Pet-Friendly Family Hotels in Exeter

A pet-friendly hotel opens up the best of Exeter's surroundings. Dartmoor and Exmoor national parks offer long moorland walks within driving distance, the Exe estuary has riverside paths towards the coast, and the Quayside in the city is a pleasant stroll for a dog and young children alike. The constraint is the choice of rooms: only three family hotels in Exeter combine family rooms with a pet policy, so the decision is mostly about where you want to be, in the centre, on the eastern edge or near a spa.

Holiday Inn Express Exeter City Centre is the most central of the three and the best rated, with 8.6 from more than 4,000 reviews. This 3-star hotel offers family rooms with air-conditioning, private bathrooms and free WiFi, a continental buffet breakfast with special diet menus, a bar and lounge, and a 24-hour front desk. For a dog owner, the location is the advantage: Cathedral Green and the Quayside on the River Exe are within walking distance, so morning and evening walks need no car. I see it as the right pick for a short city break where the dog comes along, rather than for a week on the moors.

Holiday Inn Express Exeter East is the practical option for families who plan to spend their days in the countryside. The 3-star hotel offers family suites, a free breakfast buffet and free WiFi, and it presents itself as a base for exploring Dartmoor and Exmoor national parks. It stands in a commercial district and its on-site parking is charged, so it is functional rather than charming. Its score of 8.2 from about 4,000 reviews shows a solid track record. I would choose it for a week of drives to the moors, when a convenient base for the car matters more than an evening stroll through the old town.

The Devon Hotel is the most complete of the three for a longer stay. It is a 3-star hotel about 2 miles from the centre of Exeter, with free public parking, a lively bar and restaurant, family suites and a spa and wellness centre, the only one among these three pet-friendly hotels. Rooms are classic, with satellite TV, a direct-dial telephone and tea and coffee facilities. It scores 8.2 from about 1,900 reviews. For families the combination works well: the dog stays with you, parents get a spa session after a long walk, and dinner happens on site without searching for a dog-friendly restaurant in town.

The real reason to bring a dog to Exeter is what lies around it. Dartmoor, to the west, has open moorland and granite tors where families can walk for hours, although grazing ponies, sheep and cattle mean dogs belong on a lead in many places. Exmoor, to the north, combines moorland with a dramatic coastline. Closer to the city, the Exe Estuary Trail follows the river towards Exmouth, and Haldon Forest Park, just outside Exeter, has waymarked woodland trails. All three hotels work as a base for these outings, while the two outside the centre suit families who will drive somewhere almost every day.