Using Public Transport in London with a Dog
London might be one of the most dog-friendly cities on the planet. It means we get to take our whippet with us to most places, mainly on public transport. Here are a few useful things to bear in mind if you’re planning a trip with your dog:
→ In London dogs can travel for free on buses, tubes, overground, DLR and trains.
→ Dogs must be kept on the lead at all times, or in a suitable container.
→ They aren’t allowed on the seat, but they can sit on your lap.
→ TFL staff have the right to refuse entry to dogs that they deem dangerous or not properly controlled.
→ At stations it is advised to use the wide gates or carry your dog through - I always encourage Lolly to move ahead of me so she doesn’t get caught.
→ Try to use stairs or a lift wherever possible. If they aren’t available, and the escalator is the only option, carry your dog. This doesn’t apply to assistance dogs that have been trained to walk on moving escalators.
→ If your dog is too large to carry, TFL advise that you ask a member of station staff to stop the escalator as you walk down with them - this will depend on how busy the station is.
→ When aboard, make your dog comfortable and keep them out of the way of other passengers. Lolly likes to sit on our knees or lay on a travel bed if there is enough space. It’s important to be mindful that not all travellers will want to be close to your dog, and that should be respected.
This information is up to date as of February 2022, but do make sure you check out the TFL website for the most updated info.
A few extra tips from us to make your journey as stress-free as possible:
→ Travelling can be overwhelming for dogs. The noises, smells and crowds can be a sensory overload, especially for dogs that aren’t accustomed to travel. We like to board the first or last carriages of tubes and trains as they usually have fewer people and travel at quieter times where possible.
→ Keep them close. Use a fixed-length lead or keep retractable ones on the shortest length. This is to protect your dog but also to respect the space of other passengers.
→ Make sure they’ve had a chance to wee / poo before travelling. We usually take Lolly for a good walk before heading off on a journey.
→ Take treats, praise them and tell them how great they are. It’s important to build positive experiences for your dog so that future travel is as easy.
→ If they are on your knee, try to let them see out the window - this really helped us with Lolly’s travel sickness as a pup.
If you found this helpful, head on over to our Instagram account for more tips and advice, or just to watch sweet videos of Lolly travelling on the tube.
