Top 5 Resorts in the U.K. and Ireland: Travel + Leisure Readers’ Picks 2025

Some things never change: Castles have captured our imaginations since childhood, and they continue to do so as adults. Perhaps it’s their vast scale, the intricate design of rooms and passages, or the aura of mystery and hidden history. Regardless, iBestTravel readers have always been enchanted by the castle resorts of the United Kingdom and Ireland.

How Voting Works

Every year for our World’s Best Awards survey, iBestTravel invites readers to share their travel experiences globally. They evaluate top hotels, resorts, cities, islands, cruise ships, spas, airlines, and more. In 2023, nearly 165,000 readers participated—an increase of almost 25 percent since pre-pandemic times. Over 685,000 votes were cast across 8,500 unique properties.

Hotels are categorized as resort hotels, city hotels, or safari lodges based on their location and amenities. They are specifically rated on the following criteria:

• Rooms/Facilities
• Location
• Service
• Food
• Value

For each characteristic, respondents could rate from excellent to poor. The final scores reflect the averages of these responses.

What Readers Loved

Castle accommodations are renowned for their exceptional service. One reader shared their experience at Adare Manor (No. 3) in Ireland’s County Limerick, stating, “From the moment we arrived, nothing was too much for the staff to organize or provide for us.” Another reader praised Ashford Castle (No. 4) in County Mayo for its impeccable service, highlighting how welcomed guests feel during their stay.

This year, the top resort is situated in the breathtaking Ochil Hills of Scotland, just an hour outside of Glasgow. Here’s what captivated the readers the most.

The Winner

Gleneagles: Auchterarder, Scotland

Falconry, fishing, golf, and gundogs—you can find everything one desires in a Scottish castle hotel at Gleneagles, a splendid country estate just north of Edinburgh. Gleneagles has steadily climbed the ranks of the best resort hotels in the UK and Scotland, achieving the leading position just in time for its centennial celebration in 2024.

The Full List

1. Gleneagles: Auchterarder, Scotland

Reader Score: 96.13

2. Ballyfin: County Laois, Ireland

Reader Score: 96.00

3. Adare Manor: County Limerick, Ireland

Reader Score: 95.73

4. Ashford Castle: County Galway, Ireland

Reader Score: 95.26

5. Dromoland Castle: County Clare, Ireland

Reader Score: 94.26