M&S Ultimate 5000 British Wool Pocket Spring Pillowtop Mattress im Test

The M&S Ultimate 5000 British Wool Pocket Spring Pillowtop Mattress is the flagship of Marks & Spencer’s own-label range and the only M&S mattress the retailer says is handmade in the UK. It combines 5,000 individual pocket springs, three deep layers of British wool, a pure cotton cover and a pillowtop that unzips (M&S product page).

What the handmade build means

M&S says it is made with traditional mattress-making skills, including hand tufting and hand side stitching. In traditional mattress making, tufts keep the filling from shifting and side stitching firms up the border. The three wool layers are one more than any other M&S model carries.

The removable pillowtop

The pillowtop unzips, so you can turn the top section instead of rotating the whole mattress, which is much easier with a heavy, spring-dense build. M&S states no firmness or depth for the Ultimate 5000, which makes it the one model in the range you buy without a firmness guide.

Prices by size

There is no small double. These are regular prices at the time of writing (October 2026), and the Ultimate 5000 was not part of the M&S 30% mattress promotion when we checked.

Is it worth it?

The National Bed Federation found that three quarters of recent UK bed buyers spent under £800, so at £1,099 for a Double this is a considered purchase. It makes sense if you value a handmade British build and natural fillings and want to keep the surface even with less effort. With no sleep trial and no stated guarantee, though, you carry more risk at this price than with a bed-in-a-box brand offering a home trial of 100 nights or more. Delivery is £15 to the room of your choice.