What should I look for in accommodations?

Probably the biggest issues include stairs and air conditioning. Can you carry your luggage up stairs on your own? And usually a room on the first floor is really the second floor.
Air conditioning has become more important in recent years, even in the UK, depending on your season. London has had heat waves.
Many small hotels do not have a 24 hour desk, so check in hours are limited.
And- is breakfast being provided important to you?
Have a great trip!

Also no ice!!

Refrigerators are also more standard in US so if important to you, make sure you specifically look for that.

Also, look carefully at bed configurations to make sure they fit your needs. Two double or queen beds is not standard.

You can expect room sizes to be quite a bit smaller than those that you are used to, especially in London. Bed sizes are also generally smaller than in North America.

the elevator is the "lift". Even if there is a lift it may not go all the way to the top. The button for the ground floor is often marked G or zero, often with a green circle around it. You may need to use your key-card to activate the lift.

a "full English breakfast" usually has eggs, toast, butter/vegan butter, sausage(s), back bacon (not crispy, usually not streaky, sort of similar to Canadian Ham), black pudding (optional), fried half tomatoes, baked beans, mushrooms (sometimes), and traditionally but almost extinct now fried bread.

the front desk is "Reception"

There may be steps to the front door. Often a ramp for access too.

The floor at ground level is usually called the ground floor. Then going up it goes First Floor, Second Floor, etc. What you might consider the basement is often called Lower Ground Floor.

Regarding stairs, many hotels--especially in central London but you can find it anywhere--are in older townhomes or rambling houses/buildings. I love the architecture, but my running joke is that "you have to go up to go down."

This means that in some places, you can take the lift but then have to walk up three steps or down three steps or open a fire door to get to your hall. I don't mind this, but I know that some travelers want to step out of the lift and be where they need to be. Something to keep in mind.

Good luck with your trip planning!

You won’t find a hair dryer where you expect it to be - in the bathroom. Also, no electrical outlets in the bathroom. The hair dryer will be in the room, usually hiding in a drawer or wardrobe.

bed sizes have similar names but are different sizes.

A British King will probably be similar to a US Queen. Expect 160 to 180 cm wide and 200 cm long for a Queen, 200 x 200 for a King, if you are lucky. The names are not set in law.

You will find a lovely tea kettle, cups, spoons, tea, coffee, sugar, milk, and biscuits in your room!!

British electric plug sockets have switches - if you can't see the red tab when you push the switch you haven't switched it on. USB and USB-C sockets on the same plate as a normal plug socket do not need a switch.

In addition to no electrics in the bathroom other than sometimes a shaver point, there will not be a light switch. The light switch and the exhaust fan switch will be outside the bathroom. There may be a cord hanging from the ceiling which may be pull cord for a light switch. If the string is orange and especially if it ends in an orange plastic triangle - that is for an emergency call.

tea, coffee, sugar, milk

no refrigeration, remember, so in most places it will be UHT milk or powdered milk sachets, instant coffee and a variety of tea bags. Posher places may have a Nespresso (or off-brand) machine with a couple of pods.

Great answers I hadn't though of... Something I've noticed when booking in Italy is some hotels charge you TWO nights before arrival (shocked emoji), may not be the same in the UK, but take a very close look at the reservation cancellation fees. I do know that Premier Inn is consistently good quality, many of my English friends stay there, lots of Forum reviews on which are the best ones in London.

Any interest in a university dorm room while the students are on holiday?? I've stayed in a number in Oxford, just a simple room, but OMG the universities are FANTASTIC, prices reasonable and dining rooms are Harry Potter-worthy! https://www.universityrooms.com/en-GB/

My big shock was -- windows function BUT no screens. So open the window but expect a few bugs.

Re biscuits, according to the vlogger Hannah that is not always a given. It seems the nicer the place she books, the less chance of biscuits.

You are unlikely to see a washcloth anywhere in Europe. I've stayed in about 250 European hotels since 2015, and I think I've seen two. It would probably be different if I stayed at Hiktons and Marriotts.

On my current trip I've encountered two chain hotels in France (one budget-level, one moderate) that have decided it's sufficient to have just only one wastebasket, in the bathroom, and an unlined one at that. What am I supposed to do with my banana peel? I don't think I've observed the single-wastebasket phenomenon in the UK, but I wouldn't be surprised to. Cost-reduction strategies tend to spread--like the concept of providing housekeeping service only if it is specifically requested each day. As in the US, that policy varies from hotel to hotel.

Premier Inn now seems to be providing just one hand towel even if a room is booked for two people. At least you get separate bath towels.

The information on this thread is excellent.

The biggest thing is don't assume your room has anything. Check for items you might want...

--size and number of beds; As an example, a single bed is usually a bed for one person. What we might call a twin sized bed.

--air conditioning (It was 86 degrees in London yesterday. I'm glad my hotel has air conditioning.);

--ensuite bathrooms (Yes, there are still some hotels that have shared loos and showers "down the hall.")

--coffee maker (there is usually a kettle with instant coffee, tea, sugar, fake sugar and milk capsules. But some hotels don't even offer this.)

--breakfast included (Not all hotels offer an included breakfast if this is something important to you.)

--location (is it in an area near the sights you'll be visiing or at leas public transportation.

A few things....if you need extra towels just ask. I've never heard of a hotel refusing an extra towel or two.

i carry a small role of trash bags for those times where the hotel rooms don't have them. (I stayed in an aparthotel, where people are cooking, and the trash bins didn't have any liners.)

Agree with the info already provided.

But, just wanted to add that, for the go-to hotel chain that many (me included) regularly use, you need to book direct. www.premierinn.com. Its not fancy, but gets the basics right.

Adding to what others have said about room size and beds, I look at the square footage of the rooms when comparing different hotels, because with such valuable real estate, every square foot makes a difference. We will often select a larger room category within a hotel, which is something I don’t do here in the US. On the other hand, if traveling solo, it’s economical to size down and get only what you need.

Great information already provided. I'm chiming in from the perspective of being both a frequent international traveller and someone who runs a very small B&B in Scotland.

1. If you are booking a smaller establishment (not a chain hotel) then do ask your host if you need clarification on amenities.

2. B&Bs and hotels in rural Scotland are highly unlikely to have air conditioning, for the simple reason that we don't need it. Here in Skye it's usually breezy and that keeps the room as cool as you'd want it.

3. Bug Screens. Most of the UK doesn't need them. Here in the west of Scotland they might actually be useful because of the midges, but if it's a midge day we just keep the windows closed. Hot weather and midges are incompatible anyway so it's never usually a problem.

4. Pillows. I know some people like feather pillows. We offer both but unless feathers are requested we make the beds up with non feather ones. Worth asking your hotel/B&B.

5. Washcloths. We most certainly do provide them. If you're not sure whether the place you book has them, then ask. If they say no then maybe bring one from home in a ziplock bag. I've seen mention of scratchy towels. If you're staying in a nice B&B the towels should be large and fluffy just as you'd expect at home. I usually find the hand towels in US hotels to be too small to use as a hair towel (wrapped around my head). Hand towels in the UK are larger and work as hair towels.

6. Tea/Coffee etc. Pretty much all B&Bs will provide a hospitality tray in the room (or a guest lounge in some places). You can expect there to be a kettle and maybe also a nespresso machine in your room, with tea bags, instant coffee sachets, coffee pods for the machine, sugar, sweetener and some kind of milk. For example, we have in room fridges so provide fresh milk. In a small B&B you might also get treats such as homemade cake, biscuits, chocolates, a local beer or maybe even a tot of whisky! The more contact I have with a guest before they arrive the more I can gauge their likes/dislikes (I often ask then whether they'd like cake on arrival) and make sure they feel at home. If you want ice - then just ask and your B&B host will provide it I'm sure.

7. Lift/elevator. Most B&Bs will not have a lift. But your host will always be happy to carry your bags to your room.

8. There is indeed no hairdryer in the bathroom. This is because UK electricity is 240 volts and that doesn't mix well with water. You'll generally find a plug socket (outlet) near a mirror in the bedroom. There should be a shaving point outlet in the bathroom.

If you book with an international hotel chain then the hotels will be very similar the whole word over - you’ll get an elevator, a fridge and AC etc, although ice machines are virtually unknown here and rooms will be smaller. You’ll only find major differences with smaller hotels.

For older and smaller hotels the toilet/baths may have been added to rooms that were not designed for them. So they may be smaller and with oddities in how they are set up. There may be heated drying racks and towels may be less fluffy than standard US style.

You are traveling to Europe. Things are not the same. Being English is much different than being Scottish.

Little Ice, sometimes no wash cloths, no electrical outlets in bathrooms, more showers than bath tubs. Some toilets have pull chains. Many hotels will have bidets.

Lots of stairs. Bathroom towels only replaced when you ask. They tend to be thin and scratchy as opposed to plush. Instead of having bathroom cabinets behind bathroom mirrors there are often shelves above the toilet. Faucets are different. Instead of a single faucet there are two. One for hot, one for cold.

Hair dryers will not be in the bathroom, they will found elsewhere in the room. Closet, bedside table, etc. and as mentioned there will be no electrical plugs in bathrooms.

Electric kettles are often in rooms.

FOX news is everywhere.

Tipping is not expected but I always leave a £5 note for the hotel staff.

Rooms are often smaller than what you are used to.

I've stayed in literally dozens of accommodations in the UK, hotels, inns, B&B's, guesthouses, pubs, and I still find the thread very helpful in that "I only know what I know" and it's helpful to get a broader perspective, especially from a B&B host.

Duvets instead of top sheet and blanket. I find duvets too warm. So I ask for a top sheet from housekeeping.

And I don't know where vlogger Hannah stays, but I've had biscuits in some very nice UK hotel rooms.

And on our last stay in Edinburgh, the room had a fresh bottle of milk in the fridge replenished by housekeeping every day.

I disagree that you can count on a refrigerator if you stay in an international chain hotel. That has not been my experience. It's not true of all major US chain hotels, either. Sometimes it seems you're more likely to have a fridge in a cheap hotel in the US, but that hasn't been true for me in Europe.

I look at the booking.com listing to see whether there will he a mini-fridge, but some hotels have different qualities of room, with the most basic ones having no fridge.

Which reminds me: Budget properties occasionally have some rooms with a/c and some without. That's something a traveler might overlook in a hotel listing. This is a time when reading a bunch of reviews will be helpful. Folks will usually mention the lack of a/c in their room if they had to deal with a heat wave.

You should be prepared for small bathrooms and especially for small showers. So small you will not be able to bend down if you drop anything. And moving around may upset your water temp when you hit the handle. Anyone obese may have issues.
Showers that do nit stay in place, may fall off the support or only have a handheld.
Also high step up into showers and tubs. Can be dangerous. careful.
More than once I have had a tub only, and only a handheld sprayer. No curtain.

This is such a great thread, with excellent and diverse responses. Especially appreciate skyegirl's comments as she runs lodgings herself!

As we visit both the UK and the EU every summer, I find the UK electric outlets to be an enormous pain, as the adapters to allow US charger plugs, etc. take up so doggone much space in our luggage. The simple EU adapters such as Rick sells on this website are much smaller and easier to pack. And that whole business of having to switch on the outlets before using them? Who cooked up that nonsense?

All this aside, a summer without London and Edinburgh would feel incomplete to me. Love, love, love the UK!

Television is likely to have the 5 most popular channels in HD as follows - 101 = BBC 1; 102 = BBC 2; 103 = ITV; 104 = Channel 4; 105 = Channel 5. If you just selected 1,2,3,4,5 you will see them in Standard Definition - unless someone has swapped them.