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          • Sleepeezee mattress reviews, awards, discounts and buying guide 2020 and 2021
          • Sleepeezee Mayfair 3200 Pocket Spring Mattress
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      • 5 best mattresses for side sleepers 2020 and 2021
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  • Best Beds
    • Divan base or bedstead - which is best?
    • Day beds, sofa beds and guest beds >
      • 5 best sofa beds 2020 and 2021
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    • Adjustable beds, TV beds, headboards >
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  • Retailers
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The Best Mattresses Guide

Simple advice on the UK’s best mattresses and beds

This site uses cookies - see our privacy policy. Ads & links in bold may give us a small payment from the seller, at no cost to the buyer. However, this never affects our views - if we like it, we recommend it.

5 Best Guest Beds 2020 and 2021

A guest bed is a general name for any bed which can be dragged out when Aunt Maude unexpectedly appears with a suitcase at 9pm on a Friday night.

Guest beds come in various shapes and sizes, but your four main options are:
​
  1. A folding bed - a bit too lightweight for regular use but fine for occasional use. These can be put away altogether once you're finished with them. Also known as Z-beds.​
  2. A sofa bed/futon - primarily a sofa but fine for occasionally sleeping on. If it's called a 'sofa bed' then the mattress is usually hidden underneath. If it's called a 'futon' than you usually sleep on the cushions.  My rule of thumb is that a sofa bed or futon is a good choice if you're sitting on it 90% of the time and sleeping on it 10% of the time. 
  3. A day bed - primarily a single sized bed but it has a back to it so it looks a bit like a sofa. Fine for sleeping on every night.
  4. A trundle bed - a single bed with guest bed which rolls out underneath. Some sit side by side to make something close to a king size bed whilst others are at different heights. Fine for regular use.

1. Jay-Be Jubilee Folding Guest Bed - £111/£174

Using folding beds as guest beds doesn't seem to be as popular as it was in my day, but it's still an option worth considering. During my childhood, visits to my grandparents involved my older brother being given the single bed and me being given the 'Z-bed' which had a mattress which was about the same thickness as a slice of bread.

Thankfully, things have moved on a bit so you won't have to experience my anguish. The main advantage is that you get your room back once the relatives have left but I'd say folding beds are best for occasional use.

The main brand is Jay-Be which has the added credibility of a Manufacturing Guild Mark which is only given out to a small selection of brands. We've picked out this Jubilee folding guest bed which has got sprung slats which give a fairly bouncy feeling.

It is mid-priced in the Jay-Be range (see our folding beds guide for more details on the differences between the different Jay-Be beds).

You can either buy it as a small single sized guest bed or a small double sized guest bed (also known as a queen size bed). From what I can tell, the mattress is 10cm thick which is similar to one of those sofa beds where the mattress disappears underneath the cushions. As a rough guide, most standard mattresses are 20-30cm deep.
Jay be folding guest bed
A folding guest bed is useful for neatly hiding away once your visitors have left
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Jay-Be Jubilee Folding Guest Bed

2. John Lewis & Partners Morgan Trundle Guest Bed - £550 (including mattresses)

Some people looking for a guest bed decide that a 'trundle bed' is the best option for them. Trundle beds are particularly popular with grandparents who are shopping after being put on overnight duties with two grandchildren. You get two similar looking beds (which avoids siblings arguing) and you can hide one away most of the time so your spare room isn't forever cluttered.

This particular Morgan trundle guest bed is made by John Lewis & Partners. It's pricier than some trundle guest beds because it's made from oak which is a hardwood whereas most cheaper trundle guest beds are made with pine which is softer and less durable. 

This guest bed has solid rather than sprung slats. Solid slats feel a bit less bouncy than sprung slats and are usually a cheaper option than sprung slats.

It comes with two mattresses which is a good option if you want a hassle free buying experience but it's worth realising that they are 'open coil' mattresses which are described as being for 'occasional' use. 

Any mattress seller will correctly tell you that 'pocket spring' mattresses are far superior to 'open coil' models which are wobblier and less supportive. However, if you're only using them for a few days at a time and they are mostly being used by children then they should do the job. 
John Lewis Morgan Trundle Guest Bed
This guest bed with a trundle is made from oak which is a harder wood than most beds
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Morgan Trundle Guest Bed

3. Birlea Snug Guest Bed/Birlea Aurora Guest Bed - £279/£139

A popular option for a guest bed is to go for a sofa bed. It gives you something you can use all year round and the better ones make for a reasonably comfy bed when guests turn up.

We've picked out these two budget sofa beds which are made by a company called Birlea which scores about 4/5 as a brand on TrustPilot. 

The Birlea Snug Sofa Bed is the pricier of the two but you get a thicker cushion/mattress with that one, so it's better if you'd like your guests to stay a bit longer. The Birlea Aurora Sofa Bed is half the price so it's a cheap guest bed and scores 4.1/5 on Amazon.
​
Once you lay them flat they are similar to a single mattress size (10cm wider and shorter). They are a type of single guest bed called a 'click clack' sofa bed which means that the bit you sit against flattens down.

Happy Beds offer a 5 year guarantee on the Aurora sofa bed or Snug sofa bed, whilst most cheap guest beds just come with a year's warranty.  
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Birlea Snug Guest Bed
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Birlea Aurora Guest Bed
Birlea snug guest bed
The Birlea Snug guest bed starts as a sofa and goes flat to make a single bed (ish)
Birlea Aurora guest bed
The Birlea Aurora guest bed is about half the price of the Birlea Snug but the cushion is thinner.

4. Schubert Guest Bed at Wayfair - £339 (mattresses not included)

Another option for a guest bed is a day bed, which tends to be more comfortable to sleep on than a sofa bed. The downside is that they don't look a lot like a sofa so they are usually put into spare rooms rather than lounges.

The big advantage with most day beds is that you can use standard size mattresses, which means they're nice to sleep on and don't need funny sized bedding. You can also choose the type of mattress you want and upgrade to a really high quality mattress if you find you're using it a lot (see our guide to the 10 best mattresses).

Even better, this Schubert Day Bed from Wayfair actually offers space for two standard sized mattresses as there's a second one hidden underneath on a trundle. The second bed doesn't have its own legs so you can't use it as a king size bed unfortunately. The lower mattress also needs to be a lot thinner than the top mattress. If you choose the mattress which comes bundled with it, then it's a 12cm deep memory foam mattress which is about half the depth of a standard mattress.

The mattresses sit on sprung slats which gives a bed a bit of a bouncy feeling compared to solid slats.

It didn't have many reviews when we checked but it was getting a decent score of 4.1/5. 
Brayden Studio schubert day bed
This Schubert day bed does a good impression of a sofa...
Schubert day bed with trundle
...and it has another mattress hidden underneath
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Schubert Guest Bed

5. House by John Lewis Oliver Guest bed - £1299 (including mattress)

Finally, a more expensive option for a guest bed is a high quality sofa bed which hides the mattress underneath. 

The obvious advantage is that it actually looks like a sofa and you wouldn't even know there's a mattress there. With a futon or day bed it's more obvious.

The downside is that a good quality folding sofa bed is quite expensive and the mattresses are quite thin (usually about 10cm). You can use them for a few nights but heavier people tend to find them a bit less comfy after a while.

We've picked out this House by John Lewis Oliver Guest Bed which comes in loads of different colours so you've got a good chance of matching it with your lounge.

Once opened up it's as wide as a double mattress though not quite as long. The mattress has the big advantage of using pocket springs whereas cheaper options use 'open coil' mattresses. The mattress is supported by slats and it's got a hardwood frame whilst some sofa beds are not as sturdy as they use a soft wood such as pine. The frame's got a 15 year guarantee and it's made in the UK.
John Lewis Oliver sofa bed
You can choose from more than 200 colours with this sofa...
Mattress on John Lewis Oliver sofa bed
...which transforms into a guest bed with a pocket sprung mattress
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John Lewis Oliver Guest Bed

Related Guides From The Best Mattresses Guide

Mattress with sheets and pillows

10 of the best mattress retailers

Where to start your search for good quality beds and mattresses in the UK​
Tufted pocket sprung mattress

10 of the best mattresses of 2020/2021

10 mattresses which have won awards and rave reviews 
Teddy bear on a quilted mattress

Best places to buy cheap mattresses

Where to shop for a mattress on a budget of £500, £200 or £100

Buying advice

Beginners' guide
​
Best retailers
Cheap retailers
Divan or bedstead?
​
How to choose a mattress
​John Lewis mattresses
​Memory foam or springs?

Best mattresses

Top 10 mattresses
Arthritis
Back sleepers​
Bed in a box
Best for bad backs
​Cheap mattresses
Cheap memory foam
​Emperor mattresses
​Best firm mattresses
Mattresses with free trials
​
Front sleepers
​Best for heavy people
​Hybrid mattresses
​Kids mattresses
​King size mattresses
Best latex mattresses
Medium firm mattresses
Top 5 memory foam
​Pillow top mattresses
Pocket sprung mattresses
​
Queen size mattresses
​Side sleepers
​
Single divans
​Single mattresses
​
Single memory foam
​Small double mattresses
​Small single mattresses
Best soft mattresses
​
Split tension mattresses
Super king size mattresses
Wool mattresses
Zip link mattresses


Other guides

​Adjustable beds
Air beds
​Best bedding
Bedspreads
Blankets/throws
​Bunk beds
​Bunk bed with desk
Best carpets
Chair beds
​Cheap beds
Cot bed mattresses
​Day beds
​
Divan beds
Double beds
Double bunk beds
Double storage beds
Duvets
​Electric blankets
​Fitted sheets
Folding beds
Guest beds
Headboards
Mattress protectors
​Metal beds
Ottoman beds
Pillows
​Silk pillowcases
Silk pyjamas
​
Sleigh beds
​5 best sofa beds
Best toppers
Trundle beds
TV beds
Weighted blankets
White beds
​Wooden beds
​
​




Brands

Brook + Wilde
​Casper
Dormeo
Dunlopillo
Emma
Ergoflex
Eve
Hypnos
Nectar
OTTY
Rest Assured
REM-Fit
Sealy
Silentnight
Simba
Sleepeezee
Tempur
Vispring

About

Disclaimer
Privacy policy
​Advice for plagiarists
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While we endeavour to keep the information on this website up to date and correct, we make no representations or warranties of any kind, express or implied, about the completeness, accuracy, reliability, suitability or availability with respect to the information, products, services, or related graphics contained on the website for any purpose - please see our disclaimer for more details. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. 
© COPYRIGHT 2021. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
  • Home
  • Mattress advice
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    • Best Mattresses beginners guide
    • Memory foam v pocket spring mattresses - which is best?
    • 6 tips for buying the best pocket spring mattress
    • 5 tips for buying the best memory foam mattress
    • The 5 questions you need to answer before buying a bed
    • Is an orthopedic mattress the best for a bad back?
  • Best mattresses
    • 10 best mattresses 2020 and 2021
    • By type >
      • 6 best pocket sprung mattresses 2020 and 2021
      • 5 best natural mattresses 2020 and 2021
      • 5 best wool mattresses 2020 and 2021
      • 6 best memory foam mattresses 2020 and 2021
      • 5 best latex mattresses 2020 and 2021
      • 5 best bed in a box 2020 and 2021
      • 5 best hybrid mattresses 2020 and 2021
      • 5 best pillow top mattresses 2020 and 2021
    • By brand >
      • By brand - A to E >
        • Brook + Wilde Lux Mattress
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        • Emma mattresses >
          • Emma Mattress/Emma Original
          • Emma Hybrid Mattress
        • Ergoflex Mattress
        • Eve Sleep mattresses >
          • Eve Mattress/Eve Original
          • Eve Hybrid Mattresses
      • By brand - F to R >
        • Hypnos mattresses >
          • The Premier Inn Hypnos Mattress
          • 5 best Hypnos mattresses 2020 and 2021
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        • REM-Fit >
          • REM Fit mattresses
          • REM Fit 400 mattress
        • Rollo by Slumberland mattresses
      • By brand - S to Z >
        • 5 best Sealy mattresses 2020 and 2021
        • 5 best Silentnight mattresses 2020 and 2021
        • Simba Sleep mattresses >
          • Simba Hybrid Mattress
          • Simba Hybrid Pro Mattress
        • Sleepeezee >
          • Sleepeezee mattress reviews, awards, discounts and buying guide 2020 and 2021
          • Sleepeezee Mayfair 3200 Pocket Spring Mattress
        • Tempur mattresses
        • 5 best Vispring mattresses 2020 and 2021
    • Specialist mattresses >
      • 10 best cot mattresses for baby's beds 2020 and 2021
      • 5 best kids mattresses 2020 and 2021
      • 7 mattresses for heavy people 2020 and 2021
      • 6 best couples beds and mattresses 2020 and 2021
      • Best mattresses for back pain and bad backs 2020 and 2021
      • Best mattresses for arthritis 2020 and 2021
    • By firmness >
      • 5 best soft mattresses 2020 and 2021
      • 5 best medium firm mattresses 2020 and 2021
      • 5 best firm mattresses 2020 and 2021
      • 5 best orthopedic/orthopaedic mattresses 2020 and 2021
      • 5 best split tension and dual firmness mattresses 2020 and 2021
    • By size >
      • Single beds and mattresses >
        • 5 best single beds and single mattresses 2020 and 2021
        • 6 best single memory foam mattresses 2020 and 2021
        • 5 best small single mattresses 2020 and 2021
      • Double, small double, queen beds and mattresses >
        • 5 best double beds 2020 and 2021
        • 5 best small double mattresses 2020 and 2021
        • 5 best queen size beds and queen mattresses 2020 and 2021
      • King, super king, emperor, zip-link beds and mattresses >
        • 5 best king size beds 2020 and 2021
        • 5 best super king size beds 2020 and 2021
        • 5 best zip link beds and mattresses 2020 and 2021
        • 6 best emperor mattresses, beds, bedsteads and divans 2020 and 2021
    • By price >
      • 6 best cheap mattresses under £200 2020 and 2021
      • 5 best cheap beds 2020 and 2021
      • 6 best mattresses with a free trial 2020 and 2021
      • 5 cheap memory foam mattresses 2020 and 2021
    • By sleeping position >
      • 5 best mattresses for side sleepers 2020 and 2021
      • 5 best mattresses for front and stomach sleepers 2020 and 2021
      • 5 best mattresses for back sleepers 2020 and 2021
  • Best Beds
    • Divan base or bedstead - which is best?
    • Day beds, sofa beds and guest beds >
      • 5 best sofa beds 2020 and 2021
      • 5 best air beds 2020 and 2021
      • 5 best day beds 2020 and 2021
      • 5 best guest beds 2020 and 2021
      • 5 best trundle beds 2020 and 2021
      • 5 best chair beds and single sofa beds 2020 and 2021
      • 5 best folding beds 2020 and 2021
    • Divan beds >
      • 5 best divan beds 2020 and 2021
      • 5 best single divan beds 2020 and 2021
    • Bunk beds >
      • 5 best bunk beds with desks 2020 and 2021
      • 6 best bunk beds 2020 and 2021
      • 5 best double bunk beds 2020 and 2021
    • Wooden, metal and fabric bedframes >
      • 5 best leather beds 2020 and 2021
      • 5 best metal beds 2020 and 2021
      • 5 best sleigh beds 2020 and 2021
      • 5 best white beds 2020 and 2021
      • 5 best white single beds 2020 and 2021
      • 5 best wooden beds 2020 and 2021
    • Storage beds >
      • 6 of the best ottoman beds and storage beds 2020 and 2021
      • 5 best single beds with storage and single ottoman beds 2020 and 2021
      • 5 best double ottoman beds and double beds with storage 2020 and 2021
    • Adjustable beds, TV beds, headboards >
      • 6 best adjustable beds 2020 and 2021
      • 5 best TV beds 2020 and 2021
      • 5 best cheap headboards 2020 and 2021
  • Duvets, pillows & bedding
    • Duvets and blankets >
      • 5 best duvets for summer and winter 2020 and 2021
      • 5 best electric blankets and heated blankets 2020 and 2021
      • 5 best weighted blankets 2020 and 2021
      • 5 best bedspreads 2020 and 2021
      • 5 best blankets and throws 2020 and 2021
      • 5 best wool blankets and wool throws 2020 and 2021
    • Pillows and pillowcases >
      • 5 best pillows 2020 and 2021
      • 6 best silk pillowcases 2020 and 2021
    • Bedding, sheets and toppers >
      • 5 of the best bedding sets 2020 and 2021
      • 5 of the best fitted sheets 2020 and 2021
      • 5 of the best mattress protectors 2020 and 2021
      • Which are the best mattress toppers?
    • Other guides >
      • 6 best silk pyjamas 2020 and 2021
      • Which is the best type of carpet material?
  • Retailers
    • 10 best places to buy cheap mattresses and divan beds under £500, £200 or £100
    • 10 of the best mattress retailers online 2020 and 2021
    • Buying a John Lewis & Partners mattress - 5 top tips for 2020 and 2021
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