I'm looking for a list of the top 5-10 website design agencies in the
UK. I dont have a specific source to use for the rankings but am aware
a number exist. Conseuqently i'd like to know which is the most
prestigous award(s) for website design agencies and who the most
recent winner(s) where.

I'd also to know where the UK lies in terms of the wider European
marketplace i.e. does any other European country have a notable lead
over the UK in web design (or indeed is this the US?) and if so i'd
also like the top firms in that country as well.

Just a comment, but you may want to refine your question to include
something like best SEO (search engine optimization),  It is great to
have a top designed web page but does you absolutely no good if the
page has not been optimized.

This is what I have learned about the subject,  I suppose anyone could
say that it is implied and understood,  but to me the SEO it is worthy
and important enough to out rank the page design, there are likely 100
great web page designers to one great SEO expert.

I did my own page and all my customers tell me how much better it is
than whats out there, and all I used is common sense and thought like
one of my customers when I designed it ( and I didn't know anything
about page design 4 months ago) I have only managed to eek out 5000
hits though, so all my efforts will go into the SEO knowlege building
from now on...

Anyone please correct me if I'm wrong.... good luck Mike