The Kingslodge Inn

Surely the most peaceful place to stay in Durham, surrounded by green space and woods, the award-winning, dog-friendly Kingslodge Inn nestles in a nook of the Flass Valley, a thoroughly enticing country pub, yet only a 10-minute walk from the city centre. Quite rightly, it was once voted the best pub in the county as a place to stay, and it's been renowned for years as a terrific place to come with your dog, with a number of dog-friendly rooms and a restaurant and bar that welcome furry friends.

The Kingslodge Inn has 23 guest rooms in what is a historic building, divided between singles, twins, doubles and spacious family rooms, all furnished in an unpretentious yet very comfortable rustic contemporary style, and provided with en-suite bathrooms with walk-in showers and toiletries, flatscreen TVs, wifi and tea- and coffee-making facilities. Several rooms come adapted with accessible bathrooms and a few also welcome dogs. Rates include an excellent breakfast and the pub also has its own parking – almost worth staying here for on its own!

Finally, you're not far from any number of great places to eat and drink but the food they serve downstairs in the pub is excellent, and in any case, with a location like this, why would you want to go anywhere else?