On the banks of the River Thames lies Greenwich, a bustling part of London that feels like you’ve escaped the city and that also happens to be pretty dog-friendly. Greenwich can get pretty busy with visiting tourists – it’s home to the Cutty Sark (a restored 19th-century ship), the National Maritime Museum and the Royal Observatory which is the site of the Greenwich meridian line, but there are plenty of opportunities to skip the crowds and enjoy the area with your dog. In our latest guide we discover dog-friendly Greenwich Cafés, Restaurants and Pubs (and even some shops and other venues) so you can make the most of a visit to the area.
Of course a visit to Greenwich wouldn’t be the same without a stroll through the Royal Park, famous for being home to the Prime Meridian. Set in a sprawling 183 acres, Greenwich Park is an amazing mix of 17th century landscape, stunning gardens and a rich history that dates back to Roman times for the humans and miles of sniff and play opportunities for pups.
It’s also surrounded by plenty of historic buildings such as the Queen’s House a former royal residence built between 1616 and 1635 which make for some gorgeous photo backdrops.
The first time we visited Greenwich, we got lots of tips for dog-friendly Greenwich pubs to visit but dog-friendly cafes and restaurants were much harder to find. That may be because there are few independent cafes and restaurants in Greenwich centre these days but fortunately we did find several and we’ll continue to add to our dog-friendly Greenwich guide as we discover more. One great thing about Greenwich, is that there’s a real mix of places that are actually dog-friendly, all in a relatively small area, meaning you can eat, drink and shop your way around town with your pup.
Let’s see where they are….
Dog-friendly Greenwich Cafés
Grind Café | 17-19 Nelson Rd, SE10 9JB
Recently opened in Greenwich and the largest of the Grind Cafés is Grind Greenwich. We visited with our good friend Amber the Cav Repawter and had a lovely coffee and catch up. Dogs are not allowed in the main restaurant area but are allowed in the stylish café area at the front which is pretty spacious and we met lots of dogs in the time we were there.
Crosstown Doughnuts | 5 Greenwich Market, SE10 9HZ
One of the permanent shops in Greenwich Market is Crosstown Doughnuts known for their delicious doughnuts including a tasty vegan range. Dogs are very welcome at Crosstown, just be aware that the café area is small in the Greenwich branch.
Heaps Sausages | 8 Nevada St, SE10 9JL
Make your dog’s dreams come true with a trip to Heap’s Sausages tucked away on a side street a stones throw from the park. Heaps is run by Chef Martin Heap who created the famous Simply Sausages range and you can tuck into some of these acclaimed sausages over brunch or a gourmet hot dog. A small venue that is usually packed (which probably means more opportunities for sausage scrap hoovering from a pup’s perspective) but there is bench seating outside too.
The River Gardens Café | Unit 2, 20 River Gardens Walk, Greenwich Peninsula, London SE10 0FZ
A great breakfast and brunch spot with river views that loves welcoming both dogs and children.
The Green Café | 285 Greenwich High Rd, Greenwich, London SE10 8NB
Serving all-day breakfasts, freshly squeezed juice and more, The Green Cafe is a good option for a pitstop with your pup.
Parkside Café and Terrace at the National Maritime Museum | King William Walk National Maritime Museum, SE10 9HU
Directly opposite the gorgeous Greenwich Park is the Parkside Café and Terrace which is part of the National Maritime Museum. Only the outside terrace area is dog-friendly but in summer this is great thanks to the huge umbrellas that offer some shade.
Dog-friendly Greenwich Restaurants
Champagne & Fromage | 34 Greenwich Church St, SE10 9BL
On the main road of Greenwich Church Street is the charming Champagne & Fromage, a bistro offering you guessed it…an authentic French menu featuring Champagne and Fromage, over types of Fromage to be precise. Another small and cosy venue so worth booking ahead if you plan to visit with your dog to make sure you get a table.
Dog-friendly Greenwich Pubs
Pubs are by far the most dog-friendly venues in Greenwich and definitely a safe bet, so rather than list them all, we’ve handpicked a few that are worth mentioning.
The Sail Loft | 11 Victoria Parade, SE10 9FR
A spacious, modern pub set directly overlooking the water with amazing views. The best bit however is the dedicated doggy photo booth and ‘Strike a Paws’ photo competition where the winning dog wins some tasty treats at the end of the month.
Richard 1st | 52-54 Royal Hill, SE10 8RT
Located on the quaint Royal Hill ( a stroll down here is a must) and an easy walk from the Royal Observatory is the Richard 1st pub which has been part of the local community since 1923. From the large comfy sofas out front to the spacious beer garden out back, dogs are very welcome.
The Greenwich Union | 56 Royal Hill, SE10 8RT
Also known as ‘The Union’ and right next door to Richard 1st is Meantime Brewery’s first pub serving locally brewed craft beer. It’s a compact pub but also boasts an outdoor beer garden and a tasty barbecue on weekends when the weather permits.
Other pubs we’ve received dog-friendly recommendations for are The Prince of Greenwich, The Gipsy Moth, The King’s Arms, The Mitre and The Cutty Sark (bar area only but this can get very busy).
Tip – whilst walking down Royal Hill look out for The Creaky Shed which holds the accolade of being the prettiest Grocery store in London according to Pretty City London.
Dog-friendly Greenwich Shops
Oliver Bonas | 3-4 Nelson Rd, SE10 9JB
Oliver Bonas is one of the high street names known for being dog-friendly and Greenwich is no exception as marked by the doggy water bowl outside the door. One of our go to shops when gift shopping you can browse for as long as you like with your best friend by your side.
Joy Greenwich | 9 Nelson Rd, SE10 9JB
If you don’t find what you’re looking for at Oliver Bonas, then just a couple of doors down is Joy which is also dog-friendly and home to a quirky gift or two.
Ryan London | 24 Greenwich Church St, SE10 9BJ
We stumbled across Ryan London by accident and it was one of those moments you walk away thinking what a great find. At first glance Ryan London appears to be a leather shop – think bags and accessories but they have a whole dog collar, lead and harness range. The best bit is that the doggy accessories (ok the human accessories too but we are so chuffed with the dog ones) can be personalised with your dog’s name whilst you wait free of charge! Adjustments can also be made by Ryan himself who quickly altered the large size collar to fit Belinha. Prices are super reasonable too.
The Fudge Patch | 7 Greenwich Market, SE10 9HZ
Tucked away in Greenwich Market is The Fudge Patch where those in the know go to get some really tasty home-made ‘proper’ fudge. In fact you can actually watch it being made. Dogs aren’t allowed in that area for obvious reasons but are welcomed into the front part of the shop where the humans can taste test all the amazing flavours before deciding to buy and believe me, you won’t be able to resist.
Dog-friendly Greenwich – What else?
We couldn’t put together a dog-friendly Greenwich guide and not mention…
Greenwich Market | 5B Greenwich Market, SE10 9HZ
Set on a World Heritage Site and as featured in our Guide to London’s Best Dog-friendly Street Food Markets and Halls in London, is dog-friendly Greenwich Market, open 7 days a week with each day playing host to a different set of stall-holders as listed on the Greenwich Market website. The weekends get very busy in the market but it is a must do when visiting Greenwich.
M1 Fine Art Gallery | 20 Nelson Rd, SE10 9JB
Opposite Oliver Bonas and Joy and a couple of doors down from Grind, is the M1 Fine Art Gallery which is definitely worth visiting if you enjoy Contemporary Art. Both humans and hounds will get a very warm welcome (Belinha even got some treats), and you can both enjoy the gorgeous courtyard garden out back after perusing the art. M1 Fine Art also regularly hold a ‘Pups and Prosecco’ Events (which is always listed on our London Dog Events Calendar) too.
Getting to Dog-friendly Greenwich
There are lots of (dog-friendly) options for getting to Greenwich. If driving, then the Burney Street Car Park, a few minutes from the town centre and reasonably priced, is an option we often use. Of course you can also take the train to Greenwich mainline or the tube and then the DLR getting off at The Cutty Sark, all of which are dog-friendly.
Our favourite however, is getting the Thames Clipper to Greenwich as featured in our ‘Guide to How to Get Around with a Dog on the River Bus‘ – this is not only a very dog-friendly way to get around but extremely relaxing.
Tip – the queues for the return trip westbound from Greenwich on the Thames Clipper can get very busy on the weekends so a way around this is to go one stop eastbound to North Greenwich and then pick up an empty Thames Clipper coming back westbound the other way.
We hope you enjoyed our Guide to Dog-friendly Greenwich and if there’s somewhere you think should be included, then let us know in the comments below!
Thanks for this article. We love Greenwich Park – our favourite. When we first moved to London from Sydney, we took our 2 dogs (we brought them to London from Sydney) there and they loved it. We walked up to the Observatory hills and took photos with Canary Wharf and London city landmark buildings in the background. There is a dog friendly café on the other side of the Observatory – they serve pizzas and light meals. Tables on the grass are dog friendly. The pub next to the Cutty Sark is dog friendly – we took Chloe there for lunch with friends.
The pink blossom trees, blooming around the London marathon time (mid to late April), are beautiful. I take Chloe there each year, if we are in London, to see them. The rose garden at the end of the blossom tree paths is gorgeous in late May and throughout June – beautiful roses in formal setting – and dogs on leads are allowed to come through the rose garden. Last month the crocuses were blooming in the rose garden. The daffodils around the blossom tree area should be out this week and next. There is a nice herb garden in summer, but dogs are not allowed there. There is also a deer area near another rose garden in the back of the park and dogs are not allowed for obvious reason. There are many lovely paths to walk around with dogs.
I used to walk Chloe through the nice grassy area in front of the museums (opposite the college) as a short cut to Greenwich Park, but one time I was told off by someone that dogs were not allowed in that area 🙁 so we have avoided it.
Our Chloe is getting older and she frets too much on the trains (buses are worst for her) but she still loves walking around Greenwich Park. I have to avoid all dogs in the park and stick to quiet paths as she barks at each and everyone of them!
Author
Agreed…Greenwich Park is a gem! We have that café on the list to try for our next visit for sure, hopefully soon so we can catch the cherry blossom. So many reasons to keep going back 🙂 I can understand that public transport could be stressful for Chloe as she gets older – have you tried the Thames Clipper river bus, we found that so relaxing. Aww bless her, well the park is big enough for everyone to enjoy 😉
Absolutely love Greenwich and miss it now we have moved! So many great spots and Greenwich Park is my favourite of the Royal Parks.
Author
Greenwich Park is rapidly becoming a favourite of ours too despite coming from the other side of town to get there! I can definitely see why you miss it x
I love your dog, what breed is he/her?
Author
Thank you Daniel! She’s a rescue dog – a street dog from Brazil
Pubs: Ashburnham Arms, Plume of Feathers, Cutty Sark, The Trafalgar, Gypsy Moth, The Vanbrugh
Restaurants and Cafes: Paul Rhodes, The Green Cafe, Royal Teas, Daveys, The Rivington,
Author
Great, thank you for the recommendations! Will get them added to the list
The Prince of Greenwich is our most favourite pub with our dog. They love him in there! And the record shop also allows dogs with the additional bonus of going home with a record you haven’t heard since the 80s! Thanks for the other top tips! And as you mentioned North Greenwich, Craft allows dogs.
Author
Brilliant, thanks Debika for your tips too!
What a great post.
Greenwich park is great for spotting different breeds,from Great Danes to Miniature Dachshunds, all of the canine kingdom is there at weekends
Author
Thank you and we can see why all the dogs love Greenwich Park
The pink blossoms are now out at Greenwich Park. We went there today – sunny day, a lot of people and a lot of dogs. The blossoms will probably in peak form this weekend, and it is going to be very busy. Enjoy, if you have time to visit this weekend.
Author
Lucky you, hope you and Chloe enjoyed it! Thank you for the tip but unfortunately we won’t be able to go this weekend but glad you got to go 🙂
Great article, thank you. We’ve lived in Greenwich for five years with our Golden Retriever and didn’t know that many of the places you listed were dog friendly! Brilliant.
Author
Hi Joe, really pleased it’s useful and given you some more dog-friendly places to try out, have fun! Teresa
Yummzy in Greenwich is also a lovely dog friendly cafe, they even have a dog bed (upstairs), dog water and dog treats available! https://www.instagram.com/p/BuGyfIuHVSR/
Author
Hi Vee, fantastic thanks for the tip! Will check them out and get them added to the guide Teresa