Header burger open
Search Logo

Jump To

Currently Viewing:

6 Best Memory Foam Mattress UK Picks

TSA reviewer Connie Hack

Written By Connie Hack

Sleep Advisor

an icon representing a methodology of testing for products

How We Test

Our testing process

Featured image of 6 best memory foam mattresses.

18 March 2024 5 min read

Viscoelastic polyurethane foam, known among customers as memory foam, is a material that was originally made by NASA for astronauts, and later has become the most popular material for mattresses and pillows in the world.

For decades, memory foam is a material that many choose which is not surprising, when we know that NASA created this material to make space travel more comfortable for astronauts. Then memory foam can definitely improve night's sleep as well.

Numerous variations of this material have been created with the aim to improve bounce, breathability and other features, buy main and best features remained the same.

Memory foam has many benefits and therefore it is not surprising that most customers, if they do not choose a 100% memory foam mattress, choose hybrid mattresses that usually have at least one memory foam layer.

Our experience in the sleep industry gained by testing hundreds of different sleep products has helped us single out 6 of the best memory foam mattresses on the UK market.

Our top UK memory foam mattresses

Now we come to the most important part, and that is our top memory foam mattress UK picks in 2021. You can be sure that we did not choose these models lightly, but that we subjected them to a series of tests and that we have confidence in the quality and safety of following mattress brands.
    Mattresses 1
    a product image of emma original mattress
    Emma Original
    Best Overall
    Mattresses 2
    Product image of NECTAR MEMORY FOAM MATTRESS
    Nectar Memory Foam
    Upgrade Pick
    Mattresses 3
    a product image of silentnight 3 zone foam mattress
    Silentnight 3-Zone Foam
    Best for Sleepers With Hip Pain
    Mattresses 4
    Product image of Simbatex® Foam Mattress.
    Simbatex Foam Mattress
    Best for Those Who Toss & Turn
    Mattresses 5
    Product image of TEMPUR ONE Medium Mattress​
    TEMPUR ONE Medium Mattress
    Best Hypoallergenic
    Mattresses 6
    a product image of premium simba mattress
    Simba Premium
    Best Premium

Best Overall: Emma Original

Due to the perfect balance of all features, the Emma Original mattress is our best overall pick!
Best Overall
a product image of emma original mattress

On a firmness scale of 1 to 10, the Emma mattress is around 6, which means it is very supportive and also comfortable. This is exactly what we liked most about this mattress. It does not sink too much, yet it is so comfortable and pressure relieving. Side sleepers will wake up without pain in hips and shoulders.

Back sleepers will achieve spinal alignment, and we think lighter stomach sleepers can use it as well since it is firmer mattress. Thanks to Airgocell and UltraDry cover, even hot sleepers won't wake up sweaty. The 200-night trial allows your body to fully adapt to the mattress and then you can decide whether to keep it or not. The product is very durable, and 10-year warranty guarantees you a piece of mind.

Check our Emma Original mattress review.

KEY FEATURES:
  • Size: UK Single, UK Small double, UK Double, UK King size, Super King
  • Firmness: 6/10
  • Thickness: 25 cm

Advantages

An icon presenting perpetual motion balls indicating low motion transfer
Motion isolation
Fantastic motion isolation
an icon depicting a removable cover
Removable cover
Removable cover that you can remove easily
An icon depicting trial or warranty
Trial & warranty
Trial of 200 nights & guarantee 10 years.

Disadvantages

An icon depicting a non-firm & supportive surface
Can be too soft for some people
Too soft for heavier people
An icon depicting off gassing
Off gassing
Off-gassing is present
An icon depicting a kettlebell on a surface indicating a heavy object
A bit heavy
The mattress is a bit heavier

Upgrade Pick: Nectar Memory Foam

You will not go wrong if you choose this premium memory foam Nectar mattress!
Upgrade Pick
Product image of NECTAR MEMORY FOAM MATTRESS

The Nectar Memory Foam mattress is among the most expensive memory foam mattresses on the UK market, but there are several reasons why this is so. It is high-quality mattress which is 25 cm thick. It is medium firm mattress, probably firm enough even for stomach sleepers. That doesn’t mean it’s too firm for side sleepers, because side sleepers are the ones who buy it most often. 

Nectar Memory foam provides support and pressure relief like few mattresses do, thanks to 7-zone support base and pressure relieving memory foam. Quilted polyester cover is cooling, so you shouldn’t be too hot when you sleep on it. Although high-priced, it comes with a lifetime warranty.

Check our Nectar memory foam mattress review.

KEY FEATURES:
  • Size: Single, Small Double, Double, King, Super King
  • Firmness: 6.5/10
  • Thickness: 25 cm

Advantages

An icon depicting a medal indicating a warranty
Warranty
You get lifetime warranty
An icon depicting a thermometer illustrating a good thermo regulating properties
Temperature regulating cover
You won't get hot
An icon depicting a firm & supportive surface indicating support & firmness
Good support
Amazing support & optimal firmness

Disadvantages

An icon depicting off gassing
Of gassing
Off gassing is present

Best for Sleepers With Hip Pain: Silentnight 3-Zone Foam

Hip pain is a big problem for many side sleepers, but it can be solved with a suitable mattress!
Best for Sleepers With Hip Pain
a product image of silentnight 3 zone foam mattress

In addition to being very annoying, hip pain can become chronic and even cause a reduced range of motion of the hip which is a very important joint in our body. If you buy a Silentnight 3-Zone Foam mattress hip pain will disappear.

If we take that on a firmness scale of 1 to 10, medium firm is 5, this is a bit softer mattress than that. So it will allow you to sink and feel the pressure relief. Support and comfort are at a satisfactory level.

Check our Silentnight 3-Zone foam mattress review.

KEY FEATURES:
  • Size: Single, Euro Single, Double, Euro Double, King
  • Firmness: 5/10
  • Thickness: 18 cm

Advantages

An icon depicting a firm & supportive surface indicating support & firmness
Firmness & pressure relief
Good firmness & pressure relief ratio
An icon depicting a good value product
Affordable
Good price-quality ratio
An icon depicting lightweight properties
Lightweight
You can move it easily

Disadvantages

An icon depicting chain links indicating low durability
Durability
Slight durability issues
An icon depicting two arrows pointing to left and right illustrating a single-side mattress
Single sided
The mattress is single sided
An icon depicting off gassing
Off gassing
Off gassing is present

Best for Those Who Toss & Turn: Simbatex Foam Mattress

Perfect for all those restless sleepers who toss and turn all night long.
Best for Those Who Toss & Turn
Product image of Simbatex® Foam Mattress.

Simba is primarily known for its premium hybrid mattresses, but their all-foam product line is equally good.

We certainly have to start with temperature regulation, which is otherwise not common feature of memory foam mattresses and pillows. However Simba made strides in this field. That is why an improved open cell structure is available today, which enables up to 30 times better breathability of Simbatex foam compared to traditional memory foam.

Underneath the cooling layer, response foam and high density foam provide support, stability, and edge support as well. This mattress is great for couples because it does not transfer motion at all, so you won't have to worry about whether your partner is a restless sleeper or not.

The mattress comes with a 10-year warranty and 1-year trial, both of which are above industry standards.

KEY FEATURES:
  • Size: Single, Small Double, Double, King, Super King
  • Firmness: 5/10
  • Thickness: 25 cm

Advantages

An icon depicting a leaf indicating hypoallergenic properties
Hypoallergenic
Safe for people with allergies
An icon depicting a medal indicating a warranty
Warranty
10-year warranty & 1-year trial
An icon depicting a firm & supportive surface indicating support & firmness
Firm & supportive
Great firmness-support ratio

Disadvantages

An icon depicting off gassing
Off gassing
Off gassing issues

Best Hypoallergenic: TEMPUR ONE Medium Mattress

We’ve already mentioned how memory foam was initially made by NASA for astronauts. However, did you know that this was the original design?
Best Hypoallergenic
Product image of TEMPUR ONE Medium Mattress​

Tempur is a giant when it comes to luxury memory foam mattresses and this is mostly due to their patented tempur memory foam. It has been perfected over the years in order to provide ample temperature control, pressure relief, and even hypoallergenic qualities!

We specifically chose the medium firmness model, as it’s the one that will suit the most people. However, you can actually get a firm or soft model if that’s what you need. So, regardless of your sleeping position, you’re sure to find what you need at Tempur.

KEY FEATURES:
  • Size: Double, King, Superking
  • Firmness: 6/10
  • Thickness: 20 cm

Advantages

An icon depicting a thermometer illustrating a good thermo regulating properties
Temperature control
Amazing temperature control
An icon depicting a magnifier indicating high quality
High quality
High quality materials

Disadvantages

An icon depicting a ruler indicating lack of different sizes & dimensions
Not so many sizes
Not too many sizes available
An icon depicting a money bag indicating an expensive product
A bit pricey
The price tag is a bit higher

Best Premium: Simba Premium

Simba is known as a UK sleep company whose every product is premium, so this mattress is no different!
Best Premium
a product image of premium simba mattress

Simba produces two different series of products. One is available on their official website, and the other series is only available on Amazon and eBay. Both are of premium quality. 7 support zones that are strategically placed distribute your body weight evenly. At the same time, it is providing pressure relief, comfort and support in the same time.

The cover is very soft and pleasant to the touch, but it is not removable. Cover is breathable and so is open-cell foam. Shopping with Simba is risk free since you can try it for 100 nights.

Do check our Simba Premium mattress review.

KEY FEATURES:
  • Size: UK Single, UK Double, UK King, UK Super King
  • Firmness: 6/10
  • Thickness: 19 cm

Advantages

An icon depicting microbe, illustrating anti-bacterial product
Anti bacterial
Anti bacterial surface
An icon depicting a leaf indicating hypoallergenic properties
Hypoallergenic
100% hypoallergenic

Disadvantages

An icon depicting off gassing
Off gassing
Off gassing issues
An icon representing a non-removable cover
Non-removable cover
The cover is not removable

Before you buy a memory foam mattress

an image of a woman laying down on a memory foam mattress

Benefits of memory foam mattress far outweigh downsides, but there are certainly people to whom memory foam mattress will not suit. Since there are foam mattresses of different firmness, we can't say that this is the type of mattress is unsuitable for all stomach sleepers, but in general memory foam mattresses are softer than what people who sleep on their stomachs need. Stomach sleepers, especially those with higher BMI, sink too much into memory foam mattress.

Also, hot sleepers can have problems. Until 10 or 15 years ago, memory foam mattresses were not recommended to hot sleepers because they retain body heat. Today there is open-cell foam, gel and similar things that make memory foam mattresses comfortable for hot sleepers as well, but certainly hot sleepers should think twice before buying one.

When buying a memory foam mattress, it has to be…

If for some reason you do not want to buy any of the 7 memory foam mattresses that we have singled out for you, we will tell you what you should pay attention to when buying one such mattress.

Cooling during the summer time

This is especially important if you are hot sleepers, but even if you are not, you definitely don’t want to sweat during the night like you’re in a sauna. Low breathability and heat retention are the biggest problems of basic memory foam. In addition, memory foam tends to hug you, making you feel even warmer and this is unbearable during summer days.

However, thanks to covers, gel-infused foam, open-cell structure and some other improvements, we have come to the point that you can find memory foam mattresses that are not too hot even for summer days. However, there is one problem – durability and breathability are somewhat opposed. High-density foams means durability, but also zero to none breathability.

Appropriate for your sleep position

Your sleep position should be the primary thing to consider when buying a mattress and pillow. There are products that are suitable for all sleep positions, but most sleep products are more suitable for 2 out of 3 sleep positions. Such is the case with most of the foam mattresses. Memory foam mattresses are recommended for side and back sleepers.

They are especially good for side sleepers, which we will talk about later, but back sleepers are also satisfied in 99% of cases. Stomach sleepers are the ones who often find foam mattresses insufficiently firm. And that leads to them sinking and having neck pain. However, there are firm foam mattresses that can be used stomach sleepers.

Available for testing

Ideally, you can try every product you buy within a given time frame and decide if it suits you or you want to return it. But when it comes to a mattress, then it is not something that is desirable, but something that is necessary. It has been proven that the body needs 3 to 4 weeks, and sometimes more, to fully get used to the mattress.

This means that even if you bought a mattress that has all the features you need, there is a possibility that it will not be suitable for you at first. This does not mean that it will not become comfortable after a while, but that you just need to get used to it. That is why our advice is to always ask for at least a month of trial period, and even better if it is 100 or 200 days.

The advantages of owning memory foam mattress

By now you have probably been able to conclude most of the benefits of memory foam mattresses, but in this section of our review we will say more about each of the advantages separately. You can find out which sleeping position they are ideal for, as well as more about durability, pressure relief and motion insulation in the next four paragraphs.

Fantastic pressure relief

If you have ever used a memory foam pillow or mattress, you probably know that perfect feeling of pressure relief after just a few seconds after lying on the mattress or pillow. Whether you suffer from pain in any part of the body or not, everyone will benefit from pressure relief during sleep.

Especially someone who spends the whole day sitting, exposing the body, and above all the pelvis, to the constant pressure. When time for bed comes, he or she will need pressure relief and therefore will greatly benefit from using a memory foam mattress.

Amazing motion isolation

We have already mentioned how much tossing and turning is annoying for the person you are sleeping with. It can even cause insomnia in another person if he or she is a light sleeper. Light sleepers wake up to the slightest outside sensation such as movement, light and sound. Tossing and turning causes both motions and sounds, if you use an open coil mattress or pocket sprung mattress although less compared to open coil.

Memory foam is a material that completely absorbs motions, and it is also totally silent, so even though you sleep with someone in bed, you will feel like you are completely alone, because you will not be disturbed in any way.

Perfect for side sleepers

Most foam mattresses, except those that are specifically firm, are all that a side sleeper can look for. Such mattresses are usually medium firm, sometimes on the border with soft, which is most comfortable firmness for this sleep position. Side sleepers need to sink, so that they are comfortable and to prevent their shoulders and hips from hurting.

Of course, they also need support, which memory foam provides as well. If the side sleeper often changes position, spending part of the night on the left side, and part on the right, the memory foam will respond to this task, because the bounce is great. Not like latex mattresses for example, but more than enough.

Durable & long lasting

A white mattress with a diamond pattern.

There are certainly low quality foam mattresses that are not durable and long lasting, but all of the ones we mentioned today, as well as a large number of others on the UK market, will last you for years, and some even more than a decade. Memory foam and pocket sprung mattresses are most durable types.

Memory foam is generally a very resilient material, and high-density memory foam does not lose its characteristics even after 10 years. That is why buying a memory foam mattress is a great long term investment.

FAQs about memory foam mattress

In the final part of our review, we will give you answers to some of the most frequently asked questions.

Are memory foam mattresses cool enough to be used in the summertime?

Certainly not all memory foam mattresses are cool enough to be used in the summertime, but manufacturers are constantly working to improve breathability and temperature regulation, so more and more of them are pleasant for summer time.

Is a memory foam mattress good for people with back pain?

Generally, they are, because they offer support that is essential for spinal alignment, as well as pressure relief both in the back and in other joints.

Are memory foam mattresses durable?

There is no single answer to this question, as it depends on the manufacturer as well as what type of memory foam that is used.

How do I clean my memory foam mattress?

Those that have a removable cover are easy to maintain, and you can spot clean those that don’t have removable cover and protect them with bed sheets or a mattress protector.

Can a memory foam mattress lose its firmness?

If it is not made of high-density memory foam, then there is a possibility that over time it will lose firmness to some extent, but it also depends on other factors, such as your body weight.

How to extend the lifespan of a memory foam mattress?

Rotate it regularly and flip if it is two-sided, also maintain it according to the instructions and do not jump on it to extend the lifespan.

Comments (0)

There are no comments yet

About the author

Connie Hack
As a CPD certified Sleep Consultant I know how important sleep is. And as a combination sleeper, I have found it difficult to get products to suit my sleep style. I have more than 2 years product testing experience with The Sleep Advisors which means I have slept on, with and under more than 500 products with varying degrees of success. This is added to more than 2 years experience as a product reviewer for Closer, Heat and Grazia magazines, so I've got a rigorous process. I love sharing my sleep testimonials with our readers and hearing their experiences too.
Related Posts

More Mattress Articles

Emma original mattress close up
21 November 2023

Emma Original Mattress Review

Right above the award-winning layers of the Emma Original, you'll find an even more luxurious option called the Emma Original Plus Mattress....
Featured image for sleepsoul space 2000 review
07 March 2024

SleepSoul Space 2000 Mattress Review

We use SleepSoul Space 2000 mattress for everything we normally use a mattress for, but this mattress gives us all that on a much higher lev...
Don't Miss Out!
Get the latest reviews, special offers, new releases and more…
@thesleepadvisors
'Best Orthopedic Mattress'! 🏆 Quality sleep is essential for a healthy lifestyle, and that's why we've crowned 'Simba Hybrid Luxe Mattress' as the Best Orthopedic Mattress

Make sure you keep your eyes on our profile for more award winners 👀🏆

 #sleepadvisorsuk #SweetDreamsAhead #simbasleeps
Behind every beautifully inked piece lies a crucial factor: quality sleep. 💤✨ 

Remember, the healing journey of tattoos isn't just skin deep; it's influenced by the restorative power of a good night's sleep. 🌙 #InkHealing #SleepMatters #thesleepadvisors #funfact #DidYouKnow
😂 Bloopers Galore: Eye Masks for Sleep - The Outtakes! 😴 We love what we do at TheSleepAdvisors, even if sometimes we can't find the words! 😂

#sleepadvisorsuk #sleepadvisors #instareels #instareelsdaily #ɪɴsᴛᴀʀᴇᴇʟs #reelsofinstagram #sleepadvisors #instareels #instareelsdaily #ɪɴsᴛᴀʀᴇᴇʟs #reelsofinstagram
🌟We're thrilled to announce the winners of the prestigious Top Mattress Brands Awards! 🏆

Dive into our latest post to discover the sleep game-changers that have earned the spotlight! 

We’ve given a thorough test to all the products in the market and found the best for YOUR needs. If you are a side sleeper, we’ve picked the best for you. If you’re are back pain sufferer, we’ve got you sorted.🤗

 #sleepadvisorsuk #SweetDreamsAhead
Dreaming of a night's sleep from the future?  Futuristic Pillows are coming soon - the ultimate blend of innovation and comfort! 🚀✨ 

.Experience the innovation firsthand and redefine your idea of a perfect night's sleep. #FutureComfort #TechPillows #SweetDreamsAhead #sleepadvisorsuk
Have you ever wondered what it's like to sleep in a cloud? ☁️☁️

Wrap yourself in the comfort of a cloud with our Panda Cloud Duvet ☁️✨ Fall into a world of cosy bliss every night, as this duvet cocoons you in softness like no other. 🤗

Say goodbye to restless nights and hello to the ultimate in comfort. Sleep tight, dream big, and let the Panda Cloud Duvet elevate your bedtime routine to new heights of relaxation. #PandaComfort #CosyNights #instareel #reelsofinstagram #t#thesleepadvisor
Sleep like a baby! Discover the perfect blend of innovation and natural elegance with Panda hybrid pillows. Get yours today for your best night's sleep yet!

 #sleepadvisorsuk #pandapillows  #PandaComfort #pillows
Dreaming for two! Did you know that pregnant women are the VIPs of baby-filled dreams? 🤰✨ Tag a mom-to-be who's already experiencing the dreamy anticipation! 💭👶 #DreamingForTwo #PregnancyMagic"
"We test the mattresses, so you can rest easy. Unbiased reviews, delivering the key to your best sleep. 💤✨ #SleepWellTrustUs #HonestMattressReviews
"Dive into the world of restful dreams with expert-approved mattress advice. Because a great day starts with a good night's sleep! 💤🛌 #SleepExpert #MattressWisdom"
Close button

Don't Miss Out!

Get the latest reviews, special offers, new releases and more…

By submitting this form, you are opting into our mailing lists.
See our privacy policy.

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.