So was it diet, exercise… or GLP-1? The boom in weight-loss drugs is having a ripple effect, according to spa experts Healing Holidays. “Many people are looking for places that can support their journey, to ensure they’re getting all their nutrients and combating the effects of muscle loss,” says founder Frances Geoghegan, highlighting Lanserhof Sylt, Mount Med Resort and Palazzo Fiuggi, all of which rated highly for their wellness concepts, with the latter two scoring for activities such as hiking. Retreats that offer a sociable mix for single guests are also being embraced, with Kamalaya and Chiva-Som leading the field – both excelling for treatments; and Sha Mexico’s biohacking programme gave it a boost. Healthy scores across all criteria, especially for design and rooms, took Lime Wood, Costa Rica’s The Retreat and Les Sources de Caudalie in France into first place.
These are the best spas in the world, according to the 2025 Readers' Choice Awards. The scores below are percentages representing overall average levels of satisfaction.
The best destination spas in the UK
15. Buxton Crescent, Derbyshire. Score: 71.11
14. The Pig in the Cotswolds, Gloucestershire. Score: 83.33
13. Grantley Hall, Yorkshire. Score: 87.78
12. The Grove, Hertfordshire. Score: 90.00
11. Lucknam Park Hotel & Spa, Wiltshire. Score: 90.37
10. Broughton Sanctuary, Yorkshire. Score: 93.33
9. Gleneagles, Perthshire. Score: 93.89
8. Beaverbrook, Surrey. Score: 94.12
7. The Newt in Somerset. Score: 94.77
6. Ragdale Hall Spa, Leicestershire. Score: 94.88
5. Coworth Park, Berkshire. Score: 95.00
4. Chewton Glen Hotel & Spa, Hampshire. Score: 96.03
3. Cliveden House, Berkshire. Score: 98.89
2. Claridge’s, London. Score: 98.91
1. Lime Wood, Hampshire. Score: 99.02
The best destination spas in Europe
20. Preidlhof Luxury DolceVita Resort, Naturno, Italy. Score: 77.78
19. Marbella Club, Spain. Score: 87.22
18. Hotel Marinedda Thalasso & Spa, Sardinia, Italy. Score: 89.40
17. Six Senses Kaplankaya, Turkey. Score: 89.64
16. Lanserhof Sylt, Germany. Score: 90.63
15. Buchinger Wilhelmi Marbella, Spain. Score: 91.41
14. Palazzo Fiuggi, Italy. Score: 93.33
13. Mount Med Resort, Tirol, Austria. Score: 93.65
12. Brenners Park – Hotel & Spa, Baden-Baden, Germany. Score: 94.16
11. Schloss Elmau, Krün, Germany. Score: 94.97
10. Lefay Resort & Spa Dolomiti, Italy. Score: 95.24
9. Chenot Palace Weggis, Switzerland. Score: 95.56
8. Palace Merano, Italy. Score: 96.00
7. Original Mayr Medical Resort, Maria Wörth, Austria. Score: 96.44
6. Euphoria Retreat, Mystras, Greece. Score: 96.67
5. Mayrlife Medical Health Resort, Altaussee, Austria. Score: 97.13
4. Lanserhof Tegernsee, Waakirchen, Germany. Score: 97.31
3. Lefay Resort & Spa Lago di Garda, Italy. Score: 98.10
2. Sha Spain, Alicante, Spain. Score: 99.37
1. Les Sources de Caudalie, Bordeaux, France. Score: 99.41
The best destination spas in the rest of the world
20. Absolute Sanctuary, Koh Samui, Thailand. Score: 74.44
19. Aro Ha Wellness Retreat, Glenorchy, New Zealand. Score: 75.00
18. Dharana at Shillim, Maharashtra, India. Score: 85.71
17. The Ranch Hudson Valley, New York, USA. Score: 89.99
16. Sha Mexico, Cancún, Mexico. Score: 90.00
15. Kintsugi Space, Abu Dhabi, UAE. Score: 91.76
14. BodyHoliday Saint Lucia. Score: 91.99
13. Six Senses Vana, Dehradun, India. Score: 92.00
12. Zulal Wellness Resort by Chiva-Som, Al Ruwais, Qatar. Score: 92.08
11. RXV Wellness Village, Nakhon Pathom, Thailand. Score: 92.22
10. Fivelements Retreat Bali, Indonesia. Score: 92.31
9. Cap Karoso, Sumba, Indonesia. Score: 92.59
8. Rakxa Integrative Wellness, Bangkok, Thailand. Score: 93.09
7. Chiva-Som Hua Hin, Thailand. Score: 93.97
6. Soneva Jani, Maldives. Score: 94.31
5. Ananda in the Himalayas, Narendra Nagar, India. Score: 95.14
4. Como Shambhala Estate, Bali, Indonesia. Score: 96.16
3. Soneva Fushi, Maldives. Score: 97.42
2. Kamalaya Koh Samui, Thailand. Score: 97.78
1. The Retreat Costa Rica, Atenas, Costa Rica. Score: 99.80