We recently stayed at The Victoria Hotel with 2 dogs in tow.
With Bamburgh Castle a short walk away and the beach just beyond, it seemed like an ideal base for a break with our two golden retrievers.From the bar area packed with dogs to midnight toilet breaks made easy, here’s everything we found during our stay! It’s no surprise this spot also features on our list of the best dog-friendly hotels in Bamburgh, thanks to its location, comfort, and warm welcome for four-legged guests.
🎥 Watch Our Stay at The Victoria Hotel (Full Video)
We filmed the highlights of our stay – from check-in and pup-friendly perks to breakfast and beach walks – to give you a proper look inside what it’s like staying here with dogs.
If you’re considering a Northumberland getaway with your four-legged companion, this video will help you decide if The Victoria fits the bill.
Here’s everything we found, from the best dog-friendly features to a few things worth knowing before you book.
Watch Our Visit
The Victoria Hotel isn’t just dog-friendly. It’s a hotel full of dogs.
If you’re bringing your pup, it’s ideal.
Would we stay again?
Yes. We see now why it’s so highly regarded.
Explore Northumberland With Your Dog
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Right on Front Street, the Victoria Hotel is in the middle of everything.
Louise at reception made check-in easy, and within minutes, we had our keys and were on our way to room 5.
A special mention to Louise: she went above and beyond to ensure we had a lovely anniversary stay.
The hotel itself is small and local but well-kept.
The bar area is beautifully decorated, with plenty of seating for guests, dogs, and families.
A 20-foot upturned canoe hangs from the ceiling, and the whole space has a relaxed and gorgeous feel.
If you like sports, the bar area is split, with one section having large TVs showing football.
Dogs are everywhere.
At busy times, half the guests had them. It has the feel of a true dog hotel, but it never feels chaotic.
If you don’t like dogs, this probably isn’t the place for you.
We booked a standard dog-friendly room and got room 5, which meant walking through skinny corridors and a flight of stairs to get outside for dog walks.
It’s not a dealbreaker, but if your dog needs quick access, it’s something to keep in mind.
The corridors felt narrow. I don’t know why that stood out, but it did!
Inside, the room was beautifully laid out and spacious enough for a dog bed or crate.
We have two large golden retrievers, and they were fine, so space won’t be an issue for most dogs.
The carpeted floors throughout (except the bathroom) made it feel warm and comfortable, and the Smart TV with Netflix and Amazon was a welcome touch after a long day of walking.
The view was ridiculously good for a standard room.
From our big window, we had an uninterrupted view of Bamburgh Castle, which was stunning in the morning and even better at night when lit up.
We paid £120 for the room and £10 per dog.
If you bring extra large dogs or more than two, consider a Superior Double Room for extra space. Louise mentioned that they’ve had couples and families stay with up to four dogs before, so they’re well set up for it.
Simple and easy to use, free WiFi, none of the email cobblers.
If your dog needs a late-night toilet break, there’s 24-hour access with a night porter.
No sneaking around trying to find a way outside.
Just grab your lead and go.
The bar area is where The Victoria Hotel stands out.
Dogs are welcome, tables fill up fast, and half the bar is taken up by well-behaved pups lying under tables.
We sat near the most enormous dog water bowl we’ve ever seen.
We have no idea where they got it, but thirsty pups coming in from the beach were constantly using it.
It’s a lovely space, even if you don’t have a dog. We saw several families with kids playing cards while others relaxed with drinks.
Drinks-wise, no margaritas (or any cocktails, for that matter), so we went for a Shiraz and a Poretti Shandy instead. No complaints.
Dogs can eat with you in the bar area, but not in the separate restaurant.
Since the bar is such a lovely space, this didn’t feel like a loss — and it’s one of several good dining spots for dog owners in Bamburgh that strike a nice balance between style and substance.
A special note about the restaurant’s style and design: it is really pretty.
Check out these pictures!
Breakfast is served in the bar, and all the dogs are welcomed down for breakfast.
There is a buffet for cereals and croissants and the hot food is ordered and served.
It was not the best hotel breakfast we’ve had, but it was far from the worst.
And being able to sit with the dogs made it better.
Also, the service was brilliant.
Location-wise, The Victoria Hotel couldn’t be much better for a dog-friendly break.
Beach: Less than five minutes away. Huge open spaces, sand dunes, and plenty of room for dogs to run.
Toilet breaks: Straight over the road to a grassy park area, good enough for quick walks.
Dog-friendly pubs & cafés: Loads of them and a few doors on either side.
We packed a lot into our visit, but there’s still more to discover. If you’re planning a trip, our guide to dog-friendly highlights in Bamburgh covers everything we’ve tried so far, from castle visits to coastal walks and scenic stop-offs nearby.
Here are a few of our favourites:
Grace Darling Museum is up the road, but it’s not pet-friendly.
What is pet-friendly is The Potted Lobster restaurant next door, which we tried for dinner.
Read how we got on at The Potted Lobster with dogs.
Bamburgh itself is one of the most dog-friendly places we’ve visited.
You’d struggle to find a pub, café, or shop that doesn’t allow dogs inside.
Yes.
The Victoria Hotel gets a lot right for dog owners.
It’s comfortable, well-located, and genuinely dog-friendly, not just dog-tolerant.
As mentioned, it seemed like a second home for dogs, and I saw more dogs chilled and relaxed around this hotel than I’ve seen in most.
Would we recommend it to non-dog owners?
Probably not.
If you don’t like the idea of half the guests having dogs, you might prefer somewhere else.
I mean, maybe I’m wrong, but it was just a funny and lovely sight to see all these fur-balls down for breakfast!
A non-dog lover might not appreciate it the same way we did!
