and one for the living area.

What are the Requirements to Travel with Pets? 

For many years, England required a six-month quarantine, despite proof of vaccination. Now it’s easy to cross the Atlantic with your dog and the Queen Mary 2  kennels. 

There is a stack of paperwork to complete prior to boarding, no matter which direction you will cruise.

Eastbound crossings from New York to Southampton:

• Microchips are required for every pet
• Had a rabies vaccine 21 days or more before the cruise
• Issued with an official Veterinary Certificate within 10 days of the cruise
• Dogs must be treated against heartworm, 1-5 days prior to boarding

Westbound crossings from Southampton to New York:

• Issued a current Health Certificate within 30 days before entry into New York
• Rabies vaccine – check for the most recent update from the United States CDC

Note:  If pet owners have an EU pet passport, the passport cannot be updated by a US or Canadian vet. A U.K. or EU veterinarian is the only person who can update a pet passport.

Clearly, it’s easier to bring your pet into the United States than into England. Today, the British quarantine period has been removed, provided the owner has fulfilled all of the requirements for cats or dogs.

How to Reserve a Queen Mary 2 Kennel

It’s important for you to reserve your Queen Mary 2 kennel as soon as possible. You can reserve a kennel up to two years before the sailing.

If you request a particular sailing date and the kennels are already reserved, ask to be put on a waitlist.

People tend to reserve the kennels way ahead of time in the hopes of taking their cruise.

Plans change and people cancel their reservation so there’s a chance you’ll get a kennel.

Is There Visitation Time During the Cruise? 

Of course! Guest staterooms or public areas are off-limits to pets. Service dogs are the only exception. 

Owners may visit their pets at the kennels during the scheduled times every day of the voyage.

In addition to the outdoor, off-leash doggie area, there is also an indoor play space where the dogs can romp around off-leash, too, should inclement weather prevail.

Visiting hours have changed since the pandemic. They now are:

• 8:00am to 12:00pm
• 3:00pm to 6:00pm
• 7:30pm to 8:30pm
• *Guests should check onboard for specific hours

How Much Does a Queen Mary 2 Kennel Cost?

If you’re wondering how much Queen Mary 2 kennels cost, it isn’t cheap. But it’s worth the cost to transport your beloved pet and know they are well cared for onboard.

• Upper kennel $800.00 each – Dimensions: 27″ high, 35 1/2″ deep, 30″ wide.
• Lower kennel $1,000.00 each – 36″ high, 35 1/2″ deep, 30″ wide.

Prices Updated:  July 2022.

Queen Mary 2 Kennel Rules 

• Only dogs and cats and ferrets are allowed.
• There is no veterinarian onboard.
• Dogs may be walked onto the ship or in a kennel.
• Cats must be brought onboard in a kennel.
• Pets in the upper kennels must weight 26 lbs. or less
• Lower kennels occupants are 26 lbs. and more

It’s easy to arrange for you to travel with your pet between England and the United States.

It’s extremely important to follow Cunard’s instructions exactly as stated or your pet may not be allowed to even board the ship.

Prices may change over time so consult Cunard for the most up-to-date kennel prices.

Why stress out your pet (and you!) when Fido or Fluffy can travel aboard the Queen Mary 2 and be a four-legged, pampered passenger for a week.

You can email Cunard about Queen Mary 2 dog kennels at:  [email protected]

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About Sherry Laskin

I'm the editor and creator of CruiseMaven.com, a solo traveler cruising the world without flying. I hope my articles and photos entertain, advise and inspire you to travel the world without flying. Take a breath...stop for a local meal and a glass of wine along the way.

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October 7, 2023 at 9:57 pm

Hi Maria, Thank you for reading my article! Dogs with meds are allowed at this time but the owner has to administer them, to the best of my knowledge. And yes, all the dogs get along…but there could be one or two that have socialization issues and the owner needs to keep that dog on a leash. The kennel department has more details. Don’t wait too long to reserve your kennels…especially if you want to try to get two next to each other. Good luck and have fun!

October 5, 2023 at 10:50 pm

Hi! We may try to take our 2 small dogs in 2 years. Can anyone tell me if dogs are allowed with treated medical conditions? One of mine has epilepsy that’s well controlled with meds. Also do all the dogs usually get along and mingle together like in the pictures? Looks like quite an adventure! Thanks…

September 20, 2023 at 11:21 am

Hi, you’ll have to contact the kennel department at Cunard. Reach out to their reservations and ask for the kennel info. Usually the kennels are booked a year in advance. Good luck!

September 20, 2023 at 11:01 am

what are the available dates for traveling with my pet on the QEII please. Are repeat passengers.

May 17, 2023 at 11:34 am

LOL. Maybe we’ll be on the same crossings.

May 16, 2023 at 12:55 pm

I’m actually booked for my fifth and sixth TA with the dog in autumn 2024. He won’t be at all pleased when he finds out.

May 13, 2023 at 4:29 pm

Hi Ian, Thanks again for contributing to this on-going post. And yes, the paperwork from the US to the UK is extensive and a last-minute visit to a vet in NYC for any missing paperwork isn’t too uncommon. Hope all is well.

May 9, 2023 at 7:52 am

Yes, the kennel places sell out and then waitlist very quickly – for 2024 some of the crossings were full on the day the bookings opened.

But I’ve done four TAs and there are always people who have managed to get on with their pets at short notice. Cancellations are quite common, especially as the sailing date approaches, and if you are able to book at short notice it is always worth checking with Cunard whether there is any late availability; a lot of people aren’t able to take up places that become available late because they don’t have the flexibility to make the arrangements quickly and/or can’t get the cabin they would want for themselves. Indeed three of my four crossings sailed with at least one empty kennel.

I’m not an expert on the US paperwork but know that the Americans travelling on the ship all had tales of last minute rushes and drives and express couriers back and forth and the like to get their paperwork to and back from the USDA ready for the crossing.

May 1, 2023 at 9:04 pm

Hi Shane, Thank you for reading my article and I’m glad you found it helpful. I just had this same conversation today about the 48-hour vet visit prior to boarding and finding a vet in NYC! Yes, the kennels are sold out for this year (as you probably already know, sorry for my late reply). But there’s always a waiting list…however, I think they will require two kennels for your larger dogs.

The downside is that if the kennel doesn’t clear, you’re stuck with the stateroom for the crossing, unless you cancel before final payment is due and check for any cancellation penalties.

Ten thousand dollars for flying your two Goldens?? That’s insane!

About having a Canadian vet sign off on the dogs’ paperwork…I’m not sure about that one. You’ll need to confirm with the Kennel department. I thought it had to be a U.S. vet…even though Canada is in the Commonwealth…doesn’t make sense.

I hope you can figure out how to do your relocation this year and that space opens up for two kennels. Thank you again for reading my article.

April 26, 2023 at 1:37 am

We’re late to the party here but thank you so much for the hugely helpful article!

We’re relocating from Vancouver, Canada to the UK some point in the near future (ideally August) and due to the obscene cost of pet travel on a flight (over $10,000 not including our own flights) to London, for our two Golden Retrievers, someone suggested this option.

I’m going to contact Cunard right now about availability but I’m assuming we’ll be sweet out of luck to even attempt to get on the August eastbound sailing, this close to departure (only 4 months away).

Because we’ll be coming from Canada, I’m assuming we’ll need to see a veterinarian in NYC and have them complete the forms within the timeframe. The other option is for us to make our way to Toronto, and have everything signed off there, and then drive in 1-2 days to NYC or fly the dogs from there on the short hop. Any input on that?

In any case, thank you for the article! What an amazing thing and what a start to our fresh start this would be.

December 16, 2022 at 10:57 pm

Thanks, Ian. I have been in contact with the new kennel person – so I had better reach out again for the latest booking list. Hopefully something will open for me and Poppy. Thanks again for your updates!

December 13, 2022 at 10:54 am

The kennel booking system has now returned to the previous arrangement, but in the rush for 2024 bookings quite a few prospective travellers have ended up waitlisted for the kennels – all for the lower (dog weights 26 lbs and above) – despite making their cabin bookings during the first few days. I got my 2024 places because I was very early in the queue.

People wanting to book their dogs onto the QM2 can be reassured by knowing that places do come available as people cancel once the payment deadline arrives three months in advance of the departure date, but those on already long waitlists (almost all for the eastbound crossings, which are clearly much more popular) will have a nerve wracking year waiting for cancellations to come through.

December 9, 2022 at 9:42 pm

Hi Ian, Thanks for your response, too, to the question about jumping the gate. I was just informed about 2024 and I’m trying to get Poppy and me booked…finally! I’ll let you know what happens.

December 8, 2022 at 5:29 pm

I’m not sure what you mean by ‘partition’ – there’s the gate at the entrance; once I saw a dog slip through it, but it only took seconds to fetch back. Jumping the gate would be a challenge, and it’s not obvious why they would bother. If they jumped the back fence of the kennel deck, they’d land on the Grills sundeck with broken legs, and would a dogs really be that dumb?

Yes, most owners stay with their dogs during the opening hours – those that don’t aren’t doing their dog any favours, nor the other owners who have to sit and listen to it barking all day. Although dogs vary by breed and there are some that are more relaxed about being left on their own than others.

The 2024 kennel spaces are now released, but the new booking arrangements – where you now have to book by telephone and, instead of contacting the kennels directly afterwards, you ask for the kennel when making the cabin booking – supposedly mean that we’ll be told whether we have been lucky or not (on a first come first served basis) by the end of this week!

November 19, 2022 at 2:00 pm

Hi Barbara, Thank you for reading my article and the attached comments. They are very helpful! To the best of my knowledge and experience up at the kennel, I haven’t heard of any dog jumping the partition. Yes, almost everyone stays for the entire visitation time. It becomes sort of a social club, really. If you are concerned about your dog jumping over the rail, then by all means keep him on a leash. Oliver is the kennel master with years of experience and would be your best source of information once you and your dog are on board. I’ve seen all sorts of dogs in the kennel but I don’t want to guarantee anything. Better safe than sorry and see how your dog acts in that narrow walking area. Don’t wait too long to make your kennel reservation. They sell out quickly! Thank you again for your question.

November 4, 2022 at 8:47 am

Thanks so much for this article and for the extremely helpful comment section! I would consider it but I wonder, have any dogs nearly jumped over the partition? It looks to be only four feet in some spots around that narrow off leash area. I’m worried my hound could jump it and I’d have to have him on a leash the whole time. I would probably want to be there for the entire visiting time, do people do that? Thinking of moving overseas and this is the only way.

October 11, 2022 at 5:03 pm

Hi Ian, Thanks so much for your update! I’m amazed that Oliver remembered me. I’ll find out more about the autumn refit and let you know! Maybe I’ll be able to get a kennel for Poppy, too. Enjoy your and your pet’s cruise!

October 11, 2022 at 9:30 am

Oliver was remembering his interview with you today.

Half way through the crossing home, and the fifteen dogs are mostly coping very well.

The QM2 is scheduled for a refit in the autumn of 2023, and we are hoping for some modest enhancements for the kennels – watch this space!

August 24, 2022 at 4:24 pm

I mis-converted your 20:30. I don’t have the need to use a 24-hour clock very often. Will correct.

August 23, 2022 at 11:44 am

The evening kennel slot is 7.30pm to 8.30pm – not until 10.30pm!

That last hour gives owners having an 1800 dinner time to rush up after the meal and have half an hour with the dog before it gets put to bed for the night, and those on the 2030 sitting time to do the same before heading off to dinner,

At 8.30pk, Oliver and John get a well earned rest and the kennels are closed for the night!

June 17, 2022 at 9:39 am

I would be happy to pay a heck of a lot more if the dogs have a mock forest or woodland, with grass and trees. I have travelled on many ships where this is provided for humans, what about the dogs? And suites for dogs and humans, only dog owners would use them, keep up with the times Cunnard. I love travelling with you but please think of these options. I am sure you would profit as many of us think more of our animals than ourselves. I am Autistic and my service dog is my VIP. You have a huge deck with lots of space, please use it.

April 4, 2022 at 8:34 pm

Hello. I had a question concerning entry requirements from NYC to Southampton. I am taking my two labradors from NYC to Southampton and then directly onto France as a final destination. I have reserved 4 kennels for May crossing. I have read many articles and contacted many offices but still am a little unclear with the paperwork. I wanted to ask people who already made this journey either their dogs. I know the USDA endorsement of the health certificate has to be done 10 days before the dogs embark. But what about the health certificate itself, I read it could be done during 30 days before and then the endorsement 10 days before. Since I am driving from California to NYC which will take about 5 days, I am a little stressed with time. I wouldn’t want the health certificate to arrive sooner that 10 days or later from the USDA office. Or I could do it in NYC but I don’t really want to stay in a hotel there with two dogs for days waiting for the certificates. If anyone would have any tips that would be great. Thank you.

November 6, 2021 at 6:10 pm

Hi James, Thank for your reading my article and leaving your comment. You will need to contact Cunard for the latest info on reserving a kennel. The crossings are 7-days between New York and Southampton. Don’t wait too long to reserve your kennel as they quickly fill.

November 2, 2021 at 10:54 am

Morning Just wondering on your next available date to trave to England

I have a mid size dog fully vaccinated and paperwork and chipped

And how long is the crossing !

March 31, 2021 at 9:21 am

Thanks, Ian. I totally agree with you.

March 30, 2021 at 3:50 pm

@Sherry The CDC ban runs until November and hence they are taking bookings thereafter. The comment yesterday that the 2021 (and probably Jan 2022) sailings won’t happen was a private one and a guess rather than hard information, but I reckon it may well turn out to be on the money. Things remain in the balance in the US, which is the critical place as far as resuming TAs is concerned.

If they cancel the cruise, they have to refund your deposit (or offer you an enhancement to take FCC instead), under both UK and US consumer law.

I know all 2022 kennel places are booked and there is a significant waitlist for all crossings, such that they aren’t taking new bookings now (except possibly for the bottom of the waitlist for a handful of eastbounds – which would be a long shot). I don’t know about 2023.

March 30, 2021 at 10:49 am

Hi Ian, You must have read my mind. I was thinking of you and all of your super-helpful comments…thank you again. Also, now that I have a small dog, it was on my to-do list to make a kennel reservation for 2022. I guess I just need to call and get the bad news from the source, as well. Maybe there will be a kennel wait-list for the kennel wait-list!

Here in the U.S., Cunard is accepting transatlantic reservations starting this November 2021, in both directions (sans kennel), at least on their U.S. booking site. In fact, Queens Grill is sold out for November and December, West and East. Whether or not they will actually sail certainly remains to be seen. Plus, as I proceeded with the mock booking, this popped up: “The deposit of the fare you have selected is 100% Non-refundable and Non-Transferable.” There is no mention of cancellations due to suspended cruises and if they will refund or credit you should that happen.

Next, thanks for the greatly detailed advice for a crossing with a large dog. All the times that I’ve interviewed Oliver or took photos up there, I never saw a really large dog..nothing bigger than a small yellow lab, really.

I hope all is well. And again, thanks for your comments on this very long and popular post! Sherry

March 30, 2021 at 3:03 am

p.s. I should have added that for 2022 crossings the kennels are so over-booked that they aren’t now even taking people for the waitlist.

March 30, 2021 at 2:59 am

@ Sherry I spoke to Cunard yesterday, and it looks likely there won’t be any Transatlantics now until 2022, which given the timetable means late April at the earliest.

@ Judy For a large dog, the dog obviously needs to be able to stand up in its kennel, and the lower kennels are in a block (row) all three feet high. So a standing height (top of head) at three feet represents a hard upper limit.

Beyond that, you need to consider how you’ll (and s/he’ll) manage with a very large dog in accommodation that is already very cramped. Much of the time you will be sitting in the kennels room with lots of other owners and their dogs; the very large dog that made the crossing with us spent most of its time standing on a very short lead by its owner’s legs, being pulled this way and that as people wanted to step by. The challenges of the crossing (covered in some of the comments below) are magnified for a larger dog, which it is impossible to exercise properly on the small amount of open deck space available; you know your dog best and will need to think about how she or he might cope with the experience.

November 11, 2020 at 11:52 am

Hi Judy, Thanks for reading the article. I’ve seen Golden Retrievers in Queen Mary’s kennels…but not a giant breed, like Great Dane. While two side-by-side kennels can adjoin, there’s not a way to raise the roof on them, so to speak. I would suggest giving Cunard a call and see what the rules are for 2021 and if maybe they might add new kennels for bigger dogs. Good luck. Sherry

November 11, 2020 at 11:46 am

Interesting info. When I checked on sailing with dog before, was told only smaller dogs. Mine is giant breed., about 36″ tall. So, this is still an option ?

September 15, 2020 at 1:10 am

You have the dimensions above in the article.

August 13, 2020 at 8:14 pm

Hi Ian, Thank you again for your contribution. Yes, I’ve seen where two kennels were opened together for a collie, I think. Next time, I’ll measure the height of the bottom kennels. It would be helpful. I think that the person in California who would know the answer to dimensions is unfortunately not in the office very often right now. Again, thanks! Sherry

August 13, 2020 at 5:46 pm

@Roz on my return crossing there was a big dog (bigger than a Lab) and his owners had paid for two kennels and these were opened up together to make one larger space. The dimensions of the kennels are easily available and you are the best person to judge whether or not the space will be sufficient.

August 13, 2020 at 12:35 pm

Hi Roz, Thanks for taking the time to write. I wish I had an answer to your question. The largest dogs I’ve seen in the kennels were labs. You might want to contact Cunard’s Kennel Master in their California office and someone there could address your questions. Interesting bit of info about Ben the Borzoi. They are such beautiful animals. Thank you again. Sherry

August 11, 2020 at 8:13 pm

How do you travel if you have a giant breed? I have a borzoi who is 34″ at the shoulder and want to move to England and take him with me and I can’t see flying with him. I don’t know if he’d even fit in the largest kennel standing up. Also, since the Captain of the Titanic had a borzoi named Ben I hope this isn’t a bad sign (he didn’t bring his borzoi aboard that fateful day thank goodness!)

August 6, 2020 at 2:13 pm

Hi Tony, I’m amazed at everyone’s helpful comments and contributions to this post. To the best of my knowledge (and things can always change) the pet owner is able to give the meds to their pet as needed. One of the kennel masters must of course be able to admit you to the kennel. This question should be addressed directly to Cunard for an exact answer but IMO it shouldn’t be an issue as long as there’s a workaround solution compatible with the kennel hours and the kennel master. Thank you for reading the article and taking the time to write. Much appreciated. I hope you and your pet have a wonderful cruise…whenever that may happen. Sherry

August 6, 2020 at 10:00 am

We love these accounts of everyone’s experiences and understand all the requirements which need to be met with regards to documentation and certification of pets. Naturally we would bring with us our travel pack of meds and digestive remedies and so on. We can’t seem to find any information as to how folks work with a pet which needs its meds at regular times each day or whether in fact the kennels have restrictions on taking animals with pre-existing health conditions?

July 24, 2020 at 3:27 pm

Hi Kristen, Thank you very much for reading the article and sending a question. Yes, all the animals can hear each other. It’s not like the cages/kennels are dog, cat, dog, cat etc. The cats are in a slightly separated section but definitely can hear the dogs. I’d like to say that it’s only seven days to cross, but for jittery cats, that can seem like a very long time. I hope it works out for you and your pal. Thank you again for your question. Sherry

July 23, 2020 at 7:30 pm

Hi! Thanks for all the great info. Do you know if the cats are kept in the same area as the dogs or if their kennels are separate? I’m concerned about the cats being nervous from dogs barking all around them.

April 22, 2020 at 3:48 pm

Once again, thank you Ian, for sharing your actual experience using the kennels. Oliver is a gem. Stay safe.

April 22, 2020 at 5:30 am

To Lisa M – cats can’t be let out in the kennel rooms or open deck, lest they provide excessive excitement for the dogs. And, of course, cats have a habit of disappearing into inaccessible places, which is the last thing you would want on a ship. On my crossings, some of the (very few) cats stayed in their kennels the whole time. For a couple, their owners used their carry cage to bring the cat out into the kennel room, and sat there with it with a towel over the cage so that it wasn’t disturbed by the surrounding dogs. This at least allowed the owners to share some time with their cat and open the cage door to give it a stroke. On my return crossing Oliver was good enough to banish all the dog owners onto deck (in good weather!) for an hour, to allow the cat to have at least a little taste of freedom inside the room, but this was just once during the seven days.

During the Brexit transition period, at least, the easiest way to get certification is to get an EU pet passport, which includes proof of rabies vaccination and makes it easier to travel with a pet. Otherwise, I am guessing that a vet’s vaccination certificate would be sufficient. On my westbound, there weren’t any checks whatsoever on arriving pets at the New York terminal, and on the eastbound DEFRA now do spot checks on random crossings only. I am sure there will (eventually) be some sort of UK equivalent process after the Brexit transition period ends (which may well now be before cruising fully resumes)

April 21, 2020 at 8:19 pm

Thank you for reading the Queen Mary 2 article and taking the time to write.

April 21, 2020 at 10:04 am

I love how informative this is. I’ve never considered taking my pups on a cruise or boat, but I have some air travel experience. It’s never easy, but I’m very happy to see the details here!

March 16, 2020 at 2:00 pm

H Ian, Thank you again for your ongoing contributions to helping with this topic. Your first line – the part in parenthesis – is spot-on. Please stay safe and healthy. And thanks again for your ongoing comments. Once this crisis is past and cruise lines start up again, I’ll revisit this topic for more clarification.

March 16, 2020 at 12:01 pm

To Ashley (and somewhat academic for the foreseeable, but anyhow), everything about dogs on the QM2 is confined. The dog deck is narrow and gets crowded when all 20-ish dogs are out with their owners. When is is windy and wet (often!) the two small rooms get very crowded and claustrophobic. But your dog won’t be wandering around when you aren’t there – you’ll (hopefully) be around for most of the opening hours to keep an eye on your dog and intervene to sort out any incidents.

One of the reasons why, for the dog owners, a QM2 crossing is not really a relaxing experience.

By the way, there’s a small mistake in the article in that US vets are allowed to update the pet passport (only) as far as the tapeworm treatment is concerned. I had this confirmed by UK DEFRA before my trip and this is what I did when in the US.

March 11, 2020 at 12:14 pm

Hello~ I am traveling from the UK to the US on the QM2. (We are American Expats). I am traveling with my cat and dog. I have read so much on the topic of paperwork for their exportation. I have come to realize that they need the Rabies vaccination and a health certificate. However, the UK does not have “Health Certificates” and “Rabies Certificates” . Can anyone tell me what they have done to provide this information once we get to NY customs? Also…side question. Is there a place for my cat to get out and stretch his legs? I realize it has to be a confined room. I have read that dogs can go out on the deck and they have their own room but what about my kitty? I appreciate any information you can give. Thanks so much

February 27, 2020 at 1:43 am

Hi Linda, Thanks for your comment. That’s interesting that you asked about it. You can bring your pet’s bed and they will furnish towels if needed. Unless something’s changed, there’s an area of deck just outside the entrance to the kennel where dogs do their business. I hope this helps. Sherry

February 26, 2020 at 9:57 pm

Thanks for your question. Dog owners must also book passage. Pets cannot travel alone. I hope this helps.

February 26, 2020 at 11:27 am

Can you put your dog on the Queen Mary 2 alone or do you have to book passage on the ship as well?

February 25, 2020 at 5:47 pm

Do dogs and cats bring own beds and towels to get dried off if wet outside and do they poop on the deck or grass area?

February 4, 2020 at 4:34 pm

Ian – thanks for all the information!

You mention “if your dog may not cope well in a confined space with other dogs, think carefully.”

Can you expand on that? When are the dogs in a confined space together with other dogs? My dog will be fine alone her own kennel (even if it’s in a room with other kenneled dogs). She likes her space though when it comes to “open play” with other dogs. She’ll start fights with dogs that play too rough for her. I would prefer if she’s only at “open play” when I’m around. Is this situation going to work?

January 14, 2020 at 11:25 pm

Hi Diana, Thank you for this interesting question. I couldn’t begin to give you an accurate answer in case I was way off base. I would definitely contact Cunard’s Kennel department as soon as possible and get everything in writing. It would seem like you’d need something from the US, too, but being that you are coming from a Commonwealth and going to the U.K. logic would tell me that all would be good. Again, please reach out to Cunard. Have a wonderful crossing and I’m sorry that I couldn’t give you a definitive answer.

January 14, 2020 at 8:26 pm

Hi, I’m from Canada, booked for the May US to UK crossing, so the vet and tapeworm and health certificate 10 days before will be done and stamped by a Canadian vet and the Canadian ministry. Once I enter the US (since I plan on getting in US one or two days before we embark), do I need another vet visit and health certificate issued and stamped from a US vet and US ministry or will Cunard accept the Canadian one, even though I cross the border into US? Thank you.

January 4, 2020 at 7:01 pm

Hi Amy, Thanks for asking…yes, you have to call. It’s somewhat complicated and you will have contact with the Kennel department, too. And the kennels can quickly sell out, so don’t wait too long. Good Luck and thank you for your question. Sherry

January 4, 2020 at 6:50 pm

Is there a link to book a Queen Mary 2 kennel or do you have to call?

December 18, 2019 at 12:58 pm

Hi Jean, Thank you for your question. The coats are complimentary when you reserve a kennel for your dog. As far as I know, that’s the only way to get one for your pet.

December 18, 2019 at 8:44 am

How can we purchase the red dog coats for our dogs with the queen mary 2 embroidered on them

September 6, 2019 at 8:36 am

Oops I made a small mistake in my last post – it was the return leg that I was waitlisted for, and the cancellation came through just over three months before we sailed. This was likely due to the 90-day cancellation cutoff date. That’s therefore a good time to be asking about cancellations (remembering that there will already be a waitlist and you can’t get on the wait list unless you have already booked a cabin for yourself).

September 6, 2019 at 8:26 am

@Alexandra – it s very hard to give firm advice on the waitlist, other than booking as early as you can if you want to be sure. I booked more than eighteen months ahead, and was very surprised to be waitlisted for a large kennel on one leg even back then. I went ahead with booking a small kennel (my dog is borderline) and the large kennel came through on the wait list six weeks before we sailed.

On the other hand I met one couple who had booked for themselves and the dog only a few weeks earlier and managed to get space. And another couple who had booked and paid deposits on three different crossings, because they didn’t know when their relocation would come through, and then Cunard had let them roll up all the deposits towards the crossing they actually made.

So my impression is that the kennels book out VERY early, but because a lot of the users are people relocating for work reasons, cancellations during the last few months are quite common.

However booking for yourself and waitlisting for the dog is a risk since if the kennel doesn’t come through you either can’t take the dog or lose your own deposit if you don’t travel. So the realistic choices are either to book very early, or leave everything until quite late.

September 5, 2019 at 12:43 am

Hi Ian, Crossings can be rough…or a millpond. It’s so unpredictable these days. Traveling during hurricane season can be especially risky for having calm seas. Same for winter. But you just never know. I hope your dog is feeling better. Thank you again for your comments and updates. Hopefully it will help others. Sherry

September 3, 2019 at 7:08 pm

One further update – Cunard tell me today that they have abandoned the facility for owners to order a particular food, and now stock a range of about twelve foods (they will provide a list on request) and owners can either choose one of these, or bring their own supply of their usual food instead.

September 3, 2019 at 8:39 am

Does anyone know the typical process with the waitlist? Is it common for people to cancel? When do people have to cancel by?

September 3, 2019 at 8:13 am

Hi Sherry – yes it went well in the sense that we all arrived alive, and Oliver did a great job in charge of the kennel.

Before we left I read pretty much every blog about the crossing, and my main takeaway is that they don’t really spell out how tough it was for many of the dogs, and hence how stressful it is for most of the owners. We had the full range of digestive and behavioural problems, and a few of the dogs could barely bark at all (my own dog hasn’t fully recovered his voice two days later). Because of the wind and rain we spent most of the time sitting in a very confined space with up to eighteen restless dogs pacing around the floor.

It may be an adventure but it isn’t a walk in the park!

September 3, 2019 at 2:34 am

Hi Ian, Thank you for taking the time to follow up after you and your dog’s crossing. Much appreciated! Great tips to share. I hope it went well and that maybe Oliver was the kennel master! Sherry

September 2, 2019 at 8:48 pm

Having now done my crossing, I hope some extra tips might be useful:

– Take some old clothes that are wind- and waterproof (even in summer). – Expect to spend most of the 8 hours daily kennel time with your dog; almost everyone did. If you’re not there, your dog will mostly be locked up and likely barking his head off; don’t be the owner that everyone else mutters about. – So don’t expect to be enjoying many of the ship activities. With two you can share stints in the kennels, but you won’t be doing much together, other than meals. – Take lots of whatever calming remedies you have for your dog. Only a few dogs don’t have some problems with the experience, and some do suffer. – Get ready to spend seven days talking about dog poop. – Bring a favourite toy for the cage, but otherwise don’t bother; there’s now a ‘no toy’ rule to avoid sparking an incident. Similarly you’ll have to be discreet with giving treats. – Phone Cunard ten days or so before sailing to make sure they have ordered your food, or take it yourself. The food requests don’t always reach the ship. – Only take food and treats that you will use during the crossing; you can’t take it off the ship afterwards. – Make up your own canine first aid kit; there is neither vet nor medical materials on board. – You’re going to spend a lot of time calling your dog away from things, so brush up on the training! – Toward the end of the crossing there’s a doggie parade and photoshoot when the dogs come out on the open deck (on lead); if your travelling or dining companions want to see and meet your dog, this is their best chance. – go grab a book from the library after you embark; you’re going to spend a lot of time sitting in a small room (with one eye on your dog). – note that most owners give US $ cash tips to the kennelmaster and assistant. – if your dog may not cope well in a confined space with other dogs, think carefully. – make what allowances you can for having a dog who will be stressed, tired, under-exercised and dirty on disembarkation day. If you are travelling on, plan to buy dog food that day.

August 5, 2019 at 8:42 am

@ Lisa, Yes you need to book a cabin before you can make a kennel booking. The best bet is to talk to kennels first, to establish that there is availability on the crossing you are looking for, then make the booking ASAP, then go back to kennels to reserve the kennel place. For obvious reasons the kennels won’t allow you to book a kennel place without a Cunard booking numbe.

The blog states – incorrectly – that US vets aren’t able to make entries in a UK pet passport. I raised this with UK Defra directly, and have it in writing that US vets are able to complete the part of the pet passport that confirms that the pre-travel tapeworm treatment has been given, to meet Uk arrival requirements (but cannot complete other sections of the passport).

August 5, 2019 at 8:05 am

Hi Gabby, Thank you for your question. You will need to contact Cunard Line for booking information for you and your dog. The phone number in the US is 1-800-728-6273. I do not know what requirements are necessary to have your dog enter the United Kingdom from Argentina. Also, there should be a Cunard office in Buenos Aires as well, and someone there should be able to get a list of all the requirements needed. Good luck and thank you again for your question. Sherry

August 4, 2019 at 11:32 pm

Hi do you have place for a kennel November, or December 2019? I am flying from Argentina with my dog as an Emotional Support Animal, do you have any polices regarding this situation as I need the pet with me. Also once we arrive to SOU hw is the process into the customs with the dog? Many thanks, Gabby

July 29, 2019 at 9:24 pm

HI, I am going to be traveling back home to Ireland in the summer of 2020 and I will be bring my 3 dogs and cat with me. Boxer, American bulldog boxer dachshund mix and shihtzu. I don’t want to fly with that as it will be very hard on them as they have never been in a kennel/ crate before. I would like to get as much feedback as possible before I book anything. They all have their 3 yr rabies vaccine and are also microchipped.

July 6, 2019 at 1:38 pm

Thank you for your questions. Yes, I would first call Cunard at their regular number (1-800-7-CUNARD) and see what dates are available for the kennels since there are so few. Then you can book your own accommodation. Deposits will be required. Check the cancellation penalty dates, too.

Sounds like a fun trip for you! Happy cruising. Sherry

July 2, 2019 at 9:13 am

Hello, do I book my room before calling to reserve a kennel for my dog? Or should I call first and see which dates have available kennels? And do I simply call the Cunard number to reserve the kennel?

June 24, 2019 at 3:34 pm

And yes, they had the 3 year vaccine

June 24, 2019 at 3:33 pm

We brought our dogs with us on the 2nd November crossing 2018. The only thing they did at Brooklyn was to check they had a rabies vaccination. They didn’t look at our health certificates or anything else. Took 5 minutes. the dogs loved it. Only trouble is we want to move back to the UK and I am not sure I will get a space for the dogs this autumn!

June 19, 2019 at 6:45 pm

Hi Jenna, That’s a very good question. I strongly suggest that you contact Cunard’s California office. There seems to be conflicting information going around that needs to be clarified by the source. I don’t want to accidentally give out incorrect information. Sorry to not be able to answer your question. Cunard will be able to do so. Requirements for entering the USA differs slightly from that required by the UK. Sherry

June 19, 2019 at 2:45 pm

How do they handle the tapeworm treatment required for entry into the UK. Do you know if the pets should get it prior to boarding in the USA? You mention something about heartworm treatment but that’s something different.

June 18, 2019 at 1:15 pm

I’ve removed the 12-month mention and added a link directly to the CDC. Keep in mind that there are different rules depending upon from which country the dog is transported.

https://www.cdc.gov/importation/bringing-an-animal-into-the-united-states/dogs.html

Also, it is advisable to contact Cunard’s Customer Service and their Kennel department before purchasing your ticket and kennel.

June 18, 2019 at 4:15 am

Sherry – Thanks. Note that you’ve still got the 12 month requirement incorrectly on the site.

Phoebe – Cunard should have emailed you all the forms and requirements. On one of them it gives the mailing address in NY for sending a copy of your health certificate before you go. Otherwise I think you have everything covered.

May 31, 2019 at 5:13 pm

Hi Phoebe, First, thank you for your questions. When you arrive into Brooklyn Terminal, you will be directed to Customs and Immigration. Because you have a dog in the kennels, you’ll have an escort (maybe Oliver from the kennel!) to get you to the proper area. Regarding the proper requirements to bring your dog into the US, please contact Cunard over here. There has been some discussion with this article about what’s correct and/or out of date. I’ve spoken with the person at Cunard in the US in charge of the dogs. You might reach out also to the UK Cunard office, too. Kudos to you for not transporting your dog in an airplane.

Happy cruising, Sherry

May 29, 2019 at 12:46 pm

Can anyone share experience of after arriving New York? Is there a border control in the Brooklyn Terminal? If so, what should we be expecting?

We booked a crossing from Southampton to New York December 2019. We are actually relocating ourselves (and our dogs) to the US. Instead of air-transport the dogs to the US, we decided to take them on QM2 with us.

I understand they will need a health certificate from their UK vet and also up-to-date rabies vaccination. Is there anything else we will need to fulfil before set sail?

Thanks a lot!

May 26, 2019 at 2:47 am

Hi Ian, We must have both spoken with the same person at Cunard. I’m glad it’s settled and you have the correct information. Sherry

May 25, 2019 at 3:48 am

I spoke to Cunard yesterday – they confirmed that a valid Rabies vaccination is what is needed; the 12 months is no longer specific – it depends on the vaccine.

That the 3-year vaccine is accepted is confirmed on the official NYS website.

May 12, 2019 at 1:26 pm

I’ll go back to the source with your information and see what he says. Thanks! Sherry

May 12, 2019 at 2:19 am

Thanks for the update! The 2016 prices are still current for 2019.

One point that may still need updating – many dogs nowadays get the rabies injection that lasts for three years before needing a booster. Checking the official New York sites about entry with pets, it looks to me as if the three year vaccination is now accepted – i.e. the requirement is that the dog has a valid rabies vaccination at time of entry – NOT necessarily within twelve months as stated in the article.

May 3, 2019 at 11:57 pm

Hi Autumn, That’s a good question. I’m fairly certain that for one cat, you need to purchase two kennels…one for the cat and one for the litter box. I’m putting together an update to this article so please check back. Thank you! Sherry

May 2, 2019 at 10:56 am

Do I need one kennel per cat? I have 2 cats that are brother and sister so they get along and are used to being with each other. Thanks!

April 27, 2019 at 4:40 pm

It’s not just about the size of the dog – the smaller kennels require the dog to be lifted up into them, and the lifting limit for health and safety is 26 pounds. There won’t be much leeway on this,

This article really needs an update – there is sufficient misleading information on it that it is now positively unhelpful.

December 5, 2018 at 11:36 am

Hi Janet, Good for you to plan ahead. The kennels always sell out way in advance. I’ve seen the kennel sizes but I can’t say if your Lab would fit. I’m pretty sure weight is also taken into consideration. I would advise you to call Cunard and get the phone number for the Kennel department or the land-based Kennel Master. Hopefully, the waitlist for the second kennel will come through for you. Most big dogs that I’ve seen have a double size kennel. Good luck. Sherry

November 30, 2018 at 12:41 pm

Hi, I have reserved 1 lower kennel on a 2020 crossing and am waitlisted for a second one. we have two reserved for the return trip My dog is a very small purebred Labrador Retreiver, only 53 pounds. She is so small that people often ask me what kind of dog she is. As the entire summer plans depend on whether we get a second kennel, I wonder if she will be allowed in one kennel? Anyone else have experience with a VERY small lab being allowed in one kennel? She curls up small to sleep so Im sure she would be comfy. I dont want to make all these plans and then be turned away on boarding the ship.

October 30, 2018 at 1:57 pm

21 days or more before the start of the cruise! Rather a big difference. See Gov.uk under “pet passports”

May 13, 2018 at 4:11 pm

Thank you for your update. I noticed on the Gov.UK site that this was revised last week. I’ll have to do a little more research and update my information. Much appreciated. Sherry

May 13, 2018 at 12:37 pm

The point about the rabies vaccination having to be given 21 days or less is incorrect. This should be corrected to 21 days or more (see https://www.gov.uk/take-pet-abroad/rabies-vaccination-boosters-and-blood-tests ). This states:

“You must wait 21 days after the vaccination (or the last of the primary course of vaccinations) before bringing your pet to the UK from the EU or a listed country.”

April 16, 2018 at 6:07 pm

Fingers crossed you’ll get the space for your pups. Even with the newly added 12 kennels, it’s amazing how fast they sell out. I’m very glad to learn that the person with whom you spoke had the correct information to give to you.

Have a wonderful crossing!

April 13, 2018 at 3:05 pm

I’ve just spoken with Cunard about 1/3/2019 crossing and was waitlisted for my 2 dogs (lower kennels – 1/each but will be opened up so dogs are together. as we were waitlisted, I asked if there was anywhere else in Europe Cunard could take me and my dogs to – such as Hamburg. rep told me only nyc to Southampton takes dogs. rep was very good about the waitlist procedure – she will let me know by next week, whether we are in or not. very helpful in planning. you are absolutely right about booking early!

April 3, 2018 at 8:58 am

Hi Beverley, Cats remain in their carriers when checking in. Maybe if they are leashed, it might be allowed? But I’m sure with seven cats, they’d need to be in their carriers. Your friend needs to contact Cunard for accurate information. Seven cats will require multiple kennels and it could get quite expensive. Sherry

April 1, 2018 at 2:44 pm

Hello Wendy, When travelling with cats do they have to be taken out of their cat basket when checking in? My friend is travelling from Brookland to England with 7 cats and is trying to find out this information. Obviously it’s not as easy as walking a dog onto the ship

March 31, 2018 at 2:54 pm

Hi Wendy, The procedure for boarding with your dog is usually quite the processional. The kennel master greets the dog owners and everyone boards in a parade of sorts. The dogs are truly celebrities onboard. Triple-check that you have the proper paperwork and have a wonderful crossing! Sherry

March 27, 2018 at 2:59 am

I have booked to travel with our dog to New York April 14th 2019, I am really looking forward to this trip, we will be leaving from Spain, driving to UK taking the train in Calais to Folkstone. Do the dogs need to be in a carrier boarding or can you walk them on to the Queen Mary 2? Will be staying in Southampton for a few days to visit vet to get everything updated are there any you can reccommend? I am excited already and i am a year out

March 21, 2018 at 11:38 am

Dear Nicoletta, You’ve raised a good question about early disembarkation. You will need to check with the Kennel Reservations department at Cunard. I will guess that there might be additional/different paperwork to complete. Regarding the size of the kennels. Yes, each of your dogs would need its own kennel. The dogs are outside quite a bit during the day plus owners may visit their dogs and play in the indoor playroom as certain hours as well. You will most likely need to reserve (pay) for your cruise and kennels as soon as possible. The kennels fill up quite quickly…but there are also cancellations, too. Best of luck in your summer home! Sherry

March 21, 2018 at 11:20 am

Dear Sherry I’m planning to spend summer in Nova Scotia for the next years as I bought a house there (leaving from Hamburg or Southampton). I have two large dogs that I need to bring with me. I’m a bit concerned for the size of the kennels. the dogs will be cramped there most of the time. Even reserving two spaces for each dog (I bet it’ll be quite difficult to do). Cunard should have been a bit more generous with space. Cunard also does Canada cruises I wonder if it’ll be possible to disembark in St. John with the dogs instead of in New York

March 15, 2018 at 10:10 am

Hi Scott, Sounds like a life-adventure, for sure. First, make your kennel reservation as soon as possible. Second, learn about all the necessary paperwork. It’s crucial to have it perfectly completed. The spaces are limited and fill up fast.

About the check-in process with your dogs on Queen Mary 2, it is indeed quite a process. You and your dogs will feel very special. You’ll have a separate area to wait for boarding. Then you’ll be escorted by the kennel master himself in a sort of procession to board the ship and to the kennels. It’s hilarious to watch. You and your dogs will also have a wonderful time onboard as you meet others with their pets, too.

Best of luck on your move abroad. Be sure to get your kennels booked soon.

March 11, 2018 at 10:15 pm

Can you comment on the check-in process with animals? We are looking to move to England and we are considering this as an option. We would fly from Seattle to New York so we would have to figure out how to get from the airport to the dock where the Queen Mary picks up which also may include a night stay in a hotel depending on time frames.

I was just curious, once we get to the dock with the dogs, what is the process from then to when they are in the kennels?

February 7, 2018 at 10:06 am

Hi Laura, Great question about Hamburg. Off the top of my head, I’d say, yes. But I do not know 100% for sure. I would suggest that you contact Cunard and tell the reservationist that you need to speak with the person in charge of kennel reservations. To the best of my knowledge, the kennel person is in a totally separate department from “people” reservations and can email the list of requirements to you.

I hope this is helpful. Thank you for reading. Sherry

February 2, 2018 at 5:17 pm

What about traveling to Hamburg with a dog? Do the cruises going to Hamburg also permit dogs aboard? I may be looking into relocating for work for six months and flying isn’t exactly ideal.

October 16, 2017 at 6:51 am

Hi Julie, Sorry I don’t have a good answer to your question. There is a direct phone number to land-based kennel operations. I would suggest calling Cunard reservations at 1-800-7-CUNARD and tell whomever you speak with that you need to contact kennel operations. If you need to go to the next level, ask the reservationist to please speak with a supervisor. I’ve met dog owners onboard, and that is why I am aware of a land-based kennel operations department. I hope this is somewhat helpful for you.

I can tell you that once you and your dog are onboard, you’ll find that the kennel masters are fabulous guys that really love taking care of their dogs (and cats!) onboard. Sherry

October 15, 2017 at 5:23 am

Hi, I’m trying to find out ASAP what cleaning products are used in the kennel area on the QM2 cruises. Do you know the best way to quickly get in touch with someone who could answer that? It’s very important. Thanks

April 28, 2017 at 2:39 pm

Only in New York? What about people who comes from other states? They have gone to their own vets and USDA. I never hear of this kind of thing, that it MUST BE DONE only in New York , and only within 30 days .

August 22, 2016 at 2:22 pm

Hi Georgina, I just spoke with the kennel department at Cunard. Here is the follow-up statement that was sent to me:

Pet Travel Requirements for sailing: Eastbound Requirements: NYC – SOU:

The cat or dog must have been: IN THIS ORDER

Fitted with a microchip Vaccinated against rabies Issued with an official Veterinary Certificate (Regulation (EC) No 2013/576) or official PET Passport

THIS CERTIFICATE IS ONLY VALID FOR 10 DAYS FROM THE DAY IT IS SIGNED AND STAMPED BY THE USDA AND NEEDS TO BE VALID WHEN YOU EMBARK IN NEW YORK Treated against tapeworm not less than 24 hours or more than 120 hours before check-in and issued with an official certificate of treatment

FAILURE TO COMPLETE THE ABOVE REQUIREMENTS IN ORDER, WILL RESULT IN YOUR PET BEING DENIED BOARDING. Westbound Requirements: SOU – NYC: The cat or dog must have been:

Issued a current Health Certificate (The health certificate shall show that the dog or cat was examined by a veterinarian within 30 days of entry of the dog or cat into the State of New York.) Rabies Vaccination within 12 months to 14 days prior to Entry into the State of New York.

I will update this info to the article. Thanks for bringing it to my attention.

August 22, 2016 at 2:19 pm

Hi Pat, After checking with Cunard, I was told that the same cancellation requirements apply to potential passengers with or without a kennel waitlisted reservation. Basically, if you were to put a deposit on a Queen Mary 2 stateroom and then have to wait-list your cat, it would be very important that you mark the cancel before penalty date on your calendar. If your kennel space has not been cleared by that date, then it is up to you to cancel your booking before the penalty period begins.

I hope this helps. Thank you very much. Safe and happy travels to you! Sherry

August 16, 2016 at 8:47 pm

I understand that the first and last cruise on any year; – the kennels are closed – as in, not in use? This information I received from another QM2 web site/blog etc.. (I’m talking transatlantic..) Thank you very much for the above information. Also, if we (husband and I ) book a passage but can only place our cat on a waiting list – will we lose all our money if we /Cunard cannot find a place/kennel for Charlie our cat – obviously, we can’t travel without him =^ ^=

August 16, 2016 at 7:41 am

Hi Georgina, thank you for your comment. The info in the article came straightaway from Cunard. I will do some fact checking with them today to clarify. Thanks for bringing this to my attention. Sherry

August 13, 2016 at 6:31 pm

Can you review the information for travel to Southampton. Rabies information is incorrect. eg a 1 year certificate or a 3 year certificate is valid. Worming treatment is required. Vet will not sign exit papers until this is done.

July 27, 2016 at 10:17 am

Hi Sandy, Right below the prices, it stated that the prices were effective at the time of the writing. However, I have updated the prices today and also include the kennel dimensions. The disclaimer now states that the prices are effective as of July 2016. Thank you.

July 27, 2016 at 9:22 am

If your article is from July 2016, those prices are not accurate.

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Travelling with pets

We know your pets are part of your family, which is why we treat every animal who flies with us like a VIP.

British Airways flights

Emotional support dogs

British Airways is unable to accept emotional support dogs for travel in the cabin on any British Airways operated flights. Your emotional support dog can travel as a pet and details on how to arrange this can be found below.

Service dogs

If you’re travelling with a recognised service dog, it can travel with you free of charge in the cabin of your British Airways flight. This service cannot be booked online and we might need to limit the number of dogs we can carry in the cabin.

From the UK

We’ve partnered with PetAir UK, which is run and owned by fully-qualified veterinary surgeons and has been flying pets all over the world since 2004, to offer British Airways customers a safe, comfortable and convenient way to export their pets from the UK.

If you are looking to transport your pet to the UK, our sister company IAG Cargo can help. They have decades of experience transporting animals from every corner of the globe and will look after your pet as if it were their own.

Pet Travel Scheme

If you're entering the UK, your dog must meet the requirements of the Pet Travel Scheme offered by the UK Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA). It allows cats and dogs to travel between some countries and UK airports avoiding quarantine.

If you're travelling to a different country, please check with the relevant embassy or consulate for any regulations or restrictions.

SUN-AIR flights

SUN-AIR is our franchise partner operating flights within Europe under the British Airways brand. As on British Airways operated flights, recognised service dogs are allowed in the cabin, as well as other pets up to 6kg.

• Other pets must be transported in a waterproof bag or cage, with maximum dimensions of 20 x 30 x 20cm (7.5 x 11.5 x 7.5in).
• It is the owners’ responsibility to ensure that all documentation and animal passports are in order before departure.
• SUN-AIR permits one pet on board each aircraft at one time.

Please contact the SUN-AIR ticket office on +45 75 33 16 11 no later than 72 hours before departure if you wish to bring your pet on a SUN-AIR operated flight. Please note that pets are not permitted on SUN-AIR flights to the United Kingdom.

The London Underground rules for travelling with a dog and how to avoid £1,000 fine

Keep this in mind if you're taking your fury pals on the Tube

• 13:30, 7 OCT 2023

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Take a stroll through any London park and it will become clear just how much Londoners love their dogs. From dachshunds to golden retrievers, and poodles to Pomeranians - you'll see dogs in all shapes and sizes across the capital.

But after taking your dog for a stroll through one of London's many parks, you might find yourself a little too far away from home to handle the trek back - requiring public transport for that final leg. With this in mind, it's best to brush up on all the rules surrounding taking your dog on the Tube.

Good news! As first off dogs are allowed. But dogs must be carried on the escalator. So if you're looking after your great aunt's St Bernard things might be a bit trickier.

READ MORE: Brixton murder victim, 22, named and pictured for first time after stabbing in broad daylight

There's a lot of logic to this rule. Fur, nails or skin can easily get trapped on moving staircases, causing serious harm to pets.

If you aren't strong enough to pick up a St Bernard (is anyone?) you can look for a member of staff an ask them to stop the escalator for you. And, of course, some Tube stations have lifts or stairs as well as escalators, so it's worth doing a bit of research before you start your journey.

Here're the rules in full

Interestingly, it isn't just dogs that are allowed on the Tube. TfL's " conditions of carriage " state that any "inoffensive" animal is allowed on the Tube as long as it isn't dangerous.

So if you have a well behaved pet giant anteater it seems they too will be allowed on the London Underground .

The rules in full state: "You can take an assistance dog on our bus and Underground services. You can also take any other dog or inoffensive animal on our bus and Underground services, unless there is a good reason for us to refuse it (such as if the animal seems dangerous).

"You must keep it under control on a lead or in a suitable container, and must not allow it on a seat. Staff are not allowed to take charge of any animal.

"At stations, if you bring an animal with you, you should use the wide gates or carry it through the gates. If you have an assistance dog, at stations where there is no wide gate, you must ask a member of staff to open the gates to allow you to enter or leave a station.

"At Underground stations, if you bring an animal with you, you must use a staircase or lift where provided. If there is no staircase or lift and you need to use a moving escalator, you must carry your animal unless you have an assistance dog that has been trained to walk on moving escalators.

"If your animal is too large to carry, a member of staff will stop the escalator to allow it to travel on it when it is safe to do so (generally outside the rush hours and when the station is not busy)."

TfL states that if you breach these rules you could be liable for a level 3 fine which is £1,000.

Love the Tube with a passion? Sign up to MyLondon's London Underground newsletter for all the latest news, analysis and trivia HERE .

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This gets asked surprisingly often, as it's difficult and expensive to send dogs, cats or other pets by air, and pets find it very stressful alone in the hold of a plane.  So why not take your dog by train or ferry, the civilised and comfortable option?  Unfortunately Eurostar doesn't allow dogs at all , except guide dogs.  But there are alternatives - this page explains the options for civilised & enjoyable train & ferry travel between the UK and European destinations with your dog, cat or other pet.

Microchip, vaccinations, health certificate

Before you start, you'll need to make sure your dog or pet is fitted with a microchip and has an up-to-date rabies vaccination.  Call your vet, they can advise you.

To take a pet from the UK to the EU , see your vet no more than 10 days before you travel for a simple health check and to get a health certificate.  Expect this to cost £180 (yet another a Brexit cost as the UK is no longer a member of the Pet Passport scheme).  The certificate is a 10-page document with more stamps than a 1970s Soviet transit visa which allows you to take your pet into the EU for up to 4 months and to re-enter the UK within 4 months.  You can have more than one pet on the same health certificate.  For certain countries you'll also need a tapeworm treatment, including Ireland, Northern Ireland, Norway, Finland & Malta.

A day or two before you return to the UK , make a vet's appointment.  The vet gives your dog a tapeworm tablet and fills in/stamps the relevant section on the form.  This must be done no less than 24 hours and no more than 120 hours (5 days) before you enter Great Britain.  Expect this to cost around €40.  This allows you to return to the UK.

For full details on how to take a pet abroad, see www.gov.uk/guidance/pet-travel-to-europe-after-brexit .

For full details on how to bring a pet into the UK, see www.defra.gov.uk/wildlife-pets/pets/travel .

Tip:   As you can't take meat or dairy products into the EU, only take enough regular pet food for the Channel crossing.  Take kibble for the onward journey, or stock up with wet food once on the Continent.

Step 1, taking a pet on British trains

This bit is easy.  You can take dogs, cats and other small animals free of charge on all British trains, up to a maximum of two per passenger, as long as they don't endanger or inconvenience passengers or staff.  Dogs must be kept on a lead unless inside a carrier.  Dogs without leads, cats, birds and small animals must be carried in an enclosed cage or pet carrier which must be rigid and not open (to prevent escape) and the animal able to stand and lie down in comfort.  Animals and containers must not occupy seats or a charge may be made.  If you want to use a Caledonian Sleeper to or from Scotland, you'll need to pay a fee, see here .  For full details of dog & pet regulations on British trains see www.nationalrail.co.uk/on-the-train/train-travel-with-pets .  So far, so good.

Step 2, getting across the Channel

Option 1 , london to holland with stena line.

I highly recommend this option for both comfort and simplicity for travel with your dog between the UK and the Continent. It's an ideal route for the Netherlands, Germany, Austria, Poland, Czechia, Scandinavia and so on.  It's a round-about route to France, Spain, Switzerland & Italy, but because it's so dog-friendly & inexpensive with really easy integrated train-to-ferry and ferry-to-train connections on either side of the Channel, it's a surprisingly good option even for that.  It may also avoid the need for an overnight stay in Paris because after an overnight sailing to Hoek in a cosy pet-friendly cabin you can catch a morning high-speed train to Paris in time for an afternoon TGV to Barcelona, Switzerland or Milan.

What is Stena Line Rail & Sail?

Stena Line Rail & Sail is an integrated train & ferry service between London & the Netherlands run jointly by Greater Anglia & Stena Line.  One ticket bought at www.stenaline.co.uk covers the whole journey from London or any East Anglia rail station to Hoek van Holland.  It works in both directions, of course, but I'll describe the outward journey from the UK here.

You take the 18:45 train from London Liverpool Street station to Harwich and your dog travels with you on the train.  At Harwich, the train arrives alongside the ferry terminal at around 20:45.  It's totally painless:  You walk straight off the train into the ferry terminal, through passport control (where your dog or cat's pet passport will be checked too) and onto the luxurious Stena Line superferry to Hoek van Holland.

You enter the ship via the passenger gangway onto Deck 7.

If you've booked a pet-friendly cabin , take your dog or cat by lift or stairs up to deck 10, where all the pet-friendly cabins are.  All cabins have a shower, toilet, free WiFi and satellite TV.  Your pet stays with you in the cabin, they are not allowed on the rest of the ship.  If your pet needs a pee or poo, go down the Red Stairs to Deck 7 and press the white button to open a door to a small outside deck area where they can get some air, have a little exercise and do their business.  Inevitably, we refer to this as the poop deck.

If you've booked a kennel , you take your dog up two decks by lift or stairs to the Guest Services desk on Deck 9, which is the main passenger deck with all the bars, lounges & restaurants.  The Guest Services staff will give you a kennel number in either Kennel A or Kennel B, and give you the 4-digit code to access the kennels.  You then go down one deck on Red Stairs to the kennels on Deck 8.  The kennels have a sink with running water, and they provide blankets for dogs to sleep on, but you should take your own pet's water bowl, food bowl and perhaps their favourite toy.  If your pet needs a pee or poo, go down one deck on the same Red Stairs to Deck 7 and press the white button to open a door to a small outside deck area where they can get some air, have a little exercise and do their business.

After settling your pet into their kennel you can settle in to your own private en suite cabin on Deck 10 or 11 and perhaps have a late dinner in the ship's restaurant or a nightcap in the bar on Deck 9.  All cabins have a shower, toilet, free WiFi and satellite TV.  Channel 6 on the TV shows CCTV pictures of the kennels, with close-ups of individual cages.  You can visit your dog at any time during the crossing, although pets are not allowed in the public areas, other than to reach the Customer Services desk on embarkation, or to reach a pet-friendly cabin.

The ferry sails at 23:00 every day and arrives at Hoek van Holland at 08:00 next morning, Dutch time.

You now collect your dog from the kennels, if they need a pee you can take them to that small outside deck area on Deck 7.  You then walk off the ferry into the terminal and out onto the adjacent railway station for the frequent metro train to Schiedam & Rotterdam.  Dogs travel for free on the RET metro trains.  You can use any contactless bank card to travel, just touch in and out at the start and end of the metro journey.

Get off the metro in Schiedam Centrum for a frequent NS (Dutch Railways) InterCity train to Amsterdam, arriving Amsterdam Centraal around 10:25.  In the reverse direction, you'd leave Amsterdam Centraal around 18:46, the ferry sails from Hoek around 22:00 arriving Harwich at 06:30, you reach central London around 08:50.

Or continue to Eendrachtsplein station in Rotterdam city centre, from where it's then an 800m 10-minute walk to Rotterdam Centraal .  Or continue to Rotterdam Alexander for NS trains to Utrecht, Groningen and so on.

You'll find full details, photos & a video guide on the Stena Line Rail & Sail page .

Onward trains to Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Italy, Eastern Europe etc...

Direct daytime trains link Amsterdam with Germany and Switzerland - in many cases these go via Utrecht, and changing at Utrecht saves going all the way into Amsterdam.  Regular daytime trains link Rotterdam with Brussels and Paris.  All of these trains take dogs, sometimes free, sometimes for a fee, sometimes with a child rate ticket.

Or take the Nightjet sleeper from Amsterdam to Basel, Zurich (change for Italy), Munich, Innsbruck or Vienna (change for Bratislava, Budapest, Zagreb).  Dogs are carried on Nightjets for €29 paid on board the train, as long as you and your party occupy a whole compartment.

You'll find specific timetables for journeys between London and each of the following countries here:  Belgium , Italy , Switzerland , Germany , Austria , Denmark , Hungary , Czech Republic & Poland .

Onward trains to Paris (for France, Switzerland, Spain, Italy)

Take the metro from Hoek van Holland to Eendrachtsplein station in Rotterdam city centre, dogs go free of charge on the metro.  It's then an 800m 10-minute walk to Rotterdam Centraal .

Then take a Eurostar (formerly Thalys) high-speed train from Rotterdam Centraal to Paris Gare du Nord , you'll usually find a 10:58 arriving 13:38.  Dogs can travel in any class on Eurostar (formerly Thalys) trains for €30, you pay the dog fee on board to the conductor.  Book your own ticket from Rotterdam to Paris from €35 online in advance at www.sncf-connect.com (don't bother trying to add a dog to the booking, this doesn't work with Eurostar (formerly Thalys) .

How much does it cost?

You'll find specific fare & booking information for journeys between London and each of the following countries by clicking the relevant link:  Netherlands , Belgium , Italy , Switzerland , Germany , Austria , Denmark , Hungary , Czech Republic & Poland .

...and to take a dog or cat?  

On the train from London to Harwich your dog travels free.  On the ferry, you must reserve a kennel (£23) or pet-friendly cabin during the online booking process.  On the Dutch domestic trains between Hoek van Holland, Rotterdam & Amsterdam or Utrecht, small dogs or cats in containers on your lap travel free of charge, but if you have a larger dog you'll need to buy a dog day-ticket (Dagkaart Hond) for €3.30, you may be able to buy this at the Guest Services desk on deck 9 on board the Stena Line ferry, otherwise buy it at Schiedam station.  On the international daytime trains from Amsterdam or Utrecht to Germany and Switzerland, cats and small dogs (up to cat sized) in containers go free, larger dogs on leads require a child rate ticket which you can buy online exactly as you would for a child, although unlike kids they don't qualify for the free kid with an adult deal.

How to buy tickets for you & your dog, step 1 :

Book your Rail & Sail ticket from London to Amsterdam online at www.stenaline.co.uk .  You simply need to choose a pet-friendly (animal) cabin at the cabin stage plus the 'pet in cabin' option at the extras stage, or just add a pet in kennel at the extras stage.

How to buy tickets, step 2 :

You now need to book the onward trains to your European destination.  Booking usually opens 90 days ahead, you cannot book before reservations open.  Trains from Amsterdam to Cologne, Frankfurt and Switzerland pass through Utrecht so it's quicker to pick them up there rather than going all the way into Amsterdam, unless you really want to.  For daytime travel from Amsterdam or Utrecht to Germany or Switzerland, book your own ticket at int.bahn.de .  Small (cat-size) dogs & cats in containers go free, if you have a larger larger dog it travels at the child rate (either full-fare Flexpreis or discounted Sparpreis , it doesn't matter) so simply use int.bahn.de again to buy a child ticket, I recommend buying this as a separate booking to avoid the system automatically offering the 'Child under 15 accompanied by an adult goes free' offer which doesn't apply to dogs!  There are Nightjet sleeper train from Cologne to Innsbruck (for Italy) & Vienna (for all points east) and you can easily book these online at int.bahn.de .  Onward connections from Innsbruck to Italy or Vienna to Budapest can be booked at www.oebb.at .

Inward one-way tickets :  Note that www.stenaline.co.uk can only book one-way or return tickets starting in the UK.  One-way or return tickets starting in the Netherlands must be booked at the Dutch version of the Stena Line website, see the advice here .

Option 2, London to Paris via the Newhaven-Dieppe ferry

See the London/Brighton-Newhaven-Dieppe-Paris timetable on the London-Paris by train & ferry page .  This is the cheapest option if you're heading for France or Spain.

Step 1, take a train to Newhaven Town , see www.nationalrail.co.uk for train times.

Up to 2 dogs of any size go free of charge on British trains, just buy a ticket for yourself.

Step 2, take a DFDS ferry from Newhaven to Dieppe , check ferry times at www.dfds.com .

DFDS allows you to take a cat or dog with you as a foot passenger on these routes.

Only small and medium size dogs are carried, according to DFDS customer services.  That means I'd expect them to have no problem with springer spaniels, but they won't carry great Danes or St Bernards.  You'll have to call them to check whether your labrador will fit their kennels.

If the animal is small and in a carrier, the pet & carrier are handed to staff at check-in and returned to you after the crossing.  Larger dogs have to be booked in one of the ship's 3 kennels, although you can visit the pet in the middle of the crossing by taking an appointment at the reception desk.

To book as a foot passenger with a pet you must call DFDS on 033 058 787 87 if you're in the UK or 0809 541 890 if you're in France or +44 33 058 787 87 from outside either country.  You cannot book online if you're taking a pet!

Step 3, take a French train from Dieppe to Paris St Lazare , book this at www.thetrainline.com . 

Dogs can be taken on all French trains.  Small dogs (under 6Kg) placed in containers not exceeding 45cm x 30cm x 25cm pay no more than €5.10 per journey.  Larger dogs muzzled and on leads pay half the 2nd class full fare (even travelling in 1st class).

You can buy a ticket in English at the official French Railways website www.sncf-connect.com (for English scroll to the bottom and change France to Europe (other countries).   You add a dog to the booking by clicking the Add button (English version) or Ajouter (French version) before running the enquiry.

Once in Paris, you can take onward trains to Spain, Portugal or the South of France, as shown in step 3 below.

Option 3, London to Paris by train + taxi with Pet Travel Abroad .

For France, Spain or Portugal you really need to go via Paris.  As Eurostar won't take pets and most Channel Ferries won't let foot passengers take pets either, here is a solution which works well, although it's not cheap:

Step 1, travel from London to Folkestone by train.

You can use any normal British domestic train, dogs go free.  There are hourly or half hourly trains from London Charing Cross, Waterloo East or St Pancras to Folkestone Central, check train times & fares at www.nationalrail.co.uk .

Step 2, book a taxi from Folkestone to Calais via the Eurotunnel shuttle with Pet Travel Abroad .

Book your trip by calling Pet Travel Abroad (part of Folkestone Taxis) on 01303 246 925 (+00 44 1303 246925 from outside the UK), see their pet transport page at pettravelabroad.co.uk .

They can take you and your dog and up to 3 other passengers from Folkestone Central station to Calais Ville or Calais Fréthun stations for around £190 plus the cost of the Eurotunnel ticket, typically £164, but this can vary.

You and your dog remain together in the taxi throughout the journey via the Channel Tunnel car shuttle train.  Pet Travel Abroad (part of Folkestone Taxis) has been highly recommended by several travellers, further feedback is always appreciated.

Of course, a cheaper solution is to get a friend to drive you to Calais and drop you at the station, using a cheap day return ferry ticket - try www.dfds.com or www.poferries.com .  The dog remains inside the car on the ferry car deck.

Step 3, take a French domestic train from Calais Ville or Calais Fréthun to Paris .

To check train times use www.raileurope.com (in £ or €) or www.thetrainline.com (in €).  On French trains, small dogs under 6 Kg placed in containers not exceeding 45cm x 30cm x 25cm pay no more than €5.10 per journey.  Larger dogs muzzled and on leads pay half the 2nd class full fare, even travelling in 1st class.  For onward train travel with your dog to Spain, Italy, Portugal and so on, see the following section.

How to plan your trip.

The French trains from Calais to Paris are irregular and less frequent than the British ones, so start by picking a suitable afternoon train from Calais to Paris and work backwards.  Ask Folkestone Taxis what time you need to leave Folkestone Central in their taxi to make this train.  Then work out a train from London (or your local station) to Folkestone Central with plenty of time in hand.

This blog may inspire you: Argo, the dog who took the train to Italy .

Option 4, Hull-Rotterdam or Newcastle-Amsterdam by ferry

You can take a dog as a foot passenger on P&O Ferries Hull-Rotterdam route, with pet-friendly cabins & kennels.  Book online and add a pet plus pet-friendly cabin or kennel at www.poferries.com .  More about the Hull-Rotterdam ferry route .

You can also take a dog as a foot passenger with pet-friendly cabins on DFDS overnight Newcastle-Amsterdam ferry.  However, you can't book online as a foot passenger with a pet, you need to book by phone, so check sailing times at www.dfds.com then call DFDS on 0871 522 9955.  More about the Newcastle to Amsterdam ferry route .

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Step 3, taking pets on trains in mainland Europe

Once safely across the Channel, you can take a dog or cat with you on most trains across Europe, sometimes free, sometimes for a small charge, sometimes with a normal child-rate ticket.  In sleeping-cars and couchettes on overnight trains, you can generally only take a dog if your party occupies all the berths in a compartment.

From the UK to France

Eurostar doesn't take dogs and nor do most ferry companies unless you are a motorist.  P&O used to allow foot passengers to take dogs, but have stopped doing in 2012.  However, DFDS will take caged pets if you're a foot passenger on their Newhaven-Dieppe route.

So either travel from London to Newhaven by train, take a DFDS ferry to Dieppe as a foot passenger with your pet in a cage as explained above in option 2 , take a taxi to Dieppe station and a train to Paris, or travel from London to Folkestone by train, pay Folkestone Taxis to shuttle you through the Tunnel from Folkestone Central station to Calais Ville station, then take a train to Paris as explained above in option 3 .

Or you can travel from the UK to Paris via Hoek van Holland using option 1 , it's a round-about route, but so easy, dog-friendly, inexpensive and avoids the need for an overnight stop in Paris as you can sail overnight from Harwich to Hoek van Holland in a cosy pet-friendly cabin, catch the metro to Rotterdam and a morning high-speed train to Paris, then take an afternoon train to almost anywhere in France, even Nice & the south coast.

Pets on trains within France

Dogs can be taken on all French trains.  Small dogs (under 6 Kg) placed in containers not exceeding 45cm x 30cm x 25cm pay €7 per journey.  Larger dogs muzzled and on a lead pay €7.

You can buy a ticket in English at the official French Railways website www.sncf-connect.com , you add a dog to your booking by clicking the Add travellers, pets & bicycles button before running the enquiry.

To the Netherlands

From the UK to the Netherlands

I recommend travelling via the Harwich-Hoek van Holland superferry as shown in option 1 above .  Once at Hoek van Holland your Dutch Flyer ticket is valid to any Dutch station, not just Amsterdam.  You can book from London to Amsterdam or any Dutch station online at www.stenaline.co.uk , adding a kennel during the booking process.

Alternatively, you can also take a dog as a foot passenger with pet-friendly cabins on DFDS overnight Newcastle-Amsterdam ferry, but you must book by phone, check sailing times at www.dfds.com then call 0871 522 9955.  P&O take dogs with foot passengers on their overnight Hull-Rotterdam ferry, see www.poferries.com .

Pets on trains within the Netherlands

On Dutch trains, small dogs or cats in containers placed on your lap travel free of charge, if you have a larger dog on a lead you will need to buy a Dagkaart Hond   (dog day-ticket) for just over €3.  You can check details for this at the Dutch Railways site www.ns.nl .

To Switzerland

From the UK to Switzerland

You should use the train & ferry service from London to Amsterdam via the Harwich-Hoek van Holland ferry, as explained in option 1 above .  For details of the London to Switzerland journey via this route see the Switzerland page , which has timetables & fares.  You can book the London-Amsterdam part of the journey online at www.stenaline.co.uk , adding a reserved kennel during the booking process.  You'll then find daytime trains from Utrecht to Basel & Zurich, which you can book online at int.bahn.de . 

Pets on trains within Switzerland

Dogs of any size can travel for half the 2nd class fare on any Swiss train (for longer journeys there's a Dog Day card), small dogs up to 30cm high at the shoulder can travel free if they are in a carrier, you'll find information on the Swiss railways website www.sbb.ch and you can easily buy Swiss tickets at the station when you get there.

From the UK to Italy, via Hoek van Holland

Travel overnight from London to Hoek van Holland using the Harwich-Hoek van Holland ferry as explained in option 1 above .

I'd then suggest travelling from Amsterdam to Munich by daytime trains, then overnight again from Munich to Venice on the excellent Nightjet sleeper train.  You'll find full details of these trains and how to book them in the via Harwich section of the London to Italy page .

Dogs travel on the German-run trains between Amsterdam, Cologne & Munich under the same arrangements as for trains within Germany explained in the To Germany section below .

Dogs are carried on the Nightjet sleeper from Cologne to Innsbruck or Vienna for €29, as long as you and your party occupy a whole compartment.  You don't need to book the dog, you just pay the extra €29 to the staff on board the train.

First book the London-Amsterdam part of the journey online at www.stenaline.co.uk , adding a reserved kennel during the booking process.

Then book Amsterdam-Munich followed by Munich-Venice using www.thetrainline.com .  Then buy a separate 2nd class child ticket for your dog from Amsterdam to Munich as explained in the To Germany section below .

Then travel onwards from Venice to other Italian cities.  See the Pets on trains within Italy section below.

Alternatively, you can take daytime trains from Utrecht to Basel or Zurich, book these online at int.bahn.de .  Stay overnight in Basel or Zurich.  Then take a Zurich to Milan EuroCity train, which you can book online at www.sbb.ch .  Dogs under 30cm high at the shoulder in a carrier travel free on this EuroCity train and on onward trains within Italy.  Dogs over 30cm high and not in a carrier must have a ticket, usually charged at half the 2nd class fare, which you can buy at the station in Zurich for about £35.

From the UK to Italy, via Paris

Step 1, Eurostar doesn't take dogs, so travel from London to Paris via Folkestone/Newhaven & Paris using option 2 or option 3 above, both involving ferry or EuroTunnel to France then domestic French train to Paris.  You may need to stay in Paris overnight.  Or use option 1 via Hoek van Holland, it's a round-about route, but so easy, dog-friendly, inexpensive and avoids the need for an overnight stop in Paris.

Step 2, you can then take one of the three daily Paris-Turin-Milan TGV trains in 1st or 2nd class with any size of dog muzzled and on a lead for €20, or a small dog/cat in a pet carrier not exceeding 45cm x 30cm x 25cm for €7.  You can book yourself and your dog from Paris to Milan at www.sncf-connect.com , look for the Add Travellers, animals, bicycles button and add a dog on a lead or in a carrier before running the enquiry.

Step 3, take an onward train from Milan or Turin to anywhere in Italy, see the Pets on trains within Italy section below.

Dogs are also carried on Trenitalia's competing Paris-Milan Frecciarossa , dogs under 5 Kg go free, dogs 5-50 Kg €30, all dogs must travel in Standard or Business class Allegro cars.  See the London to Italy page for details of times, prices and how to buy tickets.  The £10 fee for taking a dog on the Paris-Milan TGV must be paid by phone, it cannot be booked online.

Pets on trains within Italy

Dogs and pets are carried on most Trenitalia trains, free in a carrier (maximum size 70cm x 30cm x 50cm) or at half the 2nd class fare if on a lead and muzzled, for full details to www.trenitalia.com and look under Services for Transport of pets . 

You'll need to carry the dog's pet passport or health certificate, and yes, you will need to use a muzzle if your dog isn't inside a carrier.  You aren't allowed to take dogs on regional trains between 07:00 & 09:00 weekdays.  You aren't allowed to take a dog in Premium or Executive classes on Frecciarossa high-speed trains .  You can only take a dog in sleepers or couchettes if your party occupies the whole compartment.

From the UK to Barcelona, Madrid, Malaga, Valencia, Alicante...

Step 2, you can then take one of the twice-daily Paris-Barcelona TGV trains with any size of dog muzzled and on a lead on for €20, or a small dog/cat in a pet carrier not exceeding 45cm x 30cm x 25cm for €7.  More about the Paris-Barcelona TGV journey .

You can buy a ticket for yourself and your dog from Paris to Barcelona at www.sncf-connect.com , look for the Add Travellers, animals, bicycles button and add a dog on a lead or in a carrier before running the enquiry.

Step 3 if your dog is under 10 Kg, you can then travel from Barcelona direct to Madrid, Malaga, Valencia or Alicante, see the Pets on trains within Spain section below.

Step 3 if your dog is 10-40 Kg, you can travel from Barcelona to Madrid on certain AVE trains, then from Madrid to Malaga, Valencia or Alicante also on certain trains only, see the Pets on trains within Spain section below.

From the UK to San Sebastian

Step 1, Eurostar doesn't take dogs, so travel from London to Paris via Folkestone/Newhaven & Paris using option 2 or option 3 above, both involving ferry or EuroTunnel to France then domestic French train to Paris.  Or use option 1 via Hoek van Holland, it's a round-about route, but so easy, dog-friendly, inexpensive and avoids the need for an overnight stop in Paris.

Step 2, you can then take one of the regular TGVs from Paris Montparnasse to Hendaye on the Spanish border, a stone's throw from San Sebastian.  These also take dogs of any size muzzled and on a lead for €20, or a small dog/cat in a pet carrier for €7. 

You can buy a ticket for yourself and your dog from Paris to Hendaye at www.sncf-connect.com , look for the Add Travellers, animals, bicycles button and add a dog on a lead or in a carrier before running the enquiry.

Step 3, the half-hourly trains from Hendaye to San Sebastian run by Euskotren take dogs of any size, muzzled and on a lead, or in a pet carrier, buy that ticket when you get to Hendaye.  More about the Paris-San Sebastian journey .

Pets on trains within Spain

Dogs under 10 Kg in pet carriers (maximum size 60cm x 35cm x 35cm) can be taken on most Renfe long distance trains either free or for a small fee, see www.renfe.com/es/en/viajar/informacion-util/mascotas (please let me know if that link stops working).

In general, larger dogs are not allowed at all on Spanish medium & long-distance trains .  I gather this is a cultural thing, as large dogs are generally regarded as working animals (for example, guard dogs) not pets in Spain.  Disappointingly, that not only goes for national operator Renfe, but for open-access competitors Ouigo and Iryo , too.

However, as from June 2023, dogs up to 40 Kg are allowed on certain Barcelona-Madrid, Madrid-Malaga, Madrid-Alicante & Madrid-Valencia AVE trains, for a fee, muzzled, with a 40-minute check-in and some forms to complete.  See www.renfe.com/es/en/viajar/informacion-util/mascotas (please let me know if that link stops working).  Dogs up to 40 Kg are only allowed 2 or 3 designated trains per day on each of those routes, there's a list of trains linked from that page.  Feedback would be appreciated!

More about train travel in Spain .  Buy Spanish train tickets with dog added at www.renfe.com .

To Portugal

From the UK to Portugal

Eurostar doesn't carry dogs, so first travel from London to Paris using either option 2 or option 3 above.  You'll then need to stay overnight in Paris. Then travel from Paris to Lisbon as shown on the London to Portugal page .

They key issue is that dogs over 10 Kg aren't carried on trains beyond Madrid.

From the UK to Germany

Step 1, first travel from London to Amsterdam via the overnight Harwich-Hoek van Holland ferry, see option 1 above .

Step 2, check train times & buy tickets from Amsterdam Centraal to anywhere in Germany at int.bahn.de .  On the German-run international IC & ICE trains between Amsterdam and Cologne, Frankfurt, Hannover & Berlin, the same arrangements apply as for German domestic travel explained below.

Alternatively, the overnight European Sleeper between Rotterdam/Amsterdam & Berlin takes dogs for free if you and your party occupy a whole couchette or sleeper compartment, see the European Sleeper page for more information .

Pets on trains within Germany & on international trains between Amsterdam & Germany

Small dogs & cats in containers go free.  Larger dogs pay the child price.

You can buy tickets for you and your dog at int.bahn.de .  Click the From field to open the details panel, click on Passengers, bicycles , click on Add , click on More passenger types and add a dog to the booking.

Dogs not in carriers must be on a lead and (in theory at least) muzzled.  In practice you'll seldom see dogs muzzled).  Dogs classed as 'dangerous breeds' aren't carried on trains in Germany.

To Austria , central & eastern Europe

From the UK to Austria & central Europe

I recommend travelling from London to Amsterdam via the overnight Harwich-Hoek van Holland ferry, see option 1 above .  For details of a journey from London to various countries via this route, click the relevant destination link:  Austria , Hungary , Czech Republic , Poland .

For Austria

Step 1, book the London-Amsterdam part of the journey online at www.stenaline.co.uk , adding a reserved kennel during the booking process.

Step 2, book a late afternoon train from Amsterdam Centraal to Cologne Hbf at int.bahn.de .  On trains between Amsterdam and Cologne, small dogs and cats in containers go free, larger dogs pay the child rate, you can buy child tickets for your dog online at int.bahn.de , but do this as a separate booking from your own ticket to avoid the 'child under 15 accompanied by an adult goes free' offer which doesn't apply to dogs!  Note that dogs classed as 'dangerous' breeds aren't carried on trains in Germany. 

Step 3, then use www.oebb.at to book the Nightjet sleeper from Cologne Hbf to Munich Hbf , Innsbruck or Vienna Hbf .  Change in Munich for Salzburg.  Dogs are carried on the Nightjet sleeper from Cologne to Innsbruck or Vienna for €29 paid on board the train, as long as you and your party occupy a whole compartment.

Pets on trains within Austria

Small dogs (meaning cat-size) or cats in containers go free, larger dogs require a child ticket, which can be booked online at www.oebb.at .

For Hungary

Travel to Vienna as above.  On onward trains from Vienna to Budapest, small dogs (meaning cat-size) or cats in containers go free, larger dogs require a child ticket, which can be booked online at www.oebb.at .

Dogs aren't allowed in MAV (Hungarian Railways) sleeping-cars or couchette cars at all, which rules out the Munich-Budapest and Zurich-Budapest sleeper trains.

To Denmark , Sweden, Norway

From the UK to Scandinavia

I recommend travelling from London to Amsterdam via the overnight Harwich-Hoek van Holland ferry, see option 1 above .  For details of a journey from London to various countries via this route, click the relevant destination link:  Denmark , Sweden , Norway , Finland .

Step 1, you can book the London-Amsterdam part of the journey online at www.stenaline.co.uk , adding a reserved kennel during the booking process.

Step 2, check train times & buy tickets from Amsterdam Centraal to Copenhagen at int.bahn.de .  An overnight stop in Hamburg may be necessary.

On the German-run international trains between Amsterdam, Hamburg & Copenhagen, small dogs and cats in containers go free, larger dogs pay the child rate.  You can buy child tickets for a larger dog online at int.bahn.de , although do this as a separate booking from your own ticket to avoid the child under 15 accompanied by an adult goes free offer which doesn't apply to dogs.  Note that dogs classed as 'dangerous' breeds aren't carried on trains in Germany.

Step 3, dogs can go on the Copenhagen-Stockholm X2000 trains , but you can't take a pet in 1st class and you need to use the special pets allowed section of the train in 2nd class.  You can reserve seats in this section when booking at www.sj.se or call their telesales line.

From the UK to Greece

Step 1, travel from London to Venice via Harwich-Hoek and Munich exactly as shown in the To Italy section above .

For more information

For information on the transport of dogs and other pets in particular countries, search the website of the relevant national train operator.  There is a list of links to each operator's website on the useful links page .

Feedback requested!

Feedback from anyone who takes their dog or cat into Europe by train would be very welcome.

Traveller's reports

Dog owner Wendy Shillam reports :  "We've been taking our dog abroad since the rules changed 9 years ago.  Firstly I agree that its mad that Eurostar doesn't allow dogs, especially as it would be a good earner for them and they need the money!  I wrote to the COE but got no reply.  The most comfortable and quickest way for dogs to cross the channel (though not always the cheapest) is by car with Eurotunnel .  They just stay in the car with you and there is no bother.  Once, we then left our car at the Calais 'parkway' station, but on returning we saw that quite a few cars - not ours thank goodness - had been broken into.  It is a very desolate spot and no security as far as I can see.  But it is free parking.  Once across the channel be careful which train you get from Calais - some especially on Sundays are really slow.  We also have taken the motorail train from Düsseldorf, it's not too far and then you can get a car-carrying overnight train from Düsseldorf to Italy, the south of France or Austria .  Dogs are accepted on these German motorail trains in the sleeper cabins and we have never had a problem. Our dog Astrid, a nine year old Mini Schnauzer, has lasted 17 hours on a train with no ill effects - overnight she just settles down to sleep, generally taking up most of my bunk!  The steward will tell you if there are longer stops which allows you to give your dog a 'comfort' walk.  The irony is that if we could travel on Eurostar we would never dream of taking our car with us at all!  On Spanish trains dogs should be muzzled - the guard did let us get away with it, but if Astrid had been a bigger dog there might have been trouble.  Also beware if you plan to travel with your dog by bus in Spain.  They insist that the dog goes in a casket (which you have to bring) in the hold underneath the seats, which I suspect on a hot day is tantamount to animal cruelty!  Astrid has been most comfortable and spoilt in France, Italy, Belgium and Sweden.  Also remember that if you are going to the South dogs need to be protected against a nasty bug called lishmania which can cause a chronic disease with no cure - but drugs can control it.  So always check with a  vet who knows about foreign travel well before you go."

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BarkBox’s next big delivery: Charter flights for dogs

Starting in may, bark air will fly dogs and their owners from new york to l.a. or london.

BarkBox, the service that assembles and ships care packages for dogs to millions of subscribers each month, is expanding into a new market: pet-friendly charter flights. This spring, the company will begin transporting dogs (and their owners) on private planes via Bark Air.

Starting on May 23, Bark Air will fly weekly between Westchester County Airport in White Plains, N.Y., and Van Nuys Airport in Los Angeles. The following week, it will kick off bimonthly service between Westchester and London Stansted Airport. Reservations at dogsflyfirst.com will go live Thursday, on National Pet Day. The one-way cross-country flight costs $6,000 for one dog and one owner; the transatlantic flight goes for $8,000.

By comparison, for the same date as the launch, nonstop air on a major carrier starts at $220 one way from New York to Los Angeles and from $525 to London. Adding a dog would cost more.

Bark chief executive and co-founder Matt Meeker said the inspiration for Bark Air came from his Great Dane. Hugo visited nearly two dozen states and Canada during his 12-year lifetime, but he never pranced around the West Coast or Europe because of the challenges of flying pets, especially of his size.

Options are limited for pets too large for the cabin. Depending on the season, destination and airline, owners can transport their dogs as checked luggage or cargo, an arrangement that comes with risks. According to Transportation Department data, U.S. carriers reported nine incidents involving animals, including seven deaths, in 2022. (The agency has not published its annual 2023 numbers for these incidents).

To understand the experience of traveling as baggage, Meeker packed himself into a crate and was rolled across the tarmac and loaded onto a plane, where he stayed in his enclosure for 45 minutes to an hour. His experiment confirmed his suspicions: Flying in the belly of a plane can be traumatizing.

“It was very cramped, very dark. Loud noises. Disorienting. No food or water. Nowhere to go to the bathroom,” said Meeker. “It was very, very terrible.”

Moneyed travelers can book a private or charter plane. However, noncommercial air can be prohibitively expensive or unpredictable. K9 Jets , a private charter operator that started offering pet-friendly flights last year, flies to 13 destinations, including Dallas, Paris and West Palm Beach, Fla. It has similar prices to BarkAir — $6,650 from New Jersey to Los Angeles — but will cancel the flight if it is not at least 75 percent full.

“There’s a huge amount of interest and demand, and really frustration,” Meeker said. “People are looking for a reasonable solution to transport their dog if they’re moving or taking a summer vacation or weekend trip.”

Meeker said the company partnered with Talon Air , a New York-based charter company that will fly two Gulfstream G550s under the Bark Air banner. The plane can accommodate 14 passengers, but the company will cap the number at 10.

After the traveler books the flight, a concierge will contact the family to learn about the dog’s temperament and to help with logistics, including the documents required to enter England. The fare includes complimentary car service within a 30-mile radius of the arrival destination.

Meeker recommends passengers arrive 45 minutes to an hour before departure. Guests will wait in a private area inside the terminal, where a chef will prepare a hot meal for the human travelers to avoid any in-flight tray-table surfing. Before boarding, the dogs will have a chance to sniff each other out.

Onboard, pets can fly without a leash as long as they behave. During a test run, Meeker said the dogs were very courteous, with no unruly outbursts.

“They would say hello to the other dogs and say hello to the other people. Everyone was very calm about it,” he said. “For dogs who were a little more nervous, or people who were more nervous for their dogs, we have a place on the plane for them to sit without anyone bothering them.”

Since the pups are the top dogs onboard, the carrier will cater to their tastes. The menu will feature “Doggie Champagne” (actually chicken broth), doughnuts made for dogs and meaty snacks served on a silver tray. The flight crew will include professionals trained in veterinary care and dog behavior. At the end of the trip, the four-legged fliers will earn their wings, which they can proudly pin to their collar or harness.

If Bark Air does well, Meeker hopes to add larger planes to the fleet, which could help lower the fare. He also dreams of building the world’s first in-flight dog park.

“The dogs for those longer journeys will have a park where they can play with other dogs while their humans enjoy a drink at the bar around the edge of the park,” he said.

Henry Harteveldt, a travel industry analyst with the Atmosphere Research Group, said pet airlines are more apt to fail than succeed. (RIP, Pet Airways.) However, Bark Air has a few advantages. It is not building an airline from scratch. It has brand recognition. And it oversees a mailing list with the names of millions of pet lovers willing to drop a small fortune on their pooches.

“Some people will absolutely do this,” Harteveldt said. “The question is: Will there be a enough people who love their pets enough to pay $6,000 or more to transport them coast-to-coast or from New York to London?”

More on air travel

Leave flying to the pros: Think you could land a plane in an emergency? Experts say you’re wrong . Here’s what you should actually do if something goes awry during a flight .

Pet peeves: Why do “gate lice” line up early for a flight ? Psychologists explained for us. Another move that annoys airline workers: abusing the flight attendant call button . For more on how to behave on a flight, check out our 52 definitive rules of flying .

Plane mess: Stories about extremely disgusting airplanes have been grossing out travelers. The question of plane cleanups became the subject of a recent debate after a flight attendant allegedly told a pregnant passenger to pick up the popcorn spilled by her toddler.

Frequent flying: Airline status isn’t what it used to be, but at least there are some good movies and TV shows to watch in the air. And somewhere out there, experts are trying to make airline food taste good.

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Travelling with pets on Eurostar

Everything you need to know about bringing your pet on board our trains between Belgium, France, the Netherlands and Germany.

Can I take my pet on Eurostar?

Taking your seat.

At Eurostar, we always want to make sure that everyone enjoys their journey. Please check that the passengers seated around you are happy with the presence of your pet. If anyone is a little nervous, the Train Manager will happily find you an alternative seat.

Does my pet need a ticket?

On our trains between Belgium, France, Germany, and the Netherlands, small domestic animals weighing less than 6kg travel free of charge – provided they travel in a carrier (max. 45 x 30 x 25 cm).

Larger dogs that don’t fit in a carrier will need a ticket with our specific “dog” fare (single price of €30). Please speak to the Train Manager to purchase a ticket for your four-legged friend. Your dog must sit on your lap or on the floor of the coach and be leashed and muzzled.

Guide dogs and assistance dogs and cats always travel free of charge on Eurostar.

Animals that are not permitted on Eurostar

As much as we love animals, we can’t welcome all of them on board. Dangerous dogs, wild animals and birds (parrots, canaries etc.) are not allowed on our trains.

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How to Travel with a Dog to the UK from Outside Europe

If you’re travelling to the United Kingdom with your dog, it’s far more difficult than travelling with a dog to other countries in Europe. This is because pet dogs flying into the UK can only fly as cargo. For this reason, whether you’re trying to fly a dog from the USA to the UK or from somewhere else in the world, you may want to consider some of the alternatives. 

Note: This post contains affiliate links, which means I may receive commission if you make a purchase using the links. See my full disclaimer .

Can You Fly to the UK with a Dog?

Dogs are able to fly to the United Kingdom , but dogs are not able to fly into the UK in the cabin or as check-in baggage. The UK government only permits pet dogs to fly to the UK as cargo, using an approved carrier  to an approved airport. 

For many owners of small dogs who understandably only fly their dog in the cabin, at their feet, this poses a difficulty. But even if your dog normally flies in the hold as excess baggage, in comparison flying a dog as cargo is a more complicated and expensive process.  

When flying as cargo, dogs usually need to be booked through the separate cargo division of the airline, or a completely separate freight company, sometimes through a pet transport company . The cost to fly a dog as cargo is often quite expensive, far more than the cost of flying a dog in the cabin or as excess baggage. 

Additionally, when you fly to the UK with a dog from outside the UK, your dog will need to pass through customs clearance before you can collect it from the animal reception centre. You’ll need to make a booking for this, possibly through a agent (or broker), if this isn’t take care of by your pet transport company or freight company. Send an email to the National Clearance Hub ( [email protected] ) for more information.

During 2022, there were at times long delays for available slots at some UK airports, although I believe the situation has improved in 2023.

Naturally, customs clearance isn’t free of charge. Expect the fees including agent fees and inspection fees to total up to £600. You will also be charged a value added tax of 20%, based on your pet’s breed and the cost of their transport, although this can later be refunded. These charges don’t apply for dogs crossing to the UK by ferry or car.

The cost of shipping a dog from USA to UK can be quite expensive when a dog flies directly to the UK. Along with cargo freight costs, many pets flying from the US are quoted a total cost of $3000 to $5000 USD.  

Consider Flying to Paris or Amsterdam Airports

Instead of directly flying to the UK with your dog, instead consider flying to another airport within Europe, then travel by another option across the Channel, to travel with your dog to the UK.  

The most popular alternative airports to fly into within Europe with your dog are Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris and Schiphol Airport in Amsterdam . As well as being busy airports with a large number of flights arriving from all around the world, both of these airports allow you to arrive with a dog in the cabin (or as checked baggage). 

Additionally, there are feasible options to then travel onwards to the UK with your dog as a “foot passenger”, without hiring a car. (With cars driving on the opposite side of the road in the UK compared to Continental Europe, forget about a one-way car hire to head to the UK!) 

Check out my guide on flying to France from the USA with a dog

Taking a Ferry Across to the UK

Once you arrive in Paris or Amsterdam, there are multiple ferry options available to foot passengers with a dog to take you to the UK.  

Taking a Ferry from France to the UK

From Paris, foot passengers with a dog are permitted on the DFDS Seaways ferry from Dieppe to Newhaven, on the southern coast of England. The ferry crossing takes about 4 hours, but once you add on the train journeys at either end the journey from Paris to London takes a full day. Read my review of completing this journey when I visited the UK.  

Note that the other ferries between France and England do not permit foot passengers to bring pets onboard. 

Taking a Ferry from the Netherlands to the UK

Finally, foot passengers can also bring a pet onboard the P&O ferry from Rotterdam to Hull. This ferry has recently added three pet-friendly cabins, in addition to their pet kennels. It even has pet exercise areas at both ferry terminals. It generally operates as an overnight crossing. Click here for further information. 

A short train journey is required from the airport to any of the relevant ferry terminals in the Netherlands. Pets are allowed on trains in the Netherlands .

Using a Pet Taxi or Pet Transport Service

Instead of taking a ferry across to the UK with your dog, you could instead consider using a pet taxi or a pet transport service. These options are particularly popular for pets arriving in Paris. 

With pet taxis, there are multiple providers that take advantage of pets being allowed in vehicles using the Eurotunnel, one of the quickest and easiest ways to travel with a pet in between the UK and France, as long as you have a vehicle. 

Most frequently, people travelling with a dog just take a pet taxi between Calais Ville or Calais Fréthun and Folkestone Central stations. On either end, simply travel by train on the dog-friendly trains in France and the UK . The pet taxi typically costs about £100-200, on top of the normal Eurotunnel fees. 

However, it’s also possible to book a pet taxi for the entire trip from Paris to London, or another destination, at a higher cost. I’ve typically heard of fees around £700 for taxi all the way from Paris to London, although it can be higher due to the fluctuating cost of the Eurotunnel.

Two frequently used pet taxis are  Folkestone Taxis (also known as Pet Travel Abroad) and  Pet Moves . A newer option is Le Pet Express , which offers shared minivans, but only on weekends at this point.  

There are also some companies that are specifically set up to transport dogs longer distances between European countries and the UK. These companies can pick your pet up from Charles de Gaulle or Schiphol Airports and transport your pet to your address in the UK, while you fly to the UK or take the non-dog-friendly Eurostar to London.

One DEFRA-certified company that I have heard a lot of happy reports about is Happy Saluki Pet Transport .

Or Fly to Dublin Airport

Another increasingly popular alternative to flying to Continental Europe, is to instead fly to Dublin Airport firstly with your dog. Depending on your final destination in the UK, this can make for a shorter journey, particularly as the ferry trip across the Irish Sea is shorter.

Quite a few airlines don’t fly pets to and from Dublin in the cabin, despite there being no prohibition against this, but I have put together a list of airlines that fly pets in and out of Ireland . One American airline is included on the list – Delta.

Delta will fly pets in the cabin to and from Dublin Airport from a number of airports in the USA. Up until recently, pets could not be flown out of Dublin as excess baggage, due to an issue with the baggage system, but in 2024 this was fixed.

From Dublin, there are a number of ferries that cross to Wales, some with pet-friendly cabins. Alternatively, it’s possible to cross the land border to Northern Ireland, with no pet documentation checks occurring at the border. You can then take a ferry across to Scotland. Check out my guide to the most pet-friendly ferries across the Irish Sea .

What About a Cruise Ship Across the Atlantic?

Another alternative if you’re bringing a dog from the US to the UK, may be to book a crossing on the Queen Mary 2 across the Atlantic, disembarking at Southampton in England. This is particularly popular with owners of larger dogs, that are too large to fly in the cabin on any airline. The Queen Mary 2 is one of the few dog-friendly cruise ships . 

However, keep in mind that there a lot of demand for the pet kennels onboard the Queen Mary 2, so the kennels are typically booked out a year or more in advance! (As of early 2023, I have even heard reports of up to two years.) However, it’s possible to put your name down on a waiting list, in case a berth becomes available sooner. 

Paperwork for Travelling to the UK with Your Dog

Due to the United Kingdom leaving the EU following Brexit, the rules and paperwork for importing dogs to the UK have changed. The main change is that pets travelling to Great Britain require a Great Britain pet health certificate , rather than the EU pet health certificate (Annex IV).

The remainder of the rules for importing dogs to the United Kingdom are essentially the same as for pets travelling to anywhere in the EU . Pets are required to be microchipped and vaccinated against rabies.

Additionally, the UK is one of the few countries in Europe requiring a worming treatment for dogs, administered by a vet between 24 hours and 5 days of arrival in the UK, with no change to this requirement. All of this needs to be documented in a pet passport or Great Britain pet health certificate.

If you are using a Great Britain pet health certificate that needs to be certified by the local authority, such as USDA in the United States, the worming treatment can be added to the certificate once it has been certified and returned to you.

For more details on bringing a pet to the UK, see the government website .

Requirement for Two Pet Health Certificates

If you’re firstly travelling to the EU (including Ireland) and then onwards to the UK, things will be a little more complicated. You need to make sure you fulfill the requirements for your pet to travel both to the EU and to the UK.

In particular, you will need two pet health certificates, both an EU and GB pet health certificate. There are some reports of vets and governments in some countries refusing to issue two pet health certificates at the same time, although hopefully this becomes more accepted.

Getting an EU Pet Passport

One alternative if you cannot be issued two pet health certificates, is to just get an EU pet health certificate. Then when you are transiting through Europe, go to the vet and get an EU pet passport . This pet passport is used for pets to travel within the EU, and can be used in future to travel from the UK back to the EU.

To get an EU pet passport, you will need to allow time to visit a vet, before continuing on to the UK. At the same time have your pet wormed, at least 24 hours before entering the UK, and recorded in the pet passport. This may also be a practical alternative if you’d like to spend some time in the EU before completing your journey, and your dog cannot be wormed beforehand, due to the short time frame of validity.

It’s best to book an appointment with a vet in advance, and ensure they will issue you an EU pet passport. In particular, there are recent reports of vets in France no longer issuing EU pet passports to those without a locally registered dog.

Note that not all veterinarians will copy across your existing rabies vaccination (I’ve generally heard of this occurring in Germany) or that UK customs may question a rabies vaccination predating the pet passport, as was the case when I boarded my ferry to the UK. Either keep all your different paperwork as proof or consider getting a rabies booster shot in the EU, to be recorded on your EU pet passport.  

The other alternative is to ask a vet in the EU to issue you with a GB pet health certificate, but this is not common within the EU, due to the usage of pet passports.

What About When Leaving the UK?

While there are no restrictions on pets flying in the cabin or as checked baggage when leaving the UK, only a few airlines offer this option . A few airlines specify on their website that they offer this option, while I have heard reports from fellow travellers of other airlines allowing this. Double check with your preferred airline, and consider crossing back over to Paris or Amsterdam to fly your pet out of Europe with more options. 

I have checked with a number of American airlines, and none of them state online that they will fly dogs in the cabin when leaving the UK. American Airlines doesn’t fly pets in the cabin on any trans-Atlantic flights, while both Delta and United rule out pets in the cabin on flights both to and from the UK. However, I have heard a recent report of United allowing this.

An alternative option for flying from the UK to the USA with a dog in the cabin is to fly via Canada, as it’s possible to fly a dog from the UK to Canada. On the Air Canada website they specifically mention that they accept pets for travel both in the cabin and in the hold on flights from the UK. Air Transat also allow pets to fly out of the UK, out of Manchester and Glasgow, but not Gatwick Airport in London.

You May Also Like

• How to Travel with a Dog Between the UK and Europe
• Which European Airlines Allow Dogs in the Cabin?
• Which Asian Airlines Allow Dogs in the Cabin?
• Travelling in the United Kingdom with a Dog

About the Author

Shandos Cleaver is the founder of Travelnuity: Dog-Friendly Travel. She has travelled extensively with her Miniature Dachshund, Schnitzel, including to 33 countries across Europe, every state and territory of Australia except Tasmania, and 10 of the United States. She’s passionate about providing inspiration and information to others wanting to travel with their dogs, whether close to home or internationally.

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23 thoughts on “How to Travel with a Dog to the UK from Outside Europe”

Hi i d like to fly with my pet from miami to UK how could i do this? Maybe i could send him alone , i suppose that it s more expensive but if i dont have the choice😏thank you for helping me Patricia maizil

Your dog would be able to fly to the UK directly in cargo. However, if you want to fly your dog in the cabin, many travelers instead fly to France or the Netherlands.

By any chance do you know how it would be to travel from France to UK using the train?

Sorry, only registered service dogs are allowed on the Eurostar train, not pet dogs.

Hi Shandos – Thank you for this informative post. I am making plans to fly to the UK from NYC in January. I have a 10 pound dog and planned to travel in cabin with her until I was surprised by the new rules. Traveling Cargo is a time consuming and confusing process. At this point the cost for British Airways – through IAG Cargo — is $800 to ship her there. Added to this will be the cost for an England Cargo company, James Cargo to pick her up and take her through customs, add to that the VAT and the cost will be upwards of 2k. Ugh. So, after a long winded rant, some of your ideas are percolating with me though I just want to be clear. Based on what you said this is what I am thinking: – fly into Amsterdam or Paris, dog in cabin – hire a pet taxi to drive my dog to London – I take Eurostar and meet them there – When I go through customs with my dog in tow in Eurozone, will they ask for the Pet Certificate at that time? Should I compile two pet certificates while in the USA. One for UK and one for Europe? – Will my dog have to go through Customs when it arrives in UK with Pet Taxi? Complicated stuff I know but the possible option of not using Cargo, both because of cost and because I’m nervous about its effect on my dog, sounds so good to me. Thanks so much!!

You’ll need to have two pet certificates done, both the EU one and the new GB one ( https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/pet-travel-apply-for-a-gb-pet-health-certificate ). With the EU one, generally the airline checks it at check-in. Most people report customs in Paris as not checking it, but they might. With the UK, the GB certificate will be checked by UK customs before getting on the Eurotunnel or ferry. If you are leaning towards a pet taxi, generally they can transport you as well, you don’t need to take the Eurostar separately. Hope this helps! It would be great if dogs could fly in the cabin to the UK, instead Brexit has complicated things further!

I flew out of the UK (in Aug)with KLM and they told me that I could also do that with Delta and Air France as they are all under the same umbrella. It gets so confusing and with Covid on top, it’s overwhelming. I’ve traveled for over 40+ yrs and this is unreal.

Thanks for the heads up April! It’s pretty crazy at the moment with Covid, hopefully things start to return to normal in 2022.

There’s also a new company out there, http://www.lepetexpress.com . They take you and your dog or cat from Calais Frethun Rail Station and drop you off at the rail station in the UK at set times. £150! They also go UK to France.

Thanks for the heads up!

Hi, I was wondering if this route through Europe is still a good option? I am planning to do it with my cat from Korea in May, but I heard from some people that it might be risky now. They interpret the rule to mean that my paperwork from Korea would not be accepted because I am technically coming from France so I will need a pet passport, however, I have seen others say that if I have all the correct paperwork everything will be fine and I can enter without a pet passport. I was told that to get a pet passport in France I would need to get him vaccinated again and then I would have to stay in the country for a month for the vaccine to be valid. I am really desperately trying to find other people who have been doing this route within the last few months successfully, or advice on how I can be successful doing it, otherwise I will have to pay over £2000 to have him shipped via manifest cargo. Thank you for any advice you can give me.

I’ve definitely heard from others that use paperwork from outside of Europe. The most common issue seems to be that some overseas countries won’t complete/certify two sets of pet certificates (for EU and UK). I recommend joining my FB group to speak to others who have done this recently: https://www.facebook.com/groups/dogfriendlytravelrtw

Air Canada is good for pets in cabin out of the UK . To return… Air France to Paris, domestic train to Dieppe. Pet can go with you as a foot passenger on Dieppe to Newhaven ferry (warning Dover Calais ferries and eurostar trains do NOT allow this). Pet and documentation are checked in Newhaven then you’re free to travel on all domestic trains in the UK with your pet.

I’m traveling to the USA from the UK via amsterdam. I have time to get a EU passport on the way over to the USA but not on the way back. So do you know how that would work with coming back to the uk? Would I get the vet in the USA (who is administering the tapeworm treatment) to document it on the GB health certificate or the EU pet passport?

Vets outside of the EU cannot document rabies vaccines in the EU pet passport, but it’s not 100% clear they can add worming treatments to it. To be safe, it’s probably better for it to be documented in a health certificate. Additionally, note that an Animal Health Certificate issued in Great Britain can be used to return to Great Britain for up to 4 months.

Did you have to complete paperwork for Customs or a Transfer of Residence form?

I am coming home to the UK with my adopted cat but i read you have to get clearance from customs?

If you are flying directly to the UK from outside of Europe with your pet, customs clearance is required. For more information, see this page https://animalaircare.co.uk/customs-clearance/ . I only have personal experience at travelling to the UK from continental Europe, where this is not required, just the health certificates and worming treatment.

Only by sheer luck have I found your blog. And that too at such a good time! Me and my sister are moving to the UK in the near future and we can’t go without our cats. Two of them. But it is so unfortunate that I can’t take them in cabin and have to make use of a pet transportation company. The cost goes way above and beyond our budget. But then I read something about going to the UK through Europe. You also say its possible. Now I don’t know if this sounds dumb, but if I use the Europe route, I’d travel to Paris, for example, on a tourist visa, yes? I’ll be relocating to the UK on a student visa, and possibly then on a work visa. So, if I decide to go through France, I’d first need a French travel Visa, no? Do I sound dumb? Ahhh, but I really need someone to confirm this for me! This whole process of taking my cats to the UK has been so stressful. I can’t take them as manifest cargo; my budget simply doesn’t allow it. Can you please breakdown the process of taking them through Europe? I don’t live in the US either. I’ll be travelling from India. Then I’m also unsure of how I’ll take to Calais from Paris with all of my luggage. From there, I checked out the Le Pet Shuttle, but they only allow one baggage and one personal handbag per person. Its concerning cause I’ll have 2 baggies on my student ticket. 😖 I really didn’t mean to dump all of my problems on you! But I’d be forever grateful if you could suggest something that you think can work for me and my cats. I’ll be forever grateful. Have a good day!

Ruhi – I’m not sure about the visa situation, I guess you’ll need a tourist visa. Some countries offer transit visas, but I don’t think this applies in the Schengen zone. Consider you’ll have a lot of luggage, it will probably be best to organise your own pet taxi, rather than a shared vehicle and using the trains and ferries. One option I’ve heard lots of good feedback lately is Happy Saluki ( https://www.happy-saluki.com ) – John the owner also knows everything inside out.

Great page; thank you! So glad to know that someone has already tried, tested and even written about what has been going through my head! Thank you! I’m keen on the “Paris flight arrival – train to Dieppe ferry” option to enter UK. My questions are practical ones with regard to the travel cage, as we have a large dog. I’m sure we wont be able to lift the cage with the dog in it, so, when we go on the train, is the dog allowed out of the travel cage and onto the train? Does the cage have to go into a separate baggage section or does it all stay togther on the train? The same questions apply for the ferry… (I’m also thinking it may be a good idea to add stoppable wheels to the cage) Many thanks

On the trains in France, it’s best for larger dogs to travel outside of a travel cage, just on a leash and wearing a muzzle. More information about pets on trains in France can be found here: https://www.sncf-voyageurs.com/en/travel-with-us/plan-your-journey/pets/ . I’m not sure about the storage of a large travel crate – we left behind our dog’s large crate before taking the train, but there’s information about luggage regulations on the same website.

When boarding the ferry, it’s requested that pets are carried onboard in a carrier (this is what we did), but this isn’t always enforced. And wheeling on your dog in his crate is probably the best idea for a larger dog. On the car deck of the ferry there are a few large crates that dogs can go in if they don’t have their own. As our dog is small we put his carrier inside one of the large crates.

One other thing – the train station isn’t next to the ferry wharf, it’s just over 2km away. We took a taxi. That might be a problem if you’re travelling with a large crate…

Hi there, great blog – thank you!

I am currently in the process of adopting a dog from Turkey. I think I am slowly getting there is terms of understanding what she needs. But I wonder if you could help me with a few things?

My plan is to fly her from Turkey to Amsterdam and then the next day get the ferry to England. I am told she has a pet passport but I am assuming this is not EU, so do you suggest that we complete both EU & GB Health Certificates?

Will the UK look at her as “technically” coming from EU as we are leaving from Netherlands? Or will they look at it like she is coming from Turkey?

Can you advise on what Amsterdam customs is like when you collect the dog? Is there any support that I need or is it as simple as picking her up from excess baggage?

I don’t believe the EU will recognised the Turkish pet passport, unlike say the Switzerland pet passport, so I recommend getting both health certificates completed. Are you also across the requirements for the rabies titre test? (See: https://www.travelnuity.com/travelling-to-europe-with-a-dog/ )

With picking up your dog in Amsterdam, if you fly with your dog in the hold as excess baggage, you will simply need to pick her up from the excess baggage counter, then show the paperwork when you go through customs. It’s more complicate if she flies as cargo, with pick-up from the cargo facility, but I’m guessing she won’t fly as cargo.

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Watch CBS News

Flying with pets? Here's what to know.

By Anne Marie Lee

Edited By Alain Sherter

Updated on: April 6, 2024 / 10:08 AM EDT / CBS News

Thinking of taking your dog or cat with you the next time you fly? For a growing percentage of the 90.5 million pet owners in the U.S., the answer is yes. But while the notion of boarding a plane with your pet may seem simple, the rules and restrictions around traveling with an animal can be confusing. 

Eight major U.S. airlines allow pets to fly in-cabin as carry-ons. But flying with your pet takes research and planning, as pet policies vary from airline to airline, are steeped in restrictions, and are limited to specific countries and cities. You'll also have to pay an extra fee for your pet ranging from $95 to $200, depending on the airline and where you're flying. And restrictions often change.

For example, American Airlines  recently revised its policies  so passengers flying with pets may also bring one full-size carry-on or personal item. But the carrier prohibits carry-on pets on transatlantic and transpacific flights. Here's what you need to know when considering taking your fur baby with you on a plane.

Cargo, check-in or carry-on?

Most airlines offer three options for transporting animals: cargo, check-in or carry-on. But if your pet is larger than a bread box, your options are limited to the cargo or baggage check-in options, with very few exceptions. 

Given that large canine breeds such as Labrador Retrievers, German Shepherds and Golden Retrievers are among the most popular dogs in the country, the size restriction for in-cabin pet travel can be a major frustration for those who would rather not fly at all if that means putting their pet in cargo. 

A 2023 Forbes Adviser survey of 10,000 U.S. dog owners found that 33% of respondents fly with their pets, while 37% listed not being able to bring their dog on a plane as their biggest annoyance. (You can learn more about the differences between cargo, check-in and carry-on options  here , including warnings about the  dangers  involved when pets travel in the cargo hold.) 

Carry-on pets

Even for pet owners whose animals are small enough to fly as a carry-on, traveling is no breeze.

"When I fly with him I have to go to the desk," Margaret Rauch, 44, told CBS MoneyWatch, referring to her 15-pound poodle mix, Soda. The New York City resident has taken Soda on dozens of flights to St. Croix in the U.S. Virgin Islands, where Soda, now 4, was being fostered by a friend after being found as a stray puppy in 2021. 

In addition to calling the airline in advance to register her dog for a flight, Rauch has to check in at the counter whenever she's traveling with Soda, so the airline agent can confirm her dog and pet carrier conform to the in-cabin pet requirements and that the flight hasn't already met its pet maximum. 

Rauch, who said she would never consider putting Soda in cargo, applauded American Airlines' new policy, while noting that in her experience the one carry-on rule was rarely enforced. 

"I feel the price is already high for what I get. Even with AA's rule change, I lose the underseat space," she said. "My dog creates no extra work for anyone."

Despite the added preparation, paperwork and hassle involved in flying with Soda — not to mention the unfriendly looks she occasionally detects from fellow passengers at the sight of her pet carrier — Rauch said, "It's absolutely worth it." 

Asked how the experience could be improved, she pointed to early boarding for pet owners as something that would help.

"If you can get in early, get a seat and settle down, that is an accommodation I don't expect to see anytime soon but I think it makes sense," Rauch said.

Safety and comfort

For the many Americans who see their pets practically as family members, one of the most challenging aspects of flying is ensuring their animal's comfort and safety. 

"The increasing humanization of pets, which involves treating them as part of the family rather than as mere animals, has increased the demand for pet travel services that are of high quality and can be customized to meet the specific needs of each pet," LinkedIn reported in December.

Among other tips, the U.S. Department of Transportation  and animal experts recommend that you not feed your pet four to six hours before a flight and limit their water intake. Others also suggest keeping bottled water on hand at all times. Additionally, most airlines require certain vaccination and vet certification that your pet is healthy enough to fly. Individual countries also have their own requirements for pets to enter.  

Not surprisingly, some airlines do better than others at handling pets. One of the best-rated carriers for pet travel is Alaska Airlines, which has repeatedly topped rankings, such as NerdWallet's Most pet-friendly airlines of 2024.  In recent years, the airline also has maintained one of the industry's lowest incident ratings, according to Veterinarians.org. United Airlines and Delta are among the airlines with the highest incident rates, according to the pet information website. 

On Rauch's first plane trip with Soda traveling home to New York, a layover in Miami led to the flight sitting on the tarmac for two hours. Calming treats are something that helps keeps her dog relaxed on flights. She also withholds Soda's food and limits his water intake up to five hours before a flight, which is also helpful given that he doesn't like using pet relief areas, which she said generally smell of urine and can be overwhelming for dogs. Flights between New York City and St. Croix are generally under six hours. 

"I'm not sure how I'd handle a flight to Singapore," Rauch said.

Here's a rundown of U.S. airlines' pet travel policies, along with fees and and restrictions:

Alaska Airlines

Pet fee: $100

Pets allowed: Dogs and cats are the only pets allowed in-cabin on international trips and flights to Hawaii. Domesticated rabbits and small household birds are allowed as carry-on on domestic flights.

Destinations: Domestic and international, with additional requirements and documentation required for  pets traveling to Hawaii  or  internationally .

See Alaska's full pet policy here .

American Airlines

Pet fee: $150

Pets allowed: Dogs, cats

Destinations: 

• Within the 48 contiguous U.S.
• The U.S. and Canada*
• Puerto Rico

*Additional special restrictions may apply. See American's full pet policy  here .

Pet fee: $75-$200, depending on destination

Pets allowed: Dogs, cats, household birds

Pet friendly destinations: 

• U.S., Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico
• International destinations with the exception of Australia, U.K., Republic of Ireland and others .

Pets are not permitted on flights to Hawaii. See Delta's full pet policy here .

Frontier Airlines 

Pet fee: $99

Pets allowed: Dogs, cats, rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters and household birds

Destinations: Domestic flights and international flights to and from the Dominican Republic and Mexico.

See Frontier's full pet policy here .

Pet fee: $125

Destinations: Domestic and international. See exceptions for international flights here .

See JetBlue's full pet policy here .

Southwest Airlines

Pet fee: $125 per pet carrier on the U.S. mainland; $35 per pet carrier between Hawaiian Islands

Destinations: Domestic U.S. flights only. For travel to Puerto Rico, specific requirements may  apply . For Hawaii travel, see rules and regulations here.

See Southwest's full pet policy here .

Spirit Airlines

Pets allowed: Dogs, cats, birds (with the exception of flights to or from Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands) or rabbits (with the exception of flights to or from Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands).

Destinations: Domestic flights including Puerto Rico and St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands

See Spirit's full pet policy here .

United Airlines

Destinations: Domestic and international flights with a list of exceptions. United does not allow pets to fly to, from or through certain states and countries. View the list here .

See United's full pet policy here .

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Bark air launches first luxury airlines for dogs — but charges $16k for ‘white paw service’.

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Dog toy company BARK will launch a jet charter service that promises “white paw service” — though it will cost as much as $16,000 for a round-trip ticket for just one pooch and its doting owner.

Dubbed BARK Air, the company best known for its subscription BarkBoxes filled with pet toys and treats, seeks to solve the problems that typically arise when humans travel with their fur babies.

Though smaller dogs can typically ride in a carrier placed under the seat in front of them, larger dogs must undergo what’s known to be the stressful experience of being put in crates in a plane’s cargo space.

“We are excited to take the insights we’ve learned over years to create an experience that is truly dog-first, which is drastically different from just accepting dogs — from the ground to the skies,” Matt Meeker, the co-founder and chief executive at BARK, said in a press release Thursday.

BARK Air’s first flight departs from New York’s Westchester County Airport to Los Angeles’s Van Nuys Airport on May 23.

Currently, there are only two flight routes available, both from Westchester County Airport to either Van Nuys Airport — which costs $6,000 one way for one dog and one human — or to London’s Stansted Airport — which goes for $8,000 one way.

Following booking, humans are connected with a BARK concierge assigned to collect information about their four-legged passengers to ensure the best possible experience during the long-haul flight.

But BARK Air won’t just be pet friendly — it will treat its four-legged passengers like first-class passengers, the New York-based company said.

On travel day, dogs and their owners are only required to show up at the airport 45 minutes ahead of their scheduled flight time “for a simple, efficient check-in process — no crates, no stressful TSA checkpoints,” per BARK Air’s website .

From there, concierges will bring the dogs aboard to a cabin prepared with calming aids such as music, warm lavender-scented refreshment towels, and pheromones — scents that mimic the natural chemicals released by animals that help them communicate — among other comforts.

Treats, noise-canceling ear muffs, and calming jackets will also be on hand as part of BARK’s “Dogs Fly First” flight prep, which ensures that each pooch is comfortable upon takeoff.

The dogs are offered a beverage at takeoff and descent to help their ears adjust to cabin pressurization.

“We believe this initiative will raise awareness of BARK’s mission in a cost-effective manner,” said Zahir Ibrahim, BARK’s Chief Financial Officer. “Given we are not committed to booking flights far in advance, we have a lot of flexibility to opportunistically charter flights during times of high demand.”

Users on social media, however, panned the sky-high fares.

“Was so excited for this but am mind blown at the $6k price tag. Hopefully y’all can make this much more affordable in the future,” one user commented on BARK Air’s Instagram post introducing the luxe airline.

“I would genuinely love to see the data that convinced you to believe $12K round trip tickets are a viable business model and one worth marketing to the general public,” another said.

A third said a $6,000 to $8,000 fare for just one way “is ridiculous.”

It wasn’t immediately clear which jet charter company BARK is partnering with for its pet-friendly trips.

The Post has sought comment from BARK.

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New Airline Bark Bets Big on $6,000 Flights for Dogs

(Bloomberg) -- Flying with dogs can be fraught, and the options are slim. If they’re small enough, you can keep them in a carrier under a conventional airplane seat. If not, you can crate them and check them into the cargo hold—a scary prospect for pet owners. Although unwelcome incidents are statistically uncommon, it’s unsettling how often dogs are flown to the wrong destinations or mishandled by airport staff. Airline-related pet deaths are logged by the Bureau of Transportation Statistics on a monthly basis ; between September and November 2023, the most recent months where data is available, there were three such incidents on US carriers. 

Bark Air , a new airline dedicated to dogs and their humans, aims to address worries for those with outsize pet budgets. Starting on April 11, dog owners will be able to book flights on  Gulfstream 550 private jets , with all members of the family allowed in the main cabin. It’s the latest offering from Bark Inc. , the company behind BarkBox, a subscription service for popular dog treats. 

The airline will operate once-weekly flights from New York to Los Angeles in each direction, as well as twice monthly from New York to London. It will use secondary airports better able to accommodate private flights: New York’s Westchester County Airport (HPN), Los Angeles’ Van Nuys Airport (VNY) and London’s Stansted Airport (STN). Fares will start at $6,000 one-way on the transcontinental US flights—a single ticket includes a seat for one person plus one dog—and $8,000 one-way on the transatlantic route.

Its first departures are scheduled for May 23, on jets owned and operated by charter company Talon Air. The planes normally seat 14, not including flight crew, but Bark’s bookings will be limited to 10 people to ensure adequate space for four-legged passengers—who get to sit anywhere on the plane, be it on owners’ laps, the floor or on the airplane’s couch. Predeparture calls take stock of various passengers’ temperaments, and concierges will ensure that vaccinations, medical checks and paperwork are in place to avert quarantining after international flights. 

On board, a canine-specific menu will include “dog Champagne”—that’s chicken broth, in case you’re wondering—among other treats. Pet messes will be quickly cleaned up. Bark plans to install replaceable carpet tiles on the aircraft to help keep planes spotless—and eventually to create an onboard play area that will resemble a dog park. 

“We’ll find out if this is a service that the world wants and values,” says Matt Meeker , chief executive officer and co-founder of Bark. “If not, we’re going to have a heck of a time finding out.”

The initial routes were selected for being the busiest out of New York, Meeker says. For pet owners, they may also represent journeys that are essential—for cross-country or international moves, for instance—and not easily achieved by car or ship. (Cunard Line famously has kennels aboard its transatlantic ships , but they typically spend seven nights at sea.)

Among the most likely customers will be BarkBox’s 2.3 million active monthly subscribers. 

“It’s our great hope that those prices come down over time,” says Meeker. “The current pricing is the most it will ever cost us to operate these flights. If the demand is there, we have ways of lowering those prices.”

Bark isn’t the first airline to cater to pets. In 2007, Pet Airways started a network of pet-friendly domestic flights, with fares typically ranging from $500 to $1,200. The company shut down four years later due to financial losses.

Undeterred, Meeker says the market is bigger now than it was 12 years ago, when Bark was created. Some 65 million households in the US own pets, up from 38 million then. 

Private aviation company VistaJet saw pet travel surge by 86% from 2019 to 2021, the first two years that it offered its (ongoing)  VistaPet  program, which is available only to the company’s members and includes such in-flight amenities as doggy beds. Now, it says, one in about four customers chooses to fly with pets (including cats and rabbits), with a 43% year-over-year increase in the number of overall pets flying from 2022 to 2023.

“Bark Air faces an uphill battle,” says Henry H. Harteveldt, travel industry analyst at Atmosphere Research Group . Notwithstanding the advantage that comes with the built-in BarkBox audience, he says, “I don’t believe Bark Air will offer enough utility, convenience and value to appeal to enough pet owners and be profitable.”  

This may be besides the point, however, Bark may be willing to take a loss on the flights, he continues, if it means keeping subscribers more engaged with its core BarkBox business. “It may see greater gains elsewhere, such as growing its subscriber base, seeing subscribers order more product or both.”

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