The Good Hotel Guide is the leading independent guide to hotels in Great Britain & Ireland, and also covers parts of Continental Europe. The Guide was first published in 1978. It is written for the reader seeking impartial advice on finding a good place to stay. Hotels cannot buy their way into the Guide. The editors and inspectors do not accept free hospitality on their anonymous visits to hotels. All hotels in the Guide receive a free basic listing. A fee is charged for a full web entry.
The Good Hotel Guide
About Us
Independent
Recommended
Trusted
Independent
Recommended
Trusted
Frequently asked questions
How old is the Guide?
The Good Hotel Guide was first published in 1978. It has been published each October since then.
Do hotels pay to be in the Guide?
Hotels do not pay to be selected by the Guide. However, if they want a full entry on the Guide’s website, then they pay the Guide an annual fee. Otherwise they have a basic listing.
What sort of hotels are covered?
The entries cover the best hotels, most of them owner-managed, in the UK and Ireland.
Who are the editors?
Jane Knight and Kate Quill edit the British Guide.
Who writes the reviews?
Entries are based primarily on comments from readers who write to us about their good and bad experiences at hotels and B&Bs. We also get reports from our team of inspectors who stay anonymously at the Guide’s expense. We also receive info from a questionnaire filled out by hotels annually, and at times use trusted secondary sources as well.
How often are the hotel reviews updated?
The entries are updated continuously on this website. The Guide is officially updated annually in October/November. Each year there is a considerable turnover.
What are the César awards?
Every year the Guide gives awards, called Césars, to 12 hotels in various categories, and plaques are presented to the winning hoteliers at a publication launch party. There are also bimonthly prizes for those readers who submit the best reports.
Do you want new reviewers?
Yes, please email us. Readers’ reviews are the lifeblood of the Guide. There are many blank areas on our maps. We are particularly glad to receive reports on hotels in a city, a town or a region that is poorly represented.
Why is the Guide trusted?
We track our readers opinions and have been doing so for more than 40 years. The fact that we are independent mean that we can call it like it is. No hotel can buy an entry in the printed Guide or on the website.
Why are some hotel entries much longer than others?
The Guide has two types of entry, Full and Shortlist. The Shortlist complements our main section by including interesting new entrants and a selection of appropriate places in areas where we have limited choice.
Do all the Guide's selected hotels appear on the website?
All hotels appear on the website, however, only those that are willing to pay an annual fee receive a full entry. Those that don’t, receive a basic entry.
How are hotels and B&Bs chosen by the Guide?
They are recommended by readers whose opinions are carefully tracked to exclude collusive reports. If a hotel or B&B appears promising, it will also often be anonymously inspected by one of our editors who will dine and stay at the Guide’s expense.
I am a hotelier. How do I get my hotel into your Guide.
Contact us and tell us about your hotel and its ethos and why it would belong in the Guide. We are always looking for new discoveries. We might send inspectors, but we won’t tell you they are coming.
