Remember that 90% of British B&B's are very, very poor. There is a good reason why the budget hotel chains (Travelodge, Premier Inn, Ibis, Holiday Inn Express) have been growing at phenomenal rates in the last 4-5 years - they are finally providing a sensibly priced alternative.

Don't be confused by B&B's in the US, which are generally very expensive and very upmarket and in many case preferable to hotels. In general - with a few honourable exceptions - you only stay in a B&B in the UK if you are too poor to afford a hotel.