W

e all like to know what we’re getting when we book accommodation.

VisitEngland’s star ratings help you find accommodation that suits your budget and meets your needs, so that when you check into your hotel, B&B, campsite or whatever it may be, you’ll find it up to your expectations.

If you see a quality assessment logo next to your choice of accommodation, it means one of our quality assessors has visited that location and given it an official rating. You can’t beat first-hand, expert insight.

Who awards the ratings?

VisitEngland and the AA conduct quality assessments annually in England. Both use the same rigorous criteria to award accommodation star ratings, and reliable, impartial assessments of quality.

On some websites, you’ll find properties have awarded themselves with their own star ratings. Look out for the AA or VisitEngland mark next to the stars to be sure it’s one of our ratings, and that an official inspector has visited the accommodation.

How is accommodation graded?

The star rating system covers all accommodation types, from campsites to B&Bs to city-centre hotels. We assess different types of accommodation in different ways, so that nobody expects an en suite bathroom in their two-man tent. For example, to win a three-star rating, a hotel should be licensed to serve alcohol, offer room service and have all en- suite bedrooms. A three-star B&B would not be required to meet the same conditions. Four-star guest accommodation for example, cannot be compared to a four-star hotel.

It’s not simply a matter of facilities. An establishment must also meet specific quality requirements to get its rating. Every accommodation type’s star rating reflects the quality of its furnishings, décor and ambience, with more stars meaning better quality. Our assessors regularly stay overnight as mystery guests in all of our rated accommodations so they can properly test all aspects of the visitor experience, from the welcome they receive to how comfy the beds are.

To check if a property has a current  star rating or for more information on what levels of quality and facilities you should expect to find at each star rating , contact Quality in Tourism - the  assessment service for VisitEngland.