Lancashire has been named the top place for dog-friendly staycations after new research showed a 420 per cent increase in online searches for 'dog friendly holidays'.

The opening of hotels on May 17, twinned with a boom in pandemic pet purchases has resulted in a major uplift in online searches for pooch-accommodating destinations, and Lancashire is pegged to be the most popular.

According to data from Bob Martin, one of the UK’s oldest pet-care brands, its findings suggest holidaymakers will be making the most of the Great British Summer with their furry friends in tow this year.

With the uncertainty of Government guidelines around international travel, coupled with a rise in new dog owners as more than one quarter of Brits purchased a puppy in lockdown, Google Trend data showed a 1,183 per cent increase in the search term ‘staycation’ from April 2020 compared to April 2021.

What’s more, the search term ‘holidays in the UK 2021’ has increased by 650 per cent in the past 12 months, while the search for ‘package holidays’ decreased by 52 per cent (April 20 vs. April 21).

According to further research, 50 per cent of Brits will be looking to holiday a little closer to home for the second summer running.

Here are the top ten pet hotspots for holidaymakers and their pets:

  1. Lancashire
  2. Peak District
  3. otswolds
  4. Cornwall
  5. Lake District
  6. Yorkshire
  7. New Forest
  8. Isle of Wight
  9. Sussex
  10. Norfolk 

Head of marketing at Bob Martin, Julie Butcher, said: “A lot of us might want to flee the UK for holidays when lockdown ends, but with the rise in pet ownership, particularly among millennials, this might prove tricky for those of us who bought a pandemic pet over lockdown.

“Millennials perhaps wouldn’t have usually considered a staycation.

"But, as evidence shows, the majority of the UK will be flocking to nearby beaches and the countryside, such as Blackpool, Southport, North Wales and the Lakes in large numbers this year, more so than ever before."

Top tips to prepare for the perfect pet getaway:

● Pack enough dog poop bags to last you for your whole trip

● Make sure you keep spare in every bag and pocket

● Carry them with you wherever you go, and make sure to pick up your dog’s mess and dispose of it properly

● Fleas and ticks love warm, humid and shady areas and tend to live in woods, areas where there’s lots of wildlife, and long grass

● They are a lot more active in the summer months, which is why it’s imperative to plan flea and tick protection for your summer staycation now

● Worms can be present all year round, but are particularly prevalent in the summer months, as they can be contracted from parasites like fleas