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.
2019 Editor's Choice B&Bs
Editor’s Choice B&Bs
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
Whashton
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.
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
2018 Editor's Choice B&Bs
Editor’s Choice B&Bs
Jeake’s House - Midweek Winter Breaks
Rye
‘It’s a lovely place to stay, with great character and charm.’ Readers visiting Jenny Hadfield’s 17th-century B&B ‘as a little treat’ to celebrate an occasion in 2018 ‘were made to feel special and right at home’.
Brownber Hall - 10% Discount Midweek Special Offer
Newbiggin-on-Lune
Drawn by the possibilities for walking, climbing and cycling, ‘enthusiastic, hard-working’ Amanda Walker and Peter Jaques invite visitors to share in Dales living at their lovingly restored Victorian house.
Penbontbren
Glynarthen
Surrounded by rolling countryside, yet just a hill away from the sea, this ‘first-rate’ former Victorian farm B&B ‘is a very special place set in beautiful grounds’.
Stoberry House - Autumn and Winter Three Night Special Offer
Wells
‘Five stars’, ‘Highly recommended’, ‘Faultless.’ ‘Frances, Tim and their lovely staff treat guests as if they are treasured members of the family.’ This year’s Guide received plentiful accolades for Tim and Frances Meeres Young’s B&B in an 18th-century coach house.
The Dower House
Muir of Ord
‘What a gem!’ Robyn and Mena Aitchison, the ‘charming’ owners, run this ‘extremely pleasant small B&B’ with ‘wonderful hospitality.’
Y Goeden Eirin
Caernarfon
Expect a thoroughly ‘warm’ ‘croeso’ at Eluned Rowlands’s B&B on the edge of Snowdonia. Welsh is the lingua franca of this converted cowshed, which is imbued with local culture and heritage.
Sea Mist House
Clifden
A knock at the cherry-red door to this ‘characterful’ B&B is answered by ‘warm, inherently hospitable’ Sheila Griffin.
Duke House
Cambridge
Once the student digs of the Duke of Gloucester, Duke House is now a family-run boutique B&B in a ‘perfect’ situation ‘in Cambridge’s parking restricted area and walking distance for the whole city including a superb pub’.
Newbegin House
Beverley
‘Perfect hosts’ Nuala and Walter Sweeney clearly enjoy welcoming guests to their ‘beautiful Georgian house’ in a market town dominated by its sublime Gothic minster.
Austwick Hall
Austwick
Guests step straight into a ‘grand entrance hall’ at this B&B in a village in the Yorkshire Dales national park.
2017 Editor's Choice B&Bs
Editor’s Choice B&Bs
Jeake’s House - Midweek Winter Breaks
Rye
‘It’s a lovely place to stay, with great character and charm.’ Readers visiting Jenny Hadfield’s 17th-century B&B ‘as a little treat’ to celebrate an occasion in 2018 ‘were made to feel special and right at home’.
The Manor Town House
Fishguard
The Pembrokeshire Coastal Path runs through the valley below the rear garden terrace of Helen and Chris Sheldon’s Georgian town house in this market town between the Preseli hills and the cliffs of Strumble Head.
Blackmore Farm
Cannington
Breakfast is served at a carved oak refectory table by the Great Hall’s massive log fire at Ann and Ian Dyer’s B&B in a manor house with private chapel.
Swan House
Hastings
Tucked away in an Old Town cul-de-sac, a short stroll from the seafront, this early Tudor black-and-white house is run as a welcoming B&B.
Old Whyly
East Hoathly
‘As wonderful as ever,’ writes a regular visitor to Sarah Burgoyne’s ‘charmingly run’ Grade II listed, red brick Georgian manor house adjoining a private estate, close to Lewes.
The Quay House
Clifden
‘It is impossible not to like Julia and Paddy Foyle,’ the ‘delightful hosts’ of this ‘sybaritic’ harbourside B&B on the fringes of the Wild Atlantic Way.
Apsley House
Bath
Rumoured to have been built for his mistress by the Duke of Wellington, although less imposing than its Hyde Park Corner namesake (aka No. 1, London), this is a fine Georgian house, run as a B&B by Nicholas and Claire Potts.
Timberstone
Clee Stanton
‘Timberstone remains a great favourite,’ writes a Guide regular this year after staying at Tracey Baylis and Alex Read’s B&B in the undulating landscape immortalized by AE Housman.
Dalshian House
Pitlochry
Martin and Heather Walls’s white-painted Georgian guest house feels ‘blissfully remote’ – robins and red squirrels in the ‘peaceful’ surrounding woodland are your only neighbours – but it is within easy distance of bustling Pitlochry.
2 Blackburne Terrace
Liverpool
‘Everything perfect. A real find in this wonderful city.’ Our readers are impressed with this chic B&B, in the Georgian quarter, between the two cathedrals.