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When it comes to restorative travel – to places that iron out your stress lines rather than your cocktail dress – where do you head? According to spa expert Healing Holidays, destinations such as Austria, Switzerland and Germany are benefiting from the extreme heat conditions further south – which is good news for Park Igls (a high scorer for its nutrition concept and therapists), Original Mayr Medical Resort (a longtime favourite for its gut-instinct treatments) and Lanserhof Lans (trusted for its medi-based treatments). Demand is also high for retreats that offer emotional support such as Kamalaya (one of the best wellness concepts), and Six Senses Vana and Euphoria (both liked for their therapists). In the UK it was high scores for rooms and facilities that helped make Lucknam Park your favourite this year.
These are the best spas in the world, according to the 2024 Readers' Choice Awards. The scores below are percentages representing overall average levels of satisfaction.
The best destination spas in the UK
15. Ensana Buxton Crescent, Derbyshire. Score 81.47
14. Coworth Park, Berkshire. Score 81.94
13. The Pig in the Cotswolds, Gloucestershire. Score 83.63
12. Gilpin Hotel & Lake House, Cumbria. Score 86.67
11. Claridge's, London. Score 88.52
10. The Gainsborough Bath Spa. Score 90.67
9. Heckfield Place, Hampshire. Score 91.88
8. Ragdale Hall Spa, Leicestershire. Score 92.26
7. Beaverbrook, Surrey. Score 92.73
6. Lime Wood, Hampshire. Score 92.91
5. Cowley Manor Experimental, Gloucestershire. Score 93.32
4. Gleneagles, Perthshire. Score 94.3
3. Chewton Glen Hotel & Spa, Hampshire. Score 94.81
2. The Grove, Hertfordshire. Score 94.96
- Lucknam Park Hotel & Spa, Wiltshire. Score 95.74
The best destination spas in Europe
21. The Retreat at Blue Lagoon Iceland, Iceland. Score 82.22
20. Palazzo Fiuggi, Italy. Score 85.19
19. One&Only Portonovi, Montenegro. Score 86.67
18. Buchinger Wilhelmi Lake Constance, Germany. Score 86.81
17. Kurhotel Skodsborg, Denmark. Score 86.97
16. Les Sources de Caudalie, Bordeaux, France. Score 87.62
15. Six Senses Kapalankaya, Turkey. Score 87.78
14. Lily of the Valley, Saint-Tropez, France. Score 89.07
13. Lefay Resort & Spa Lago di Garda, Italy. Score 89.16
12. Sha Wellness Clinic, Alicante, Spain. Score 89.91
11. Buchinger Wilhelmi Marbella, Spain. Score 90
10. Original Mayr Medical Resort, Maria Wörth, Austria. Score 91.32
9. Marbella Club, Spain. Score 91.85
8. Lefay Resort & Spa Dolomiti, Italy. Score 92.27
7. Terme di Saturnia Natural Destination, Tuscany, Italy. Score 92.67
6. Grand Resort Bad Ragaz, Switzerland. Score 93.33
5. Euphoria Retreat, Greece. Score 94.76
4. Schloss Elmau, Krün, Germany. Score 94.81
3. Chenot Palace Weggis, Switzerland. Score 95.23
2. Lanserhof Lans, Innsbruck, Austria. Score 95.72
- Park Igls Medical Spa Resort, Innsbruck, Austria. Score 96.98
The best destination spas in the rest of the world
19. Six Senses Vana, Dehradun, India. Score 76.91
18. Como Shambhala Estate, Bali, Indonesia. Score 77.04
17. Soukya Bengaluru, India. Score 80
16. Joali Being, Maldives. Score 86.12
15. Cal-a-Vie Vista, California, USA. Score 86.83
14. The Datai Langkawi, Malaysia. Score 88.15
13. Mii Amo, Arizona, United States. Score 89.69
12. Santani Wellness Kandy, Sri Lanka. Score 90.13
11. Miraval Arizona, USA. Score 90.85
10. The Ranch Malibu, California, USA. Score 91.31
9. Absolute Sanctuary, Koh Samui, Thailand. Score 91.85
8. Zulal Wellness Resort by Chiva-Som, Ai Ruwais, Qatar. Score 92.32
7. Rakxa Integrative Wellness Retreat, Bangkok, Thailand. Score 92.59
6. Chiva-Som Hua Hin, Thailand. Score 92.66
5. BodyHoliday Saint Lucia. Score 93.15
4. Kamalaya Wellness Sanctuary & Holistic Spa, Koh Samui, Thailand. Score 93.72
3. Barberyn Beach Ayurveda Resort, Weligama, Sri Lanka. Score 95.56
2. Palmaia, The House of Aia, Playa del Carmen, Mexico. Score 96.11
1. Ananda in the Himalayas, Narendra Nagar, India. Score 98.18