Disclaimer: all dogs are the best dogs
Throughout my May 2023 Rick Steves Best of London in 7 Days tour, I attempted to subtly photograph the dogs I saw. I saw them everywhere - taking the Tube and buses, going on walks, living in exciting places, and just generally living their best city dog lives. The following is a chronicle of this trip via the dogs I saw and admired.
THE CORGIS!
The window of Waterstone's Bookstore, Piccadilly.
The day before our tour began was the coronation of King Charles II. My mom and I staggered in a slightly jetlagged state across the street from our hotel in Mayfair to Green Park, where we joined thousands of locals and tourists in watching the procession and ceremony on large television screens put up around the city. We even saw the Royal Family on the Buckingham Palace balcony (from very, very far away)! Even though King Charles and Queen Camilla have Jack Russell Terrier crosses, the corgi is still the unofficial dog of royalty, and of royal souvenir shops. I admit I came home with a stuffed corgi from Windsor Castle, as one does.
STATUES AND SCONES
During the first day of our tour, I had to be satisfied with statuesque dogs. I loved the interesting public artwork that our guide, Jeanie, pointed out to us - we all thought the animals sitting down for a meal were a bit creepy but interesting! Loved the dog statues outside of this building near the British Museum.
DACHSHUNDS GUARDING THE TOWER
It's always fun when you travel to a new-to-you city to see the locals out living their life in this destination that is a bucket list location for you but just home for them. Seeing the trio of wiener dogs in matching outfits out for their morning walk in the Tower of London really brought that home to me! Imagine a. living in the Tower of London and b. having three dogs in your home there! I really loved that. After our early morning (loved the Rick Steves tour early access to the opening ceremony and a quick trip through the Crown Jewels!) we went by Horse Guards where I got my obligatory horse photo. We ended the day with a self-guided tour through Westminster Abbey, where the Coronation took place just a few days before!
GARDENS, MARKETS AND DOGGIES
We ventured into some London neighborhoods today, going from Covent Garden to the East End and Spitalfields Market area before an amazing food tour (highly recommend taking a food tour in any big city)! Going into these neighborhoods we saw more London dogs doing very doggie things like sniffing where they really shouldn't sniff and admiring the people walking by.
COUNTRY DOGS IN WINDSOR
We took the train to Windsor Castle, and although there were of course no dogs in the Castle proper, the cute town of Windsor was filled with dogs out and about... and we even saw a dog getting on the train as we entered!
SHOPPING, SIPPING AND WALKING.
We went to the Left Bank, where we found the best dog bowl sign, Borough Market with one very fluffy dog, and ended the day by riding the public bus with a very happy Golden Retriever! I enjoyed going to these places where I felt as many locals as tourists were, doing their marketing and having a very good lunch along with their pets.
TEA AND ROYALTY
We ended our time in London with a visit (from afar) to royalty at Buckingham Palace and the Royal Mews and tea at Fortnum and Mason, where cute chocolate bears will have to substitute for dogs. I'm sure there were dogs somewhere in that massive store! It was an amazing tea experience.
THE BEST DOGS OF LONDON
These little corgis and the Liberty dog print pad of paper followed me home as reminders of this trip. For more about Rick Steves London tours (although with no doggie mentions), see: https://www.ricksteves.com/tours/england/london
