Way back in 1993 (which feels like the Cro-Magnon age by now) we had a sneaking suspicion that people who enjoyed staying in unique and character-filled properties - country houses, farmhouses, B&B’s, inns, castles, city-centre hotels and resorts - were missing a comprehensive, dynamic travel tool to help them plan travel in the UK and Ireland. And thus Best Loved was born.

So, almost 20 years later, what continues to make our selection of places to stay Best Loved? You do! It’s very much a two-way street: not our just advice to you but the incredible wealth of travel experience you are giving back to us – we learn through you not just on our website but across a variety of social media: Twitter, Facebook, Linkedin, Carpe Noctem - our Best Loved blog, Pinterest and more.

Every time you make travel plans, you keep in mind past experiences, values, and your own unique requirements. Therefore, there’s no surprise that everyone who visits this site has their own Best Loved place to stay, or a particularly memorable travel experience that they’ll remember for a lifetime. For some of you it may have been an intimate candlelit dinner where you proposed, or where your kid first jumped into a pool – places where memories are made. We hope you will share those memorable moments with us!

We in turn distil all those experiences, dreams and aspirations into a source of inspiration – and it’s our hope that Best Loved helps make the decision-making process not only easier, but fun and informative as well.

What you’ll find on this site is a huge selection of places to stay in Britain and Ireland - from the stately home to the welcoming inn - each the best of its kind in its locality and price range. There are hundreds of places you might choose, each with its own special allure - but each has great character, each is a vital part of the delights and attractions of its region and each, in its own special way, is best loved by someone like you who has stayed there.

But Best Loved is not just about places to stay. Imagine Best Loved as a virtual dinner party (without the politics and religion)! Our vision of the good life isn’t only about finding you a soft pillow where you can lay your weary head – we want to share our passion for all manner of things that make life worth living – food, drink, theatre, sport, the arts, as well as fun things to do and see in every nook, corner and cranny of Great Britain and Ireland.