However, we cannot provide a detailed account of thousands of years of history in one article! Instead, our objective is to cover the defining points in Britain’s history that have shaped the country that it is today. We will also provide some links for further reading!

Britain – The Island Nation

Britain is an island that today includes England, Scotland and Wales. The island was inhabited by humans for the first time around 30,000 years ago and was connected to mainland Europe as little as 8,000 years ago. Today, the mainland is the world’s third-most populated island after Java (Indonesia) and Honshu (Japan).

To properly explain the geographical boundaries that make up modern-day Britain, we have to go back in time and look at the various kingdoms and petty kingdoms that once combined to form what is now referred to as England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland.

The Roman Era

Before the first Roman conquest of Britain, the mainland was inhabited by a large number of tribes mostly of Celtic origin, collectively known as Britons. The name Britain originates from the Common Brittonic term Pritanī (sounding similar to Britani) and is one of the oldest known names for Britain. The terms Briton and British, derived from the same name, refer to the island’s inhabitants.

Before Christianity spread across Europe in the 1st Century AD, Britain had its own set of religious icons including Pagan gods of the earth and Roman gods of the sky. The story of Jesus began circulating with the arrival of Roman traders in the early years after Christ’s resurrection.

The Romans first invaded England in AD 43 and eventually occupied all of modern-day England, Wales and parts of Scotland. They called their new territory Britannia. Roman rule in Britain lasted for nearly 400 years and it drastically changed not just the religious outlook of many Britons but also warfare, crop cultivation and the layout of towns and settlements.  Many Roman landmarks in Britain still remain including the Roman Baths in Bath and Hadrian’s Wall.

The Post Roman Era

After the Romans left Britain (between 388 and 400 AD), the lands of modern-day Britain were ravaged by conflict. Britain was carved up into various kingdoms, petty kingdoms and fiefdoms. The fortunes of each kingdom fluctuated over time, as some kingdoms took power over others. Some of the smaller kingdoms were annexed by their larger rivals and others fell to foreign invaders.

There were many incursions by the Jutes from Denmark and the Angles and Saxons from Germany. The Irish Scotti also invaded parts of North West Scotland. However, it wasn’t until the Viking invasions in the 9th and 10th centuries that large parts of Britain became united to face the threat of the invading armies from Scandinavia.

England’s seven kingdoms were united into four and then one (the Kingdom of England) by King Æthelstan in 927 AD. Similarly, the Picts and the Scotti’s in Scotland were forced to end their historic hostility and unite to fight the Danes.

The Normans

However, the invasion by William the Conquerer in 1066 initiated a period of Norman influence that lasted for several centuries. The Normans went on to invade and control all of Wales and most of Ireland and Scotland too. Many of the castles that William built during his reign remain today including the central keep in the Tower of London and the White Tower.

The Anglo-French War (1202-1214) watered down the Norman influence though as English born Normans became English and French-born Normans became French. Norman influence in England continued however and Wales fell under formal Anglo-Norman control in 1282.

There followed many years of unrest between the ruling houses of England and Scotland. This resulted in the Scottish Wars Of Independence in the 13th and 14th centuries where England and Scotland fought for control of Scotland. Scotland’s ultimate victory confirmed Scotland as a fully independent and sovereign kingdom.

As an island, Britain has had a long tradition of international trade by sea. Its long coastline and isolated location eventually led it to become the world’s principal sea power. Although trade routes were established long before the 1400s, Britain’s emerging expertise as a sea-faring nation led to the discovery of North America in 1497 by John Cabot aboard his ship the ‘Matthew’.  You can visit an exact replica of the Matthew today in Bristol.

King Henry III

In 1536, the English King, Henry VIII, re-conquered Ireland and brought it under English control. In 1541, Henry was proclaimed ‘King of Ireland’ at a meeting of the Irish Parliament. In the following year (1542) King Henry VIII (himself of Welsh descent), passed the ‘Laws in Wales Acts’ with the objective of fully incorporating Wales into the Kingdom of England.

King Henry III was also famous for breaking away from Rome and the Catholic Church in 1534 and established himself as the Supreme Head on earth of the Church of England. This initiated a sometimes brutal period of religious reformation in Britain which led to the creation of the Church of England.

In the late 1500s, Britain extended its reputation as a seafaring nation after Sir Francis Drake became the first person to circumnavigate the world in a single expedition from 1577 to 1580 Onboard his galleon the Golden Hind. An exact replica of the Golden Hinde is now moored in London.

The Kingdom Of Great Britain

In 1603, the Stuart King of Scotland, King James VI inherited the throne of England. Despite the English Civil War (1642–1651) which removed a monarch’s right to govern without Parliament’s consent, the Stuart kings and queens who descended from Scotland ruled both the independent kingdoms of Scotland and England until the Acts of Union in 1707.

The Acts of Union merged the two kingdoms of Scotland and England into a new state, the Kingdom of Great Britain. Under England’s authority, Wales became part of the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707 and then the United Kingdom in 1801.

With the defeat of Napoleon at the Battle of Waterloo in 1815, Britain confirmed its status as the principal naval and imperial power of the 19th century. Despite the loss of British North America (later the United Sates of America) after the American War of Independence (1775–1783), the British Empire continued to grow until after the First World War.

The First World War

At the start of the First World War in 1914, the British Empire’s territory accounted for a quarter (24%) of the Earth’s landmass and was home to over 412 million people which represented 23% of the world population. Arguably, the start of the first world war marked the peak of Britain’s world dominance.

By the start of the 20th century though, both Germany and the United States of America (a former British colony) had grown rapidly and started to challenge Britain’s economic prowess. However, the First World War placed huge strains on Britain’s economy as it had to fund its war with Germany whilst at the same time managing the huge financial burden of maintaining its vast empire across multiple continents.

The loss of nearly 35,000 Irish troops in WWI kick-started a new separatist movement in Ireland.  Most of Ireland gained independence from Britain following the Anglo-Irish War of 1919 to 1921 and Ireland became a fully independent republic following the passage of the Republic of Ireland Act in 1949.  The largely protestant Northern Ireland still remains part of the United Kingdom, however.

The Second World War

The Great Economic Depression of 1926 had an immense impact on Britain’s human, financial and military resources. The financial impact of having to re-arm to counter the Nazi threat in the 1930s whilst also having to maintain its colonial outposts only served to further weaken Britain’s financial standing.

The reliance on troops from countries within the Empire to fight the Axis forces in World War Two (WW2), especially from within India, sparked many populist movements for independence. The financial cost of two world wars and the ongoing burden of managing an empire lead to a change in British politics to focus much more on domestic policy.

In the post-war WW2 years, a gradual policy of decolonisation and self-governance was introduced. In April 1949, following the London Declaration, the word “British” was dropped from the title of the Commonwealth to reflect its changing nature.

The Commonwealth

Today, the Commonwealth is an association of 54 independent countries that work together to promote both trade and other shared interests. The Commonwealth is made up of 2.4 billion people which represents roughly one-third of the global population.

Queen Elizabeth II remains as head of state in sixteen Commonwealth countries including the UK. These include Canada, Australia and New Zealand as well as numerous nations in the Caribbean and Indian ocean.

These include Papua New Guinea, Belize, The Solomon Islands, Jamaica, Barbados, The Bahamas, Grenada, Saint Lucia, Antigua and Barbuda, St Kitts and Nevis and St Vincent and the Grenadines.

Britain has had an immense impact on the world. The British legal system and parliamentary model underpins the democracies of countries from America to Australia. The English language is spoken as a de-facto official language in 60 countries around the world (31% of the total number). English remains as the official language of the sea and of the air too.

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Here at Stay In Britain, everything we do is focused on helping people to find the perfect place to stay overnight when in the United Kingdom (UK). The photos of a hotel or guest house bedroom on an accommodation website like Stay In Britain might look perfect but this doesn’t guarantee a perfect night’s sleep!

Some hotel or B&B beds feel ‘just right’ when others are too soft or too hard. Conversely, some beds seem to have a valley in the middle of the mattress and others are so uneven it feels like you might roll out of the bed and on to the floor at any given moment!

And this got us thinking! What constitutes the perfect bed? To properly answer this question, we decided to look back in time to properly understand the origins and our perception of what makes the perfect bed. What we found out is truly fascinating…

How old is my mattress?

Based on modern day advice, we are told that we should change our mattresses every seven years.  For this purpose, all modern mattresses are date stamped when manufactured.  But what if your mattress is a lot older than that?

Amazingly, historians think that humans were sleeping on mattresses back in the Stone Age (circa 77,000 years ago).  When people largely lived in caves, the stone floors were not overly comfortable so they started to make simple mattresses made from animal hair with a cover made from animal skins and simple woven fabrics. These would be passed on from generation to generation!

Please rest assured (if you will excuse the pun), none of the mattresses found in Stay In Britain properties are this old!

Pocket springs, memory foam or mattresses made from hay?

Yes, you did read that right!  Although most of us in the western world sleep on internally spring mattresses or ones made from memory foam, this was not always the case!  In Medieval Europe, most poor people were sleeping on mattresses made from straw or hay.

A simple material fabric would simply be made into a ‘bag’ and then stuffed with hay or straw – the former being more comfortable but also more expensive.  In fact, in many alpine youth hostels in Austria and Germany, you can still sleep on mattresses made of straw even today!

Why is my bed too hard?

Did you know that the first beds were made from stone? If we travel back in time to the Neolithic period (10,000 years ago) we discover that humans were sleeping on raised platforms made from stones.
The main benefit from raising the bed off the floor was so to help prevent bugs and insects from getting into your bed. If the floors in your cave or hut were also wet, this also helped to keep you dry at night.

Why does my bed slope downwards?

Historians have discovered that it was the Egyptians who first made bed frames made from wood. The more elaborate the bed frame, the more the design said about your status and influence.  Many of the early Egyptian beds had beautifully carved legs on their beds shaped like animal feet.

Interestingly though, early bed frames were not designed to be flat. They tended to bow in the centre to help stop people falling out of the bed.  They also sloped downwards and often had footboards to stop you from sliding off the bottom!

How high should a bed be off the floor or ground?

In the past, having a bed that was raised off the floor signalled that you had a higher social status but this was not the case in all parts of the world.  For example, in Japan, people slept on traditional Tatami mats simply laid out on their floor.  The modern Futon is still based on this ancient concept.

It is still extremely common in many parts of the world to sleep on the floor on a rolled up mattress and sleeping bag and then store them away during the day.  In smaller living quarters, this helps to make space during the day for other activities.  Rooms with fold away beds still make use of this space saving concept today.

Is a bigger bed always better?

Many of us today in modern Britain think that a ‘Queen Size’ bed or a ‘Super King’ sized bed is better than a mere ‘Standard Double’.  But has this always been the case?  Our obsession with large beds, aside from them given us more space to move around at night, may come from the ancient belief that a larger bed signals a higher status.

In medieval Europe, the wealthy started developing what became known as the ‘Great Bed’.  These beds were absolutely huge in size.  They were designed to be dismantled so the wealthy could take them with them when they travelled to another one of their residences.  The Great Bed of Ware was just under nine feet wide and eleven feet long!

And it is worth remembering that in the 1500s when this bed was made, people were much smaller than they are today!  In the 1500s a man of 170cm (5 foot 7 inches) would have been considered very tall!

Hotels with four-poster beds?

Are you looking for a hotel with a four-poster bed?  Well, we have several here on Stay In Britain!  Interestingly, we still hold the perception that a four-poster bed is luxurious and romantic!  But where does this impression come from?

Four-poster beds became popular with the wealthy back in the 1400s and 1500s.  Before the charms of central heating, bed chambers were often very cold at night.  The canopy over the top and the curtained sides on a four-poster bed were designed to retain heat at night.

Four-poster beds also became a mark of status.  Some four poster beds were so large and elaborate the owner would need a team of servants to help them get into and out of bed every day.  When servants were constantly present, it also have a married couple a certain degree of privacy!

The bed as a throne!

In the Early Modern Period (circa 1500 to 1800), heads of state were famous for conducting their daily business from their beds!  King Louis XIV of France and England’s King Charles II helped to shape this practice. The so called ‘beds of state’ evolved to become overly ornate pieces of furniture that became a reflection of the King or Queen’s wealth and power.

The ‘state bed’ became the epicentre of political life.  In Baroque political culture, the closer you were to the monarch’s body and their intimate daily routines the more favoured you were.  The bed became a platform for the monarch to ‘hold court’ and to disseminate information to his or her subjects.

How much should you spend on a new bed mattress?

This is a common question that we ask ourselves when looking to buy a new bed.  However, in ancient times, the question was less driven by comfort and more by the need to communicate wealth and status.
From the 1600s, European families invested an incredible amount of money, time and resource in their beds.  Depending on how important you were, you might have up to six mattresses stacked on top of each other!

In much the same way as we might invest up to a third of our liquid assets in a car today, in the Early Modern Period your bed, mattress and bedding would account for around a third of your total net worth!

Why are metal bed frames so popular?

Iron bedframes first became popular in the Victorian era (from the 1830s onwards).  Before then, almost all beds were made from wood but these attracted lice and other bugs to take residence not just inside the mattress but the bed frame too.

The Victorians, who became extremely focused on cleanliness and hygiene, replaced their old wooden bedframes with iron ones as they were much easier to keep clean.  The Victorians also introduced the sprung mattress which improved comfort but also hygiene as the metal spring only had a limited amount of material over the top.

How many people regularly have breakfast in bed?

Many of us think having breakfast in bed is a luxury!  But did you know that the Romans ate all their meals in bed!  Beds were not just for sleeping in they were places to entertain and socialise!  So the next time you decide to take a slice of toast and a cup of tea up to bed with you, don’t feel embarrassed… you are simply honouring a long standing tradition from the Roman era!

We hope you have enjoyed this brief insight into the history of the bed!  The next time you climb into your bed please spare a thought for the generations of people before you who have slept on matresses made of hay on beds made of stone!

Here at Stay In Britain, we take guest comfort very seriously, so please come back and leave a review about the place you have booked and stayed at.  Thank you very much indeed!  We hope that you enjoy your stay in Britain!

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Here at Stay In Britain we often get asked by people who are looking to travel to the UK what the differences are between Great Britain, the United Kingdom (UK) and the British Isles. In particular, people from the USA often think they are separate destinations with different visa requirements.

This news item will hopefully help to clear up any confusion about what regions or islands make up the British Isles, Great Britain, Ireland and the wider United Kingdom. We will also look at how the names for each nation developed.  Lastly, we will discuss the differences when it comes to visiting each nation today and what visa requirements are needed.

To properly explain the geographical boundaries of each country though we have to go back in time and look at the various kingdoms and petty kingdoms that once combined to form what is now referred to as England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland. The fortunes of each kingdom fluctuated over time, as some kingdoms took power over others.  Some of the smaller kingdoms were annexed by their larger rivals and others fell to foreign invaders.

As a result, each region has retained its own flag or coat of arms which often date back to when area was ruled as an independent fiefdom.  To find our more about the various flags of each area or region, why not visit our page on flags of the United Kingdom and Ireland.

Great Britain

The largest and principle island that incorporates modern day England, Scotland and Wales is commonly referred to today as Great Britain. It is widely accepted that the word ‘Great’ in the name refers to the fact that Britain is the largest island (or greatest in terms of land mass) in the British Isles.

The island has been inhabited by humans for around 30,000 years and was connected to mainland Europe as little as 8,000 years ago. Today, the mainland is the world’s third-most populated island after Java (Indonesia) and Honshu (Japan).

Before the first Roman conquest of Britain, the mainland was inhabited by a large number of tribes mostly of Celtic origin, collectively known as Britons. The name Britain originates from the Common Brittonic term Pritanī (sounding similar to Britani) and is one of the oldest known names for Britain. The terms Briton and British, derived from the same name, refer to the island’s inhabitants.

The Romans, who invaded England in AD 43 and eventually occupied all of modern day England, Wales and parts of Scotland, added to the evolution of the island’s name by calling its new territory Britannia. ‘Rule Britannia’ is still a common saying in Great Britain to this day, popularised by the British patriotic song which originated from the 1740 poem “Rule, Britannia” by James Thomson.

The Kingdom of Great Britain was formed when the independent kingdoms of Scotland and England (which included Wales) were unified in the Acts of Union in 1707.  This merged the three kingdoms into a new sovereign state.

British Isles

The term ‘The British Isles’ refers to a large group of over six thousand islands which surround Great Britain (England, Scotland & Wales) and Ireland. Interestingly, the name ‘British Isles’ had no official status until 1707 when the kingdoms of England and Scotland were united as the Kingdom of Great Britain.

Whilst most of these islands are very small, there are several notable islands which have developed large populations over time. These include, in order of size: Great Britain, Ireland, Lewis & Harris, Isle of Skye, Shetland, Isle of Mull and Anglesey.

Guernsey and the Channel Islands are not considered part of the British Isles although this has been contested many times. Geographically, the Channel Islands are technically part of continental Europe, as they are positioned off the French coast of Normandy.

Ireland

It is thought that humans crossed from Britain to Ireland via a landbridge during a warm period at the end of the last ice age (called the Bølling-Allerød warming), that lasted between 14,700 and 12,700 BC.  Recent studies suggest that Ireland was separated from Britain by approximately 14,000 BC.

There has been much debate about the origins of the name ‘Ireland’. In modern Irish language, Éire (Irish for Ireland), is said to derive from the old Irish word “Éiru”. Éiru was an Irish Goddess and the matron Goddess of the island and sovereignty.

Today, the island of Ireland is split into the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland: there is a land border between the two.  Most of Ireland gained independence from the United Kingdom following the Anglo-Irish War (1919-1921).  This area of Ireland eventually became a fully independent republic following the passage of the Republic of Ireland Act in 1949.

In terms of population, roughly three quarters of the population (72%) live in the much larger Republic of Ireland in the centre and South of the island.

United Kingdom

After the formation of the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707, there followed a union in 1801 of Great Britain with the Kingdom of Ireland, thereby creating the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. Following the Republic of Ireland Act in 1949 however, the majority of Ireland broke away to form the Republic of Ireland.  The full name of the United Kingdom subsequently changed to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Norther Ireland.

The UK is an acronym for the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. The UK is a sovereign state – the same as the United States of America (USA). In direct contrast to the US however, the UK is made up of four countries: England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

By comparison, the US is made up of states (50 in total). There are many similarities though given that each state is governed by a devolved government (as is the case with Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland) whilst at the same time being governed by a central government or parliament.

Visa Requirements

Since the United Kingdom left the European Union in 2020, visa regulations to enter both the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland have changed.

You may be able to visit Ireland without applying for a separate Irish visa, if you have an eligible UK (short stay) visitor visa and you are a citizen of an approved country.

You cannot travel to Northern Ireland using an Irish visa, except if travelling under the British Irish Visa Scheme (explained above).  You will need a visa issued by the United Kingdom.

Find out more about the Short Stay Visa Waiver Programme here: http://www.inis.gov.ie/en/INIS/Pages/visa-short-tourist

Please also note that the Republic of Ireland uses a different currency (The Euro) whereas the Pound is the currency in both Northern Ireland and the wider United Kingdom.

The post What Are The Differences Between Great Britain And The UK? appeared first on Stay In Britain.

According to a report in the Telegraph on 3 March 2021, self-catered accommodation website Unique Homestays has warned that 92 per cent of summer holiday dates are booked up whilst another booking site, Oliver’s Travels, has just eight per cent of properties still available.

Since the UK government announced that UK based holidays could commence as soon as 12 April on the premise that COVID cases continue to fall, bookings have soared. However, this is just for self-catering accommodation and bookings must only be for one household. It is still not possible to book a self-catering UK holiday where you share your accommodation with another household.

To meet the surge in demand, many stately homes and farms are opening up their land to guests for the first time. Luxurious shower and toilet blocks have quickly been erected to meet this new demand. What is more, due to limited plot numbers in many of these new locations, people can find the space they crave for a safe and tranquil holiday.

Such strong demand is being driven by several factors it seems. In a survey conducted by ‘Stay In Britain’ several underlying themes have emerged. People are concerned primarily that an overseas holiday might be cancelled. Similarly, British families are concerned that they might be forced to ‘quarantine’ for 14 days after they return from an overseas holiday. Lastly, are concerned about travlling by air and the perceived risk from travelling in close proximity to others for a prolonged period.

Stephen Shaftesbury from Petersfield (Hampshire) said:

“The thought of sitting next to people on an aircraft that we do not know fills us with dread. Until more people are vaccinated and infection rates have dropped significantly, we just don’t have the confidence to get on an aircraft at present. We will be holidaying in the UK for the foreseeable future I think.”

James Benson from Chorley (Lancashire) added:

“Our whole perception of what is safe has changed. I see people hugging on TV and want to shout out – stop, that’s against social distancing regulations! We don’t want to go away on holiday to a place where there are lots of people. The more secluded and remote the better.”

Interestingly though, there could be a shift away from the situation we saw last summer when a large number of people travelled by car to continental Europe for a break.

As James Gill from London observed:

“Whilst I wouldn’t want to take my family on aircraft or ferry at the present time, we are looking seriously at a holiday in France this summer. It is still possible to travel to the continent via the Channel Tunnel / Euro tunnel whilst staying safe and “ The question is, will we will be welcome in the Europe when we arrive and will we have to quatantine for 14 days when we return.”

If you too are concerned about travelling abroad this summer, we urge you to book your accommodation as soon as possible to avoid being disappointed. But the issue is not just falling availability it is also about price – rising demand is pushing up prices and will continue to do so as availability continues to dwindle.

Accommodation sites like Stay In Britain feature some of the more unusual and independent accommodation choices that you will not find on the major booking sites. So why not start your search for your summer holiday accommodation today!

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SITUATION UPDATE

Here at Stay In Britain, we are closely monitoring the developing situation regarding Coronavirus.  We are following UK Government advice and we are keen to inform and protect UK holidaymakers as much as possible.

Please be aware that the situation is changing very rapidly.  Therefore it is sensible to check the Gov.UK website regularly for the most up to date information.

Here is a link to the Gov.UK website:

www.gov.uk/guidance/wuhan-novel-coronavirus-information-for-the-public

If you or your guests are impacted by this advice, have any symptoms of Coronavirus or have any concerns please NHS 111 for advice.

DO NOT visit your GP, local hospital or pharmacy if you think you may be affected. Call NHS 111 and ask for instructions.

We ask all our guests to take the following sensible UK Government Advice:

• Wash your hands thoroughly and regularly using soap for at least 20 seconds before drying
• Carry tissues with you and cover your nose and mouth with them when you cough or sneeze
• Bin the tissue immediately afterwards.  To kill the germs, wash your hands with soap and water, or use hand sanitiser gel soon after

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When trying to find a hotel or other form of accommodation, it pays to do your research first. Let’s face it, we’re much more likely to visit a particular hotel over another if one of our close friends or relatives make a recommendation. But what if you don’t know anyone who has stayed at the hotel you’re thinking of staying at? The TripAdvisor website is probably the first place you will turn to for advice.

The meteoric rise of the TripAdvisor brand has been remarkable and the statistics speak for themselves. Founded in 2000, TripAdvisor now boasts over 570 million reviews. It features over 7 million hotels and other tourist attractions around the world. As of July 2017, there were over 450 million unique visitors every month (Source: TripAdvisor Press Centre).

Yet with this growth, there has been much controversy. Firstly, any person can leave a negative review about a hotel without any shred of evidence. According to TripAdvisor, reviews come from “trusted members of the travel community” and yet no checks are made on the identity of the people who leave the reviews. An anonymous username and email address is all you need to add a review. What’s more, no proof that you actually stayed at the hotel is needed to leave a review!

Consequently, when a hotel receives a negative review from a guest (they are alerted whenever someone leaves a review), they can simply add a number of positive reviews to push the negative review down the page and out of sight. Given TripAdvisor’s average rating visuals, the more positive reviews added can also trick the system into displaying a higher average score than is really deserved.

This has led to some less scrupulous hotel owners actively attacking their direct competitors with a flurry of negative reviews under a string of different aliases. Clearly, the intention here is to discredit the competition and to make their own hotel seem more attractive by posting a large volume of positive reviews. Other hotels bribe guests who leave positive reviews with discounts on future stays, free bottles of wine or other such gifts.

To combat this, TripAdvisor proudly asserts that reviews are not posted to the website instantly, but are subject to a verification process that considers the IP address and the email address of the author. The system also tries to detect any suspicious patterns and any obscene language. The website also allows the ‘community of users to report suspicious content, which is then assessed by a team of quality assurance specialists. The checks are clearly not working, however!

So the next time you’re checking TripAdvisor before booking an overnight stay, we strongly suggest that you follow the recommendations below, to ensure you keep your sanity and wellness!  TripAdvisor remains a great service but only if you can quickly weed out the fake reviews!

How to sift through the bogus and fake reviews:

• Discount Single Reviews: Be suspicious of reviews from people who have only left one review, especially ones that have been left some time ago but have never been followed up with reviews of another property. In this way, you can quickly discount both positive and negative reviews which could be disingenuous.
• The More The Merrier: As a general rule, the more reviews someone has left, the more they can be trusted. Look for unusual patterns though. Someone who left a flurry of reviews over a short period and then never returned to add more might not be a genuine contributor.
• The Superhero Test: Someone who has stayed at 51 properties in 20 different countries over a 10 day period is clearly deluded. Either that or they are are Superman!
• Poor Grammar: Although TripAdvisor has ‘auto translate’ software embedded within its site, some hotel groups employ teams of people in overseas locations to leave a constant stream of positive reviews with cloaked IP addresses to get past TripAdvisor’s basic quality checks.
• The Camera Never Lies: Look for posts where people have added photos of the hotel. In most cases, these will be left by genuine travellers who have actually stayed at the hotel. Be aware that some people use damaging photos as a tool to get refunds. To check for abuse, see if that person has left positive as well as negative reviews. If they are using TripAdvisor only to post negative reviews, this could flag an ulterior motive.
• Make Contact: TripAdvisor allows you to make contact with other users. If you see a review that is particularly worrying, test its accuracy by sending that user an email. If you get a response, it is likely that this person is a genuine traveller. If you don’t get a response and that person hasn’t been active on TripAdvisor for some time, it would be fair to say that the review could be fake.
• Accreditations: Don’t just rely on TripAdvisor! Hotels in Europe may have to pass rigorous checks to gain and retain their star ratings. In the UK, look for accreditation from organisations like ‘The AA’ and  ‘Visit Britain’.

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Here at Stay In Britain we feel very lucky to be based in one of England’s most beautiful National Parks; The South Downs National Park. The South Downs Park is England’s newest National Park, having been designated a National Park in November 2009.

The National Park covers an area of 1,627 square kilometres, stretching for 140 kilometres (87 miles) from Winchester to Eastbourne and encompassing large areas of Hampshire, West Sussex and East Sussex. The route can be walked comfortably in 5 days.

Stay In Britain is based in Petersfield (Hampshire), which is almost in the centre of the National Park.  We are perhaps a little biased therefore when we say that our immediate area offers the very best that the park has to offer!  People living in Eastbourne or Winchester may beg to differ however!

Every year, thousands of walkers, runners and cyclists choose to walk, run or cycle part or the whole South Downs Way. Whereas some people turn the route into an endurance course, others choose to break the journey up into chunks and find accommodation along the way. So where are the best places to stop overnight?

Here are some of our favourite places to stay overnight working from Winchester to Eastbourne in an Easterly direction.  We’ve walked and cycled this route many times so we can speak with confidence when we recommend these accommodation choices!

Chilcombe (5 miles from Winchester)

The Hamlet of Chilcombe nestles in a valley east of Winchester and very near the A31. The nearby bowl barrow on Telegraph Hill, on the South Downs Way itself, was a former prehistoric settlement. The village has a small Norman church (1120 AD) which affords nice views over Winchester.

• Complyns Bed & Breakfast: Complyns Bed and Breakfast is a detached 17th century listed former farm house with a large country garden and orchard. The popular South Downs Way quite literally passes the B&Bs front gate. Both walkers and cyclists are welcome http://www.complyns.co.uk/

Buriton (22 miles from Winchester)

The picturesque village of Buriton lies 400 metres to the North of the South Downs Way (at the bottom of Kiln Lane). The village lies approximately two miles South of Petersfield. The village boasts two pubs, a village hall, a large village pond (with plenty of ducks and huge fish), a car park and the Church of St. Mary.

• The Five Bells: Our local pub here at Stay In Britain and our favourite place for a Sunday roast! This traditional country pub also has dog friendly self-catering accommodation but you are advised to book early; the accommodation here is very popular! http://fivebells-buriton.co.uk
• The Village Inn: Just 100 metres from the Five Bells, the Village Inn offers upscale accommodation and fine ‘gastro pub’ dining. The 14 individually designed bedrooms with luxurious roll top baths or contemporary showers are designed and built to suit all tastes and budgets. http://www.villageinnburiton.co.uk/

Houghton (43 miles from Winchester)

Houghton is a small linear village and the chosen location for a historic stone bridge across the River Arun. The village’s simple church, dedicated to St Nicholas, was originally built in the 13th century but largely rebuilt in 1857. The village’s George and Dragon pub, which pre-dates the English Civil War, was a stop-off point for Charles I’s son (the future Charles II) on his escape to France in 1651.

• Arun Valley B&B: The Arun Valley bed and breakfast at Houghton Farm offers quality accommodation at reasonable prices. Houghton Farm is situated just 150 metres from the South Downs Way and within easy walking distance of a truly excellent pub which has recently been refurbished – The George and Dragon http://www.thegeorgeanddragonhoughton.co.uk/
  https://www.arunvalleybandb.co.uk/
• South Downs Bunkhouse: Larger groups of walkers or cyclists will be interested in the South Downs Bunkhouse which offers beds from £24 per person per night. Bed spaces are sold on a mixed gender / mixed party basis and there are 20 beds in total. https://www.southdownsbunkhouse.co.uk/

Pycombe (61 miles from Winchester)

The small village of Pyecombe is situated just off the A23 just a few miles inland from Brighton. This pleasant village has a beautiful 12th century church and many pretty ivy-clad flint houses. Being right on the South Downs Way, it makes for an obvious stop although accommodation is very limited.

• Saddlesombe Farm: We thoroughly recommend a stopover at Saddlescombe Farm with owners Camilla and Roly. They have some very nice B&B accommodation but more importantly you can spend some time here experiencing life on a working farm. The farm is just 5 miles north of Brighton and here you can find sheep, cows and arable crops in abundance! http://www.camillaandroly.co.uk/bed-a-breakfast

Alfriston (78 miles from Winchester)

The ancient village of Alfriston dates back to Neolithic times and is featured in the Domesday Book of 1086. In the centre of the village green (The Tye) is the ‘Cathedral of the Downs’, St. Andrew’s Church, which lies on a raised mount surrounded by a flint wall. Right alongside the Church is the Clergy House, a National Trust property, the first purchased by them.

• Bo-Peep Farm: This lovely farmhouse has three rooms available as B&B accommodation. Sitting alongside the ‘Old Coach Road’ which runs from Firle to Alfriston, it’s an ideal base for walkers, runners and cyclists. There’s plenty of off-road parking and safe cycle storage. http://bopeepfarmhouse.co.uk/rooms/

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Given the importance of the River Thames to the growth of the city of London over the course of history, it seems only right that we feature some London based ‘floating accommodation’ on the Stay In Britain website!

When looking for accommodation in London, most people search for expensive hotels in the West End and overlook the more quirky options which are available if you know where to search. And what could be better than waking up in London listening to the sound of water bouncing gently on the hull of your overnight accommodation… enough to make you want to move to London right?

And there is another very good reason to stay on or very near the River Thames. Not only does the river offer some of the nicest viewpoints of London’s finest buildings, it also accommodates an incredibly convenient transport system between the major tourist attractions.

TFL’s (Transport For London’s) high speed river services start at Hampton Court in the West and finish at Woolwich in the East. There are six different ferry routes to choose from with each offering many different stops along the river at key locations such as Canary Wharf, the London Eye and the Tower of London. Simply hop-on and hop-off at the destinations which interest you most! Find out more at https://tfl.gov.uk/ 
© Image courtesy of Matt Buck / CC BY

Accommodation on the River Thames

Just a few years ago, it was almost impossible to find any boat accommodation on the River Thames near to the city of London. However, recent investment in the Docklands and St Katherine’s Dock have meant that it is now possible to base yourself right on the river during your stay in London. Why not arrange a boat party to get a taste of life on the river!

Stay In Britain’s recommendations:

Seeborn London

More superyacht than floating hotel, this 420 foot tribute to an oligarch’s lifestyle is permanently moored in the Royal Victoria Docks. With 131 guest cabins to choose from, many with balconies, the Sunborn enjoys unique views across London’s regenerated docklands area. The hotel also has a day spa and an excellent restaurant onboard. The yacht is just a minute’s walk from ExCeL London and under a five minute walk to the Dockland’s Light Railway. For more information, visit the Sunborn website.
© Image courtesy of Jon Stow / CC BY

Sailing Barge Will

Built in 1925 as the largest steel hulled Thames Sailing Barge ever built, Will is 97 feet long (29.75m). After a distinguished career in World War II where she survived several attacks by German forces, Will was bought by P&O in 1970 and fitted out as a luxury board room and served in this capacity for the company’s Directors until 1999. The barge has several cabins onboard and can be chartered for overnight stays. She operates out of the Pool of London from the Hermitage Community Moorings, Reeds Wharf and St Katherine Dock. Find out more about Sailing Barge Will on the Thames Leisure website.

Absolute Pleasure Yacht

Unlike Seeborn which was designed as a floating hotel, the Absolute Pleasure Yacht is actually a superyacht which was launched to serve the super-rich in destinations like St. Tropez. It is now based at Canary Wharf and serves as luxury accommodation. Sleeping up to 10 people, a one night charter costs approximately £2,500. At £250 per head, this does seems expensive but this is truly a unique experience which is perfect for a special occasion. For more information, visit the website of the Absolute Pleasure Yacht.
© Image courtesy of Absolute Pleasure Yacht

The Harpy

Built in 1904, the former HMS Harpy also saw service as a floating office for Customs & Excise. This incredible house boat is based just a short walk from Tower Pier. The views across the river towards Tower Bridge can only be described as stunning. Sleeping 10 people across four bedrooms, the accommodation here represents excellent value given the location. One night for the whole vessel starts at approximately £700. There is a minimum stay of 3 nights. For more information, visit the Harpy’s website.
© Image courtesy of The Harpy

Tilbury Cruise Terminal

Interestingly, more and more cruise ships are now stopping in London overnight. There are three cruise terminals in London: at Tower Bridge next to HMS Belfast, at Greenwich and at Tilbury. Consequently, you might want to book one of the new itineraries that travel around the British Isles with stops at other key British maritime cities. London’s cruise terminals operate mainly in the summer months however and the ships that do stop here are mostly smaller and more luxurious in nature. If you are interested in luxury cruises with stops in London, we suggest that you visit Panache Cruises at www.panachecruises.com to check prices and availability.

Stay In Britain

Here at Stay In Britain, we feature various types of holiday accommodation including hotels, guest houses, self-catering apartments, wooden lodges and B&Bs (bed and breakfast). Uniquely, we only feature independent properties which you will not usually find on the major booking websites. And because the property owners don’t have to pay commission to these major booking sites, they can offer you the best prices available. Book direct using the contact details supplied. It’s as easy as that!

We wish you an enjoyable Stay In Britain.

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The ski and snowboard holiday sector is following a similar pattern. The mini ski break has become immensely popular in recent years with several tour operators like Ski Weekends promising short ski breaks to 63 top ski resorts in 8 countries! Travelling to the alps for Ski Holidays is so easy these days, as is booking your instructor. How? By using an app of course!

What few people realise, however, is that you can also ski within the United Kingdom. Yes, you did read this correctly and your eyes are not deceiving you! There are five ski resorts in Scotland just waiting for you to visit. And with the best snow in a generation (thanks to the effects of global warming), now is the perfect time to head to Scotland!

Like many Brits with family in Scotland, I learnt to ski in the early 80s at the Scottish resorts of Cairngorm and the Lecht. Much has changed in the Scottish ski centres since then. Some of the ski areas have invested in artificial snow machines and some of the ski lifts are now very modern indeed.

The modern gondola lift serving Nevis Range is the only one of its kind in Britain. The Nevis gondola transports skiers, climbers and mountain bikers to the highest ski area in Britain in just 12 minutes!

Here at Stay In Britain, we have compiled a list of some excellent accommodation options near to Scotland’s ski resorts. Click on the links below to see what we have on offer!

• Nevis Range – 20Km pistes – 12 ski lifts
• Cairngorm – 30Km pistes – 11 ski lifts
• Glenshee – 40Km pistes – 21 ski lifts
• Glencoe – 16Km pistes – 8 ski lifts
• The Lecht – 25Km pistes – 14 ski lifts

Skiing in Scotland can be amazing. With good snow under your skis and with clear views of Ben Nevis bathed in glorious sunshine, skiing in Scotland is hard to beat.

The key to skiing in Scotland is to pick the ‘good days’. That’s why Ian McCaskill and his pals at the Scottish Met Office should become your most trusted friends. Keep an eye on the web-cams and snow reports at each of the ski centres too. If conditions look good for the coming weekend, take the Friday off work and head North as soon as you can.

Contrary to popular belief, the Scottish Highlands are easily accessible too. Manchester-based skiers with a car could leave home at 5 am and be on slopes by 11. London based snow-heads can take the sleeper train from Euston at 9.25 pm on a Friday night, getting into Fort William (just 7 miles from Nevis Range) at 9.54 am on Saturday morning.

The same sleeper service gets you back in time for work on Monday morning too, leaving Fort William at 7 pm on Sunday, arriving in London at 7.50 am. With return fares starting at just £48 if you book in advance, city slickers can ski for two full days without taking any time off work.

Skiing in Scotland is certainly not to be scoffed at. With one day lift passes starting at £25, the cost is certainly cheaper than even the cheapest French resort. You won’t need to re-mortgage your house to buy a cup of coffee on the mountain either. What’s more our friends in Scotland speak the same language. And they don’t smell of onions either!

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Within hours of Buckingham Palace’s announcement that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle were to be married in May 2018, we received hundreds of searches online at Stay In Britain from people looking for accommodation in Windsor. It really took us by surprise and it wasn’t something we expected to see when looking back at the site traffic a little over a week after the announcement.

We’ve been inundated with requests for assistance from outside the UK and particularly from America, Australia and New Zealand! Interestingly, most of the demand was from various news agencies who were keen to secure accommodation with balconies on the route which Harry and Megan are expected to take through the town. Those rooms with the best camera angles are expected to fetch a very high premium indeed!

A date has not yet been announced for the wedding ceremony yet but we do know that it will take place at the 15th-century St George’s Chapel in the grounds of Windsor Castle. St George’s is also the chapel of the Order of the Garter. Find out more about the Order of the Garter here >

So where are the best places to stay in Windsor if you are planning to get involved in Harry and Meghan’s big day? To help you prepare, we’ve compiled our ‘top tips’ to get you off to a flying start. When the precise date is finally announced (we expect it will be in the last two weeks of May), the booking frenzy is going to start in earnest. Do your research now and get ready to reserve your room!

Here are our top picks:

Macdonald Windsor Hotel
Situated just two minutes’ walk from Windsor Castle, you’ll find over 100 luxury bedrooms at the Macdonald which is right in the centre of the historic old town. The hotel also has rooms with balconies and rooms which overlook Sir Christopher Wren’s Guildhall.  Many rooms also afford views up towards Windsor Castle and Castle Hill.

Castle Hotel
Beginning life as the Mermaid Inn in 1528, the Castle Hotel won a royal warrant to provide horses and carriages for the royal household in the early 1700s. The Duke of Wellington allegedly dined here after his victory over Napoleon at Waterloo in 1815.

The Harte & Garter
Named after two 14th century inns (the Garter Inn and the White Harte), this luxurious hotel has achieved worldwide acclaim in recent years. Not only was the Gart Inn featured in several Shakespeare plays, it is named after the chivalric order (see above). The White Harte, was the official ‘press centre’ for Charles and Camilla’s wedding in 2005.  The hotel has various rooms and suites which look out over both the castle and Windsor high street.

Of course, these are all top end hotels which are featured on the leading hotel booking sites like Hotels.com. Demand for beds at these hotels will be very high and the prices will reflect the demand.

A clever alternative would be to book your accommodation outside Windsor where prices will be more sensible and then travel in by taxi or public transport to absorb the atmosphere in the town.

Here at Stay In Britain, we feature several hotels and B&Bs in the local area which offer great value for money. And because we only feature independent hotels and guest houses, you will not find them on the major booking websites. Book direct with the hotel owners and get the best prices as the hotels we feature do not have to pay commission back to owners of external websites!

SEARCH FOR ACCOMMODATION NOW!

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