Twelve Camden pubs with gardens and terraces your dog will love

Whether you're finishing a muddy Heath walk or wandering up from Camden Lock, a lot of the borough's pubs have somewhere outside for a dog to settle while you have a pint. These twelve, spread across Hampstead, Highgate, West Hampstead, Camden Town, Bloomsbury and Clerkenwell, all have a garden, courtyard, patio or terrace. If you want the full list, here's every dog-friendly pub in Camden.

The dog rules vary a lot between these pubs, and several of their websites don't mention dogs at all. We've said which ones below. Where the rules aren't clear, give the pub a ring before you go, especially at busy times.

Hampstead and Highgate, after the Heath

The Flask, Flask Walk

If the weather might turn, this is the one to go for. Dogs are welcome in the courtyard and indoors, and the pub mentions dog walkers fresh off the Heath. You reach it down a cobbled passage lined with antique shops, delis and boutiques, a few moments from Hampstead High Street. Inside it's a Grade II listed building with its original Victorian features and a cosy fire.

The Garden Gate

The Garden Gate is at 14 South End Road, close to the Heath, and it has an enclosed garden. The pub says it "allegedly" offers the best al fresco fun in North London and one of the finest beer gardens in the capital. That's the pub's own claim. What matters for your dog is that the garden is enclosed. We don't have any detail on where dogs can go here.

Old Bull & Bush Hampstead

This one sits on North End Way opposite Golders Hill Park, with its own courtyard and an enclosed garden. The rules here are clear: dogs are only allowed in the bar area, and when you book you can choose "The Bar (Dog Friendly)" as your area. That means you shouldn't count on a garden table with your dog, and garden seating is first come, first served anyway. Food and drink are served all day, which suits a slow afternoon after a long walk.

The Magdala Tavern

The Magdala is at 2a South Hill Park. It has outdoor seating, but no garden is recorded. The bar lists 20 keg beers and 7 casks and ciders, and the kitchen does pub classics, daily changing specials and Sunday roasts. We list it as dog-friendly after an editorial check, but its website says nothing about dogs, so ring first.

The Flask, Highgate

If you like your pint with some history, this is the place. The Flask at 77 Highgate West Hill has a stable block dating back to 1663 that still has two 17th century horseboxes, and the bar still has its original shutter window with bullseye glass panels. The name comes from the flasks people used to collect water from the springs around Highgate and Hampstead Heath. It has outdoor seating but no garden on record, and we have no detail on where dogs can go.

West Hampstead: two gardens on West End Lane

Wolfpack West Hampstead

At 4.7, Wolfpack is the highest-rated pub in this guide. It's at 291-293 West End Lane with an enclosed garden, and the beer is mostly Wolfpack's own: House Lager, Sesh IPA, Alpha Stout and more. The group says sport is at the heart of everything it does and it shows all the major events live, so if your dog prefers things quiet, avoid big match days. We don't have its dog rules on record.

The Black Lion

The Black Lion is at 295 West End Lane, just along from Wolfpack, and its big draw is what it calls a "spacious sun-trap beer garden". The garden is enclosed and there's shade, which matters on a hot day with a dog in tow. Expect a lively crowd, as it also has live music and shows football and rugby. Its website has no information about dogs.

Camden Town, near the station

Earl Of Camden

The Earl of Camden at 55 Parkway is a 3 minute walk from Camden Town station. It's recorded as a dog-friendly pub, with an enclosed garden and step-free access, so it works if anyone in your group needs level entry. On the food side, it lists pizzas and burgers.

Lock Inn Camden

The main draw is a rooftop terrace overlooking Camden Lock. The bar leans towards spirits and craft beer, and there are vinyl DJ nights at weekends, so pick a quieter time if your dog doesn't like noise. We have no detail on whether dogs can go up to the terrace, so ask.

The Hawley Arms

You'll find the Hawley Arms at 2 Castlehaven Road, by the Camden Town railway bridge. It has a ground floor patio and a roof terrace, and you can request a table in either. The same custodians have run it since 2004, and they're aiming for a home from home where you can come together or sit contentedly alone. A few practical points: bookings aren't taken for after 7pm, the kitchen closes at 8pm (5:30pm on Sundays), and events are 18+. Its notes don't mention dogs.

Bloomsbury and Clerkenwell

The Queens Larder

The Queens Larder told us directly that dogs are welcome. It says it's very friendly to well behaved dogs and happy to give your canine companion some refreshment, and it has a water bowl, an enclosed garden and a large outside seating area. You'll find it at 1 Queen Square. It's very small, and the earliest official reference to it is a deed from 1710. The name honours Queen Charlotte, who, according to the pub, rented a small cellar beneath it to store food for George III during his treatment nearby.

The Gunmakers

The Gunmakers is at 13 Eyre Street Hill and has been going since 1920. These days it's a cross between a London boozer and a cocktail bar, with tacos made to order in its own kitchen. Its garden is called Paloma's Garden, after the palm tree that grows there. It's covered and heated, with seats for up to 35, which helps on a chilly evening. The website doesn't mention dogs, so call ahead.

Picking the right one

Four of these pubs set out their dog rules clearly. The Flask on Flask Walk welcomes dogs indoors and in the courtyard, the Old Bull & Bush keeps them to the bar, and the Queens Larder and Earl of Camden both say dogs are welcome. The other eight are listed as dog-friendly but don't spell out where dogs can go, so a quick call saves a wasted trip.

For a dog who likes to stretch out, go for an enclosed garden: Wolfpack, The Garden Gate or The Black Lion, which also has shade on hot days. If the forecast looks iffy after a Heath walk, The Flask on Flask Walk lets you bring your dog inside.