Can you book B&B rooms thru the local tourist office?

Yes, you still can go to a tourist office and they will book a B&B for you. I haven't done this, I always find my own, but I know that you can.

Rose- I was looking for similar info a while back myself, but could not find consistent answers. I know we have used them in the past in Scotland and if I recall there was a one or one and a half pound fee for them to call around, but it was well worth it for the travel flexibility- just hit town, look for the "i" sign and see what was available. Easy. And, of course they sort of load-balanced all the small businesses in the area as well...

Absolutely. Is that you Rosetta Stone Rose? I usually only book my first night and my last night in advance and rely on TI's the rest of the time. A nice thing about them is that they can book accomodation for you in towns other than thier own. What we like best is that they can try to do deals for you. So if you have a limited budget the TI will ask the host if they would be willing to accept your offer.

Thanks to all of you. I'm in the initial stage of planning a visit to Britain with some friends. We'd like to stay in B&Bs if it's feasible.

Just remember that booking a B&B thru a local tourist office means that they are almost always making a commission on the reservation. They either charge you, or, more likely, charge the B&B. I try to contact B&Bs directly whenever possible, finding them thru the internet or a guide book. happy travels

I know there's a commission but it's sooo handy & means I don't have to plan ahead which, to me, is the best part.