England has a national tourism agency, which runs an official nationwide quality assessment scheme for guest accommodation.
Almost 10,000 establishments are assessed every year under this scheme.
This accommodation encompasses anything from a one-room Leicester bed and breakfast, to the larger establishments found in coastal resorts such as Scarborough, Brighton or Blackpool, which may additionally serve an evening meal and may also be licensed to serve alcohol.
Bed and breakfasts accommodate no more than six people and are like staying as a paying guest in someone's home.
Farmhouses also offer bed and breakfast and this is always on a farm.
Guest houses usually have more than three rooms and sometimes provide an optional evening meal for their visitors.
Some guest houses are also licensed.
Accommodation is also available in restaurants with rooms.
The restaurant is the main business and they will be licensed to serve alcohol.
Inns are pubs with guest accommodation and which these also serve evening meals as well as breakfasts.
There are common features to all of these types of accommodation, although the style of operation will, of course, be very different.
All of these businesses, whether a Leicester bed and breakfast or a Lancashire farmhouse, will be personally run by owners or managers.
They are usually smaller than hotels, with fewer public areas than might be expected in a hotel and there may not be a guest lounge.
In some bed and breakfasts or guest houses, access is restricted during the day, but you would be advised if this is the case when you make your booking.
Under the quality assessment scheme for bed and breakfasts and guest houses, different star ratings are awarded according to the level of facilities provided.
One star equates to "simple, practical and no frills".
Two stars means "well presented and well run" and three stars are awarded for a "good level of quality and comfort".
An establishment would be awarded four stars if it provides an "excellent standard throughout" and five stars if it is "exceptional with a degree of luxury".
Owners also have to provide additional facilities and services at the higher star levels.
For three stars, they need to provide a bathroom or shower rooms for the sole use of guests.
If the bedroom is not en-suite, a wash basin will need to be provided in the bedroom.
For a four star bed and breakfast or guest house, at least fifty per cent of the bedrooms need to include an en-suite or a private bathroom.
If the accommodation is to obtain a five star award, then all bedrooms must be en-suite or have their own private bathroom.
There may be occasions where a bed and breakfast or guest house has exceptional bedrooms and bathrooms and other very special qualities, but cannot achieve a higher star rating because, for example, there are no en-suite bathrooms or wash basins cannot easily be installed in the bedrooms due, perhaps, to the historic nature of the property.
In such circumstances, quality that exceeds the star rating might be awarded a Gold or Silver Award.