The standard of hotels and B&Bs in the UK has improved every year since 2004 and has now climbed above the global average for the first tine.
According to the latest analysis of reviews posted on TripAdvisor, UK properties scored an average rating of 4.04 out of 5, up from 3.48 in 2004 and above the global average of 4.04.
This means the standards of UK accommodation are rated above those in the US, France, Spain and Germany.
"Far from the shabby rooms and grumpy owners famously depicted by Fawlty Towers, the UK’s hotels and B&Bs are now rated among the very best in Europe," said a TripAdvisor spokesman.
TripAdvisor for Business president Christine Petersen added: "Hotel and B&B owners have, it appears, clearly been listening to the free feedback they have received, and used it to improve the service they provide."
The five counties with the highest average TripAdvisor rating for hotels and B&Bs are:
* Cumbria (4.30)
* Cornwall (4.28)
* Northumberland (4.26)
* Devon (4.24)
* Somerset (4.22)
Overall, UK properties scored particularly highly for customer service and cleanliness.
