Bed and Breakfasts in the UK

Finding a good bed and breakfast in the UK

A bed and breakfast is a room in someone's home, or a small guest house run by its owners, with breakfast cooked in the morning — and at its best it is the most personal way to stay anywhere in Britain. Owners know the area, the walks, the pubs and the bus times, and the breakfast is a full one made to order. Guest houses are a little larger, with more rooms and often an evening meal or a licence; both sit between a holiday let, where you look after yourself, and a hotel, where you are one of many.

Prices are usually per room per night with breakfast included, and booking direct with the owner is often cheaper than through the booking sites, which take a commission of 15 per cent or more; many B&Bs quietly offer a better rate, a free upgrade or flexible cancellation to guests who ring or use their own website. Most are rated by VisitEngland, VisitScotland or Visit Wales, or by the AA, and reviews tell you the rest: the breakfast, the beds, the welcome and whether the photos were honest.

The practical questions decide a good stay: parking, whether dogs are welcome, check-in times, single-night stays at weekends, the cancellation policy, and whether the room has its own bathroom. The listings here show each B&B's reviews, facilities, contact details and rates, so you can see who is nearby, what is included, and where people staying in your town have been well looked after.

What B&Bs and guest houses offer

Rooms: doubles, twins, family rooms and singles, most en suite, priced per room per night with breakfast; some with sea or country views, a garden or a lounge for guests.

Breakfast: a cooked breakfast to order — full English, Scottish or Welsh, and usually vegetarian, vegan and continental choices — which is the whole point of the name.

Extras: packed lunches for walkers, an evening meal or a licence at some guest houses, drying rooms and secure bike storage on the trails, and local knowledge on everything.

Practicalities: parking, dog-friendly rooms, ground-floor and accessible rooms, early breakfasts for an early start, and late check-in by arrangement.

Longer stays: contractors, hospital visitors and relocations often stay by the week at a lower rate; ask.

Before you book a B&B

• Ring or email the owner direct; the rate is often better than the booking sites and you can ask the questions the sites do not answer.
• Check the room is en suite if that matters, and whether there is a minimum stay at weekends or in high season.
• Ask about parking, dogs and children before you arrive with any of them.
• Confirm check-in times and whether a late arrival is possible; many B&Bs are family homes with no night reception.
• Read the cancellation policy and whether a deposit is taken.
• Tell them about dietary needs and an early start so breakfast is ready for you.

What a B&B costs in the UK

As a rough guide, a double room with breakfast costs £70 to £120 a night in most of the country, £100 to £180 in tourist areas and cities in high season, and £120 to £250 in London or at a boutique B&B, with singles at £50 to £90. Weekly rates for contractors and long stays are often 10 to 20 per cent lower. Breakfast is included in the price at a real B&B; if it is charged separately, the place is probably a hotel or a room-only let.

Booking direct can save the 15 to 20 per cent commission the booking sites charge the owner, and most will pass some of that on if you ask. Off-season and midweek rates are noticeably cheaper almost everywhere.