Every year the National Tourist Board inspects more than 11,000 self-catering units. VisitBritain's star ratings will help you choose the accommodation that's right for you. Assessors have been visiting flats, houses, cottages and serviced apartments on your behalf assessing quality, including comfort, space, facilities and most important of all, cleanliness. The quality rating system is easy to use and is based on extensive research. So when you choose a star-rated property you can rest assured that your expectations will be met or even exceeded.

Quite simply, the mora stars, the higher the overall level of quality you can expect to find. Establishments at higher rating levels also have to meet some additional requirements for facilities. All properties have to meet an extensive list of minimum requirements before they can be considered for a star rating. From there, increased levels of quality apply. For instance, you'll find acceptable quality at one star, good to very good quality at three star and exceptional quality at five star.

One star: Acceptable overall level of quality. Adequate provision of furniture, furnishings and fittings.

Two stars: Good overall level of quality. All units self-contained - 2 bathrooms where there are eight or more guests.

Three stars: Good to very good level of quality. Good standard of maintenance and decoration. Ample space and good quality furniture. All double beds with access from both sides. Microwaves.

Four stars: Excellent overall level of quality. Very good care and attention to detail will be obvious throughout. Either access to washing machine and drier, if not provided in the unit, or a 24 hour laundry service.

Five stars: Exceptional overall level of quality. High levels of décor, fixtures and fittings, together with excellent standards of management efficiency and guest services. Excellent range of accessories and personal touches.

Awaiting Inspection:An inspection has been applied for these properties but they have not yet been inspected or graded by Visit Britain.

First ever "Visit Britain" National Award goes to The Coppermines & Lakes Cottages

The Coppermines & Lakes Cottages of Coniston, Cumbria, have just become the first holiday cottage letting company in the U.K. to be awarded Full Agency Quality Accreditation Status by Visit Britain (formerly The English Tourism Council & The British Tourist Authority)
This prestigious National Accreditation Scheme, just introduced, follows the success of the National Quality Assessment Scheme for individual cottages – "the star grading"
It has been introduced to assess the Quality, Service, and Financial Viability of individual letting Agencies.

Philip Johnston – Proprietor of The Coppermines, commented, "For the first time, in the U.K., both cottage owners and those booking British holidays can have the full confidence that the agency looking after them has been independently assessed, and adheres to the national standards of quality, integrity, reliability, and financial viability set by Visit Britain"

Facilities Gradings

Many traditional Lakes cottages have loads of character, fantastic views but sometimes their historic nature makes them smaller that more modern houses.

The Visit Britain Star Grading scheme gives you a very good idea of the quality and space and other attributes of our cottages, but sometimes does not inform you fully about how well equipped the cottage is. We have therefore started a facilities grading scheme to cover such things as the provision of controllable central heating and ensuite facilities.

1 tick: No properties at this level.

2 ticks: No properties at this level.

3 ticks: A good level of electric night storage heating.

4 ticks: Fully controlable oil, gas or electricly fired central heating with hot water radiators to each room.

5 ticks: Fully controlable oil, gas or electricly fired central heating with hot water radiators to each room and additionally en-suite facilities to at least one bedroom together with a house bathroom.