Credit: Glais House Care Home
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At a glance
- Review-based recognition: The carehome.co.uk Top 20 Care Home Awards 2026 are based on more than 127,000 reviews submitted by residents and their families between 1 February 2024 and 30 January 2026.
- Rising need for care: Nearly 17,000 care homes support around half a million people in the UK, and demand for high-quality care is expected to grow as the population ages.
- Quality assessment criteria: Care homes are rated on standards including quality of care, dignity, cleanliness, food, activities, management, security, and value for money.
Top 20 carehome.co.uk awards
The UK’s best care homes for 2026 have been revealed.
carehome.co.uk, the country’s leading website for finding and choosing residential care, has announced its annual Top 20 Care Home Awards – celebrating the highest-rated homes in 12 regions across the UK. There are also awards for the Top 20 care home groups.
The awards are based entirely on reviews from those who know the homes best: the residents and their families. Thousands of care homes compete each year for a place in the Top 20 awards, making the accolade one of the most sought-after in the sector.
Choosing residential care is one of life’s biggest decisions.
Since launching the awards in 2014, carehome.co.uk has aimed to make that search simpler and more transparent.
The awards bring ‘trusted guidance’ when it is needed most
Amanda Hopkins, reviews manager at carehome.co.uk, said:
“With more than 400,000 reviews now on carehome.co.uk, we’re able to offer families real, first-hand insight into the standards of care, facilities and support provided by thousands of homes across the UK.
“Searching for a care home can be both emotionally exhausting and incredibly time-consuming. You’re not simply choosing a place to live, you’re choosing a safe, caring home for someone you love. That responsibility can feel overwhelming.
“That’s why independent reviews from people with direct experience matter so much. Our Top 20 awards, based on feedback from residents and their families, are designed to provide reassurance, trusted guidance and confidence at a time when it’s needed most.”
Demand for high-quality care will continue to grow
There are nearly 17,000 care homes in the UK, supporting around half a million people. Almost one in five people are now aged 65 or over and nearly one in 10 people are aged 75 and over. This figure is expected to rise significantly over the coming decades and demand for high-quality care will continue to grow.
Homes are rated on everything from overall standards and quality of care to dignity, cleanliness, food, activities, management, security and value for money.
carehome.co.uk lists all registered UK care homes alongside verified reviews, inspection ratings and detailed fee information. It also runs a free expert helpline to help families through the process.
The carehome.co.uk Top 20 Awards 2026 are based on over 127,000 reviews submitted between 1 February 2024 and 30 January 2026. The full list of winners is available online.
Next steps
- Browse the winners: Search the Top 20 Award winners by region to see which highly rated care homes are in your preferred area.
- Compare review scores: Use carehome.co.uk to compare verified reviews, inspection ratings and fee information for homes you’re considering.
- Read family feedback: Look beyond the overall rating by reading reviews covering care quality, dignity, cleanliness, food, activities, management, security and value for money.
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