The best time to visit the UK is May to September, which is also the perfect time to attend major sporting events, festivals, and parades. Before you go, it’s helpful to know the basics of hotels in the UK, the different types of hotels, booking websites and check-in and check-out tips. This article will introduce the different types of accommodation in the UK and provide information on booking websites and apps.
What are the types of accommodation in the UK?
There are many types of accommodation available in the UK. Generally, short-term accommodation is divided into three main categories: hotels, youth hostels and B&Bs. There are several other types of hostels as well.
| Types of accommodation for tourist in the UK | |
|---|---|
| Hotel | Hotels are usually rated from two to five stars, with three-star hotels being the most common choice and five-star hotels being luxury. High-end hotels in the UK can be divided into two styles: modern and historic. Modern hotels are usually located in the bustling areas of large cities, while historic hotels are located in secluded areas. |
| (B&B) | B&B is a unique accommodation facility in Britain which many tourists favour. If you are fond of British tradition and culture and eager to get to know the local people better, then this kind of accommodation will be the most appropriate decision. Generally speaking, the price per person per night starts from £12, and a full English breakfast is provided. In addition, some B&Bs have no signboards. Please check with the local information before arriving at your destination. |
| Guesthouse | Also known as private hotels, these for-profit family hotels usually rent out their rooms to guests when they’ve cleared their children’s homes. While the rooms are limited, the service is often warm and welcoming, and most offer breakfast. |
| Inn | Inn is a prevalent type of hotel in the UK, covering many areas, from the big cities to the countryside. There are also many chain Inn brands in the UK, such as Holiday Inn, Park Inn, Premier Inn and Jurys Inn. The price is usually between 40-100 pounds, and these hotels provide quality service and a good environment. However, it is necessary to note that many hotels require an extra fee to use wifi. |
| Yong Hostel | Hostels are located in cities and towns across the UK and are among the most affordable options, starting from around £10 per night. Hostels offer a variety of accommodation options, from double rooms to shared dormitories with up to 30 people. They focus on providing simple but efficient services, with breakfast usually including milk, bread and oatmeal. In addition, shared rooms often have simple safes for visitors to store their valuables. |
| Camping | For many people, the outdoors is more enjoyable than the indoors. For example, several campsites have been set up in and around London, such as Camp In London in Walthamstow, East London, which is spread over 19 hectares and is being transformed into one of the largest in London’s history. Pre-built tents can be rented for as little as £40, or you can set up your own for £15. |
How to book a hotel in the UK?
In this Internet age, most travellers choose to book hotels online. Of course, you can also choose to book by phone or ask a friend in the UK to help you book a hotel. For details, please refer to our hotel booking guide:
British hotel website recommendation
Expedia UK
As the world’s largest online travel company, Expedia accounts for about one-third of the global online travel market. Expedia is also the parent company of the famous brand TripAdvisor, which is the absolute leader in hotel and attraction review services. Expedia provides airfare booking, car rental services, and hotels in more than 3,000 locations worldwide at competitive rates. No matter what price range and region you need, we can quickly provide you with real-time and accurate quotations.
Payment
Currently supports Visa, Mastercard, Discover, American Express, Paypal and more.
Main Features
- Flight booking is available, the “air ticket + hotel” package has price advantages.
- There are a wide range of housing offerings and diverse choices.
- One-stop service makes your travel convenient and efficient.
Booking.com
Booking.com is a prestigious UK hotel booking platform and the world’s largest online accommodation booking company. The site supports more than 40 languages, has more than 500,000 listings in more than 200 countries and regions, and offers 750,000 room bookings daily. Booking.com provides many accommodation options, from small, family-run hotels to five-star luxury hotels. Booking.com has the advantage of affordable prices, no extra fees, and instant credit-card-free bookings for some hotels.
Payment
Visa, Mastercard and UnionPay credit cards are accepted, and some debit cards are also accepted. In addition, there is a store payment option, but it requires a credit card as collateral.
Main Features
- 0 booking fee
- Lowest possible room rates
- Able to manage booking information online
- Wide selection worldwide
Download App
Airbnb
Airbnb is a popular homestay rental platform that allows users to filter their preferences by room type, price range, and more. While Airbnb is a more youthful booking site than luxury high-end hotels, it offers a sizable selection of cosy and comfortable tourist accommodations, homestays, bed-and-breakfasts, and short-term rentals.
Payment
Visa, Mastercard and UnionPay credit cards are accepted, it also support Alipay
Main Features
- Multiple choices of housing
- Diversified housing types
- Both customers and landlords have a choice to ensure fairness and credit
Hotels.com
Hotels.com is a hotel booking platform that consists of a global network of localized websites and telephone call centres. The company has 85 websites in 34 languages and covers a wide range of privately-owned hotels as well as major hotel chains. The platform’s most notable feature is its rewards program, which allows users to receive one free night at any eligible hotel within 365 days of the year after accumulating 10 nights. The free night is guaranteed only if the price is less than the average nightly rate for the 10 nights, and 100,000 hotels worldwide are participating in the program.
Payment
Visa, Mastercard, Discover, American Express, Paypal
Main Features
- Accumulate Welcome RewardsTM rewards
- Limited time offers from time to time
- Changes to your reservation by phone
- Best rates guaranteed
- Payment in advance or at the hotel
TUI UK
TUI is Europe’s largest leisure travel company, offering high-quality travel and mobility services in 180 countries and regions. TUI UK offers seasonal and limited-time hotel deals from within the UK to popular destinations across Europe. In addition to hotels, TUI also provides flights, cruises and themed travel packages, making it easy for customers to arrange all their travel needs in one place.
Payment
American Express, Maestro, Mastercard, Visa, Delta, etc.
Main Features
- Book all tours, hotels, car hire and excursions on the site
- Stay up-to-date with the holiday countdown and flight tracker
- Access the full TUI experience in over 90 countries
Lastminute
Lastminute.com is a globally renowned online travel ticketing website originating from the UK and a pioneer of OTA (online travel agency). The most notable feature of the website is the provision of accommodation services with great benefits. What makes this campaign more remarkable is that before booking, customers can know the relevant information about the selected room; however, they can only see the hotel name after confirming the booking. In addition, Lastminute also provides airline tickets and hotel packages.
Payment
American Express, Maestro, Mastercard, Visa, Delta, etc.
Main Features
- Unique Last Minute Deals and Top Secret Hotel
- Reservation of travel guides and attractions in popular cities
HRS
HRS is a global hotel booking service catering to a relatively smaller business and group travellers customer base. The website offers information on over 969 UK hotels, offering a wide range of accommodation options in the UK. Besides hotel booking services, HRS also provides travel blogs, special offers, themed planning, business travel and an interactive HRS community. In addition, HRS also operates a car rental service online to cater to those who need a car.
Payment
American Express, Maestro, Mastercard, Visa, Delta, etc.
Main Features
- More theme hotels
- More hotel types
- 24-hour free customer service hotline
Trip.com UK
Since its establishment in 1999, the website has provided a range of travel booking services, including hotels and tickets, to more than 90 million members. Trip.com also offers a variety of language options, in addition to Cantonese, English and Mandarin, as well as Japanese, Korean, German, French and Spanish. Trip.com is connected to more than 1.2 million hotels in more than 200 countries and regions and has an extensive and powerful hotel network.
Payment
American Express, Maestro, Mastercard, Visa, Delta and Alipay.
Main Features
- You can book flights, buses, attraction tickets, car rentals or WiFi cards simultaneously
- Promo codes are available from time to time.
- 24-hour customer service centre
- Best price guarantee
- Search results have tax-free and tax-inclusive prices.
Trivago UK
Trivago is a hotel search and booking platform founded in 2005. Its main feature is to provide a price comparison search function. It is a professional search engine focusing on global hotel booking services. The website compares the quotations of 716,434 hotels from 262 hotel booking websites. Data shows that Trivago saves up to 35% of the accommodation costs for each user on average. Currently, Trivago has expanded to 46 different countries and regions.
Payment
Visa, Mastercard, Paypal and so on, support UnionPay credit card.
Main Features
- Automatically search for supplementary information from other sites
- Provides detailed intelligence on room rates
- Gathers customer reviews from various sites
Hostelworld
Hostelworld is the world’s largest youth hostel booking platform. It was founded in 1999 and is headquartered in Ireland. Currently, we have covered 178 countries and regions with more than 36,000 registered hostel resources. Our user numbers have exceeded 12 million. Here, you can find famous hostels, best-value B&Bs and hotels.
Payment
Visa, Mastercard, Paypal, etc., allowing to view and charge deposits and booking fees in US$, Euro (€) and GBP£.
Main Features
- For backpackers on a budget
- Use the social features to meet new travel partners
- Chat with roommates immediately after booking
How to save money on hotel bookings in the UK?
In most cases, planning ahead can save you a lot of money, especially when it comes to booking accommodation and flights.
Book a discounted hotel
You can refer to the websites of prominent hotel booking agencies for last-minute deals. Once you identify a hotel with an attractive price, it is advisable to visit the hotel’s official website and compare prices, as you might stumble upon a more favourable offer.
Book a cheap hotel
There are several hotel chains in the UK where you can book a room for as little as £49. Making a reservation ahead of time means you can get the best prices in popular cities and towns, where accommodation can cost twice as much in the off-peak season.
Staying in an apartment
In most major cities, you can find apartments. If you need more than just a room, this option is more affordable than staying in a hotel. Some of these apartments offer the same amenities as hotels, such as Internet access and concierge service, and you can cook for yourself.
Choosing a Youth Hostel
The Youth Hostel Association is the largest hostel provider in England and Wales, offering various accommodation options for both countryside camping and city centre accommodation, including basic caravans (from about £10 per night) and private rooms (from £20 to £34).
If you’re thinking about studying in the UK, it’s crucial to find the right student accommodation. That’s where uhomes comes in. It’s a reliable platform that helps students like you find the perfect place to live in London, Manchester, Glasgow, Cardiff, Birmingham and many other cities. So far, they’ve helped more than 55,000 students successfully find their dream homes.
FAQ
What is the largest hotel chain in the UK?
Premier Inn is often considered to be the largest hotel chain in the UK. With over 800 properties across the country, Premier Inn has become synonymous with reliable comfort and value.
What are the big four hotel chains?
The “Big Four” hotel chains encompass Marriott International, Hilton Worldwide, IHG, and Wyndham Worldwide. Each of these industry leaders offers a distinctive portfolio of properties catering to the diverse needs of various types of travellers, ranging from those in pursuit of opulent experiences to those seeking efficiency and practicality.
Is it cheaper to live in a hotel UK?
The design of hotels in the UK is tailored for short-term stays, resulting in pricing that accurately reflects the range of amenities and services provided. In terms of cost-effectiveness, hotels may not be the most economical choice as youth hostels, and B&Bs offer a more favourable price point.
If you are interested in more UK living tips. Please check following blogs!
