• New England (London; tel. 020/7834-1595; www.newenglandhotel.com): If you want a location near Victoria Station, this is one of your best bets in a restored 19th-century town house that's one of the most welcoming in the area.
  • The Jenkins Hotel (London; tel. 020/7387-2067; www.jenkinshotel.demon.co.uk): Hailed by one London publication as one of the 10 best hotel values in town, the Jenkins was featured on the PBS Mystery! series, Poirot. Those seeking decent accommodations in Bloomsbury, at an affordable price, have made their way to this address in Cartwright Gardens ever since Maggie Jenkins opened the place in the 1920s. Rooms are small but well furnished, and some of the original Georgian charm remains.
  • Fir Trees (Windermere; tel. 01539/442272; www.fir-trees.com): This attractive and inviting guesthouse lies near Lake Windermere, so beloved by poets such as Wordsworth. A warm welcome greets you as you're ushered to one of the comfortably furnished bedrooms in this antiques-filled Victorian house that was successfully converted to receive guests.
  • White Vine House (Rye; tel. 01797/224748; www.whitevinehouse.co.uk): In the romantic old seaport of Rye, this B&B has won many awards for the beauty of its garden and the quality of its restoration in a former 1568 sea captain's house that was but a derelict shell when restored in 1987. The creeper-clad cottage offers inviting bedrooms with both modern comforts and antiques.
  • The Beadles (Salisbury; tel. 01980/862922; www.guestaccom.co.uk/754.htm): This modernized Georgian house with antique furnishings and a view of the cathedral is a standout. It lies 11km (7 miles) from Salisbury in a well-manicured garden with tastefully furnished bedrooms.
  • The Big Sleep Hotel (Cardiff; tel. 02920/636363; www.thebigsleephotel.com): In the capital of Wales, this B&B -- hailed by Condé Nast Traveller as "one of the coolest places to stay" -- has been converted from a 1960s office tower. A hotel of affordable prices and chic minimalism, it is owned in part by actor John Malkovich.

Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.