York: Britain's best dog-friendly day out

York has been named Britain's best destination for a dog-friendly day out, which is a handy bit of confirmation for anyone who has ever struggled to drag a four-legged friend along to a historic city. The good news is that the city leans into it rather than fighting it, so a day here with a dog is genuinely doable rather than a series of apologies and detours.

The easiest place to start is on the water. Well-behaved dogs sail for free on the sightseeing cruises, the River Bus Service and the self-drive boats, as long as they stay on a lead, so you can see the city from the Ouse without paying extra for the dog. The only exceptions are the dining cruises and the Santa Experience, where only guide and assistance dogs are welcome. If you want to keep things simple, the York Pass bundles City Cruises in with more than 35 other attractions, so you can roll off the boat and straight into somewhere else.

Once you're back on dry land, the food and drink scene is surprisingly accommodating. Tykes Restaurant does dog-friendly afternoon tea, The Chopping Block at Walmgate Ale House, The Fox, Chez Mal at Malmaison, The Blue Bell, The Balloon Tree Cafe, Dashwood, Parlormade Café and Scone House and The Drovers Arms Restaurant & Country Pub all take four-legged visitors. If you're staying overnight, the Vale of Pickering Caravan Park, Studford Luxury Lodges, Apartment One The Carriage House and No7 Monk Bar Court are among the dog-friendly options.

For something a bit more active, there are a few dog-friendly activities scattered around. Brew York runs a brewery tour and beer tasting that welcomes dogs, Woldies is an independent shop with a dog focus, Go Quest Adventures sets up an interactive treasure hunt, and Mountain Goat does private hire. If you fancy a bit of gin, York Distillery over on Skeldergate, on the grounds of Middleton's Hotel, is the city's first legal gin distillery and runs an expert-led tasting that takes about an hour and a half, at £35 a person. While you're there, keep an eye out for the Puss & Mew, a Georgian-era gin-dispensing sculpture by Jonathan Newdick that's believed to be the only working example of its kind in the country since the 18th century.

And if you're planning ahead, the York Dog Show is the obvious centrepiece. It's held at York Museum Gardens on Sunday 20 September, from 10am to 4pm, and it's a proper day out rather than a quick walk past: there's a pop-up shopping village, informative stalls, food and drink from local artisans, talks by veterinary experts, professional dog photography, dog classes and agility demonstrations, all supported by York Dog Park. A few weeks before that, on 6 September, there's a Dog Day at the Himalayan Garden & Sculpture Park with Positively Canine, raising money for the Lost Dog Tracking Network, so there's no shortage of ways to make the dog the star of the trip.

Between the free boat trips, the long list of dog-friendly pubs and the dedicated events, York is one of those places where you don't have to leave the dog at home to have a decent day out. Whether you're after a slow wander with a pub lunch or a full day of activities, the city makes it easy to bring your dog along for the ride.