Luxury hotels and genuinely dog-friendly hotels don’t always go hand in hand. The Harper manages to be both.
Tucked away in the North Norfolk countryside, this one Michelin Key hotel combines comfort, seriously good food and some of the warmest service we’ve experienced in a hotel. Better still, dogs aren’t simply tolerated – they’re very much part of the experience.
We stayed at The Harper with our two pugs, Oscar & Henry, to find out whether it lives up to its Michelin recognition, and whether it works quite as well for four-legged guests as it does for their humans.
Inside The Harper
The Harper is tucked away in the pretty village of Langham, where a former glass-blowing factory has been transformed into a boutique country hotel. The building itself is beautiful and the communal spaces were a real highlight for us. They have plenty of character and manage to feel luxurious while still being relaxed enough that you don’t feel uncomfortable wandering around with a couple of dogs in tow.
Our room was absolutely enormous. At its centre was a large four-poster bed, accompanied by possibly the biggest television we’ve ever seen in a hotel room. There was also a generous workspace, loads of storage and a bathroom with both a bath and separate shower.
There were some lovely touches waiting for us too. We had a cocktail each, a soft drink in the fridge, a large bag of crisps and fresh homemade cookies, while the room also had a Nespresso machine – something I always appreciate finding in a hotel room.
While the room was spacious, comfortable and spotless, we did feel that the décor could benefit from a little modernising. Interior design is obviously subjective, but the bedroom wasn’t entirely to our taste and didn’t feel quite as special as some of the beautiful communal areas elsewhere in the hotel. That said, when you’re travelling with two dogs, space counts for a lot. We never felt as though we were climbing over dogs, luggage or furniture, and it made an incredibly comfortable base for exploring North Norfolk.
Dog Owners Guide Review
Dog Friendliness – 4/5
The Harper is very dog friendly and, throughout our stay, it was obvious that the team genuinely enjoyed having dogs around.
We were told that there would be treats waiting for the dogs in our room, but when we got upstairs there weren’t any. However, we popped back to reception to ask and the team quickly gave us a box of treats, which the boys appreciated. It’s worth noting that there wasn’t anything else provided for the dogs in the room – no dog bed, bowls or other dog-friendly touches. Given the level of the hotel and the amount of thought that had gone into the welcome goodies for us humans, we would have loved to see a little more of the same attention given to four-legged guests.
Elsewhere, The Harper makes staying with a dog incredibly easy. Dogs can join you for breakfast and they can also come to dinner, although there are some restrictions around where you can eat with them. Dogs aren’t permitted in the fine dining side of Stanley’s, so if you want them beside you at dinner, you’ll need to eat in the more casual area.
We specifically wanted to experience the fine dining menu, so we chose to leave the dogs upstairs. Crucially, The Harper allows dogs to be left unattended in your room, which meant we could enjoy dinner without having to compromise on the experience we wanted. Add in plenty of space in the room, walks from the hotel and staff who were genuinely lovely with our dogs, and it’s still a very easy place to stay with them. There was even an outdoor dog wash and towels, so you don’t feel bad coming into the hotel after a long walk. A few more thoughtful in-room touches would take the dog-friendly experience up another level.
Service – 5/5
The service was exceptional. Keith on reception looked after us incredibly well and even remembered not only our names, but the dogs’ names too. It’s a relatively small detail, but exactly the sort of personal touch that makes a hotel stay memorable.
That warmth continued throughout the hotel. The team were attentive without hovering, incredibly accommodating and made the whole experience feel effortless. I also left all of my camera equipment in the room (don’t ask how). Keith emailed me so quickly to make me aware and very kindly posted it back to me.
The Harper holds one Michelin Key and, when it comes to the level of hospitality, you can see why.
Rooms & Interiors – 3.5/5
The communal areas at The Harper are beautiful. There’s plenty of character to the building and the shared spaces feel stylish, warm and in keeping with a Michelin Key hotel. Despite being a luxury hotel, the atmosphere doesn’t feel stuffy or overly formal, which works particularly well when you’re visiting with dogs.
Our bedroom was incredibly spacious and comfortable. We had a large four-poster bed, an enormous Smart TV, a proper workspace, plenty of storage and a bathroom with both a bath and separate shower. With two dogs, having that much space made a huge difference and we never felt remotely cramped.
The bedroom interiors weren’t entirely to our taste and, in our opinion, could benefit from a little modernising. That’s very much a personal preference rather than there being anything particularly wrong with the room – it just didn’t feel quite as special as the beautiful communal spaces elsewhere in the hotel. Toiletry wise, I would also have loved to see something a little more premium.
Overall, the room delivered brilliantly on space, cleanliness and comfort. It was really just the styling and a few of the finishing touches that stopped us scoring it more highly.
Facilities – 4/5
The standout facility for us was the spa area, which includes a swimming pool, hot tub and sauna. Rather than simply turning up and sharing the facilities with other hotel guests, you book your own time slot and get private use of the space. We absolutely loved this.
We’ve never experienced quite the same set-up at another hotel and having the whole area to ourselves made it feel considerably more special. There’s no wondering whether the pool will be busy or whether you’ll actually get near the hot tub. For your booked slot, the space is yours.
Food & Drinks – 5/5
The food was the biggest highlight of our stay.
Breakfast was one of the best we’ve had in a hotel – if not the best. There’s a cold buffet with plenty of fresh produce, something I always appreciate because hotel breakfast buffets can sometimes be surprisingly lacking in fresh options. You can then order from the hot breakfast menu, alongside proper barista-made coffees. It might sound like a small detail, but I always rate a hotel more highly when you can order a proper coffee with breakfast, as opposed to just filter coffee.
And then there was dinner.
We chose to leave the dogs in our room so that we could eat in the fine dining side of Stanley’s, and we are so very glad we did. The food was incredible – genuinely next-level and easily the standout part of our stay. I dream about the fresh bread and caramelised butter that came out to start…
If food is an important part of choosing a hotel for you, The Harper deserves to be very high on your list.
Location – 4.5/5
The Harper makes a brilliant base for exploring North Norfolk, particularly if you’re visiting with a dog and want to combine your hotel stay with beaches, walks, country estates and pretty Norfolk towns.
During our stay, we headed to Wells-next-the-Sea. The town itself wasn’t necessarily a highlight for us, but the beach is definitely worth visiting, particularly for its famous row of colourful beach huts.
We also visited Blickling Estate, where we had a walk around the estate before having a quick look inside the house. It’s worth knowing that dogs aren’t allowed inside the house itself, so we left ours in the car while we went in. We visited in October when temperatures were cool enough for us to safely do this – obviously, this isn’t something we’d recommend in warmer weather.
Another quick stop was Cley Windmill. You don’t need a huge amount of time there, but it’s a cute spot for a few photos.
We also had a wander around Holt town, which we really liked. It’s a very pretty town with plenty of independent shops to browse. Norfolk Natural Living was a particular favourite of mine, while dog owners should make a stop at Woofers & Barkers too.
You’re also within easy reach of Holkham Beach, while Blakeney is another popular stop on the North Norfolk coast. Seal-watching boat trips depart from Blakeney and some operators welcome dogs aboard, although you’ll need to plan this one carefully around the tides.
There are plenty of opportunities to walk directly from The Harper too, so you don’t necessarily need to get in the car every time the dogs need to stretch their legs.
For us, that combination is what makes the location worthy of a 5/5. The hotel itself feels peaceful and tucked away, while some of North Norfolk’s prettiest beaches, towns and attractions are all within easy reach.
Value – 3/5
The Harper isn’t a cheap hotel. For a room similar to ours, prices start at around £300 per night, and for bed and breakfast alone, we do think that sits towards the higher end. That’s particularly true when you consider that, although our room was exceptionally spacious and comfortable, we felt the interiors and some of the finishing touches could benefit from an update.
However, The Harper does sometimes offer packages when booking direct which include dinner, and that’s where the value proposition becomes much more attractive.
If you can find a rate around that level with dinner at Stanley’s included, we’d view it differently. The dinner was genuinely one of the highlights of our stay and adds considerable value to the overall experience. We’d happily stay again, but at this price point we’d definitely look for a dinner-inclusive package rather than booking bed and breakfast alone.
Key Takeaways
Best for: A luxurious North Norfolk escape with your dog
Dog policy: Dogs can join you for breakfast and dinner in designated areas and can be left alone in your room
Standout feature: Private use of the swimming pool, hot tub and sauna during your booked spa slot
Price point: ££££
Don’t miss: Dinner at Stanley’s – we’d leave the dogs snoozing upstairs and experience the fine dining menu
Our stay: A spacious room for two adults and two pugs, with breakfast and dinner at Stanley’s
Would we return? Absolutely – ideally on a package that includes dinner
Planning a stay at The Harper?
Overall rating: 4/5
The Harper is a luxurious, genuinely dog-friendly base for exploring North Norfolk, with exceptional food, brilliant service and a few really special touches. There’s some room for improvement, particularly when it comes to the bedroom interiors and in-room dog amenities, but we’d happily return – especially if we could book a package that includes dinner at Stanley’s.
Find The Harper on Dog Owners Guide for everything you need to plan your visit, including dog-friendly details, facilities, location and more.
