Signs for B&Bs, Guest Houses and Holiday Lets: A Practical Checklist
Good signs quietly answer the questions guests would otherwise have to ask: am I in the right place, where do I park, which room is mine, where's the loo? Get them right and guests settle in faster, and you spend less time giving directions. Here's a practical checklist, following a guest from arrival to checkout.
Arriving: helping guests find you
The first sign matters most, especially when guests arrive tired, after dark or in the rain.
- A clear property name sign, readable from the road or the drive. Our holiday let sign comes as an exterior wall sign or a freestanding indoor plaque, and our house signs come in larger sizes for gateposts. Our house sign guide explains how big to go.
- Parking signs if spaces aren't obvious, such as "Guest Parking" or "Residents Only". A personalised outdoor sign can say whatever you need.
- An entrance or reception sign if there's more than one door. Businesses often add their logo with an entrance plaque, and a freestanding counter sign works well on a reception desk.
Inside: helping guests find their way
- Room numbers or names on every guest door. Branded room number signs carry your logo; door name plates suit named rooms.
- Directional signs on landings and corridors, wherever someone might hesitate. Our directional signs are made to match.
- Toilet and bathroom signs for any shared facilities. See our toilet signs, and our toilet sign FAQs if you're wondering whether it should say Toilet, WC or Bathroom.
- "Private" signs for owners' quarters, staff areas and cupboards. A polite Private door sign saves awkward wrong turns.
House rules and information
- No smoking. A small freestanding No Smoking sign on a bedside table or welcome tray makes the point without a plastic notice on the wall.
- Polite notices for the things guests need to know: "Please remove boots", "Hot tub rules", "Bins collected Tuesday". Our notice signs take your own wording.
- Wi-Fi and QR code signs for passwords, guidebooks or reviews. We make these to order, so tell us what you need.
Keys and welcome touches
- Key fobs that are hard to lose and easy to identify. Logo key fobs carry your branding, and personalised keyrings can be engraved with a room name or number. Our article on wooden keyrings for hotels and holiday lets explains the choices.
- A welcome label on your hamper or welcome pack, like our wooden hamper label. For ideas on what to put inside, see what makes a great holiday let welcome pack.
Quick checklist by property type
| Sign | Holiday let | B&B | Guest house / small hotel |
|---|---|---|---|
| Property name | Essential | Essential | Essential |
| Parking | If not obvious | If not obvious | Usually |
| Entrance / reception | – | If more than one door | Essential |
| Room numbers or names | – | Essential | Essential |
| Directional signs | – | Helpful | Essential |
| Toilet signs | – | Shared bathrooms | Public areas |
| Private / staff only | Owner's store | Essential | Essential |
| No smoking | Your choice | Required (see below) | Required (see below) |
| Wi-Fi / house notices | Helpful | Helpful | Helpful |
| Key fobs | Essential | Essential | Essential |
What the rules say
Do I have to display a no-smoking sign?
In England, hotels, guest houses and B&Bs must be smoke-free in enclosed shared areas and display at least one legible no-smoking sign. Since 2012 there's no required size or position, as long as guests and staff can see it. Self-contained holiday lets (cottages, flats and caravans) don't have to be smoke-free, so whether you allow smoking, and whether you put up a sign, is your choice. Rules differ slightly in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Do I need fire exit signs?
Often not. Government guidance for small paying-guest accommodation says that where escape routes are obvious and in daily use, fire exit signs aren't normally needed. If a route or exit isn't obvious, you'll need proper fire safety signs, the standard green "running man" kind. These are safety signs, so don't replace them with decorative ones. You should also give guests clear fire information on arrival, such as a fire action notice. Our fire safety guide for holiday lets has more detail.
This is general guidance, not legal advice. Your fire risk assessment and local council are the final word for your property.
Making it all match
Signs look best when they feel like a set: the same oak, the same lettering, perhaps your logo. We make every piece in our Devon workshop and send a proof before we cut anything, so a full set of room numbers, directions, toilet signs and key fobs can be made to match. Tell us about your property and we'll put together a quote.
