London
Iuliia, Tim, and Deena are three members who have explored London through pet sitting. They’ve experienced neighborhoods that aren’t in the tourist guidebooks. The places where the dog walkers know your name, the delis are family-run, and the farmers market is a weekend ritual - not a tourist attraction.
10,142 London sits
confirmed in 2025
£194 per night saved*
on hotel costs
Up to 88% less emissions**
versus hotel stays
Most popular
city in the UK
Iuliia’s West Ealing itinerary
Coffee
After trying every coffee shop in the area, Iuliia settled on Artisan. It’s a dog-friendly spot on the main street, and they’re always happy to hand out a treat from their stash behind the counter.
Bakery
Try the pistachio pain au chocolat at Red Box. It’s outstanding.
Walk
The parks around West Ealing are where the community happens. Iuliia went for a daily walk and began to recognize the same faces.
Takeout
Go to Wasabi at Ealing Broadway Shopping Center if you don't feel like cooking. It’s quick, cheap, and right next to the train station.
Groceries
Try West Ealing’s Turkish, Persian, and Polish stores along the side streets. Iuliia is Ukrainian and found everything she missed from home at Kujawiak Polski Sklep.
Sweet treat
Don’t miss the baklava from Hyper Marché on Uxbridge Road.
Shopping
You can find all your essentials at the Ealing Broadway Shopping Center, but you’ll find the real gems browsing independent stores on the side streets.
Iuliia - West Ealing explorer
Iuliia lives in Darlington and did a sit in West Ealing in December 2025 and March 2026, both times for the same pet parents and their dog, Fred. “The area is surrounded by many parks where people walk their dogs, and I think seeing the same people during your daily walks makes it special. You feel like a local. They may not know you, but they know the dog you're walking, and they’ll come up to you to ask how the dog is doing. It's so sweet. You really feel like part of the community." Iuliia stayed in West Ealing for 31 nights, saving an estimated £6,014 on hotel costs.*
Tim’s West Hampstead itinerary
Coffee
Go to Lola's Bakery on West End Lane. It’s independent, sells good pastries, and has a real neighborhood feel.
Saturday market
Take a stroll at the West Hampstead Farmers Market on Iverson Road. It’s open from 10 AM to 2 PM.
Day trip
On Chiswick High Road, you’ll find lots of independent stores and cafes. Nikki's Bakery does hot chocolate and pastries at about half the price of those in central London.
Lunch
Go to Sam's Sandwiches at Shepherd's Bush Market for a cheap lunch, then wander the stands. It’s a classic local spot.
Dinner
Bibi Persian Kitchen on West End Lane is a must.
Groceries
M&S Foodhall is great for a good weekly grocery run. You’ll find it near the tube station.
Walk
If you’re craving some nature, go to The Hill Garden and Pergola. It’s stunning, but most Londoners have never even heard of it.
Tim - West Hampstead explorer
Tim lives in Oxford and has completed 24 sits across London. He sat in West Hampstead in February 2026. "I went to the center for a two-day conference, and despite this being only 40 minutes door-to-door, I felt like I was in another world. The sit I stayed at had bird feeders and a quiet, peaceful garden. The farmers market has some great stall sellers, and the two places I met friends for food - Lola's Bakery and Bibi Persian Kitchen - have an independent vibe. There are plenty of chains, but it was easy to avoid them.” Tim saved an estimated £1,358 on hotel costs during his one-week stay.*
Deena’s Elephant and Castle itinerary
Coffee
Saint Louie is Deena's go-to morning stop.
Lunch
Try Hoa Phuong for amazing Vietnamese food, no-frills, and the best meal you’ll have all week.
Nature
Burgess Park is an easy green escape. Deena loved the energy so much that she kept going back.
Street market
Go to East Street without an aim or plan. Just have a stroll and soak up the stalls, the sounds, and the energy.
Groceries
For fish, go to the fish market on Walworth Road. You’ll find types of fish you’ve never seen before.
Bakery
Saint Louie is a cafe and bakery hidden inside St Peter’s Church's crypt. It’s the kind of place you’d only hear about from a local.
Walk
Go to Walworth Road for a lively stroll, day or evening. The energy is constant, from the market stalls, the local stores, and the people just out and about.
Deena - Elephant and Castle explorer
Deena splits her time between the UK and Spain, and sat in Elephant and Castle in spring 2026. South of the river, it’s a different London entirely. No tourists, no chains, just a neighborhood with its own rhythm. "Whether I was in the gym, walking down Walworth Road, or at East Street Market, there was just such a positive and vibrant energy all the time. I loved it." Deena stayed for seven nights and saved an estimated £1,358 on hotel costs.*
More London gems
Find even more things to do in London with our own handy London travel guide.
Explore London with a pet by your side
From West Ealing to West Hampstead, find your own London pet sit and discover neighborhoods you won't find in a guidebook.
Click a city to discover hidden corners
Frequently asked questions
*How did you calculate the statistic on amount of money saved?
Estimated savings are calculated by multiplying the duration of each sitter's stay by the average nightly hotel rate for that city. There is no nightly accommodation rate for TrustedHousesitters members. These figures are illustrative and based on city-level averages; actual hotel costs vary by location, season and room type. London Average Daily Rate (ADR): £194/night, full-year 2025 (occupancy 81.2%, +3.13% year on year). Source: Colliers Hotel Development Index 2026, which ranks 35 UK locations across nine indicators including land prices, build costs, occupancy, ADR and investor appetite. Underlying data from CoStar/STR. https://www.colliers.com/en-gb/research/hotels-index-2026
**How did you calculate the statistic on accommodation-related emissions?
Based on the following assumptions: 1. All nights are spent in the UK 2. All nights spent pet sitting would have otherwise been spent in a large hotel. UK hotel energy usage information gathered from the Department of Environment and Utility Bidder. UK home energy usage information gathered from Ofgem. CO2e costs gathered from carbon accounting software compliant with GHG protocol and GRI standards. Information up to date in December 2023 and specific to the UK.
How does TrustedHousesitters work?
Our platform connects pet parents with sitters who like to spend time with wonderful pets and experience new places. There’s an annual subscription for both pet parents and sitters to join our community. This gives everyone unlimited access to our site. So pet parents can post multiple dates to find a sitter throughout the year. And sitters can apply to as many sits as they want and connect with many different pet parents.
Do I get paid to house sit while I travel?
No, our members are driven by a genuine love of pets, not money. They exchange loving pet care for a place to stay on their travels, gaining a wealth of experiences and memories to last a lifetime.
Both pet parents and sitters pay for an annual membership to get access to our platform and connect with each other, but no money changes hands between members.
Essentially, all that’s exchanged between pet parents and sitters is trust. Sitters get to stay in cool locations near and far, caring for pets while pet parents travel.
So we know everyone is here for the same reason: their never-ending love for pets and travel.
How do I become a house sitter?
The first thing to do is to register for free. Once you’ve registered, you can explore our platform and decide which membership plan is right for you. We offer three annual memberships – Basic, Standard and Premium.
After you’ve chosen and paid for your membership, you can create your profile. This is your chance to introduce yourself, describe your experience with pets and add external references. Your membership also covers the cost of getting verified – we recommend doing this as soon as possible to build trust with pet parents.
When you’re all set up, you can search for listings that match the dates you want to sit. You can also set up a saved search and we’ll notify you when house sitting opportunities become available for your dates.
When you find the ideal sit, you can apply by writing a personalized message to the pet parent, explaining why you’re the perfect sitter.
Find out more with 10 tips on how to become a house sitter.
What are my tasks while house sitting?
Your number one priority when house sitting will be taking care of the pets. Pet parents will give you clear instructions about daily walks, feeding times, playtime and cuddles. You’ll also send daily updates to them, so they know their pets are happy and enjoying their time with you.
As a house sitter, you need to keep the home you stay in clean and tidy too. Pet parents may also ask you to water plants, take out the rubbish and recycling, and collect the post for example.
We ask all pet parents to fill in a Welcome Guide with important details and instructions. We’ll share this document with you as soon as the sit is confirmed.
What if pets have very specific needs?
When you browse listings, make sure you read the details in the sitter’s responsibilities section. Pet parents usually list all their pets’ needs and requirements there – whether it’s giving them a pill with their food or an insulin shot.
This should help you decide whether you have the experience to meet specific pet needs.
We also recommend meeting pet parents face to face or via video to discuss responsibilities and expectations before you confirm a sit.