1) Pubs. Some pubs offer accommodation. The main down side to lodging in a pub is it can be a bit noisy.  Against this, they are often  relatively cheap places to stay, and you can be sure of a licensed bar and, usually, an evening meal, if you want one.

2) Bed and Breakfast . These vary, from castles and stately homes to modest cottages. This is one of the more economical options (usually) but menu choices may be limited, and there's a good chance they do not offer dinner at all. This can be a problem if you are on foot, miles from the nearest pub/chip shop/restaurant. Alcohol rarely, if ever, available.

A special mention for the Castle Farm Guest House at Fotheringhay, as they deserve it:

3) Hotels. There are many good hotels in England, but they do tend to be expensive; if you have the nerve, haggling can sometimes get you a discount. Best Western  are a good chain. Their hotels include Bestwood Lodge ,  where Richard stayed before Bosworth. The Good Hotel Guide may also help. At the cheaper end of the market, without fringes but excellent value are Travelodge and Premier Travel Inn.

5) Youth Hostelling: A very cheap option, you don't have to be a "youth" but you do need to join the Youth Hostel Association. Booking in advance is usually a good idea. Generally quite basic, in some cases very much so.  If you care to lug a tent around you can also camp in the grounds of many youth hostels. No alcohol sales.

6) Camping and Caravanning . A potentially cheap option.

Travel

Travel in the UK can be frustrating. Driving is probably the easiest way to get to most of the Ricardian sites - non-Brits should note, however, that we drive on the LEFT. You may find this confusing...

Public transport can be fun. As far as the railways are concerned, always book in advance if you can. If you're coming from abroad, get a Brit Rail pass as it will save you a bundle. The price of walk-up fares is a national disgrace, and to be avoided unless you are an eccentric millionaire with no concern for money.

Public transport in London is excellent.

Some cities like York, Chester and Norwich have "park and ride" schemes where you can leave your car at the edges and go in by bus. A good idea, as long as you check when the buses stop running. (They rarely operate in the evenings.)

There are also internal air services and long distance coaches . Again, I advise booking ahead; in fact you might not even be able to get on a coach unless you have. Some of the other major bus companies are Arriva , Stagecoach and First Group .

Local bus services are variable - in some areas a good service has survived. In many rural districts the service is either very limited or non-existent. You will probably find it's easiest and best to ring the local bus company direct and ask Joe in the office whether the 48B still leaves Little Puddlebury at 14-52 on Wednesdays only. The days when bus timetables remained constant for years are long gone. In rural areas, you really cannot afford to miss a bus - unless you particularly enjoy a long walk.

Taxis are readily available in towns, but beware of getting into a bogus one. In country districts and smaller towns you may have to phone the local firm as (despite the impression given by the movies) the chance of hailing one at random is remote. 

Bicycle hire is another way of getting about. Sustrans have a network of traffic free routes which are safe - at least in the sense that you won't run into a car coming the other way.

The Ramblers Association are another source of help.

(Thanks due to Pam Butler for suggesting extra links to this page.)

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