Where are the best pet-friendly areas to live in the UK?
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Estimates show that 62% of households own one of the UK’s 36.5 million pets.[1] Finding the perfect place to live can be about much more than the property itself, especially for pet owners. From having plenty of green space nearby to easy access to veterinary care and grooming services, the surrounding area can make a significant difference to both pets’ well-being and owners’ day-to-day lives.
Our experts at The Property Buying Company have revealed the best places to live in the UK for pet owners, based on the amenities and services available in each location.
We analysed a range of factors that contribute to a pet-friendly lifestyle, including:
Number of parks
Access to veterinary practices
Number of groomers
Proportion of pet-friendly residential rental properties
Amount of house-sitters featured on Rover
The best areas to live in the UK for pet owners
| Rank | City/Town | Population | Average number of parks, public gardens, or playing fields within 1,000m radius | Score /10 | Number of veterinary practices | Number of veterinary practices per 100,000 people | Score /10 | Number of rental properties available on Zoopla | Number of pet-friendly rental properties available on Zoopla | % of pet-friendly rentals on Zoopla | Score /10 | Number of groomers available | Number of groomers available per 100,000 people | Score /10 | Number of available house-sitters on Rover | Number of available house-sitters on Rover per 100,000 people | Score /10 | Pet owner location score /100 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bristol | 615,703 | 4.48 | 6.5 | 63 | 10.23 | 16.2 | 1,444 | 35 | 2.4% | 7.2 | 65 | 10.56 | 6.8 | 282 | 45.80 | 20.0 | 55.6 |
| 2 | Stoke-on-Trent | 332,542 | 5.71 | 9.1 | 28 | 8.42 | 12.9 | 414 | 26 | 6.3% | 20.0 | 39 | 11.73 | 7.7 | 19 | 5.71 | 1.8 | 54.6 |
| 3 | Edinburgh | 521,784 | 4.01 | 5.4 | 33 | 6.32 | 9.1 | 669 | 35 | 5.2% | 16.5 | 28 | 5.37 | 2.9 | 232 | 44.46 | 19.4 | 51.4 |
| 4 | London | 10,416,420 | 10.78 | 20.0 | 259 | 2.49 | 2.1 | 49,201 | 2,861 | 5.8% | 18.5 | 182 | 1.75 | 0.2 | 759 | 7.29 | 2.5 | 48.1 |
| 5 | Leicester | 530,264 | 3.52 | 4.4 | 59 | 11.13 | 17.8 | 1,539 | 53 | 3.4% | 10.6 | 82 | 15.46 | 10.5 | 34 | 6.41 | 2.1 | 47.8 |
| 6 | Cardiff | 390,692 | 3.59 | 4.5 | 28 | 7.17 | 10.6 | 868 | 30 | 3.5% | 10.6 | 53 | 13.57 | 9.1 | 131 | 33.53 | 14.4 | 47.2 |
| 7 | Southampton | 347,446 | 2.66 | 2.5 | 27 | 7.77 | 11.7 | 840 | 26 | 3.1% | 9.4 | 98 | 28.21 | 20.0 | 46 | 13.24 | 5.2 | 46.1 |
| 8 | Nottingham | 649,610 | 3.40 | 4.1 | 80 | 12.32 | 20.0 | 2,889 | 58 | 2.0% | 5.8 | 39 | 6.00 | 3.4 | 70 | 10.78 | 4.1 | 41.6 |
| 9 | Brighton | 467,937 | 2.90 | 3.1 | 21 | 4.49 | 5.7 | 1,056 | 47 | 4.5% | 13.9 | 8 | 1.71 | 0.2 | 204 | 43.60 | 19.0 | 39.3 |
| 10 | Sheffield | 549,695 | 2.67 | 2.6 | 36 | 6.55 | 9.5 | 930 | 43 | 4.6% | 14.5 | 52 | 9.46 | 6.0 | 55 | 10.01 | 3.7 | 36.8 |
| 11 | Glasgow | 970,320 | 2.63 | 2.5 | 66 | 6.80 | 10.0 | 836 | 26 | 3.1% | 9.5 | 128 | 13.19 | 8.8 | 155 | 15.97 | 6.4 | 36.4 |
| 12 | Southend-on-Sea | 280,158 | 1.63 | 0.3 | 7 | 2.50 | 2.1 | 189 | 6 | 3.2% | 9.7 | 72 | 25.70 | 18.1 | 60 | 21.42 | 8.9 | 33.0 |
| 13 | Reading | 274,632 | 1.81 | 0.7 | 23 | 8.37 | 12.8 | 763 | 2 | 0.3% | 0.0 | 28 | 10.20 | 6.5 | 78 | 28.40 | 12.1 | 30.9 |
| 14 | Hull | 322,100 | 1.48 | 0.0 | 31 | 9.62 | 15.1 | 559 | 17 | 3.0% | 9.2 | 12 | 3.73 | 1.7 | 16 | 4.97 | 1.4 | 30.5 |
| 15 | Manchester | 2,535,427 | 2.74 | 2.7 | 56 | 2.21 | 1.6 | 3,689 | 225 | 6.1% | 19.4 | 130 | 5.13 | 2.7 | 216 | 8.52 | 3.0 | 29.1 |
| 16 | Leeds | 1,065,607 | 2.04 | 1.2 | 41 | 3.85 | 4.6 | 2,033 | 102 | 5.0% | 15.8 | 59 | 5.54 | 3.0 | 132 | 12.39 | 4.8 | 28.9 |
| 17 | Bournemouth | 386,557 | 2.20 | 1.5 | 12 | 3.10 | 3.2 | 715 | 25 | 3.5% | 10.7 | 61 | 15.78 | 10.7 | 51 | 13.19 | 5.2 | 28.6 |
| 18 | Liverpool | 1,227,470 | 4.81 | 7.2 | 38 | 3.10 | 3.2 | 1,449 | 46 | 3.2% | 9.7 | 116 | 9.45 | 6.0 | 71 | 5.78 | 1.8 | 28.5 |
| 19 | Newcastle upon Tyne | 760,969 | 5.65 | 9.0 | 26 | 3.42 | 3.8 | 2,247 | 8 | 0.4% | 0.3 | 89 | 11.70 | 7.7 | 52 | 6.83 | 2.3 | 23.7 |
| 20 | Middlesbrough | 349,436 | 1.98 | 1.1 | 11 | 3.15 | 3.3 | 343 | 15 | 4.4% | 13.7 | 15 | 4.29 | 2.1 | 17 | 4.86 | 1.4 | 21.8 |
| 21 | Birmingham | 2,631,757 | 2.41 | 2.0 | 35 | 1.33 | 0.0 | 3,437 | 167 | 4.9% | 15.3 | 145 | 5.51 | 3.0 | 48 | 1.82 | 0.0 | 20.0 |
| 22 | Wakefield | 306,684 | 1.90 | 0.9 | 13 | 4.24 | 5.3 | 118 | 2 | 1.7% | 4.8 | 10 | 3.26 | 1.3 | 50 | 16.30 | 6.6 | 18.5 |
| 23 | Coventry | 427,678 | 2.27 | 1.7 | 15 | 3.51 | 4.0 | 1,234 | 27 | 2.2% | 6.4 | 16 | 3.74 | 1.7 | 34 | 7.95 | 2.8 | 16.8 |
| 24 | Portsmouth | 488,385 | 3.22 | 3.7 | 12 | 2.46 | 2.1 | 250 | 1 | 0.4% | 0.5 | 25 | 5.12 | 2.7 | 40 | 8.19 | 2.9 | 11.9 |
| 25 | Luton | 273,544 | 2.29 | 1.7 | 5 | 1.83 | 0.9 | 726 | 4 | 0.6% | 1.0 | 4 | 1.46 | 0.0 | 18 | 6.58 | 2.2 | 5.9 |
1. Bristol - 55.61 / 100 pet owner location score
Bristol tops the list as the best area for pet owners, scoring 55.61 out of 100. The city, located in the southwest of England, has a total of 63 veterinary practices (10.23 per 100,000 people), meaning pet owners can easily access vital care for their beloved family members. There are also 65 groomers in the area, equating to 10.56 groomers per 100,000 people.
Bristol has 282 house-sitters available on Rover (45.80 per 100,000 people), the highest figure on the list. In addition, 2.4% of rental properties currently available in the city on Zoopla are listed as pet-friendly, and there are an average of 4.48 parks within a 1,000m radius.
2. Stoke-on-Trent - 54.59 / 100 pet owner location score
Stoke-on-Trent follows closely behind with a pet owner location score of 54.59 out of 100. Found in central England, the city has the highest proportion of pet-friendly rentals currently available on Zoopla, at 6.3%. There is also an average of 5.71 parks within a 1,000m radius.
A range of pet services are available in Stoke-on-Trent, including 11.73 groomers per 100,000 people (39 in total) and 8.42 veterinary practices per 100,000 people (28 in total). There are currently 19 house-sitters available on Rover to look after your furry friend.
3. Edinburgh - 51.42 / 100 pet owner location score
Edinburgh places third, scoring 51.42 out of 100. The Scottish city has 232 house-sitters available on Rover (44.46 per 100,000 people), the second-highest figure on the list. There are also 33 veterinary practices and 28 groomers located in the city, equating to 6.32 and 5.37 locations per 100,000 people, respectively.
Edinburgh also has a relatively high proportion of pet-friendly rentals currently available on Zoopla, at 5.2%. In addition, there is an average of 4.01 parks within a 1,000m radius.
4. London - 48.11 / 100 pet owner location score
London is next on the list, with a pet owner location score of 48.11 out of 100. The UK’s capital has the highest average number of parks within a 1,000m radius, at 10.78, making it a great location for those wanting to let their canine companions sniff and explore the outdoors. 5.8% of Zoopla rental properties currently available in the city are pet-friendly.
There are 259 veterinary practices and 182 groomers listed in London, equating to 2.49 and 1.75 locations per 100,000 people. In addition, there are 759 house-sitters available in the city on Rover (2.48 house-sitters per 100,000 people).
5. Leicester - 47.77 / 100 pet owner location score
Leicester completes the top five, scoring 47.77 out of 100. The city, located in the East Midlands, has 11.13 veterinary practices and 15.46 groomers available per 100,000 people (59 and 82 locations in total, respectively). There are also 34 house-sitters available in the city on Rover, equating to 6.41 house-sitters per 100,000 people.
Leicester has a pet-friendly rental proportion of 3.4% on Zoopla, as well as an average of 3.52 parks within a 1,000m radius.
Location is one of the biggest factors people consider when buying or renting a new home, but for pet owners, it’s often the surrounding amenities that make the biggest difference once they’ve moved in. Easy access to parks for dog owners, veterinary practices, groomers and reliable pet care can have a real impact on day-to-day life, while pet-friendly rental options remain an important consideration for many households.
It’s important to look for a home that suits every member of the family, pets included. Whether you’re buying your first home, relocating or looking for somewhere with a better quality of life for your pet, considering what’s available beyond the front door can help you find a location that’s the right fit for years to come.
Sources & Methodology:
[1] UK Pet Food
Worldometer was used to create a seed list of the 25 largest UK cities by population.
Official ONS data was used to discover the average number of parks, public gardens and playing fields within a 1,000m radius in each city.
Find A Vet was used to gather the number of veterinary practices listed within each city.
Zoopla was used to collect the number of pet-friendly rental properties currently available in each city. This figure was then calculated as a percentage of all available rental properties.
MyPetGroomer was used to discover the number of dog, cat and mobile groomers listed within each city.
Rover was used to gather the number of available house-sitters for pets in each city.
Each of the five factors was given a normalised score out of 20. An overall score out of 100 was then calculated, with each factor weighted differently to reflect the most important factors considered by pet owners when looking for a new home.
All data is correct as of July 2026
[2] Image Credit: Andrew S on Unsplash.
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