What’s the best mattress in the UK in 2025? My top picks as a certified sleep coach

The Simba Hybrid Ultra Mattress on a bed frame in a bedroom
(Image credit: Simba)

I’ve tested every type of mattress over the past five years, so while I've learned that comfort is subjective, I know we can all benefit from a good mattress. Choosing the right mattress for your body type and sleep style helps you fall asleep, stay asleep and wake up refreshed.

Our experienced testing team has spent thousands of hours researching and sleeping on all the latest mattresses, from hybrids to memory foams, boxed to traditional. While there’s no one-size-fits-all sleep happiness solution, the Simba Hybrid Ultra Mattress impressed with its versatile comfort and full-body support, which is why it’s our recommendation for the best mattress of 2025.

Every mattress in this guide has been tested and approved by my team, with a choice for all sleep styles and budgets. As a Certified Sleep Science Coach I know the best mattresses relieve pressure points, keep your spine supported to prevent pain, and stay a comfy temperature for sleeping. To help you find the right one, I’m also sharing my expert tips on what to look for and what to avoid, plus the best mattress sales of 2025.

1. The best mattress of 2025 overall

The most comfortable mattress we've tested so far

Specifications

Price: From £1,481.22 on sale (£1,899 RRP)
Type: Hybrid
Best for: All sleepers
Firmness (1-10): 6.5-7
Sleep trial: 200 nights
Guarantee: 10 years
Shipping: Free next day

Reasons to buy

+
Suits all sleep styles
+
Edge-to-edge support
+
Breathable build
+
Luxurious feel

Reasons to avoid

-
Very expensive
-
Doesn't look luxurious

Quick summary

We loved the Simba Hybrid Ultra Mattress so much we awarded it top marks — a full five stars. It's a true medium-firm bed, with a squishy and pressure relieving surface combined with head-to-toe support.

The Hybrid Ultra is the tallest, most luxurious mattress in the Simba line-up, featuring nine internal layers and the very best of Simba's sleep technology. It's also the most expensive bed in the range (and this guide), with prices starting at £1,899. That's a lot of money for a mattress but this is a bed we struggled to find fault with. It's breathable and cool for hot sleepers, supportive from edge-to-edge, and despite a bouncy finish, bed sharers can sleep soundly without disturbing their partner.

Claire Davies
Claire Davies

Simba is one of the best mattress brands in the UK and the Hybrid Ultra hits that sweet spot between performance and price. You get a lot of mattress for your money here, including a cooler sleep surface and excellent pressure relief. It has a good bit of bounce to it, while still isolating motion transfer from your partner for an undisturbed night’s sleep. The Simba Hybrid Ultra isn’t cheap at £2,043 for a double this Black Friday, but I think it’s well-worth the money. For a cheaper alternative, I recommend the original Simba Hybrid (from £449) – it isn’t as polished and the edge support is weaker, but it’s a good affordable hybrid for couples and teens.

Read more: Simba Hybrid Ultra Mattress review

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2. The best affordable mattress

A classic memory foam cradle for back and stomach sleepers

Specifications

Price: From £349 on sale (£833 RRP)
Type: Memory foam
Best for: Back and front sleepers
Firmness (1-10): 6.5
Sleep trial: 365 nights
Guarantee: Lifetime
Shipping: Free named day

Reasons to buy

+
Contouring pressure relief
+
Versatile feel
+
Impressive motion isolation

Reasons to avoid

-
Weaker edges
-
Long break in for side sleepers

Quick summary

Offering excellent value for money, the Nectar Memory Foam Mattress is a well-priced bed from one of our favourite sleep brands. The medium-firm feel is comfortable for back and stomach sleepers, but this is a good all-rounder with enough pressure relief to suit most side sleepers.

The Nectar's closest rival is the Zoma (#2), but the Nectar delivers more of a classic foam feel. Even though it isn't a bed you sink into, it cradles the body while distributing weight across the mattress. And the lack of sink means it avoids some of the pitfalls of affordable memory foam beds — like poor temperature regulation. Our testers found the Nectar breathable and although it's not as cool as the Levitex at #10, it doesn't overheat, either.

Claire Davies
Claire Davies

Nectar was one of the first mattresses I ever tested, and I’ve since recommended it to dozens of sleepers searching for a firmer feeling, affordable memory foam mattress in a box. It also regulates temperature well for an all-foam mattress, so hot sleepers (like me) should feel comfortable on it. I think the Nectar Memory Foam is excellent value for money at £499 this Black Friday and a consistently top ranking mattress in our guide, but an even cheaper option is the Emma Original (see our Also Tested section) at £399 for a double. I prefer the Emma Original for side sleeping (read my Emma Original Mattress review to learn why), but the Nectar is the better all-rounder and it has a better build quality.

Read more: Nectar Mattress review

3. Best luxury mattress

Latex luxury with pillow top cushioning

Specifications

Price: From £1,099 RRP
Type: Latex hybrid
Best for: Side sleepers
Firmness (1-10): 7
Sleep trial: 100 nights
Guarantee: 5 years
Shipping: Free

Reasons to buy

+
Plush pillow top
+
Luxury look and feel
+
Super motion isolation
+
Edge-to-edge support

Reasons to avoid

-
Limited versatility
-
Short guarantee

Quick summary

We were blown away by the Relyon Bridgwater Dunlopillo Latex Mattress, awarding it five stars after a thorough testing period. It feels sumptuous, with a pillow top layer that adds an immediate hit of cushioning, plus a finish that wouldn't look out of place in a luxury hotel room.

The Relyon is handcrafted to order and it took five weeks for our model to arrive. But it was worth every moment of the wait. The tufted pillow top delivers sink in softness that's ideal for side sleepers, and you can feel the pressure relief all across the body. Although it's less comfortable for back and side sleepers, which is why we awarded number one to the Simba Hybrid Ultra.

Claire Davies
Claire Davies

I’ve just finished sleeping on the 12-layer Simba Earth Apex so I know the difference a great luxury mattress can make to your sleep. My lead tester for the Reylon Bridgwater Dunlopillo Latex Mattress recommends it as a comfortable hotel mattress at home for most sleepers, but she did report that the pillow-top isn’t ideal for people who want a firmer feeling mattress. If that’s you, I recommend the Otty Extra Firm Hybrid Mattress (#8) instead. It’s nearly £690 cheaper for a double in the Black Friday sales too and the warranty is twice as long (10 years versus five at Reylon). Otherwise, if you have the budget and you love sink-in soft pillow-top mattresses with a luxury look, the Relyon Bridgwater has a lot to offer including full body pressure relief and excellent cooling (thanks to latex).

Read more: Relyon Bridgwater Dunlopillo Latex Mattress review

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4. The best mattress for side sleepers

Full-body pressure relief that cradles the shoulders and hips

Specifications

Price: From £1,389 RRP
Type: Hybrid with AirGrid technology
Best for: Side sleepers
Firmness (1-10): 3.5
Sleep trial: 200 nights
Guarantee: 10 years
Shipping: Free

Reasons to buy

+
A floating "weightless" feel
+
Deep pressure relief
+
Sleeps cool

Reasons to avoid

-
Weak edges
-
Too soft for stomach sleepers

Quick summary

The Emma Elite Mattress takes a different approach to comfort, as this hybrid bed features springs, foams, and the Emma AirGrid technology. It's this hyper-elastic polymer layer that has earner the Emma Elite our side sleeper recommendation, thanks to an adaptive comfort that moulds to your body to relieve pressure from head-to-toe.

Our review panel loved the feel of the Emma Elite's AirGrid, as it offers full-body support without a firm feel. Instead, it's as if you're "weightless", somehow lying on top of the mattress while it hugs you at the same time. It's not exactly the foam feel of the Nectar (#4), but it's not a hybrid bounce like the Simba Earth Escape (#11) either. But it is highly breathable, and hot sleepers should find themselves comfortably cool on the Emma Elite. Although stomach sleepers and those with a heavier build should consider a firmer support, such as the REM-Fit 500 Ortho (#7).

Claire Davies
Claire Davies

I’ve slept on every Emma UK mattress and to me this feels the softest. That means I wouldn’t recommend it to heavy (over 250lbs) back and stomach sleepers, but side sleepers of most shapes and sizes will love the Emma Elite (plus size side sleepers may need to add a firm topper). As a hybrid mattress it has a bouncier feel than the Emma Original, but it’s also much more expensive at £1,024 for a double in the Emma Black Friday sale compared to £399 for the Emma Original. While the Emma Elite isn’t a proper cooling mattress, it quickly wicks away excess body heat (it’s designed with Emma’s AirGrid tech) and sweat. I also rate the hyper-elastic polymer grid and how it flexes with your every move to contour your body, relieving any pressure points. Side sleepers with hip pain will love it.

Read more: Emma Elite Mattress review

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5. The best hotel-style mattress

An upper mid-range hybrid with a luxury hotel feel

Specifications

Price: From £375 on sale (£966 RRP)
Type: Hybrid
Best for: Side sleepers
Firmness (1-10): 6.5
Sleep trial: 365 nights
Guarantee: Lifetime
Shipping: Free named day

Reasons to buy

+
Luxury finish
+
Soothing pressure relief
+
Consistent edge support

Reasons to avoid

-
Softer support for a hybrid
-
Might need to be broken in

Quick summary

For hotel-like luxury that doesn't break the bank, look to the DreamCloud Hybrid. This upper mid-range mattress pairs thick body-hugging foams with a supportive base, all wrapped in a luxurious looking package.

If you like the sound of the Relyon Bridgwater Dunlopillo Latex Mattress (#3) but it's out of your budget, the DreamCloud is an excellent alternative. For a hybrid. it has an unexpected body-hugging feel, with the top foam layers embracing the body in a way reminiscent of the best memory foam mattresses, such as the Nectar (#4). We recommend it for side sleepers who want cushioned pressure relief and the bouncier feel of a hybrid.

Claire Davies
Claire Davies

If you want a luxury hotel style mattress at home and either don’t have the budget for the Reylon (#3) or think it would be too soft for you, then the DreamCloud Luxury Hybrid is my top recommendation. I loved testing it so much that I bought one for my mother, who has been sleeping on it for over a year. She has arthritis in her spine and wrists, plus chronic back pain from her days as an upholstery seamstress bent over a sewing machine. While I found the DreamCloud Luxury Hybrid too firm at first, it was the opposite for my mother who said she “walked a little straighter and taller” after just one night on the DreamCloud. The lower back support and pressure relief are very good, but sleepers with chronic back pain who prefer a firm mattress should try the REM-FIT 500 Ortho Hybrid (#7) instead. Overall, the DreamCloud Luxury Hybrid is fantastic value at £649 for a double in the DreamCloud Black Friday sale with a lifetime warranty and year’s trial.

Read more: DreamCloud Luxury Hybrid mattress review

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6. Best mattress for back pain

An orthopedic mattress that quickly relieves pressure on the back

Specifications

Price: From £510 on sale (£929 RRP)
Type: Hybrid
Best for: Back and front sleepers
Firmness (1-10): 8
Sleep trial: 200 nights
Guarantee: 15 years
Shipping: Free to room of choice

Reasons to buy

+
Incredible support
+
Orthopedic design
+
Good motion isolation
+
Big size range

Reasons to avoid

-
Limited cushioning
-
Can cause shoulder ache for side sleepers

Quick summary

Back pain can be a serious sleep disruptor but with the right mattress, you can enjoy better, more restful nights as well as fresher mornings. The REM-Fit 500 Ortho Hybrid Mattress is our top recommendation for sleepers with back pain, thanks to a firm feel and superior support that keeps your spine aligned all night long.

We rated the REM-Fit 500 Ortho eight out of 10 on the firmness scale, which means this is a firm mattress. And you can feel that all the way to the sides — we awarded full marks for edge support. With little in the way of cushioning, you lie on top of this bed rather than sinking in. This helps the lumbar region maintain alignment, although side sleepers might prefer the contoured support of the Levitex Sleep Posture Mattress (#10).

Claire Davies
Claire Davies

The DreamCloud Luxury Hybrid is an excellent all-rounder for people with general aches and pains and lower back pain, but it has a medium-firm feel (though it felt much firmer for me during the first couple of weeks of sleeping on it). If you want a properly firm mattress for back pain mattress, my testers highly rate the REM-Fit Ortho 500 Hybrid Mattress. We rate it as an 8/10 on the firmness scale compared to DreamCloud which we rate as a 6.5/10 on the same scale. There’s little give to the REM-Fit Ortho 500, so this is a mattress you sleep on top of rather than sinking into. That also means there’s little contouring here, so the DreamCloud Luxury Hybrid is the better choice if you want more of a touch of body-hug comfort with your back pain relief. Price-wise the REM-Fit is the cheaper of the two at £569.50 for a double size this Black Friday (the DreamCloud costs £649 for a double), which is an excellent price for a back pain mattress.

Read more: REM-Fit 500 Ortho Hybrid Mattress review

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7. The best cooling mattress

If you sleep hot, this naturally cooling mattress is for you

Specifications

Price: From £950 RRP
Type: Hybrid
Best for: Back and front sleepers
Firmness (1-10): 7.5
Sleep trial: 100 nights
Guarantee: 10 years
Shipping: Free white glove

Reasons to buy

+
Cooler sleep feel
+
Fantastic lumbar support
+
Strong edges

Reasons to avoid

-
Strong off-gassing smell
-
Lacks contouring

Quick summary

The Panda Hybrid Bamboo uses advanced breathable materials to create a cooler sleep feel (plus a more eco-friendly build). Featuring bamboo infused memory foam, a breathable bamboo cover, and open springs, the Panda Hybrid achieves a cooler sleep feel all night long to take the best cooling spot in this guide.

The Panda Bamboo isn't cheap, but as a specialist bed with cooling technology, that's not surprising. And the Panda isn't all about the cooling. The edge support and motion isolation compare to some of the best in this guide, while the firmer feel provides excellent spinal alignment. It's not as firm as its eco-rival, the Simba Earth Escape at (#11), but lightweight side sleepers might still prefer the Emma Elite (#5) for cooler sleep.

Claire Davies
Claire Davies

Overheating in bed can lead to nights of broken sleep, and all that sleep deprivation will in time lead to an array of symptoms including fatigue, brain fog, and irritability. If you’re dealing with night sweats or hot flashes (flushes) then a good cooling mattress should be top of your shopping list. Panda London is arguably best known for its bamboo pillows, but the Hybrid Bamboo Mattress Pro delivers an excellent combination of cooling comfort and support. My lead tester does warn that it’s on the firmer side, so if you want a softer cooling mattress you’re better off with the Emma Elite (#4). The Panda Hybrid Bamboo Pro is slightly cheaper at £903 for a double this Black Friday though (a double Emma Elite is on sale for £1,024).

Read more: Panda Hybrid Bamboo Mattress Pro review

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8. The best for hip pain

This specialist mattress cradles the joints for fresher mornings

Specifications

Price: From £549 RRP
Type: All-foam
Best for: Back and side sleepers
Firmness (1-10): 8
Sleep trial: 44 nights
Guarantee: 5 years
Shipping: £30

Reasons to buy

+
Deep pressure relief
+
Breathable foams
+
Strong sides
+
Versatile feel

Reasons to avoid

-
Thin build
-
Poor extras

Quick summary

The Levitex Sleep Posture Mattress is an all-foam bed, but it's not a memory foam. At least, that's according to the founders of Levitex, who created the exclusive Levitex foam used in each mattress to improve sleep posture and avoid the pitfalls of memory foam.

That's a lofty ambition, but our review team agreed that this is one of the best mattresses for joint and back pain (especially if you don't want the super firm feel of the REM-Fot 500 Ortho at #7). The dense high resistance base foam lends the entire bed a supportive feel, while the upper layer of Levitex foam gently yields to pressure to cradle the joints. Our testing team found it comfortable in all sleep positions, although the thinner build (just 20cm) might be too short for heavier side sleepers.

Claire Davies
Claire Davies

If you don’t like the quicksand-type feel of traditional memory foam but you also want a contouring, body-hug mattress, the Levitex could be your ideal choice. It’s made from patented Levitex foam developed to help people with joint and back pain to sleep more comfortably. The REM-Fit 500 Ortho tested better amongst our review panel for back pain relief, but it was a very close call between that model and the Levitex Sleep Posture Mattress. The Levitex has a similar firm feel to the REM-Fit (we rate both as an 8/10 on the firmness scale) but crucially it has a bit more ‘give’. So you’ll still sleep on top of the mattress, but you’ll also have a little cushioning comfort to reduce all those painful pressure points. The trial period is shorter 44 nights (REM-Fit offers 200 nights), and it’s more expensive at £759 for a double compared to £569.50 for the REM-Fit this Black Friday. However if you want a mattress that delivers a rare combination of firmness and contouring, then I think the Levitex is worth considering.

Read more: Levitex Sleep Posture Mattress review

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9. The best natural mattress

For eco-conscious stomach and back sleepers seeking luxury support

Specifications

Price: From £879 on sale (£1,099 RRP)
Type: Hybrid
Best for: Back and front sleepers
Firmness (1-10): 8
Sleep trial: 200 nights
Guarantee: 10 years
Shipping: Free to room of choice

Reasons to buy

+
Eco-friendly materials
+
Full-body support
+
Luxurious finish

Reasons to avoid

-
Too firm for side sleepers
-
Weaker edge support

Quick summary

The Simba Earth Escape Mattress is an eco-friendly bed that uses wool, flax, and hemp to create a luxurious sleep experience. Plus a Simba spring base, which utilizes the latest technology to ensure total support that's also better for the environment.

Despite the somewhat unusual material choices, the Simba Earth Escape has a luxurious look to rival the Relyon Bridgwater (#3). The wool-viscose tufted cover has subtle cushioning, but the overall feel is firm — we rated it eight out of 10. But it's plusher than other firm beds, such as the REM-Fit 500 Ortho (#7), giving it slightly more cushioning for back sleepers and heavier side sleepers. Multiple spring layers (including several micro coil layers) ensure excellent lumbar support, but things are a little weaker at the edges.

Claire Davies
Claire Davies

Simba’s Earth range is an excellent addition to the brand’s growing line of mattresses. I’ve recently slept on the most expensive model in the Earth range, the Simba Earth Apex and rate it as one of the best mattresses I’ve ever tested (review coming soon), but my sleep staff writer Ruth slept on and tested the Emma Earth entry-level model. She rates it highly as a fantastic eco-conscious luxury mattress for stomach sleepers. According to Ruth, the “plush tufted top provides deep pressure relief at the hips and lower back while the firmer build keeps your spine supported.” Despite the unusual materials (wool, flax, and hemp aren't your regular mattress filling) the Earth Escape is comfortable from the start, though side sleepers might want a few layers of foam cushioning. For a cheaper hybrid that uses natural materials, I recommend the Panda Hybrid Bamboo Mattress Pro at £903 for a double compared to £1,274 for a double Simba Earth Escape.

Read more: Simba Earth Escape Mattress review

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Also tested and recommended

The mattresses below are the highest performers from all the other mattresses we've tested over the last few years. While these mattresses performed well in our tests, they were ultimately beaten by the ones above. But if you can't find the right mattress for you in our main guide, these are worth considering.

Brook + Wilde Suprema Mattress

Brook + Wilde Suprema Mattress ★★★★½
The luxurious Suprema is a nine layer made-to-order mattress with three firmness levels to choose from and a more sustainable build. Expect a few days to break it in, but our testers loved the pressure relief. Edge support is a weakness (the Relyon is better if you want a premium bed with strong edges), but the various firmness levels give this mattress an unusual versatility.

Read more: Brook + Wilde Suprema Mattress review

Nectar Hybrid Mattress

Nectar Hybrid Mattress ★★★★½
The Nectar Hybrid is a competitively priced medium -firm mattress with decent temperature regulation and surprisingly good motion isolation. It's just edged by the DreamCloud (#6) which has a stronger all-round performance, but is still a good choice for side and back sleepers.

Read more: Nectar Hybrid Mattress Uk review

Tempur-Pedic Tempur Hybrid Elite

Tempur-Pedic Tempur Hybrid Elite ★★★★½
Delivering deep pressure relief for achy joints, the Tempur-Pedic Tempur-Hybrid Elite is a luxury alternative to the Levitex Mattress (#10) for those who prefer sink-in foams. Sizes are limited, so shop this mattress while you can.

Read more: Tempur-Pedic Tempur Hybrid Elite mattress review