Travelling with dogs on public transport
How to travel on the bus, train, London Underground, metro / subways and cable cars with your dog in the UK
If your dog is happy to tag along with you, you can travel to many places via public transport in the UK. Although not all modes of transport allow dogs in the UK, many do and in this article we cover dogs on buses, trains, the tube and trams and the rules and conditions involved with each.
Is your dog ready to travel on public transport?
When considering taking your dog on public transport with you, you must make sure your dog is happy with it before dragging them along new experiences they are not ready for.
If your dog is nervous, you’ll need to train them to be comfortable with crowds first or avoid public transport altogether. If your dogs are too excited, you need to be in full control of them with firm understanding of stop, wait and sit commands. Most modes of public transport will only allow well behaved dogs.
If you’re travelling alone with more than one dog, you need to plan your route very carefully to avoid areas where you might have difficulty managing them – for example if you have two large dogs, London Underground escalators will not be possible as you’d need to carry them (unless they are specifically trained assistance dogs with a license) and you will need to look at alternative tube lines and stops with lifts instead.
With all that in mind, please read on and we’ll share our public transport experiences with you below.
How to train your nervous dog to use public transport
It’s a matter of our nature and preference too, of course. I have been happily going everywhere with mum and dad since I was a teeny pup, and I’ve always been so fond of meeting new people, new smells and sights. My sister Lucy joined our family when she was 4 years old, straight out of a puppy farm. It took us a lot of patience and treats to get her to a point where she enjoys the journey rather than being scared of the crowds and different sounds and smells.
For a while, mummy or daddy carried her on and off and we often used a puppy buggy for her (in which I happily joined I must say!) so she could watch what’s going on outside while having her privacy and her sister (me!) next to her who she could rely on. After a while, we let her out to walk along with me for short periods of time when she showed interest in doing so. Slowly, she learned to enjoy her surroundings and join in the fun I had.
Modes of public transport in the UK
Can you take dogs on trains? Are dogs allowed on buses? How about dogs on the tube? Are dogs allowed on the tram? We’ll look into each mode of transport and discuss how dog friendly they are in the UK.
You will be surprised how many modes of public transport are indeed dog friendly, as long as your dog is kept on a lead and doesn’t disturb the other passengers. If you have a guide or assistance dog, they are always allowed on all modes of public transport but make sure you carry their identification papers with you.
Read on and hopefully we can help you plan your perfect day out using public transport with your dog.
Dogs on trains
Are dogs allowed on trains?
National Rail Trains permit free travel for 2 dogs per adult passenger. For additional dogs, you need to pay a fee. You need to keep your dogs on lead at all times or in a dog carrier. Always use the wide gates / ticket barriers and help your dog on and off the train.
Dogs on sleeper trains
On sleeper trains dogs are welcome to join you in your room but not permitted on beds. Shared occupancy rooms must be shared with a member of your party. Restaurant / buffet cars or seated carriages only allow guide dogs or assistance dogs.
Caledonian Sleeper that runs between Scotland and London charge a cleaning fee each way. Bookings for your dogs on sleepers should be made in advance.
We recommend you take a dog bed, blanket, training pads (just in case), enrichment toys, water, food and treats with you for long journeys on Sleeper trains.
Additional dog fees on UK trains
Avanti West Coast trains charge £5 each way per additional dog.
Great Western Railway, Greater Anglia and Southeastern trains charge half the adult fare of your ticket per additional dog, no more than £5 for a single, and £10 for a return.
On London North Eastern Railway, you may have to pay up to a maximum of £5.00 for each journey.
Exceptions to travel
If you’re travelling First Class on Great Western Railway or London North Eastern Railway, you can bring your dog to the lounge if they are on a lead. Nice!
Heathrow Express may ask you to move your dog to another part of the train if another customer objects to its presence onboard the train.
List of National Rail trains
Can I take my dog on Eurostar?
Additional passport and health requirements apply for travelling abroad on the Eurostar, which is not covered in this article.
Dog-friendly steam trains
Riding on a historical steam train is a fabulous day out with your dogs and there are many dog-friendly steam railways in the UK.
So far our favourites were the Bluebell Railway in East Sussex and the Dart Valley Railway in Devon where Daisy had a fabulous time enjoying the stunning views and her personal ticket and treat that came with it!
We have a dedicated article coming soon for dog-friendly steam railways in the UK.
Dogs on London Underground, metro and subways
Are dogs allowed on the Tube?
Yes! Dogs travel for free on London Underground, London Overground and the DLR (Docklands Light Railway) as long as they are kept on a lead (or in a pet carrier) and are carried through the ticket barriers and the escalators. Guide dogs and assistance dogs are trained to use the escalators but if you’re travelling with one, you need to be able to provide their papers when asked for.
If you’re travelling with a large dog or more than one dog, the escalators will be an issue! Always plan your journey in advance with TfL’s journey planner (or an app of your choice) and take routes via stations where you can use the lifts or stairs instead.
We recommend using the wide ticket barriers so you can walk through with your dogs and avoid injury – the tube can get very busy at times. Needless to say, always ‘Mind the Gap’ and help your dog on and off the tube.
If your dog is misbehaving, they can be refused entry. Make sure you train your dog to use the Underground safely with you before taking longer journeys or changing several lines. We started Daisy early when she was a pup and Lucy’s first journey on the tube was accompanied by two of her well trained and well behaved friends so she was okay with it all.
Other metros / subways in the UK
London Underground, fondly called the tube, is obviously the most well-known underground rapid transit system in the UK. There are 3 more widely used subways in other cities:
Merseyrail in Liverpool with several underground stations in the city centre, Tyne and Wear Metro linking South Tyneside and Sunderland with Gateshead, Newcastle upon Tyne, North Tyneside and Newcastle Airport and Glasgow Subway is the third oldest underground metro system in the world, after the London Underground, running between the city centre and West End of Glasgow.
Are dogs allowed on Merseyrail?
Yes. Merseyrail will take dogs free of charge as long as they do not endanger or inconvenience other customers or staff. You need to keep your dog on a lead at all times or in a closed pet carrier.
Are dogs allowed on Tyne and Wear Metro?
Yes. Dogs are allowed to travel for free on the metro as long as they are kept on a lead and don’t travel on the seats. Just like the London Underground, dogs aren’t advised to use the escalators. You need to use the lifts or stairs.
Can you take a dog on the Glasgow subway?
Well, kind of… In 2016, they changed the rules for dogs travelling on the metro and currently, other than guide and assistance dogs, only small dogs are allowed in secure containers.
Dogs on buses
Are dogs allowed on buses?
The main bus operators in the UK allow dogs on buses at the driver’s discretion. As long as your dog is on a lead and well behaved, they are generally welcome.
Depending on the bus company and the route, you may be charged a small fee to travel on the bus with your dog. See the list of bus operators below for details.
Dogs on coaches
Inter-city coaches in the UK do not allow dogs on the bus, except guide and assistance dogs. See the list of coaches list below for details.
Guide dogs and assistance dogs are always allowed on all buses and coaches, and they can travel for free – just make sure you have their papers with you at all times.
List of dog-friendly bus operators in the UK
On Abellio and Arriva buses, dogs are permitted at the sole discretion of the driver and they travel for free.
Blackpool Transport buses allow dogs to travel on single deck buses and on the lower deck of double decker buses. Dogs need to be on a lead and cannot sit on seats. Unlimited travel for £1 with Rover24 or 60p for single journey.
Brighton & Hove buses, Go North East, Go North West, Go South Coast, Konectbus, Metrobus, Morebus, Plymouth Bus and Transport for Cornwall buses allow maximum 2 dogs per bus. If you wish to travel with 2 or more dogs, you need the driver’s permission. Dogs travel for free.
Bus Vannin on Isle of Man allow maximum 2 leashed dogs on the lower deck of their buses and charge 30p per journey.
Cardiff Bus will allow 1 well-behaved dog per bus on owner’s lap or the floor at the sole discretion of the driver.
Centrebus allow dogs to travel with you and they charge 50p for a single journey in Derbyshire, Cheshire and Greater Manchester – everywhere else it’s free.
Compass Travel, First Bus and Stagecoach allow dogs on lead at driver’s discretion. They may not sit on the seats. Small dogs can travel on your lap. A fare may be charged.
East Yorkshire Buses allow one dog per upper or lower deck of a bus at one time, free of charge. You need the driver’s permission if you want to travel with 2 or more dogs.
Hallmark buses will allow well-behaved dogs that won’t be a danger or a nuisance for other customers or their staff at the discretion of the driver who decides where on the bus the animal is best carried.
LibertyBus in Jersey let their drivers decide if they want to allow dogs on their buses or not, based on how full the bus is, if there are other dogs on the bus already, driver’s potential allergies etc.
Lothian Buses in Edinburgh carry dogs if there’s room on the bus as long as they are on the lead.
Nottingham City Transport buses will carry well-behaved dogs on a lead. Dog Rover ticket is £1 for all day travel.
Oxford Bus Company has a limit of maximum two well-behaved dogs per one person and it’s at the driver’s discretion. Dogs travel for free.
Reading Buses welcome dogs and charge £1 for unlimited travel all day with the Doggy Rover Day Ticket.
TfL (Transport for London) and Metroline buses in London allow inoffensive and properly controlled dogs for free. Dogs should travel on your lap or on the floor.
Transdev buses allow dogs on the bus as long as they don’t travel on the seats and they reserve the right to refuse to carry any dog.
Translink buses carry small dogs free of charge but they are not permitted to occupy a seat. They reserve the right to refuse dogs or require them to be removed from the vehicle.
Trentbarton buses allow well-behaved dogs and charge 80p for any ride.
Yellow Buses in Bournemouth will allow dogs that will not be a danger or nuisance to any other passenger or members of staff, at the discretion of the driver, for free of charge.
Exceptions
Midland Classic buses in Burton will only carry assistance dogs and guide dogs.
List of main coach operators in the UK
Dog-friendly sightseeing bus tours
Did you know some of the biggest hop-on hop-off city bus tour operators in the UK are dog friendly? Plus, you can even rent a classic double-decker red Routemaster bus for a bespoke experience, like we did with our Cavaliers of London group!
The Original Tour
Operating in London, Windsor and Bath, The Original Tour hop-on hop-off sightseeing buses welcome all guide / assistance / service dogs onboard. Other well-behaved dogs may also be allowed on the bus tours if there’s enough room on the bus, at the driver’s discretion.
City Sightseeing
Dogs will be permitted on hop-on hop-off City Sightseeing tour buses at the driver’s discretion with a maximum of two well-behaved dogs per bus. They reserve the right to ask you to leave the vehicle if the driver feels that the animal in question is a danger others. City Sightseeing operates in Bath, Belfast, Cambridge, Cardiff, Chester, Derry-Londonderry, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Llandudno, Oxford, Stratford-upon-Avon, York and soon in London.
Timebus London bespoke packages
Timebus can organise a bespoke tour on one of their traditional red Routemaster double-decker London bus for you! We have experienced this and had the best fun with our Cavaliers of London group. It was 60 humans and almost 40 Cavaliers onboard, with dog-related facts in commentary during our 2-hour journey around London’s main sights. It was an amazing experience and we can highly recommend it if you have a big enough group to get one organised.
Dogs on trams and light rail systems
Are dogs allowed on trams in the UK?
In the UK half of the 10 trams, 2 of which are in London, others in Blackpool, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Manchester, Nottingham, Sheffield, Newcastle area and Birmingham. Half of these are dog friendly.
Dog-friendly trams
Well-behaved dogs on leads are welcome on Blackpool Tramway, Docklands Light Railway (DLR) in London, Edinburgh Trams, London Tramlink (formerly known as Croydon Tramlink) and Tyne and Wear Metro serving Newcastle upon Tyne, Gateshead, South and North Tyneside and Sunderland. See below for details.
Trams permitting only small dogs in pet carriers
Only small dogs are permitted on Glasgow Subway and Nottingham Express Transit at the staff’s discretion and only if they travel in closed pet carriers.
Trams not allowing dogs
Manchester Metrolink , Sheffield Supertram, and West Midlands Metro operating between Birmingham and Wolverhampton will only allow guide or assistance dogs.
Guide dogs and assistance dogs are as always the exception as they are always free to travel on all trams but you should keep their training and identification documents with you at all times.
Can I take a dog on a tram in London?
Dogs should be kept on a lead (or in a pet carrier) and need to be carried through the ticket barriers (or walk through wide barriers) and on the escalators. If you’re travelling with a large dog or with more than one dog, plan an alternative route where you can use the lifts or stairs instead.
Guide dogs and assistance dogs are trained to use the escalators and if you’re travelling with one, you need to be able to provide their papers when asked for.
Are dogs allowed on Blackpool trams?
Yes, dogs can travel with us on Blackpool Tramway but they need to be carried or walked on a short lead. They are not allowed on seats.
The fare for dogs is 60p per journey. Alternatively a Rover 24 is available for £1 for unlimited travel for 24 hours or a 7 Day Dog Ticket for £5. Guide dogs and assistance dogs travel for free.
Are dogs allowed on Edinburgh trams?
Yes, Edinburgh Trams carry dogs at the company officials’ discretion, if there is room on the tram. All dogs must be on a lead.
Can you take a dog on the Glasgow Subway?
Are dogs allowed on Nottingham trams?
Assistance dogs and guide dogs can go on the Nottingham Express Transit free of charge.
As long as they are carried in a container, other small dogs can travel for free, at the sole discretion of staff. The container must not be put on seats.
Are dogs allowed on Tyne and Wear Metro?
Yes. Dogs are allowed to travel for free onTyne and Wear Metro as long as they are kept on a lead and don’t travel on the seats. Dogs aren’t advised to use the escalators. You need to use the lifts or stairs.
Dog-friendly cable cars in the UK
From London to Scotland and Wales, cable cars in the UK offer some commanding views of the land and cities below from a height. Believe it or not, some of these amazing attractions are dog-friendly too!
Emirates Air Line – London
Emirates Air Line cable car links Greenwich Peninsula (near the O2) and the Royal Docks (near ExCel), crossing over River Thames. You can enjoy commanding views of the London with your dog up at 295 feet height. The journey takes around 10 minutes and dogs need to be carried.
Operates every day of the week. Can pay with Oyster Card or contactless cards. Address: 27 Western Gateway, Royal Docks, London E16 1FA
Llandudno Cable Car – Wales
Llandudno Cable Car glides from Llandudno up 679 feet to the summit of the Great Orme. Well-behaved dogs are welcome to join you on this stunning 9-minute journey, taking in the panoramic views. Keep the pooches on the lead and you’re good to go.
Operates July-October unless windy. Cash only. Address: North Parade, Llandudno, Conwy, LL30 2LP
Nevis Range Mountain Gondola – Scotland
Enjoy a scenic ride up 2150ft to the north face of Aonach Mòr Mountain with your dog. The journey over Scottish Highlands takes around 12-15 minutes each way in a closed cable car.
Open Thursday – Monday, subject to weather. Address: Nevis Range, Torlundy Fort William, Inverness-shire PH33 6SQ
Heights of Abraham – Peak District
In the heart of Derbyshire, Peak District, Heights of Abraham cable car travels 169 metres up and provide beautiful views of the Derwent Valley below. At the summit of Masson Hill, there is a beautiful hilltop park your dog will love.
Open daily. Book online in advance. Address: Dale Rd, Matlock DE4 3NT
Please note: At the time of writing this article, September 2020, the information given was correct.
If in doubt, please check with the individual operating company you’d like to use.
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