The Bell Inn, Ducklington

The Bell Inn is exactly the kind of place dog owners hope to stumble on: a thatched, pre-13th-century Cotswold pub with rooms in the quiet village of Ducklington, just outside Witney, where a dog is treated as a welcome guest rather than a problem to be managed. Dogs stay free of charge, and the warmth of the welcome is the thing that comes up again and again from people who have brought one along.

The set-up suits a dog-led stay. Rooms are en-suite and recently refreshed, and while the restaurant side is kept dog-free, the bar is firmly dog-friendly - to the point that the owners have been known to set up a table in the bar so a guest's dog can settle beside them at breakfast. Staff and locals alike tend to make a fuss of visiting dogs, and more than one owner has mentioned their dog being offered a treat by a regular at the bar.

Ducklington itself is a peaceful village on the edge of the Cotswolds, with gentle countryside and footpaths on the doorstep for easy morning and evening walks, and Witney a short drive away for more choice. It makes an easy base for exploring the wider Cotswolds with a dog in the car.

A couple of practical notes: dogs are welcome in the bar but not the restaurant, so plan mealtimes around that, and with only a handful of bedrooms it is worth booking ahead if you want a room at a busy time. For dog owners after a characterful, genuinely welcoming country pub with good food and an unfussy attitude to four-legged guests, The Bell Inn is a strong pick and earns a 4.4/5 paw rating.