Revealed: the best English county to stay in
If you're in the market for a weekend break, these are the best counties in England
Berkshire is the best county in England for eating, drinking and sleeping, according to new data from hospitality experts AA and Visit England.
The data, which ranked regions based on the average AA-ratings for B&Bs, hotels, campsites and restaurants respectively, puts Berkshire on top thanks to its exceptional restaurants, 5-star hotels and excellent attractions.
Out of a total of 47 English counties, Berkshire was named the fourth best place to visit for restaurants, fifth for hotels, 12th for B&Bs and 15th for campsites, making it the overall winner.
The southeast county is home to Heston Blumenthal’s prestigious five-AA-rosette restaurant The Fat Duck, 5-star hotel Cliveden House and 5-star B&B, Hurley House. The region also boasts major attractions and landmarks such as Windsor Castle, Legoland, Ascot races and Highclere Castle – the location where Downton Abbey was filmed.
Surrey and Staffordshire came joint second, thanks to high ratings across all four categories. Surrey was also listed as the best destination for restaurants, with popular foodie favourites such as Stovell’s in Chobham, The Clock House in Ripley and The Latymer in Bagshot.
The East Anglian county of Suffolk scored the top spot for best B&Bs thanks to the likes of Lavenham Great House, The Auberge and Long Melford Swan – all described as ‘restaurants with rooms’.
Unsurprisingly, London came out top for the best hotels in the country. The capital is home to some of the best and most famous hotels in the world, including The Savoy, The Renaissance St Pancras and The Ritz.
If you’re a keen camper, it seems Bedfordshire is the place to go, as the county has the best average ratings across all its many campsites. The county’s best camping spots include Top End Farm, Henlow Bridge Lakes and Rookery Caravan Park.
Top 15 destinations for hospitality, according to the AA and Visit England:
1. Berkshire
2. Surrey & Staffordshire
3. Bedfordshire
4. Northamptonshire
5. Nottinghamshire & Shropshire
6. Buckinghamshire & Cheshire
7. West Sussex
8. County Durham & North Yorkshire
9. Herefordshire
10. Greater London & Hertfordshire