Whether you’ve been strolling along the coastline, scampering through woodland or hiking in the hills, you’re bound to work up an appetite on days out with your dog. And thanks to the Duchess of Bedford inventing the tradition of afternoon tea in the 19th century, a spread of crumbly scones piled high with jam and cream has become quite the way to fill the gap between lunch and dinner in the UK.
Luckily, being a dog-loving nation, lots of cafés and tearooms welcome your four-legged friends to join you for this afternoon ritual of tea and scones that will fuel you up until the sun goes down.
So, whether you prefer jam or cream first, here are some of the best places in the UK for cream tea where your dog can come too.
Carnewas Tearooms, Bedruthan Steps, Cornwall
Of all the places for a cream tea while on holiday in Cornwall, we suggest you take your dog to this traditional family-run tearoom on the clifftops at Bedruthan Steps. Not only can you ramble along the coast path to witness one of Cornwall’s most incredible natural wonders and bound along the dog-friendly Mawgan Porth beach, but the bouncy, just-baked scones, piled high with and homemade jam and Cornish clotted cream (in that order, if you please), are as much of an attraction as the mighty rock stacks that made this place famous. Need somewhere to stay? Check out our dog friendly cottages in Cornwall.
Wiveton Hall Café, Blakeney, Norfolk
Explore the salt marshes, sandy beach and Blakeney Nature Reserve with your four-legged friend, then sit back with glorious views of the Norfolk coast to fill up on freshly-baked scones topped with locally-sourced clotted cream and homemade jam. At this dog-friendly café the staff are always happy to give your pup a pat and some water, while you sip your tea and focus on the delightful food and views.
Basildon Park, Berkshire,
Feel the romance in the air as you promenade around Basildon Park’s dog-friendly estate featured in series two and three of the raunchy Bridgerton saga. Whether you opt for a 0.5-mile stroll or a three-mile loop, make sure you work up a hunger for a traditional cream tea in this Berkshire dog-friendly café, where there are water bowls to welcome your canine companion and dog treats available to buy from the gift shop.
The Old Town Beach Café, Old Hunstanton Beach, Norfolk
After a stomp along the paw-friendly Old Hunstanton beach, head into this shoreside café for a truly local cream tea experience with the sound of the waves in the background. There’s nothing fancy about this classic seaside setting, where families, dogs and walkers pile in for fresh-from-the-oven scones served with strawberry-packed jam and lashings of cream.
The Applecross Walled Garden Café, Applecross, Scotland
Imagine this scenic cream tea experience: homemade scones, Scottish jam and locally-sourced clotted cream, served in a beautiful walled garden with stunning views of the Scottish Highlands. Dogs are welcome in the outdoor seating areas of this glorious café, where they can flop with a bowl of water after a hike on the Applecross Peninsula or along the famous Bealach na Bà pass. It’s just the spot to enjoy a cream tea while exploring this beautiful area on a dog-friendly holiday in Scotland.
The Hive Beach Café, Burton Bradstock, Dorset
There’s plenty of space to play with your pup on the seemingly endless Chesil Beach, before retreating to this popular beachside café that beckons gastronomes and their furry friends. Bang on the Jurassic Coast, there are sea views aplenty to enjoy alongside a delicious cream tea with freshly-baked scones, Dorset clotted cream and locally-made jam. Dogs can enjoy water bowls, treats and the sea breeze in the undercover outdoor seating area, ensuring they feel just as pampered as you. Make a beeline for this café while staying with your dog in Dorset.
Bracklesham Bay Tea Rooms and Garden, West Sussex
After a stroll along the beautiful Bracklesham Bay near Chichester, seek out this idyllic café housed in a thatched cottage surrounded by pretty country gardens. Dogs are welcome inside – and outside – the traditional little tea room where scones and other finger-licking foods are lovingly handmade and served with all the trimmings of doilies and dainty tea cups.
The Furnace & Courtyard at Bodnant Welsh Food, Conwy, North Wales
Nestled in the heart of the Conwy Valley, the tearoom at Bodnant Welsh Food has quite a reputation for its mouth-watering cream teas made with local Welsh ingredients. After a promenade with your pooch around the gardens, or a longer hike with your hound through the scenic woodland and valley, relax in the courtyard café and tuck into fluffy fruit scones, or go all out with a full Afternoon Tea platter stacked with sandwiches, sweet treats and a glass of fizz. It’s well worth a diversion during your dog-friendly getaway in Wales.
The Shore Café, Dunoon, Scotland
Nudging the glassy shores of the Holy Loch, this hidden gem boasting eye-popping views of the water and the mountains is definitely one to seek out on your cream tea pilgrimage when you venture into Scotland for a dog-friendly trip. Whether you walk beside the water or hike up into the hills with your four-legged friend, head back to this local’s shoreside café for a fine cuppa and still-warm scones, as well other home-baked treats stuffed with the best Scottish ingredients.
Book Your Dog Friendly Holiday Cottage
Browse our collection of paw-friendly pads in the UK and visit some of the best places to tuck into cream tea with your canine companion.
