I think one of the best things about having a pup now (other than the daily cuteness of constant cuddles or the hilarity of what I like to call the ‘dachshund side-eye’) is being able to explore the UK with a dog in tow. There’s a huge wealth of dog-friendly staycation options and I plan to explore as many as I can when we get a free weekend.
First up, it was time to explore the eastern coast of England. An area Dan and I had yet to venture to, we booked ourselves in for a night’s stay at a converted little pub hotel ‘The Swan’ on the Suffolk coast – complete with dog friendly amenities for our Duds. Little did we know what the adorable little town of Southwold would have in store for us…
Anchored to the Adnams brewery and distillery, The Swan Southwold is a great spot to base yourself in the centre of the teeny town – a mix of Georgian architecture, modern maritime style and award-winning booze. It’s recently undergone a huge refurbishment and so while the hotel’s mix of nautical decor alludes to its seaside location, it also takes inspiration from more modern design elements such as bold, bright velvet furniture and copper (a nice touch to the distillery next door). Dog treats and a dog bed are all set up in your room too if you have a pooch in tow!
Here’s a little list of some of the things I’d recommend doing when visiting Southwold:
Eat some fish and chips at The Little Fish and Chip Company
Adnams Brewery Tour – you can sample some of the best Suffolk beers and gins on a guided tour of this historic distillery that’s been brewing beer on site for over 600 years!
Visit Slate for cheese and provisions (delicious and I wanted to take home 98 cheeses with me…!)
Pour over some vintage books and new reads at the quaint Southward Books store
Shopping is surprisingly impressive for such a small town! Choose from designer labels at Collen & Clare, kitchenwares, wines, spirits and ales at the Adnams Store, plus traditional sweet shops and quirky gift stores. Stag Interiors is great for beautiful homeware
Two Magpies for coffee and the most incredible pastries including everything from freshly baked pastel de natas, cheesecake, rose and pistachio meringues and savoury muffins
Head to the beach for gorgeous strolls alongside the pastel coloured beach huts – perfect if you also have a pooch in tow. What dog doesn’t adore the beach?!
As we were only there for such a short time, we didn’t get to see much of the surrounding area but I have been messaged with recommendations of nearby towns Aldeburgh and Wickham Market, so plenty more reasons to explore more of this gorgeous part of the UK. Let me know if you’ve also been to the area or have stayed in the Swan – would love to hear from you!
LMNH x
