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Welcome to The 2025 Readers’ Choice Awards. This is the 28th edition of our annual event, and, as with last year, the results are based purely on votes from our UK readership. Each vote is a little memento of your travels – a fridge magnet brought back from your journeys, if you will – and together they piece together a global map of your favourite places, fixers and enablers. In this never-ending age of the selfie, awards such as these provide a valuable reset: an outward-looking view of the world that’s built on an appreciation of the people who plan your trip for you, fly or sail you to your destination, check you in and lead you on adventures out onto the savanna or up into the Alps. Oh, and the people who prepare your food: this year, more than any other, it seems to be the culinary prowess of hotels and destinations that has really whetted your appetite for travel – whether that’s the piri-piri squid with a samphiretartare dip at The Rooster’s garden restaurant on Antiparos, or a Wagyu burger splattered in shibazuke ketchup at Ace Hotel Kyoto. As a wise man once said, “The world is a book and those who do not travel read only one page.” Well, here are several to flick through and hopefully inspire you to go further and deeper.
These are all the winners in the 2025 Readers' Choice Awards.
The best hotels in the world
Our readers' favourite UK hotels
Winner, London: The Connaught.
Winner, rest of UK: The Newt in Somerset.
Our readers' favourite hotels in Europe
Winner, Paris: Le Bristol Paris.
Winner, rest of France and Monaco: Hôtel Crillon le Brave.
Winner, Ireland: The Westbury.
Winner, Rome: JK Place, Roma.
Winner, Florence: Villa San Michele, a Belmond Hotel.
Winner, Venice: Hotel Cipriani, a Belmond Hotel.
Winner, rest of Italy: JK Place, Capri.
Winner, Greece: Hotel Grande Bretagne, a Luxury Collection Hotel.
Winner, Spain: The Principal Madrid.
Winner, Portugal: Palácio Príncipe Real.
Winner, Turkey: Raffles Istanbul.
Winner, rest of Europe: De L’Europe Amsterdam.
The best hotels in Australasia
Winner: Silky Oaks Lodge.
The best hotels in South America
Winner: Copacabana Palace, a Belmond Hotel.
The best hotels in Africa
Winner, Northern Africa: Mandarin Oriental, Marrakech.
Winner, Eastern and Southern Africa: Babylonstoren.
Our readers' favourite hotels in the USA
Winner, New York City: The Ritz-Carlton New York, NoMad.
Winner, rest of USA: Parker Palm Springs.
The best hotels in Canada
Winner: The Magnolia Hotel & Spa.
The best hotels in Asia
Winner, China: The Sukhothai Shanghai.
Winner, Hong Kong: The Upper House.
Winner, Japan: Park Hyatt Kyoto.
Winner, Singapore: Raffles Singapore.
Winner, Southeast Asia: Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok.
Winner, rest of Asia: COMO Uma Punakha, Bhutan.
The best hotels in India
Winner: Rambagh Palace.
The best resorts in the world
Winner, Mexico: Rosewood Mayakoba.
Winner, USA & Canada: Four Seasons Resort and Residences Jackson Hole.
Winner, Central & South America: Explora Valle Sagrado.
Winner, Caribbean & Atlantic: Eden Rock – St Barths.
Winner, India: The Leela Kovalam, A Raviz Hotel.
Winner, Greece: Porto Zante Villas & Spa.
Winner, rest of Europe: Gleneagles.
Winner, Indonesia: Cap Karoso, Sumba.
Winner, rest of Asia: Six Senses Ninh Van Bay.
Winner, Indian Ocean: Soneva Fushi, Maldives.
Winner, Australasia and South Pacific: Southern Ocean Lodge.
Winner, South Africa: AndBeyond Ngala Tented Camp.
Winner, rest of Africa: Matetsi Victoria Falls.
Winner, the Middle East: Raffles the Palm Dubai.
The best cities in the UK
Winner: Bath, England.
The best cities in Europe
Winner: Valletta, Malta.
The friendliest cities in the UK
Winner: Glasgow, Scotland.
The friendliest cities in Europe
Winner: Vienna, Austria
The friendliest cities in the world
Winner: Quito, Ecuador.
The friendliest countries in Europe
Winner: Estonia.
The friendliest countries in the world
Winner: Kenya.
The best islands in the world
Winner, Caribbean and the Atlantic: Turks and Caicos.
Winner, Asia: Bali, Indonesia.
Winner, Central and South America: Fernando de Noronha, Brazil.
Winner, Australasia and the South Pacific: Bora Bora.
Winner, North America: Vancouver Island.
Winner, UK: Isles of Scilly.
Winner, Europe: Naxos, Greece.
Winner, Africa and the Indian Ocean: Maldives.
The best destination spas in the world
Winner, UK: Lime Wood.
Winner, Europe: Les Sources de Caudalie.
Winner, rest of world: The Retreat Costa Rica.
The best ski resorts in the world
Winner, Europe: Val d’Isère, France.
Winner, North America: Jackson Hole, Wyoming, United States.
The best airlines in the world
Winner: Qatar Airways.
The best airports in the world
Winner, world: Singapore Changi.
Winner, UK: London City.
The best train journeys in the world
Winner: Eastern & Oriental Express, A Belmond Train.
The best cruise lines in the world
Winner, mega ships (more than 4,000 passengers): MSC Cruises.
Winner, large ships (2,500 to 4,000 passengers): Cunard.
Winner, medium ships (500 to 2,500 passengers): Viking.
Winner, small ships (fewer than 500 passengers): The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection.
Winner, river ships: Viking.
Winner, expedition ships: Seabourn.
The best villa rental companies in the world
Winner: The Thinking Traveller.
The best tour operators in the world
Winner, general tour operators: The Turquoise Holiday Company.
Winner, travel specialists: Scott Dunn.