There are always a multitude of bed and breakfast houses around Britain, and for many this is the ideal way to travel. Be careful though these places can seem inexpensive but they are often not such a bargan as they might seem. Unless the house is a new construction or has been seriously renovated it will not have central heating, even houses built 20 years ago may not have it. Therefore be careful where you stay if you arrive during the colder months as many of these properties will have no heating in the rooms. Also in most cases the heating is turned off at night in most houses since they favor heating only when you are up and moving around deeming that more heavy blankets or a continental quilt (not like quilts or comforters here, these are a different construction) are enough to keep you warm. You can therefore freeze quite easily in such places.

The last time I used one (which to be fair was over 9 years ago) the price was actually higher then staying in the local pub/hotel which had heating and a much better breakfast choice in a dining room which was also warm. It’s hard to eat breakfast when your hands are numb.

If you are there in the summer you probably won’t notice the lack of heating, but remember too that in recent years the temperatures in Britain have increased and it can become quite hot. There is however little humidity to go along with it. However air conditioning is not something that British people have needed so no houses anywhere will come equipped with it. A few large stores most often drug stores (chemists) will have it and now many department stores, (although a few years ago this was unheard of). Some of the new construction hotels may have it but its usually turned off at night, just like the heat, so it does not do much good. The best suggestion is not to travel there in July and August as it can now be very unpleasant.

A large proportion of the B & B’s are registered with the tourist board so you can go to one of their offices and either book in advance from there or locate one in a town you have just arrived in and want to stay. This is often much easier than driving around looking for one unless you see one along the road which you like the look of. Since some of these can be much less expensive than some of the local hotels they are often very popular, some people return to the same house year after year to take their vacations and become good friends with the house owners. Therefore some can be booked up months in advance so the use of the tourist board is often much easier. In addition to register with the tourist board they have to undergo inspection for cleanliness and meet certain standards to be registered those which are not registered may not meet these criteria so you could be getting a very bad deal.

B & B in seaside towns is often very popular so finding a spot may be more difficult, areas like the Lake District will also be highly popular and unless you book in advance you may not find accommodation there.

Do not be alarmed by the lack of screens on the windows in British houses . There are NO BUGS to trouble you, and screens are never needed. . Unless you sit on the beach strand line with the sand flies or go along the river at dusk I doubt that you will ever be bothered.