Travel advice for England
From travel safety to visa requirements, discover the best tips for visiting England
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Where you stay in England can completely shift how your trip feels, from big city buzz to slow country mornings. This is a place of contrasts: you could crash in a sleek apartment in Manchester’s Northern Quarter, a beach hut on the Norfolk coast, or a centuries-old inn in the middle of the Cotswolds. England’s accommodation isn’t about flash, it’s about character.
If you're visiting in summer, expect higher prices and busy booking calendars, especially in national parks, coastal towns, and cities hosting festivals. Book early if you’re eyeing hotspots like London, Bath, or Cornwall. Spring and autumn bring better value and fewer crowds. Winter’s cheaper still, but some rural places shut for the season.
This guide breaks down where to stay in England, so you can dodge overpriced blandness and find places that fit how you like to travel.
England isn’t a budget backpacker haven; you won’t find $10 beach bungalows or hostel hammocks. But if you plan smart, there’s still good value to be had, especially outside major cities.
England’s accommodation has plenty of character. You might stay above a 16th-century pub in Oxfordshire, a slick design hotel in Shoreditch, or a cottage on the Cornish coast with sea salt in the air and a pasty shop down the lane. Here's what to expect when deciding where to stay in England.
From $30 (£25) per night
Hostels are mostly found in cities, student towns and hiking hubs like the Lake District or Yorkshire Dales. Dorm beds are basic but clean. You’ll usually get a shared kitchen, free tea, and the occasional conversation about football or train strikes. Small guesthouses or budget hotels in this price range tend to offer compact private rooms, often near bus or train stations.
From $100 (£80) per night
This is a very English thing. Many pubs, especially in rural areas or market towns, have a few rooms upstairs. Expect wooden beams, pints of ale on tap and hearty dinners like steak and ale pie. Some are historic coaching inns with uneven floors and open fires, others are modern gastropubs with boutique-style rooms and better wine lists.
Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese, old pub in London © Arndale/Shutterstock
From $90 (£70) per night
Still one of the most reliable ways to get friendly, local insight. B&Bs are usually family-run, often in converted townhouses or village homes. You’ll get a cooked breakfast, a warm welcome, and likely some strong opinions on nearby walks or tea shops. Styles vary from very traditional to sleek and minimalist.
From $125 (£100) per night
This range covers a lot, from independent hotels in Georgian townhouses to stylish guesthouses in seaside towns. Rooms usually come with en-suite bathrooms, better beds, and more character than your average chain hotel. Look in places like Bristol, York, or Bath for good value and strong design.
From $250 (£200) per night
England’s luxury hotels are often set in historic buildings: think castle hotels, manor houses with gardens, or city hotels in old banks or town halls. Expect polished service, big bathtubs, afternoon tea, and proper cocktails. Outside London, many country hotels also offer spas, tennis courts, and even falconry displays.
From $110 (£90) per night
A solid option if you want privacy and your kitchen. Farm stays give you a slice of rural life, sometimes with animals on site and fresh eggs for breakfast. Cottages are great for self-catering and often come with wood-burning stoves, stone walls, and local walking routes right out the door. Especially popular in the Cotswolds, Cornwall, and the Peak District.
From $90 (£70) per night
Traditional seaside towns like Brighton, Whitby, and Hastings are full of old-school guesthouses and small hotels, often with views of the sea and a breakfast room facing the promenade. Some are dated, others have gone full retro-chic, but either way, you’ll get a proper English coastal experience.
From $140 (£110) per night
England’s glamping scene has taken off, especially in the southwest and national parks. Think yurts, safari tents, shepherd’s huts or treehouses with wood burners and compost toilets. Eco-lodges also exist, usually focused on local materials and off-grid comfort. Great if you want to get close to nature without giving up real beds.
From $120 (£95) per night
Only in England can you sleep in a converted narrowboat on a Victorian canal. Some are moored up permanently in places like London, Oxford, or Hebden Bridge. Others are self-driving rentals you can take through the countryside. Expect compact kitchens, fold-out beds, and ducks as your neighbors.
View of Weymouth lifting bridge opening with a yacht passing through © allouphoto/Shutterstock
England isn’t a budget destination, but there’s still value if you plan smart. On average, expect to pay $65-100 (£50-80) for a basic private room, $125-200 (£100-160) for a solid mid-range hotel, and $250+ (£200+) for boutique or luxury stays. Dorm beds in hostels start around $30 (£25), while glamping pods and eco cabins sit around $140 (£110), especially in national parks or coastal areas like Cornwall or the Lake District.
Mid-range and luxury hotels usually include breakfast, and not just cereal. Expect sausages, eggs, mushrooms, beans, and more toast than you can handle. Budget places might skip it or charge extra. While you won’t need air-conditioning in most places, city stays often come with hidden costs like parking fees or late check-out charges, so read the small print.
Where you stay in England shapes everything: how you get around, what you eat, and how much of the real place you see. You could be waking up to cathedral bells in York, gulls in Cornwall, or street noise in Soho. Distances aren’t huge, but travel can still be slow and expensive. Pick the right base, and your trip runs smoothly. Get it wrong, and you’ll spend half your time stuck on trains or dodging tourist traps.
London is massive, brilliant, and not for the faint-hearted when it comes to price tags. Where you base yourself matters, especially if you’re trying to avoid four Tube changes just to get a coffee. The best places to stay in London depend on what kind of trip you're after.
If you’re splurging, luxury hotels in London go big: rooftop bars, spa treatments, and service that remembers your name. You'll find them scattered across the city, from Mayfair mansions to sleek towers in the City.
Notting Hill in London © andersphoto/Shutterstock
Cornwall’s all surf towns, fishing villages, and cliff-top walks. It gets rammed in summer, but the mix of beaches, food, and laid-back pace is hard to beat.
This is countryside England turned up to eleven: rolling hills, dry stone walls, and villages so pretty they look fake. You come here to slow down, walk between pubs, and maybe buy jam at a farmer’s market.
Pretty cottages along High Street, Broadway, Cotswolds © Shutterstock
Manchester’s proud, musical, and very much its own thing. A strong pick if you like culture, nightlife, and a bit of Northern swagger.
Brighton is the UK’s most colorful seaside city, a place where vintage shops, drag brunches, and sea swims all exist on the same street.
Tib Street, a hot spot of indie bars and coffee houses in Manchester's innovative Northern Quarter © Lachlan1/Shutterstock
Choosing where to stay in England isn’t just about finding a comfy bed and a decent shower. Prices shift fast, locations can be misleading, and not every “cosy inn” lives up to the website photos. Planning ahead saves money and hassle.
Here are some essential England travel tips to help you get the most out of your stay:
From travel safety to visa requirements, discover the best tips for visiting England
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written by
Rough Guides Editors
updated 30.06.2025
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