Beds and Blankets in England?

Usually no blankets, usually top sheet and duvets. I’ve been several places there was only a duvet, no top sheet just depends where you are staying.

You won’t usually have a top sheet. Just a bottom sheet (over a mattress protector) and a duvet. The duvet cover is regularly laundered as if it were a sheet. I mention this because I’ve heard Americans moaning about lack of hygiene, as if they’ve been forced to sleep with a bedspread next to their skin.

Some hotels offer blankets if you ask for them.

Duvets are the norm. At this time of year, you won’t need a blanket, but most places will have them if you ask.

Beds are medium firmness - nowhere near as hard as those in, say Portugal.

This isn't quite what you asked ... but the thing that I find most difficult about hotels in the UK are the bathrooms. There are no electrical outlets in the bathrooms, so it is very awkward to dry and style your hair, etc. Be sure to bring an American or multinational power strip (or two) and several UK plug adapters (for use outside the bathroom).

I don't like the lack of top sheets that also often happens in hotels in the US because duvets may be too warm. When I have room(especially when traveling by car in the US) I take my own(green so I'm less likely to leave it).

Good explanation, emma! I'm used to the hairdrying-in-the-bedroom thing by now but it was odd at first.

I've also become used to hotels providing only a duvet and no top sheet. All too often that leaves me a choice of sleeping with no top cover at all, which isn't ideal as it's a little chilly, or being smothered and overheated under a too-heavy covering (the duvet). Twice during one strip, I stripped off the bottom sheet, replaced it with the duvet, and slept on the duvet, with the former bottom sheet on top of me.

If sleeping under the duvet is too hot, can't you just remove it from the cover and then use the latter as a top sheet?

Nick beat me to it! Yes, simply remove the duvet from the cover and use the cover as a top sheet.

Thank you all for your comments on beds and bedding in England! Here's the context of my question, because I may do something similar or bring my own (and leave them at the end...) We've been to Europe several times and recently on a Christmas trip to Germany, I found the duvets to be too warm, but sometimes the only option offered. We have also stripped the covers off and used them as sheets but that was not warm enough. We also found the beds to be uncomfortably firm/hard, at least for my body. We had a rental car and we fortunately found a Danish Bedding Shop in one of the first towns. Since we were on a lengthy trip I invested in a cushy dog pad that allowed me to have extra cushion from my shoulders to below my hips. It rolled up with its own ties and I used it as needed. We also bought a couple inexpensive velour type twin blankets that we used when the duvets were too warm. They were both sleep-savers! Then at the airport hotel I asked if I could leave them in our hotel room with a "Free" note for the maids. They thought that was nice of me and so that was no problem. It may sound funny, but I have a cheap dog bed ready to bring with me! That was why I wondered how England beds compare to Europe beds. (Do you think England hotel beds are more like USA beds?) Yes it would take up some room initially but I could leave it there and probably appreciate that extra room for England purchases. Thought
I'd offer my creative solutions to fellow travelers (if you're already renting a car...)

I think one reason a lot of American travellers find the bedding too warm in the UK is that the room is too warm. Not all that many hotels have air conditioning and the general British practice is to sleep with the window open (I think as a nation we are very fond of fresh air).

But Americans whose posts I’ve read here and elsewhere seem reluctant to do that, either because of noise or fear of “bugs” or similar.

So again, a cultural difference.

Hurl the window open, even on a chilly night, and enjoying snuggling under a duvet: bliss.

“The trick to cool down if you feel too hot under a duvet is to stick your leg out.”

Exactly, works every time.

The trick to cool down if you feel too hot under a duvet is to stick your leg out.
It might seem ridiculous but it really does help to cool you down and you can then tuck it back in when you are cool enough.

I agree. Sharing a bed with my wife who feels the cold more than me the only compromise I can make is to sleep with my feet sticking out of the covers. I've actually been doing this for as long as I remember, certainly before I met my wife, I just don't like having warm feet which probably explains why I prefer to wear shorts and therefore eschew the need for socks.

I find the major hotel chains in the UK have a similar bed comfort to the US. On the continent I find the mattresses firmer and duvets thinner (with the exception of the Major chains who ensure that their bedding is the same the world over).

How interesting that people assume that I don't know about sticking my feet out from under the covers to cool off in the night, or how to open a bedroom window. Of course I do. It was when the room (with no openable window) was too warm for the uncovered feet thing to suffice, that I did the switcheroo with the duvet and sheet. BTW I don't find it to be a snap to remove a duvet cover, especially in the middle of the night. :-) Anyway, that bed's comfort was improved by having the bit of cushioning from the duvet under me.

When we were in London at a Premier Inn, I was too warm with the heavy comforter and no top sheet. I merely called the desk and requested another sheet. I have been known to use one of the towels as a light blanket. (I'm small.) In many of the countries we've visited, I have faced this same thing. When I've asked for another sheet, most hotels have provided me with one.

You won’t usually have a top sheet. Just a bottom sheet (over a
mattress protector) and a duvet. The duvet cover is regularly
laundered as if it were a sheet. I mention this because I’ve heard
Americans moaning about lack of hygiene, as if they’ve been forced to
sleep with a bedspread next to their skin.

Those who "moan" about a "lack of hygiene" are people to avoid while traveling! LOL

When I lived in Germany, my bed had a bottom sheet and a down comforter. I loved it so much that our queen-sized bed at home has exactly that -- a bottom sheet and a down comforter whose comforter cover we change weekly along with the bottom sheet and pillow cases. Those who complain are 100% clueless.

I think one reason a lot of American travellers find the bedding too
warm in the UK is that the room is too warm. Not all that many hotels
have air conditioning and the general British practice is to sleep
with the window open (I think as a nation we are very fond of fresh
air).

We travel overseas in the off season so it's never too warm. We also sleep with the windows open for 3 seasons except summer when it is too hot. Then the A/C is obviously necessary.

We've been to Europe several times and recently on a Christmas trip to
Germany....We also found the beds to be uncomfortably firm/hard, at
least for my body.

That isn't an issue of German travel. Hard beds are a problem for US domestic travel too and I prefer a firm mattress.

This point about the lack of plugs in the bathroom comes up regularly
on the forum and there is an easy solution, you dry your hair in the
bedroom. :-)

This is where you will find a mirror and plug sockets. I think some of
the confusion around this is because many visitors think a hotel room
has a desk whilst British hotel users see a dressing table. The hair
dryer can often be found in the drawer of the desk/dressing table.

It’s one of those cultural differences. For me drying my hair in a
bathroom would be really unpleasant, damp, steamy, no where
comfortable to sit. A comfy seat in front of a bedroom mirror every
time!

This is definitely a cultural difference & I love drying my hair sitting down which I do when I'm overseas.

I often find that there is a socket in the bathroom for electric shavers and I've never understood how they can be safe in a 220V situation.

As an aside, to eliminate the steamy mirror problem in the bathroom when blowdrying my hair at home if I am in a rush, I blowdry the mirror for a few seconds and the mirror clears instantly. Otherwise, I blowdry my hair about 15-30 minutes after showering. The steam is long gone.

The shaver sockets in British bathrooms contain a transformer, so there is a limit to the current which can be drawn, and so the risk of electrocution is reduced. I think these shaver sockets have used the same transformers for at least 50 years. They invariably have both 230v and 110v outlets, to suit North American travellers before the days of dual voltage appliances.

To add to Bob's post, the reason there are no mains (13amp) power sockets in bathrooms is because UK electrical regulations stipulate that they must be at least 3 metres from a water source and most of our bathrooms aren't that big.

Here's an account of what can happen.

https://www.foxnews.com/world/russian-online-poker-star-killed-in-freak-hair-dryer-accident-at-home

You don't have to be an online poker player, or Russian, and just because it is in Fox News doesn't mean it can't be true. Don't forget that in much of the world, including all of Europe, the supply voltage is twice that in North America,

I like Cala’s idea of taking along a flat sheet — in a color — to make things more comfortable if necessary!