Character and comfort define the best of B&Bs, and these wonderful guest houses always give a sense of being welcomed with open arms, quite literally in some cases. From converted cider presses to bedrooms adorned with Georgian antiques, expect high standards, and occasionally a quirky window and sloping floor board or two – it’s all part of the charm. Here are the Good Hotel Guide’s Editor’s Choice selections for best B&Bs.
2020 Editor's Choice B&Bs
Editor’s Choice B&Bs
The Old Rectory
Pwllheli
The welcome from Lindsay Ashcroft, and husband Gary’s breakfasts win praise for this B&B in a Georgian rectory surrounded by mature grounds on the Llyn peninsula. Book a session with a visiting artist and paint your own souvenir.
Shallowdale House
Ampleforth
There are dreamy views to the Howardian hills from Anton van der Horst and Phillip Gill’s 1960s house in leafy, hillside gardens. From fresh-baked scones to freshly squeezed orange juice at breakfast, everything is just about perfect.
The Old Rectory
Boscastle
There are romantic associations with Thomas Hardy at the Searles’ Victorian rectory B&B. The bed might be an antique carved one. Breakfast brings eggs from the hens, home-grown tomatoes, honey from the bees that pollinate the fruit trees in lovingly tended gardens.
Swan House
Hastings
Brendan McDonagh is a legendarily kind and friendly host at this Tudor house tucked away behind the High Street. A log fire burns in the beamed sitting room. Bedrooms are simple but beautiful. A great breakfast is cooked to order.
Old Whyly
East Hoathly
Dinner under a vine-covered pergola with fellow guests on a summer’s night epitomises a stay at Sarah Burgoyne’s Georgian manor house in glorious gardens. Her spaniel, Puzzle, is a chatty host. Eggs are from the hens, honey from hives in the orchard.
94DR
Edinburgh
A very special place, avers a fellow Guide hotelier, of Paul Lightfoot and John MacEwan’s Victorian town house near Holyrood Park. Special and beautiful, with period features, personable hosts, super bathrooms and a spectacular breakfast.
Sea Mist House
Clifden
Hens cluck away in the flower-filled garden of Sheila Griffin’s Georgian house B&B. There are wood-burning stoves, artworks everywhere, new-laid eggs at breakfast, of course, with soda bread, pancakes, honey from happy bees.
Number Thirty Eight Clifton
Bristol
Hit the heights at Adam Dorrien-Smith’s Georgian merchant’s house overlooking Clifton Down. Stylish, uncluttered interiors, stunning views, swish bathrooms, lovely service, cream teas and a top-notch breakfast more than repay the uphill climb.
Timberstone
Clee Stanton
Tracey Baylis and Alex Read are the warmest of hosts at this conversion of two old cottages. Modern-rustic bedrooms have countryside views. One has an in-room bath and balcony. Supper is convivial, breakfast a feast.
The Old Manor House
Shipston-on-Stour
You can ask for a picnic then fish in the River Stour, which borders the landscaped gardens of the Puseys’ 16th-century manor house filled with antiques and curios. A full English breakfast of local produce sets you up for the day.
2019 Editor's Choice B&Bs
Editor’s Choice B&Bs
The Quay House
Clifden
Warm and genuine hosts encourage a relaxed and happy ethos at this former harbourmaster’s house filled with antiques and curios. In the morning there is breakfast cake, freshly squeezed orange juice, perfect poached eggs.
St Cuthbert’s House
Seahouses
A former Presbyterian church dedicated to the patron saint of northern England is today an award-winning B&B and music venue. Rooms have an espresso machine, posh toiletries. Breakfast includes kippers from the famous local smokehouse.
Brooks Guesthouse
Bristol
Guests sleep in a smart, conventional bedroom or an aluminium retro caravan on the Astroturf roof at this former office block turned friendly, unfussy city base. Breakfast brings bacon butties, smoked salmon bagels, eggs Benedict. Local restaurants abound.
The Old Rectory
Hastings
Designer chic and witty caprice abound at this former rectory with beautiful lounges and lovely walled garden. Rooms are supplied with home-baked biscuits, own-label toiletries. At breakfast there are smoothies, home-cured kippers, bread fresh from the oven.
From £90 per night
Chapel House
Penzance
A Georgian house, once an admiral’s home, is run with care and pride as a B&B. Rooms are highly individual – one bathroom has a retractable glass roof. From tea and cake on arrival to Sunday brunch’s kedgeree, everything is tiptop.
Coes Faen
Barmouth
A literally ground-breaking B&B (the entrance hall incorporates a rock outcrop, with water trickling into a pool) has been fashioned from a Victorian lodge. Each bedroom has a unique spa feature. Tuscan- style dinner is served four nights a week.
The Roseleigh
Buxton
Choose a bay-windowed front room at this handsomely furnished Victorian guest house, and enjoy views over the lake of the Pavilion Gardens, designed by Joseph (Crystal Palace) Paxton. A comfortable, traditional, stylish and professional operation.
Craigatin House and Courtyard
Pitlochry
A Victorian former doctor’s house has been made over as a splendid B&B by its hospitable, hands-on owners. Rooms have contemporary styling. Breakfast brings fruits from the garden (berry compote, apple pancakes), omelette Arnold Bennett.
38 St Giles
Norwich
A stroll from castle and cathedral, this lovely house, built in 1700, is run as a very special B&B. From tea and cake on arrival to beautifully appointed rooms and excellent breakfast, every aspect pleases.
The Hack & Spade
Richmond
So close to Scotch Corner, yet so peaceful, this former Georgian ale-house-cum Victorian pub is now a fine B&B, rustic without, chic within. Bathrooms have a rainfall shower, aromatherapy toiletries. High praise for the full Yorkshire breakfast.
2018 Editor's Choice B&Bs
Editor’s Choice B&Bs
Stoberry House
Wells
‘Fabulous views’ over the cathedral and the Vale of Avalon to Glastonbury Tor await at Frances and Tim Meeres Young’s 18th-century coach house, run as a ‘faultless’ B&B.
Brownber Hall
Kirkby Stephen
‘As soon as we entered, we knew this was going to be special.’ Readers offered high praise in 2019 after visiting Amanda and Peter Jaques-Walker’s Victorian country house.
Jeake’s House
Rye
A cinematic street of cobblestone and gently listing cross-beamed houses hosts this ‘beautiful, comfortable and relaxing’ B&B, once a haunt of Malcolm Lowry and Radclyffe Hall.
Penbontbren
Llandysul
Leave the West Wales coast road, head down a country lane, and you’ve suddenly arrived at this ‘superb’ B&B, a former Victorian farm among ‘delightful grounds’ in ‘complete silence’.
Y Goeden Eirin
Caernarfon
The promised welcome in the vales is extended by Eluned Rowlands at this converted granite cowshed-turned-characterful B&B with views to Snowdonia and the Menai estuary
Sea Mist House
Clifden
Sheila Griffin is the innately welcoming hostess at this Georgian house near the foot of the Sky Road, ‘a gorgeous route around the coast and up the Wild Atlantic Way’.
Duke House
Cambridge
Liz and Rob Cameron’s ‘beautifully presented’ B&B is ‘well located’, in ‘walking distance of the whole city’.
Newbegin House
Beverley
A stay at the Georgian family home of Nuala and Walter Sweeney, he a former MP, is ‘memorable for all the right reasons’.
Austwick Hall
Austwick
The Guide’s recommendation inspired one gratified reader to book a stay at Eric Culley and Michael Pearson’s characterful B&B in a Yorkshire Dales village: ‘I’m pleased to be able to agree with the enthusiastic comments.’
The Dower House
Muir of Ord
A former dowager's residence owned by the Mackenzies of Highfield, this enchanting stone cottage orné is run as a ‘gem’ of a B&B by ‘lovely people’ Robyn and Mena Aitchison.
2017 Editor's Choice B&Bs
Editor’s Choice B&Bs
Jeake’s House
Rye
A cinematic street of cobblestone and gently listing cross-beamed houses hosts this ‘beautiful, comfortable and relaxing’ B&B, once a haunt of Malcolm Lowry and Radclyffe Hall.
The Quay House
Clifden
In a small harbour town between the foothills of the Twelve Bens and the Owenglin river where it meets the Atlantic, Julia and Paddy Foyle run their B&B with ‘generosity of spirit’.
Blackmore Farm
Cannington
On the family farm on the edge of the Quantock hills, Ann and Ian Dyer run this 15th-century manor house with chapel as a ‘warm, welcoming’ B&B.
Swan House
Hastings
‘Possibly the friendliest place I have ever stayed in,’ writes a reader in 2019, of Brendan McDonagh’s ‘exquisitely beautiful’ Tudor black-and-white B&B in a quiet Old Town cul-de-sac.
Old Whyly
East Hoathly
‘You are essentially staying in someone’s beautiful farmhouse, with an exquisite garden and delicious breakfast.’ A reader reaffirms her support this year for Sarah Burgoyne’s ‘wonderful’ B&B.
2 Blackburne Terrace
Liverpool
Practically within earshot of the Liverpool Philharmonic, in the city’s cultural quarter, this pitch-perfect B&B has attracted ecstatic reviews since it opened in 2014.
Apsley House
Bath
‘Delightful young couple’ Miroslav Mikula and Katarzyna Kowalczyk are the ‘friendly, helpful’ managers at Nicholas and Claire Potts’s Georgian house.
The Manor Town House
Fishguard
In a market town by the Preseli hills, this ‘superbly located’ B&B in a powder-blue Georgian town house delighted readers this year. ‘It is an exceptional establishment. Every need we had was happily met.’
Timberstone
Clee Stanton
‘We are greeted as if we are the most important people in the world,’ says a regular guest at this Shropshire B&B, lovingly created by Tracey Baylis and Alex Read from two 300-year-old cottages.
Dalshian House
Pitlochry
You can tour the Edradour distillery in bustling Pitlochry – but why bother? Guests staying at Martin and Heather Walls’s ‘blissfully remote’ Georgian house can start the day with a nip of the whisky in their porridge, or sip a tot while relaxing with a book by the wood-burning stove.
