Looking for B&Bs in Bath, Cardiff, Chipping Campden, York, Durham, and Winchester

I can't help much with the parking thing since I was using my feet and public transportation, but I will comment on it anyway. You'd need to verify how parking would work and the room prices for the time you will be going. I was traveling solo, so my costs were at the bottom end of your range, maybe a little lower. They don't cut single travelers much slack.

Here's where I stayed in some of those locations last month.

Bath: The Kennard. Good location. Easy walk to the city center. My room was great, as was the breakfast. Best coffee of anyplace I stayed. It's a residential area and very quiet. The street parking may be controlled by permit.

Moreton-in-Marsh: The Bell Inn. Right downtown and close to the train. That's important if you plan to take the Secret Cottage tour. Good breakfast and other food. It is a pub and there was music one night, but in general it was very quiet. Supposedly the inspiration for the Prancing Pony in the Lord of the Rings. Lots of parking on the street out front.

York: Gillygate Guest House. Easy walking distance to York Minster, the Shambles, Betty's and just about any place you might want to go. There seemed to be some lots behind some buildings.

Winchester: The King Alfred. Another pub with a good breakfast and other food. Easy walk to downtown and to the Cathedral. Quiet residential location but street parking in front of the pub.

I recommend Cranleigh B&B in Bath, a Victorian house with spacious rooms and delicious food. Owners were lovely and helpful with information about things to do there. We stayed for 2 nights in Dec. 2013. I would definitely stay there again.

I still have their phone in my contacts: 44 (0) 1225-310197.

CARDIFF - I would advise against The Big Sleep. Noisy road on one side and busy railways on the east and southern sides. Not sure how much of this noise gets inside.

Dexby Townhouse has had excellent reviews in recent times on TripAdvisor. (Always Google TripAdvisor & the name of any place where you plan to stay as well as try to locate on Google Earth). It is run by the mother of singer Charlotte Church. It is located on Cathedral Road which and about 1 mile NW of the Castle and city centre. The road can be busy but the hotel is set back a little way. You can park on this section of Cathedral Road but the slots are nearly always taken. Check if parking is on the property with access from the back lane. You can also find people park in the back lane - just make sure that nothing of value is left in the car if doing this. Alternatively, search local streets for parking but note that you are not allowed to park in slots reserved for residents. (It is a well thought of area). You can walk from the hotel to Cardiff Castle in about 25 minutes - turn left into Sophia Close and keep walking towards the river - cross footbridge & turn right into Bute Park. This is much nicer than walking along busy roads. Buses also stop nearby. By Bute Park, you will see a pontoon from which ferries depart to Cardiff Bay. If going by Cardiff Bus - a £3.60 Day to Go ticket will enable you to get from Cathedral Road to Westgate Street where you can switch to a number 6 for the Bay at no extra cost. (Day to Go does not apply to other bus companies).

Should you stay at Dexby Townhouse, note that if you follow Cathedral Road outbound - that is right if looking from the front of the hotel - keep following this road for about 3 miles - going straight ahead at every junction - you will reach the countryside. On reaching St.Fagans- branch left - down the hill - & right before level crossing - into St.Fagans Castle car park.

Looking for… for B&Bs close to city centre in... Durham.

You do know that the Lumley Castle Hotel is several miles away in Chester-le-Street?

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/06/08/travel/lost-in-time-in-englands-northeast.html

In Bath, the Parade Park is right in the heart of town. Haven't stayed there for a while so no recent experience. Brooks Guest House is a little farther out but it's still easy to walk to the city center and is not a bad place to stay at all. I understand a lot of the RS tours stay there so you might have difficulty getting a booking but it is worth a try.

TC is right, RS tours use Brooks Guest House. It is more a small hotel than B&B but was very nice with very helpful reception staff. It is an easy walk in to the city center. In 2013 I also stayed at the Kennard which was great. It had different owners then and I am glad to know Lo enjoyed it recently! It is slightly closer to the city center. I did not have a car but my ~guess~ is that parking would be easier at Brooks than Kennard.

Also something to be aware of - in Bath many hotels/B&Bs have a minimum stay of 2 nights on a weekend and their rates go up to reflect the increased business. If you are wanting to save money plan to go on a week night.

YORK - We stayed at the Abbey Guest House, 14 Earlsborough Terrace in 2014. Very nice, a short walk from the train station, a couple of minutes walk to the city center, and right on the Ouze River. A couple of years before that we stayed at the Raphael Guest House, 44 Queens Annes Road. Again very nice, a little further from the train station (but a short cab ride), easy walk to city center, and a great breakfast.

We also liked the Abbey Guest House in York, for the riverside location and easy walk to the center. They have just one or two parking spaces for guests, but there's a large pay car park right behind the place.