A study by LiveCareer found that 94% of people were supportive of having pets in the workplace, and evidence suggests that there may even be professional benefits to having a pet at work. These benefits include improved office morale, decreased stress, increased productivity and creativity, and increased employee retention.
To investigate the top locations to move to as a working pet-owner, Remote analysed 29 major UK cities and towns by metrics including the number of pet-friendly co-working spaces, dog-friendly cafes with free Wifi, green spaces, and properties available to rent with a garden. Each of these metrics were awarded a weighted score which was used to calculate the overall ranking.
So where are the best locations in the UK to work alongside your furry friend?
Top 10 UK cities for working pet-owners
Rank | City | Number of dog friendly WiFi cafes | Number of pet-friendly working spaces | Number of green spaces | Number of places to rent with a garden |
1 | London (Greater) | 368 | 887 | 298 | 7715 |
2 | Leeds | 50 | 38 | 48 | 1023 |
3 | Birmingham | 20 | 22 | 55 | 1426 |
4 | Manchester (Greater) | 52 | 66 | 25 | 673 |
5 | Liverpool | 45 | 35 | 45 | 637 |
6 | Edinburgh | 72 | 16 | 38 | 18 |
7 | Sheffield | 33 | 20 | 53 | 325 |
8 | Glasgow | 35 | 14 | 45 | 285 |
9 | Brighton and Hove | 46 | 32 | 18 | 437 |
10 | Bristol | 30 | 28 | 39 | 279 |
London crowned the best pet-friendly coworking city, followed by Leeds and Birmingham
The UK’s capital city takes the crown as the top destination for workers with pets, offering nearly 400 (368) dog-friendly WiFi cafes for pet-owners to work alongside their furry friends. London also offers a staggeringly higher number of pet-friendly co-working spaces, private offices and hot-desking spots compared to all other cities at 887.
Leeds and Birmingham lead the way further north, with plenty to choose from when it comes to the perfect remote or hybrid working setup for pets and workers alike. Leeds is home to nearly 40 pet-friendly working spaces and 50 dog-friendly Wifi cafes, whereas the Midlands city of Birmingham is home to the second highest number of places to rent with a garden at 1,426, 55 green spaces and over 20 pet-friendly working spaces.
Bottom 10 UK cities for working pet-owners
Rank | City | Number of dog friendly WiFi cafes | Number of pet-friendly working spaces | Number of green spaces | Number of places to rent with a garden |
29 | Luton | 0 | 7 | 6 | 116 |
28 | Wolverhampton | 0 | 8 | 12 | 114 |
27 | Swindon | 0 | 17 | 11 | 105 |
26 | Kingston-Upon-Hull | 0 | 14 | 13 | 204 |
25 | Northampton | 6 | 2 | 24 | 198 |
24 | Bradford | 0 | 30 | 17 | 50 |
23 | Derby | 12 | 16 | 19 | 339 |
22 | Stoke-on-Trent | 14 | 22 | 18 | 271 |
21 | Reading | 21 | 12 | 18 | 368 |
20 | Leicester | 16 | 5 | 17 | 734 |
Working pet-owners should avoid Luton, Wolverhampton, and Swindon
Luton ranks as the worst location for working pet owners, with no dog-friendly Wifi cafes and just six green spaces to go out and explore during work breaks. Wolverhampton, Swindon, Kingston-Upon-Hull and Bradford also have no dog-friendly Wifi cafes available, and Northampton offers the least choice for pet-friendly coworking spaces, with just two to choose from.
Amanda D, head of people enablement at Remote commented: ‘Choosing the right location both for you and your pet is key to ensuring you are both receiving the best life-work balance. For those looking to add a pet to their family, it’s important to consider the area around you and what it has to offer to ensure it’s supporting you both as much as possible.
‘For remote workers, companionship can often be key, and with pets proven to reduce stress and help with mental health issues, these furry friends can be a great addition to not only your remote or hybrid working life, but your social and personal life as well.’
