Pinpointing the best resorts in the United Kingdom is no easy task. After all, it includes accommodations in England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, which together make up over 94,000 square miles of land. Add Ireland to this list, and there’s an additional 32,000-plus square miles on top of that. Luckily, Travel + Leisure readers are up for the task. This year’s list reflects both timeless grand estates and intimate country‑house escapes that highlight the U.K.’s best assets, including several destinations that once served as homes for nobility.
How Voting Works
Every year for our World’s Best Awards survey, T+L asks readers to weigh in on travel experiences around the globe—to share their opinions on the top hotels, resorts, cities, islands, cruise ships, spas, airlines, and more. Nearly 180,000 T+L readers completed the 2025 survey. A total of more than 657,000 votes were cast across over 8,700 properties (hotels, cities, cruise lines, etc.).
Hotels were classified as either resort hotel, city hotel, inn, or safari lodge based on their location and amenities, and they were specifically rated on the criteria below:
For each characteristic, respondents could choose a rating of excellent, above average, average, below average, or poor. The final scores are averages of these responses.
The exterior of the Gleneagles Hotel.
Murray Orr
What Readers Loved
This year, readers showed an appreciation for spots that married storied heritage and modern indulgence, especially in rural settings far from the bustle of city life. Three of the five resorts are classic Irish castles, each set on manicured grounds, including Dromoland Castle (No. 3), the former home of the Barons of Inchiquin, and Adare Manor (No. 4), the one-time home of the Earls of Dunraven. However, Scotland also received plenty of love, with The Fife Arms securing the No. 5 spot, a destination equally beloved for its championship‑level golf and exquisite spa facilities. But this year, Gleneagles in Scotland outshone them all, rising from No. 5 in 2024 to No. 1 for 2025.
The Winner
Gleneagles: Auchterarder, Scotland
The Royal Lochnagar Suite at the Gleneagles Hotel.
Murray Orr
Gleneagles secured the top spot thanks to its rich history, all-season offerings, and dedication to grandeur. The resort, which opened in 1924, is set on an 850‑acre country estate nestled under the Ochil Hills. The hotel features rooms and suites that feel like you’re having a sleepover in a royal residence thanks to their plush, velvet seating, oversized headboards, roaring fireplaces, and spectacular estate views. Those grounds also include three championship golf courses, a spa, and six restaurants—among them the two-Michelin-starred Andrew Fairlie. “The restaurant options, quality of food, and service were outstanding,” one reader said. “The variety of activities available was extensive.” Another added, “This resort was wonderful—best part was the heated floors in the bathroom! The beds were dreamy, the food was great, and the afternoon tea was exquisite!” Located just an hour from Glasgow and Edinburgh airports and served by its own train station, it helps that Gleneagles is easy to reach.
The beds were dreamy, the food was great, and the afternoon tea was exquisite!
— T+L Reader
The Full List
1. Gleneagles: Auchterarder, Scotland
Reader Score: 95.83
2. Sheen Falls Lodge: County Kerry, Ireland
Reader Score: 95.73
3. Dromoland Castle: County Clare, Ireland
Reader Score: 95.10
4. Adare Manor: County Limerick, Ireland
Reader Score: 95.10
5. The Fife Arms: Braemar, Scotland
Reader Score: 94.35